Is there anything happening with JK and DSM? I am beginning to think DSM

[saracat]

is dead. And I hope I am wrong but it looks as though the attention getting opportunity for JK dies with it. Boy do I hope I am wrong!

[jillan]

1. When I saw Kerry on the floor, I thought "YES, this is it!"

His speech was fantanstic, but not a word about the DSM.
I'm beginning to think that he's going to remain quiet on this?:scared:

[Dr Ron]

2. He's collecting signatures to officially request an investigation n/t

[politicasista]

3. Does KG know if he still plans to speak about it?

I know he won't mention impeachment, but him speaking about it some think will shed some light on DSM.

[jillan]

4. How is that going??? Are the dems willing to sign?

[ginnyinWI]

5. as long as he's working on it behind the scenes

I'm willing to wait. How does that go--less heat and more light?

[saracat]

9. Doesn't often work that way. I am very disappointed in this. Nothing has

been gained by this silence ,it seems. An opportunity has been lost. For exposure if nothing else. I still hope I am wrong.

[ginnyinWI]

10. me too--

let's hope he's working on a really nice "souffle"!

[Pirate Smile]

11. I also thought this was a great opportunity for him to take the lead.

sigh :-(

I hope it is worth the wait.

[politicasista]

12. I agree PS.

Why are they so silent on this? I guess I am just tired of Kerry getting slammed over this when the other Dems are just as silent.:-(

[Mass]

13. Me too.

[Mass]

6. From what I understand from things I have read here and there,

there seems to be a problem at the Senate democrats level to let somebody make a real speech on this issue. All senators that have made remarks on this issue have made them outside the Senate or it has been just a couple words in a more complete speech.

I am not sure how much Kerry's silence on the issue on the senate floor is not an effort to please his leadership (as do all the other people we would expect to hear on this issue as Byrd, Kennedy, Boxer, Feingold, ...).

I may be wrong, but I am amazed at the silence by people who do not have the reputation of being cautious.

[jillan]

7. Do you think what happened this week with Durbin..

is having an effect on Kerry's silence? And the other dem senators?
I'm surprised Barbara Boxer isn't all over this.

[Mass]

8. No

My feeling is that many senators want to focus on the future and not go back to what happened in the past.

But the fact that Boxer is not all over this makes me think that this is something that has been decided at the leadership level rather than a personnal decision.

[TayTay]

14. Well, hearings would be nice

KG posted that hearings would go before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Rules of that committee state:

http://intelligence.senate.gov/rules%20of%20procedure.htm

Rule 6. Investigations
No investigation shall be initiated by the Committee unless at least five members of the Committee have specifically requested the Chairman or the Vice Chairman to authorize such an investigation. Authorized investigations may be conducted by members of the Committee and/or designated Committee staff members.

The members of the Committee, from whom five sigs are needed are:

REPUBLICANS
Pat Roberts, Kansas Chairman
Orrin G. Hatch, Utah
Mike Dewine, Ohio
Christopher S. Bond, Missouri
Trent Lott, Mississippi
Olympia J. Snowe, Maine
Chuck Hagel, Nebraska
Saxby Chambliss, Georgia

DEMOCRATS
John D. Rockefeller IV West Virginia, Vice Chairman
Carl Levin, Michigan
Dianne Feinstein, California
Ron Wyden, Oregon
Evan Bayh, Indiana
Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland
Jon S. Corzine, New Jersey

Ex Officio Members
Bill Frist, Tennessee
Harry Reid, Nevada
John Warner, Virginia

Okay, let me play detective here. I bet Levin will sign, Wyden, Mikulski, and Corzine. So they need Rockefeller or Feinstein or Bayh to come aboard. (I don't think ex officio members count, but I could be wrong.)

Maybe Hagel will sign. He has criticized Bush's handling of Iraq. But, then again, this is major league trouble for *, so maybe Hagel won't sign.

Who do you think they are waiting for?

[Mass]

15. I think Hagel is exactly the type of people who wants to focus on the

future and therefore will not sign.

I imagine that you have listed the four names who will sign more easily.

Among the three left, my bet is on Rockefeller, but I may be wrong.