Countdown: Leahy Doesn't Buy White House Lies
By Logan Murphy Tuesday Jul 24, 2007 9:22pm
Earlier today we posted this story about newly released documents proving Attorney General Alberto Gonzales lied yesterday during his testimony before the Senate. On tonight's "Countdown" Keith Olbermann talks with David Shuster and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy, about Gonzo's perjury, Executive Privilege and the vote today in the House to recommend contempt charges against former White House Counsel, Harriet Miers and White House Chief Of Staff, Josh Bolten.
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The Leahy interview took place before news broke of the new documents, but Leahy makes it clear that if it turns out there were inaccuracies in Gonzales' testimony he would would refer the matter to the Inspector General and the appropriate action will be taken. This has gone on way too long, it's time to show Fredo the door -- and it sounds like Leahy is ready to take the next step. Finally, Leahy gives his side of the now-infamous "Go F*#k yourself" moment with Dick Cheney from the floor of the Senate...
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Links will be working soon, right?
And Leahy will do what? And get what done? Nothing...
linky on the blinky
[All 4 work for me-Sitemonitor]
I think- maybe I hope- that Leahy understands something: that a lot a people, let's call them a "bloc", let's call them REGISTERED VOTERS, for some strange reason still aren't ready to give up on this so-called "representative" form of government that we have in the United States, or what is left of it, and are waiting, WAITING for congress to act, to do what, sadly, only congress can do. IMPEACH THE BASTARDS. There is nothing "conservative" about what has happened over the last 20 years, there is nothing "conservative" about corporate control of government.
"If Congress does not act, then they will have no redress but the street"- John F. Kennedy
At the July 24, 2007 Senate DOJ oversight hearing, Judiciary Chair Pat Leahy tells Alberto Gonzales that he's lost all trust as A.G. and, at the end, CodePinkers in the audience shout for the AG to resign.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=CAKQ25AR53A&NR=1
Would be a bummer if the international community were the only entities seeking recompense for this administrations crimes. Which is probably how it'll wind up. Bombing the Netherlands because the minions are being put on trial. With any luck Larry Flynt will take up the slack in August while these clowns are in recess.
What? Another lie? Say it ain't so!
bigger than watergate, worse approval rating than nixon, longer than any other and still, the powers that be sit on their hands. please stop playing stranger with yourselves and fucking move on this before bush can jerk the rest of us into a military state to strafe accountability.
Countdown: Leahy Doesn’t Buy White House Lies
Uh-neither do I. Never did.
Write your congressman. Bug them. My congressman is a wienie Bushite ... but at least I wrote him and asked him to co-sponsor impeachment legislation. They won't do it if nobody asks.
Uh-oh gonzo!!! Fry in your own particular brand of hell you incompetent bush lackey.
This clip is absolutely stunning, unbelievable what the criminal enterprise in OUR White House is doing.
The last part, where Leahy finally tells us exactly what happened regarding Cheney and his F bomb:
Now, more than ever, I want to see Cheney tried and punished for his vulgar, vile, lying, criminal conduct.
I was around during Nixon/Agnew, and there was a general sense that Agnew was scum. But Cheney is a thousand times worse. The long arm of justice needs to knock the shit out of him.
Just Me @ 12:
So you were one of those "effete snobs" for peace too, huh? Yeah, I used to have one of those Spiro Agnew wristwatches ... you know, the kind that Micky Mouse wore.
The WH doesn`t sell lies.They shove `em down your throat. Eventually this will tire even the Repugs who have supported these creeps.We`re headed to a new and better America,as soon as we get sick of the fascism.
Leahy basically said he is not going to do anything "he will be out of the position anyway".
Oh come on you guys. We all know that only Democrats 'lie' to Congress, and get impeached for it. Republicans just FORGET things. Nobody ever got impeached for a bad memory, and the Republicans no that perfectly well.
yeah Bush is liar, our troops are not being looked after properly. I hate that son of a bitch!
look at this:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/07/25/eveningnews/main3096856.shtml
If a Dem in the WH pulled this sh*t, they would be crucified by now. My Sweet Lord, if what Bushco is pulling isn't 1,000 worse than a BJ (sorry, lying about have a BJ) I don't know what is.
Unfortunately, the Dems are impotent because there are not enough decent Repugs to stand up with them against
this fascist admin.
Meanwhile, you go guy!
Yet another "Big Story". So many "Big Stories" and so much "Nothing Done", why bother?
Alberto Gonzalez could come to the hearing table and tell the committee directly that he has lied, he plans to lie, and will always lie and the committee would still sit on their hands. What a joke this committee is.
kerplunk @ 19:
Really. One wonders what public reaction would be if Bush just went ahead and carpet bombed San Francisco.
Nothing. Follow the same old daily rut as if it was all an old Bonanza episode.
Dharma Pup @ 13:
Little did I know that Mickey Mouse would turn into a Republican, too (Disney media ownership).
Et tu, Mickey? Et tu?
Just Me @ 22:
Ha!....But Popeye is a Democrat and Bluto is a republican!
Popeye has a GIRL FRIEND!
To think how hard progressives worked to get a Democratic Majority in Senate and House, then to have Sen. Leahy acknowledge that the Executive Branch is breaking the law and Leahy's excuse is "Oh its to late in the Bush Administration to do anything about it". I'll just let it go. Ho Hum. I'm only the Head of the Senate Judiciary Committee. My hands are tied. I only swore to uphold the Constitution that I plan to crap on along with George W.
Please impeach. The next repub admin is going to go so much farther than Bush like he's gone so much farther than Reagan, 41 and Nixon
jr @ 25:
Yes when America elects Guilliani/McCain in 2008 and returns the Senate and House back to the Republicans in 2008.
baby jesus thinks Gonzo will get a preemptive pardon
Harley @ 15:
U.S. President Guilliani plans to keep Alberto Gonzalez as Attorney General in the next Republican Administration that takes office in January 2009.
what gave him the clue?
If Leahy would of served in Vietnam he would not have such a cavalier attitude about everything.
Leahy is a empty suit.
Exact oppositive type you want on an oversight committee.
THOSE ‘OTHER SPYING ACTIVITIES’ THAT ALBERTO WAS REFERRING TO
Hopefully Sen. Leahy's hard work in bringing Gonzo to justice will give him a Larry Flynt moment for "go f yourself" Cheney - "Pay back's a bitch"!
I love Pat Leahy. But why why why why why doesn't he go ahead and cook Gonzo past the end of office. So what? A crime is a crime and he should be prosecuted for it!
What kind of message does that send to any future administration:.
"Save your best for the last term. You can get away with anything! Blow off every pledge you've ever taken! Take fascist control! Fuck children!!!"
Torture. Lying. Murder. Theft. etc., etc., etc., etc., etc.,..
I am DEEPLY ashamed and disappointed at this toothless wimping OUT!
Goddamit, they have Gonzo in their TEETH! Chew him up! He's yours!
Yes, we are doomed.
Blue Rose @ 18:
I disagree. There are not ANY decent repugs. If there were, they would quit the party that supports the destruction of the constitution for the betterment of the party, or the businesses that have bought the party.
At some point, the people at the top (dems and repugs) are going to have to stop this ridiculous farce of a government and start acting like elected officials of a first world country. Big business, and the shit eating politicians who feed off big business have turned this country into a glorified banana republic with nukes.
The one and only way to make a clean break from this cancer that is eating our country is to impeach. Draw a fucking line in the sand and then prosecute every single person who is stupid enough to cross it. China has the right idea with it's corrupt officials. All government employees, elected, appointed or non political grunts all need to be held to a higher standard of law. They are responsible for the functioning of our society, and therefore the lives of millions. ANY corruption, lies, or negligence should mean jail time. Corruption, lies or negligence that result in the loss of life, should mean execution. Very simple. One strike and you're done. No pardons, no commutations, no pity for the traitors. Swift, clean, non-partisan justice.
Sorry, for a moment there I forgot where we lived. I hope I don't get arrested for this.
IMPEACH, IMPEACH, IMPEACH the fuckers NOW!
That was a great interview of Leahy. Amazing what kinds of serious answers an *actual* journalist can get out of a member of Congress when he asks insightful questions.
Even if he did start out in the sports department.
I understand Congress is slow. I understand Congress is investigating..
It is me that is impatient in removing Gonzales. The burials of crimes and the future and present harm and disruption Gonzales causes can be great.
It is absolutely disgusting and frustrating to know this man is the Atty Gen on the American payroll and believes doing the Presidents ideological deeds instead of the work of the American people is beyond rational thinking that he is not removed from office, Unless of course it is that Congress needs him in place to further this investigation because it leads to others.
White House to Congress: "Suck it. What are you gonna do about it???"
JustSickOfIt @ 34:
Agreeing with this. If any of the Thugs had any decency or honor at all, they've been run off LONG ago. Personally I thought that cutting off DeLay would do it, but there's clearly alternate sources of funding for scum.
Robt @ 36: is beyond rational thinking that he is not removed from office, Unless of course it is that Congress needs him in place to further this investigation because it leads to others.
Yes. It is beyond rational thinking that a man so twisting the role of his office, the AG of all people, will suffer no consequences at all in the face of the crimes he's committed.
What message does this send to future corrupt administrations?
It tells them they can do anything they want in the second term, no matter how heinous and the consequences,...meh.
In addition, if Gonzo is asked to resign (which he might) bush will probably replace him with a warm body just as bad, just as openly perverse as Gonzo.
Whoa, and oops. How did that (the above happen?) sorry,
I am shamefully computer inept, wah.
As a Vermonter, I have been pushing Patrick Leahy (and Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch) for impeachment pretty hard for the past several months. All have resisted, citing now familiar arguments that ending the war takes precedence. I'm not sure what it will take to make them realize that damage to the nation is much broader and deeper than the war, and that the Bush administration is in this for much higher stakes. The Gonzales affair makes it clear to me that the risks of losing the freedoms and values that this country are built on are profound. I will keep insisting that action be taken, but we all must keep the pressure on the Congress. Otherwise, the only option may be to find another place to live.
RobertD @ 35:
Being a good sports commentator seems to have been good training for being a good journalist. Of course, having good intentions and more than a small amount of intelligence helps too. One can only wonder what it is that most journalists think their role is these days. With Bill-O, the pathology is obvious. More and more he reminds me of the propagandist in "V for Vendetta". Pond slime.
Keith Olbermann is a brave man, and most amazingly has kept his ego pretty much in check.
There is not a thing anybody can do about this administration. Writing this will most probably get me into trouble. That is where the USA is heading. The administration is making a mockery of the constitution. The USA is driven by money. If people have money in there pockets then they are happy, so that is what will happen. There will be just enough happy people in this country to have a "don't care attitude" about what is happening. If Congress is serious about what is happening in the country then it will do something about it, but as I said, there are a lot of happy people in Congress.
Macit @ 43:
I think this is a good point. By keeping people focused on buying more "stuff", driving a wedge between the haves and the have nots, and avoiding a military draft, the government has been brilliant a defusing meaningful protest. I believe that is why it has taken so long for the country to reach critical mass. It is agonizingly slow. But I really believe that now it is happening.
The reaction of people like O'Reilly is quite telling. They are clearly in a panic, and are desperate to provide distraction and disinformation. What we must do now is stay focused on where the real value is. Impeachment. Now.
Damn, that's 3 posts in one hour. I'm starting to worry myself.
CBS headlines with GONZO; is there more about Gonzo?
Ridiculous.
Leahy stands there telling us that Buschco broke the law and he's not going to do much, if anything, about it. He seems to honestly think that it's not his job to enforce the balance of powers.
Senator, if not you, then whose job is it?
Imavehmontah @ 41:
Perhaps a gentle suggestion to multitask? Here we are, terrorized with the threat of fascist takeover by our own gov't, and the guys we 'think' most trustworthy behave as though they spend their lives in a padded, soundless booth.
How can it be, all the so obvious points you enumerate fall on what can only be ears that are deaf?
One would think impeachment would SPEED UP bringing our troops home. Just having bush under the same stress so lavishly given by the repugs to Clinton (only this time for actual high crimes) would get repugs cooperating (til the next election) in survival mode.
Like you, I'm originally a Vermonter and met Pat Leahy early in his career in '74 and have been crazy about him ever since I was that barefoot kitten. It was like bathing in this elegant kindness.
Like you, I'm seriously considering asking a couple of canadian friends if they'd sponsor us.
What a shame, what a shame Sen. Leahy is so deaf to the extremes u.s. citizens are being forced to leave while the specter of the threat of fascism and despair looms over us.
How, How can he and the rest NOT MENTION THE OBVIOUS and put our hearts to rest with a direct acknowledgement of the threat we are being terrorized by here at home,
directly in plain view???? Why is this Open Secret not addressed? Anyone who understands why, feel free to respond!
Imavehmontah@42,
"Keith Olbermann is a brave man, and most amazingly has kept his ego pretty much in check."
Not to dilute previous post, there's a push to put msnbc up for auction to the highest bidder. Guess who it's meant to silence!?
crazylove @ 47:
Your words are poetic and compelling, and I thank you showing me a way to express deep emotion with less anger than I am prone to do. May I send Leahy your comments? Perhaps we can still turn him towards the light.
Imavehmontah @ 49:
Please! Please send Leahy my comments! Thanks for your good words, and wish for us all rest from this waking nightmare. I think we feel the sadness first, the anger second.
But it's appropriate, more than appropriate.
I'm thinking for all of this to get resolved, John Ashcroft needs to come forward and testify before the Senate regarding Gonzo coming to his bedside in the hospital after he's recovering from gall bladder surgery.
Say what you will about Christians, but I think Ashcroft is the only member of Bush's Cabinet who actually believes in God and would follow the right course, regardless of political party loyalty. I believe he will really seek WWJD and come forward. After all, even from his sickbed, he was conscious enough to tell Gonzales and his accomplice to stick it up their rear when they tried to get him to sign off on that domestic terrorism spy legislation, stating, even in a near-sedated state, that the legislation violated the Constitution.
I also believe it was the reason why Ashcroft got the hell out of dodge - he saw which way the wind was blowing with this Administration, and he also saw what happened to former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill when O'Neill told the truth about using that budget surplus Clinton left to give tax refunds that did no more for the middle-class taxpayer than providing extra lunch money for his kids.
Ashcroft's gall bladder removal indicated that if he stuck around, any vestiges of being a true Christian were going to be eviscerated. So, I'm praying this guy comes forward because if he does, should Bush continue to be stubborn and hang on to Gonzo, the House is free to press forward with impeachment hearings, especially if Ashcroft states publicly that impeachment of Gonzo is imperative, and call out any ReThug who would try to obstruct the process as being "unpatriotic".
The minute I see Gonzo behind bars I'll praise the Dems to the high heavens and be a believer. Until then............ booooolshit!
The Political Junkie@51,
"...should Bush continue to be stubborn and hang on to Gonzo, the House is free to press forward with impeachment hearings, especially if Ashcroft states publicly that impeachment of Gonzo is imperative, and call out any ReThug who would try to obstruct the process as being “unpatriotic”."
Just a few assumptions there in the overall post that give pause. Why would "Where The Eagles Soar" Ashcroft's christianity have anything whatsoever to do with his professional duty. Separation of church & state exists for a reason, and that reason is REASON.
No extra padding (like religion)is needed to say he was treated with a callous lack of consideration which any decent individual could and would understand without the extra mask of "religion". Emotional maturity and conscience is an inner state. If a person is truly with a discipline of religion, they shut up about it and don't impose it on others, have a set of INNER standards and not drive other people crazy with it, especially if they are in a governmental position. That is a private matter and plain ORDINARY manners to respect boundaries.
Impeaching gonzales in this case ought to be a slamdunk "you're outa here". In this case it would be like killing just one roach, of which bush has an endless supply. No, it's Bush that needs impeaching as well as cheney, a shoe slamming two roaches in one shot.
Then Gonzo will simply have to leave the stage. But this precedent view of Leahy's, that it would take too long to prosecute after the term ends is sending the message to the rest of the Fascists-in-waiting that they can do anything they want in the second term, or even wreak a whole lotta damage in one kamakaze term without fear of prosecution.
Bad, bad call on Leahy's part.
SpankyTheMonkey @ 52:
Casper works blue?
ysbaddaden @ 54:
Hell, I'd wear a plaid suit and sell snake oil from the back of a pickup.
Awesome segment!
I almost felt a glimmer of hope... almost
Throw the lying, criminal ,White House Bastards in prison.
[...] Watch Video [...]
Terrible admission. Yesterday, out of nowhere, for about 1/2 an hour this blissful happy feeling came over me out of nowhere. How on earth did THAT happen?
What, Leahy put the lies on credit?
crazylove @ 55:
Is snake oil a lubricant for those women into anguine concupiscense?
Senator Schumer is calling for a Special Prosecutor to investigate Gonzales on Perjury Charges!
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Schumer_wants_Gonzales_perjury_investigati...
[...] Watch Olbermann recap the situation (thx Crooks & Liars!) [...]
Rasputin @ 62:
Most astonishing is Schumer's statement that "Leahy feels, (careful man that he is) that gonzo should be given the benefit of the doubt"(!).
My question to Sen. Leahy, if you chanced upon a man strangling on the end of a rope would you cut him down:
a) while he is still pink
b) when he turns a little blue
c) when he turns purple, or
d) when he is purplish/black and his tongue protrudes
Egad, is this for real?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKt1cjsNgiM&mode=related&search=
Crazylove, a copy of our conversation is on its way to Patrick. I wish I could find a way to have a moment's peace about all of this, but at the moment I am so afraid that the weight of inertia may bring what little progress we have made to a halt. Not sure how much more of this agony I can stand.
comb_licker, watching that Gonzales performance on yourtube was nearly enough to send me screaming in agony and nausea. That performance could only be the work of someone whose motive is pure evil.
YES, Ashcroft needs to be called to testify. The fact that he gave up his post as AG is very suspicious, and strongly suggests that he could not be complicit with the hidden coup any longer. I do think that Ashcrofts religiosity is a distracting piece of information. Religious belief has no bearing on the morality of the behaviors here, and have only served to further the divisions, scapegoating, an unspoken agendas. If Ashcroft is a decent and honorable man and has done the honorable thing, let him come forward and speak. If not, he is just another tool of evil, blinded by belief in his invisible friend as well as his visible ones.
If Shrub doesn't like his discription as a "liar" then he should just stop telling the fucking lies!
Imavehmontah@64,
" I wish I could find a way to have a moment’s peace about all of this, but at the moment I am so afraid that the weight of inertia may bring what little progress we have made to a halt. Not sure how much more of this agony I can stand."
Those moments of peace are your birthright, and mine (refer to #58) and everybody we know, and the desperate cries of the Afghanistani's imploring with shrill despair into the camera why we destroyed 16 women and children in their homes as we saw just last night, and the Iraqis which is too unspeakable to go over again.
...Then we have games being played on us all by the comfortable men and women in washington who seem to have all the time in the world...(!!!?????) Like you, I can't touch this with my mind and not lose it.
Re Leahy, his pattern over the years has never been on-the-spot. Just watch. Schumer will convince him and he'll come around. He did the same thing upon approving the invasion of Iraq, the last of 3 holdouts. If you didn't see that moment when Leahy went along at the Iraq go-ahead, he leaned into the mic and said, "I'm voting to go ahead with this...I hope I'm doing the right thing". (the kickoff to the darkest time of the history of the u.s.)
Agree with the Ashcroft testimony. That shouldn't be hard. Even without it gonzo hasn't one voice of support for his scripted lies. Interesting there's not open discussion to bring him in to this.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hi.....ment.shtml
You should check this out.
Well Well Well @ 69:
Got a BBC error page. Does it have a title to look up manually?
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