CONYERS Attacks NYT !! "Where DID YOU GET THAT LEAK?"

[KoKo]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003812.php

By Paul Kiel - July 30, 2007, 5:22 PM

The New York Times, citing current and former government officials, reported this weekend that the 2004 dispute over the NSA's surveillance program concerned data mining (how? why? we still don't know)."If the dispute chiefly involved data mining, rather than eavesdropping," the paper reported, "Mr. Gonzales’ defenders may maintain that his narrowly crafted answers, while legalistic, were technically correct."

But House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers' (D-MI) eyebrow is raised. In a letter to Alberto Gonzales today, he wondered about the timing of these leaks:

...We are concerned that this disclosure, stemming from “current and former officials briefed on the program,” may simply be an effort to respond via Administration leak of potentially classified information designed to rehabilitate previous controversial testimony by you. In this regard, we would inquire whether you or anyone in your front office has any knowledge or involvement in these leaks, and if so, who and the nature thereof.

In 2005, when the Times first reported the existence of the NSA warrantless wiretapping program, the Justice Department promptly launched a criminal investigation of the leaks. Conyers, clearly, is wondering whether these leaks (which are rather more favorable to the administration) will receive the same scrutiny.

Conyers also asks again for background materials on the wiretapping and program -- as he has been since the beginning of this year.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003812.php

[superkia]

1. Damn! Get'em!

[wildbilln864]

2. Sadly........

I think he'll still be asking for stuff come 2008! And still being denied! :grr:

[KoKo]

4. No...this answer from Conyers means Dems are loaded for Bush Meat!

It's good he jumped on this right away!

[TalkingDog]

14. You do get the pun there, right?

Bush Meat = Monkey in some African countries.


Of course Bush is a Monkey, so ......maybe he'll be skewered and roasted...?


Sorry, overthinking it. But your sub line made me LoL.

[1monster]

5. Then, I sincerely hope that, immediately after January 20, 2009, the new President

asks for a special prosecuter to be appointed to the previous administration with an eye toward criminal charges if there is evidence to support them.

[Merlot]

6. Has an adminstration ever been charged with crime after leaving office?

[1monster]

7. Not that I know of, but there is ALWAYS a first time. And this time would warrent it being

first to experience a serious criminal investigation followed by whatever charges are supported by the evidence.

[FogerRox]

13. Aaron Burr, 2 yrs after.

[rodeodance]

3. this is the language that Tony Snow used the day after the hearing at a

press conference. so you know he got it from the WH:


........."Mr. Gonzales’ defenders may maintain that his narrowly crafted answers, while legalistic, were technically correct."

[EVDebs]

10. In tennis lingo, this means he's got chalk all over his shoes. nt

[joeunderdog]

8. The key is that he called it

"an effort... designed to rehabilitate previous controversial testimony" and then asked whether or not anyone was involved in the leak of the information central to this goal. This is how poor ole Scooter got bagged. He didn't get busted on his own part in the crime, but he obstructed justice by the way he played ball after the fact. Looks like Chairman Conyers is painting them into a corner.

:yourock:

[EVDebs]

9. "The Times they ain't a changin'" apologies to Dylan

The NYTimes is, if anything, a consistent shill for admin agitprop.

[blogslut]

11. Happy to kick

and recommend

[gordianot]

12. Every day in Bush America is more bizarre.

So a secret operation is vetted (an operation with information denied Congress) in violation of Executive Security one which the Executive branch would probably claim Executive privilege if they acknowledged the program.

Unreal

[Demeter]

16. You Can Say That Again!

And even more bizarre is the peaceful equanimity which the average Joe displays to our 6+ year nightmare cum hallucination.

[cui bono]

15. I wonder if he had anything to say about the part where they say Cheney

was the one who told him to go see Ashcroft.

[Vinca]

17. I think I'm going to have to install a large bulletin board on the

wall to keep track of the scandals and where they're going. A very LARGE bulletin board.

[FreedomRain]

18. scandals

It might be environmentally irreponsible to use up that much cork for your bulletin board!

:) :)

[donkeyotay]

19. It doesn't change that he went to a sick man's bed

Fredo's saying "no not program A, I was talking about program B," which is so illegal it hasn't even been discussed or acknowledged. The bottom line is he still went to Ashcroft's bed and not to Comey, the acting AG.

By the way, I think the NYTs carried the NSA whistle blower's story on this, and I think a lot of the controversy was buried at the time. Their role in this makes me suspicious. We should also remember that bush obstructed DoJ's attempt to investigate this matter.

[librechik]

20. subpoena Bill Keller NOW

he can't claim the fifth in a criminal conspiracy.

[broadcaster]

21. Bill Keller is a WH supporter, no doubt about it. n/t

[Jacobin]

22. The ghosts of Judy Miller are still at the NYT