Specter: White House has 18 hours to clarify Gonzales's testimony
By Nicole Belle Sunday Jul 29, 2007 9:44pm
The Hill: (h/t pk)
The Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican, Arlen Specter (Pa.), emerged from a crucial Monday briefing and gave the Bush administration 18 hours to resolve the controversy over apparent contradictions in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's congressional testimony.
Gonzales took issue last week with former Deputy Attorney General James Comey's description of internal dissent in 2004 over the legal authority for the National Security Agency's (NSA) warrantless eavesdropping program. Frustrated Democrats called for a special prosecutor to investigate Gonzales for perjury, noting that several officials have publicly echoed Comey's account. Those calls prompted Specter to request a classified briefing to clear up the dispute.
Specter aides released a statement late Monday that suggested a bombshell to come on Tuesday afternoon.
"Given the difficulty of discussing classified matters in public, I think it is preferable to have a letter addressing that question [of Gonzales' veracity] from the administration ... by noon tomorrow, which will be made available to the news media," Specter wrote in the statement. "The administration has committed to producing such a letter."
Specter expects the letter clarifying the attorney general's testimony to be addressed to himself and Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who declined to comment on the matter.
Specter was equally cagey, telling reporters to wait until Tuesday for any further comment from him.
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Clarify what, Arlen?? Gonzalez is lying his ass off for the Bush regime. What part of that isn't clear?
"All Talk" Arlen, demanding action? Ha!
Still providing cover for W, though Gonzo practically laughed in his face. When does Arlen come up for re-election?
They will produce the letter and Specter (wasn't SPECTER the evil criminal group from James Bond) will agree with it completely and say the issue should be closed. We have seen this song and dance from Arlen many times before.
I hate spineless Specter. The worst kind of lie is the lie of omission.
Oh yeah, they better produce that letter, and on time too,, or Arlen just might get real, real disappointed!
So is Specter really saying the White House has 18 hours before he does another 180 degree flip flop and starts attacking Democrats for trying to do anything about it like he did to Schumer the other day?
Whenever Arlen opens his mouth, expect him to do just the opposite of what he says. Just wait a day or two.
Mr. Gonzalez, we are giving you exactly 18 days to come up with some better bullshit to cover up your previous bullshit. If the quality of your bullshit doesn't drastically improve, we'll be forced to issue some bullshit of our own to explain why we haven't impeached you for your bullshit.
So get your shit together.
jazzmaniac @ 6:
If they're not careful... why he'll just start sending nasty emails, and we can't have that.
Better watch out Arlen. FOX Noise is going to put a "D" next to your name again.
The plot thickens...
...or was that CNN....getting harder and harder to tell em apart.
I believe they will produce a letter saying that there will be no letter.
Ruthless People @ 10:
Soon, FOX will even have a "D" next to Bush's name, he's getting so unpopular.
Specter must KNOW that KKKarl and The Shooter have figured out some legalistic-bs-nit-picking-obtuse DETAIL that will sound like enough of a technicality to sell to the Repug SPIN MACHINE to cover Gonzo's ass AGAIN.
Specter has NEVER gone against the Pres when the shit hits the fan. I don't think he will here either.
I don't know where the reputation comes from, but Senators on both sides of the aisle have for years touted Spector as the most knowledgeable constitutional lawyer in the Senate, yet it was Spector who slipped in the clause that created the attorney scandal in the first place and all but destroyed Habeas Corpus and all the guaranteed rights that we used to have from the constitution.
Is a pretty safe bet that what ever bombshell he is planning will fall on the American people and what is left of the Republic... if you can still call it that!
Specter WAS WITH THE PRESIDENT on Air Force One last week when all this broke. They probably already worked out a compromise that Specter promised he could sell to congressional Republicans.
SMOKE AND MIRRORS.
Arlen's walking a fine line. He saw what happened to his co-senator Little Ricky Santorum. He doesn't want to go down in the next election cycle.
How many emails can be lost or shredded in 18 hours?
frog march Gonzo now
Cowboy Bob in Austin @ 17:
Yea, he and Bush probably had a big laugh about it on Air Force One about the story they were going to plant in the press how Specter "broker with Air Force One tradition and mingled with the reporters and criticized the president" I can hear Bush now "That's a good one Arly! We'll punk the press and the Amurkin people at the same time...again!...hehe!" as they toast their cocktail glasses.
GonzoD @ 19:
May take a little longer than 18 hours this time. The shredder truck's still at Dick's place. http://wonkette.com/politics/dick-cheney/shreddin-with-dick-211028.php
Will the letter be in english or bush speak?
Teehee! A date with accountability?? Something to look forward to!
You can lie before congress THEN get additional time to tie together all the loose endz you left hanging.
Un-Fucking-Believable.
Arlen Specter, master shill.
There will be no letter. All communication between the President and a piece of paper is shielded by Executive Privilege.
Arlen Spector habitually makes MUCH noise but suddenly stops short, while everybody else goes over the cliff.
C'mon, let's see action. It's game time for Gonzo to go, um, away.
"have a letter addressing that question [of Gonzales’ veracity] from the administration"
This will be good - a "clarification" from the lieing scumbags running our country. More BS upon spin upon BS.
I agree with SnappleThorpe - unfucking believable.
I don’t know, I don't trust Specter. Look at that picture. Looks like he’s still got mouth cramps from sucking Bush’s $#%@ on Air Force One.
ohdave @ 8:
Arlen's kind of a bullshit one hit wonder himself. He hit his peak when he worked the "magic bullet" into the Warren Commission report, So Arlen knows how to spot quality bullshit. In 18 hours, Gonzalez better deliver the real deal or Arlen's not gonna be happy.
Ruthless People @ 29:
Ruthless P, I could have really gone through the rest of my life without that image in my head. Thanks a lot, :-)
will they hide behind "national security" or will it be "executive privilege"?
Anyone else see the following occurring:
1) August recess
2) During recess, Bush fires Gonzo and recess-appoints some other asshat for AG, thus one-upping congress.
Democrats are screwing up. They should pounce then to let this go to their summer break.
We are giving you a week to change your testimony? B.S.
Otay @ 33:
Exactly. Bolton II.
[...] Crooks and Liars. 11:42 pm | [...]
I cannot figure Arlen Specter out. How does a man like that stay elected?
gempei @ 37:
2 faced son of a bitch. He was the creator of the "magic bullet theory".
gempei @ 37:
There are two worse: Orin Hatch and Joe Lieberman. It pains me our taxes go to pay these shills.
gene214 @ 31:
Sorry Gene, my next thought is really going to do you in then...looks like he's got something of Bush's he needs to spit out.
[...] Court Contact the Webmaster Link to Article white house Specter: White House has 18 hours to clarify Gonzales’s testimony » [...]
Otay @ 33:
A likely scenario, and just who would that asshat be?
Hope jebbie doesn't have a law degree. But even that wouldn't be an impediment - look at gonzo. Even though his "equal opportunity" law degree is from Harvard, he likely sailed through on the basis of being hispanic.
Also, claims of nepotism would be answered with the fact that John Kennedy picked his brother Robert as his AG...
For all the latest news, key reports, document releases and other essential materials surrounding Gonzales, the U.S. attorneys purge and NSA illegal domestic surveillance, visit:
- The U.S. Attorneys Scandal Document Center
- The NSA Domestic Surveillance Scandal Center
Harley @ 37, 38:
I wish these guys would start thinking of spending more time with their family.
The bombshell: We live under a monarchy.
Ex-Canuck @ 42:
Harriet Myers.
arlin sphincter is just a phukkking inside man for the boosh crime fambly. I really wish people would stop quoting him and admit that. he is a boosh enabler, plain and simple. nothing more.
nothing to see here! move along now!
Harley @ 46:
LOL!
Uh, come to think of it, I guess I should take this possibility a little more seriously with the Shrub...
Game over. Gonzo won. Democrats call for a special prosecutor, who would ask Gonzo anything he needed to in front of a grand jury, sworn in. A letter is not sworn testimony, people. It's a Specter-driven end-run around the accountability goalpost.
If Specter had real concerns, he'd call the special prosecutor to be sure Gonzo and the BoogerBush Gang were given the opportunity to prove their innocence once and for all, completely exhonorated before God and the American people.
But Gonzo and Specter have a problem with swearing before God, and this avoids that problem.
Game over. Martial law will commence in exactly 5 months.
Love your name, Congressive. At least I take it to mean the opposite of Progressive, kinda like Congress is the opposite of Progress?
The Dems would be well served to keep the floor of the Senate open over August (it just takes one member to be there at any time) and to progress the Impeachment proceedings of Gonzalez (and, more important, the Iraq withdrawal timetable). This would be in contrast to "war president" Bush adding upon his record % of vacation days for any recent prez.
We need to change the way people get elect to office, they should be required to fill out and application, piss in a cup, and take a psychological test or would that be to much to ask.
Dont trust anything Airforce one Arlen has to say. He cant be trusted.
Gonzo is getting a lateral promotion to court jester. His #2 will take over without confirmation, and nothing will change.
Don't believe anything Arlen Specter says. He is a liar just as Alberto Gonzalez is a liar.
Specter has told America several lies to cover for the Bush Administration.
He has to credibility.
Guy's nothing will happen, nothing really good ever does. If Gonzo lost his job he will not pay the price anyway. Bush will just pardon him and why not? But can't sink much more because at 25% he already hit the idiot floor.
Well Well Well @ 56:
I meant to say BUSH can't sink much further in the polls, he already hit the floor.
Spector is a dishonorable man. Those who places any faith in anything he either says or produces is a fool.
Why does Arlen Specter have santorum at the corners of his mouth after he meets with Bush?
Head of the Judiciary Committe, Senator Fat Lady (D-VT) will fall for Specters scam and let Gonzo go about his merry way.
What's really going on here? Skip over the fact that All-Talk Arlen is the committee member involved here. Why has “The administration committed to producing such a letter.”? What good could come from them actually going on the record here?
They aren't going to say Abu lied so that means defending what he said as true. How can having that on the record help them as this crisis builds? They lied to the public, and to the Congress, about the NSA program, data-mining, and the supposed lack of discord around the problem. They broke the law. The AG lied now or he lied then, it's that simple. The WH has to decide which choice is the worst medicine. Just the fact that they sent Dickless on the talk show circuit shows how desperate they are, spouting platitudes about Abu indicates he'll be gone within the week.
Better put an observation team outside the White House tonight to film the convoy of shredder trucks that will be coming and going all night long.
"OK now, you'd better shape up!...I'm giving you one more chance!...You hear me? ONE MORE CHANCE!!....Hey, I'm not kidding around this time, one more chance!....You'd better listen to me this time!...Hey, hey, stop laughing, I'm serious here!...One more chance!....Are you paying attention? C'mon, I'm not kidding!...ONE MORE CHANCE!!!..." Sheesh.
I think Specter's thinks that he's on to something. He sees blood in the water, and he wants to be one of the sharks. He is, after all, on the Judiciary Committee. If he's supposed to be doing his job to get re-elected, he needs to get something done. Being a Republican is going to work against his reelection, so he needs to compensate for it. This is his opportunity. He could just as well do something stupid or change his mind, but he just looks all so fired up and excited when he's in committee, in serious lawyer mode, laying the smack down on those criminals. Leahy in contrast seems to be just disgusted by the whole affair.
Ruthless
Arlen didn't give suck on Air Force One. He pluked W in the *ss.
Where does such comment come from?
The right's thinking they can rewrite the past few days?
I never liked him based on his role in the Warren Commission but I
think he is ready to serve now as Barry Goldwater and Hugh Scott rolled into one.
18 hours! OOOhhhh.
People, this is Arlen Specter we're talking about. The same Arlen Specter that said the oil execs didn't have to be sworn in. The same Arlen Specter who came up with the magic bullet theory. The man is a lying sack of sh*t.
18 hours, and tomorrow a request for an investigation into impeaching Gonzales will be introduced. Coincidence?
It's like the country needs to be killed because it knows too much.
Arlen could be a tool, a fool, or about to drool.
he could have made a deal to be the spokespiehole for some new "evidence" the honkey house is going to release about a terrawrist program of attacks that they saved us from by having gonzo lie to everyone, every time. there was TPA (toilet paperer's of america) not TIA (titillating intelligence omissions)
he could have ablution moving down the sewer pipe of success on his way to a medal of freedom.
he could be arranging Ralph Kramden's bus route for the day to coincide with "bad luck" alberto
but honestly, thanks for all you do for us Arlen. Don't you know he has introduced the legislation that make his king all powerful. by mistake? hardly. he is meaningless drivel and proud, damn proud of it. his tool is for sale.
Are you watching Pennsylvania? enjoying the dog on dog show?
Hey, Arlen, show me the money.
He's not talking about oil executives right now.
He's talking about your country and a Bush.
I can never tell if my argument is with a Naderite or a tory.
Arlen Specter now has 11 hours to show he's not talking out his ass. Like usual.
By their acts I shall know them. Their words have come to mean nothing to me.
I trust Specter as far as I can throw him.
oldtree
Well are you posting just to continue your confusion or do you have the sense to postulate a point?
I hate people online who post some numbskull nothing.
Specter didn't say when the clock starts counting down. Most likely in late January of 2009.
It is Republicans who now trust Arlen as far as they can throw him.
Recently he seems lettered.
kerplunk @ 60:
Sounds about right to me. And until he replied to me concerning my condemnation of Abu Ghraib years ago I thought Leahy might be something more then his own little twisted version of the 'Dark Knight'.
erplunk
What? Your comment has no basis in recent events.
Are these trolls acting as Naderites?
WTF?
Gonzales will step down in exchange for dropping the subpoena of Karl Rove.
Gonzales did a favor for Bush by getting him out of the jury pool so he wouldn't have to tell about his DUI and Bush helped Gonzales sister Theresa Gonzales ( a career drug dealer and user )get 90 days rehab. for dealing drugs, carrying guns and money during a drug bust.
Now for 6 1/2 years Theresa Gonzales has been able to freely deal drugs without being picked up or charged because her brother is the Attorney General. Gonzales was put in the position to do as he is told per Cheney's orders. Specter is working hard for the GOP to save the lying Attorney General. Specter did his part during the GOP run for corruption and now has to protect the White House. Yes he gives lip service but when it comes to action Specter is up to his neck in this mess. Gonzales lied and that's it. To give his a change to change his story after lying under oath well why not give the same chance to criminals in jail. How do the DOJ lawyers go to a boss who's doesn't know law and lies under oath? Specter is giving lip service but he will protect his criminal friends to the end.
Nothing will happen. Never does, never will..
Sorry naysayers, things are starting to unravel. Gonzos going.
whizkid @ 78:
Have you been sleeping?? Or are YOU the troll? Specter respects the Constitution about as much as bush/cheney/gonzo et al.
Terrible @ 83:
But it is sweet to see someone stand up for the rethugs. Well maybe not considering their disgusting actions for the past 20 years.
This guy cannot and should not be trusted
Bush somehow must have gotten to Arlen on Air Force One since Arlen seemed a lot more willing to pander again to the administration again on Sunday morning. We have to give every Republican two thousand times to get his/her story right. It's the same number of times Bush has changed the reasons why we are in Iraq. This is not America. This is contrived, fantasy government. The Republicans including Arlen will sell their souls to protect their leader. What happened to honest government? The government of the people, by the people, and for the people has become the government that hates the people, spies on the people, lies to the people, and suppresses the people. The words honesty and government can never be used in the same sentence anymore.
What a damn windbag, he'll do nothing but weasle behind Bush like he always does. Methane Arlen, methane, it's dangerous, better get you some nose plugs.
The data mining leak came out just in the nick of time didn't it? Isn't it amazing!!!! Couldn't have worked out better if Dick Cheney had arranged it. hmmmmmm!!!! Cover up lies with more lies.
I hate all the attention firing eight lawyers has gotten when we ought to be digging into the history of who started this war. I want to see as much attention paid to Bush, The Dowing Street Memo, Wolfowitz, Feith, Abrams, Curveball and others who worked so feverously to fabricate intelligence and dissuade any other opionion..ie Joe Wilson.
I do hope that Specter is for real...we have a Supreme Court chief justice who promises during confirmation hearings to uphold precedents and then goes and issue rulings of his choice. I would think that having a tarnished Chief Justice and a can't be trusted Attorney General is a potent mix for reckless justice.
Is it possible gb and Dick are going to get taught a lesson about kicking a man when he is down with cancer?
GonzoD @ 19:
EXACTLY! This was a warning flare!
Fran Taylor @ 64:
:lol: :lol: :lol: That's a good one!
kerplunk @ 60:
Don't go insulting ladies, especially fat ones, you know for a fact that they have more backbone.
I have to say this everyone:
I would have expected much less from the man who invented the "Single-Bullet theory", this Pennsylvanian ain't goin away easily, so give him his eighteen hours.
Someone please tell Arlen not to swallow his right cheek.
No seriously look at the picture, he's mawing on his cheek.
How come the reporters never ask the blatantly obvious questions?
All of this is such a crock...Specter is one of the biggest Bush ass kissers around. He's playing a dangerous game and I for one hope he loses his next election. Everyone in the house and senate should be staying in session until they get to the bottom of what is really going on, have the evidence and start impeachment to save our democracy and the constitution, put the country before their vacation...be an example to the Iraq parliament what it takes to run a country and show their determination to the American people. Nope, they'll go and the WH will play havoc. The whole thing makes me sick.
Oh herro hans Brix....
Comeon hans dont bust my barls.
Specter is a big mouthed, lying Stooge. He talks tough, then caves in 100% of the time. It is all to trick the voters into believing that he is an independent Repuglican.
Kind of like the "maverick" label the adoring MSM has crowned Mumbles McCain with. Maverick my ass! The cowardly gambler that James Garner popularized on TV 50 years ago was a rock of integrity compared to Mumble's empty brags that he opposed torture, and wanted a new direction in Iraq.
To all the people that say, "don't vote for the party, vote for the man-" get your heads out of your asses. Don't trust a Repug, they are liars one and all.
Let see atttack fellow committee members, ride on Air 1 lots of pre publicity and now he has 18 hours left, I smell a big stink and its on the repukulan side.
Arlen "the Capo" Spector is a disgrace. He's complicit in all of Bush Co. illegal activities.
AS if it were not bad enough for Gonzo. it keeps getting worse:
Here is an article from March 07 accusing Gonzo of enabling sexual abuse of boys when he was in Texas. Gonzales was accused of failing to prosecute members of the Texas Youth Commission "after a Texas Ranger investigation documented that guards and administrators were sexually abusing the institution's teenage boy inmates....among the charges in the Texas Ranger report were that administrators would rouse boys from their sleep for the purpose of conducting all-night sex parties."
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54861
Nice. There'a good man.
*
Specter is a smart man and goes which way the wind blows. He participated in all the GOP evil when they looked invincible, but now is against them...which is actually good...for now...
7 hours and counting!
jazzmaniac @ 6:
Or, even worse, he might tell the WH, in stern tones, that they have been very, very naughty.
mystic @ 101:
To repeat: Spector is a dishonorable man. Anything he has to say- about anything- should be dismissed out of hand.
"The White House has 18 hours to clarify" . . . "or I will do nothing and criticize anyone who would."
pine nut @ 104:
That's right--Bad Gonzo! First I'll hit you on the nose with a newspaper and then you go to the time out chair! If you ever mess with me again---then no supper for you! -And I may really mean it this time!
Specter is a fraud.
Well, you can say this about Specter...he pissed off Faux News sufficiently that they labeled him a Democrat!
pine nut @ 106:
Maybe they used condoms.
Gonzo is incapable of telling the truth and will lie to the American people AGAIN today.
Specter = Clarence Thomas
Something we should not forget ever. Slugs attract slime.
What's this, another line in the sand??? Arlen gives em 18 hours...HIGH NOON or else.... Or else what Specter?? You're giving an 18 hour ultimatum? Sayin, what, talk before noon tomorrow.. or next monday or maybe it's tuesday... or next month... or else.... Or else, What!!??? He'll issue another ultimatum???..This is suppose to be scary or something?? Here's a hint Arlen... They're, laughing at you bud...And so are more and more of the rest of us. You evidently never read the story of the boy who cried wolf either did you Specter.....Talk about w.e.a.k..... You people are kinda like geriatric pitbulls.....with no teeth......And a laughable bark...JD
Great "Flip" Romney vid...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kTmYb8ULGw
Let's not hold our breath, Specter is a hardcore partisan putz who is more full of shit than an outhouse.
Everything issueing forth from Specter's mouth has a corresponding loud report from his backside. E=mc2.
WH missed the deadline. Time to cut their budget.
And the mighty Specter has spoken!
mystic @ 102:
I have been waiting and waiting for this particular story to come out! I saw it months ago and before AG started saying he was staying to "protect our kids"! This guy is a sack of "----"! He refused to do anything about this situation when it was brought to his attention. This is outrageous.
This guy is as crooked as they come.
Wait! Just WAIT until Tuesday! Just WAIT for 18 hours to see if he clears this up.....and if not? I won't do a goddamn thing, just like I haven't done a goddamn thing to enforce accountability at all. He's a liar! Can't be believed! But I won't call for impeachment....or for perjury...
Specter is a blowhard who is still looking for the single magic bullet stuck up his ass.
Hey Arlen, can you tell all us kiddies the story about that magic bullet again.....that's such an amazing story, I'm sure there are a few posters here who haven't heard about it.
Waiting.
NOT holding breath.
Expect the 'bombshell' to be that he is either Gonzales's lover, or that he (Specter) is really a female space alien.
The true Bushist 'bombshell' would be that the democrats, the whole dirty lot, are targetting Gonzales whent hey actually screwed of stealing the 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 elections and 'gave' them to the republicans. Huh? Nevermind...
screwed up stealing
I quit...
hey Arlen, it's Tuesday afternoon and 1:30 here on the coast making it 4:30 in DC. When do you expect this clarification of lying through their teeth? Give it up and vote to impeach these criminals. Remember it's supposed to be America over your Republiscum party, not the other way around that you usually go.
Why bother reporting anything that pos Specter says? He NEVER follows through. Never.
Hey, boys and girls...
Did yah catch Specters 'bombshell'?
He rolled over and will accept nearly ALL of the conditions to get Rove, et all, to the stand...
Not the 'bombshell' we were all hoping for, I'd bet... He did it on Wolfie's show on CNN. (Craven No Nuts)
Here's what will happen when the White House basically 'keeps on' providing and clarifying the usual nothing: ________________. There you go, more .............. nothing.
Thank you Arlen.
Spectar must be trying to make amends for his part as a junior attorney on the Warren Commision.dubias at best
So where is the fucking letter from the white house you fucking repurb lying prick. Today is wed. 8/01/2007
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