Think Progress

Key ally suggests Bush administration broke the law.

Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) says “the administration might have violated the law by failing to inform Congress of some secret intelligence programs.” Hoekstra is usually one of the administration’s most reliable supporters on intelligence matters.



62 Responses to “Key ally suggests Bush administration broke the law.”

  1. Cool Breeze says:

    how do you pronounce that name any Hoekstra is that like extra hoax in reverse?


  2. Cool Breeze says:

    bush and cheney failed to tell congress quite a few things, even their own party, imagine that, but then again, congress signed away their powers to bushmaster so they can’t cry too much.

    They have only themselves to blame. =)


  3. Ho Chi Minh says:

    Of course Bush broke the law(thousands of times). Bush the”decider” has decided that laws don’t apply to him. Didn’t he say “the Constitution is just a god damn piece of paper”? He flaunts the law every time his signs a bill with his “signing declaration”, that he believes he is free to pick and choose what laws he will obey or not.


  4. Clyde the Ripper says:

    I would suggest that the Honorable Mr. Hoekstra prove his commitment to his statements by being the author of a Bill of Impeachment. Otherwise he has no creditability along with the other “Talkers” who are ready to activate their jaws but not willing to be “Walkers” by activating their brains.


  5. memphis mental midget says:

    Yeah,but Clinton……………………….


  6. Above the Clouds says:

    Is this the same Hoekstra (R-MI) who brought the discredited allegations of WMD to the US a few weeks ago? I get my crazy, zany Republicans mixed up from time to time. Hoekstra probably decided he was tired of being refered to Santorum’s WMD bitch and threw this zinger out there to deflect.


  7. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Democratic members of Congress have been aying this for a while now, but as long as they’re Democratic, the administration can dismiss their complaints as partisan grandstanding.

    But now Rebubs are starting to take up the call. Things are looking rather dismal for Dubya & Company.

    Expect another ‘terrorist incident’ real soon to take our attention off this latest embarassment to the administration.


  8. Above the Clouds says:

    TripMaster Monkey: No ‘terrorist incident’ could possibly cover the stink of the failed Bush Administration. Bush and the neocons are inept, unprincipled and unable to help Americans in any capacity and the voting public is fully aware of this fact.


  9. WaltTheMan says:

    These signing statements sound like a good idea. The next time I sign one of those 50 cent refund check from Wheaties or or Sara Lee, I will declare that the check is worth a million bucks. I could be rich in a week or two. Watch out Young America, MN – I’m on a roll!


  10. WaltTheMan says:

    #9 – me,
    Check sb. checks.


  11. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Reply to #8:

    Above the Clouds, I have to disagree. Remember, when 9/1 happened, we were all in a state of shock, just looking to someone to ‘protect’ us from the ‘terrorist threat’. It was this fear that induced Congress to pass Patriot Acts I and II, destroying this country as we knew it.

    Dubya & Company know that a populace in fear is a populace in control, and since 9/11, we’ve been fed a steady diet of terror to keep us meek and subservient. Sure, there might be quite a few people on the fence now, but another ‘terrorist incident’ of sufficient scope will be all it takes to get them to fall meekly back in line.


  12. WaltTheMan says:

    #11- Monkey,
    Don’t you mean:
    Dubya & Company know that a populace in fear is a populace not in control, and since 9/11, we’ve been fed a steady diet of terror to keep us meek and subservient. Sure, there might be quite a few people on the fence now, but another ‘terrorist incident’ of sufficient scope will be all it takes to get them to fall meekly back in line.
    ?


  13. ANVILHEAD says:

    BUSH IS A GREAT MAN.

    HE IMPOSED HIS WILL ON AMERICA.

    YOU MIDDLE CLASS NERDS WATCHED….

    HES NOT DONE….

    GREAT MEN LEAD.


  14. Zooey says:

    Wasn’t Hoekstra going to go digging for WMD in Iraq with Curt Weldon?
    Am I mistaken on that?

    Anyhoo, he’s using the famous Repub weasel word “might,” as CYA.


  15. Dan says:

    #1 – I don’t know how the Hoek it’s pronounced.


  16. Barbera says:

    Washington Post
    Sunday, July 9, 2006; Page A06

    Hoekstra’s four-page letter of May 18 was posted yesterday on the New York Times’ Web site. His staff confirmed the letter’s authenticity but said it was meant to remain private. Spokesman Jamal D. Ware said Hoekstra “has raised these concerns, and they are being addressed. He will continue to push for full disclosure so the committee can conduct vigorous oversight.”
    In his letter, Hoekstra complained of unspecified alleged surveillance operations that had not become public at the time and that, perhaps, remain undisclosed. It was written five weeks before newspapers divulged that the administration has been secretly tapping into a vast global database of confidential financial transactions for nearly five years. It was unclear yesterday whether Hoekstra and other top-ranking lawmakers had been briefed on that program by the date of the letter.

    Asked for comment on the letter, White House spokesman Peter Watkins said the administration “will continue to work closely” with Hoekstra and other congressional leaders on intelligence matters.


  17. Juan C says:

    Hoekstra (R-MI) says “the administration might have violated the law by failing to inform Congress of some secret intelligence programs.”

    No shit.


  18. Juan C says:

    No ‘terrorist incident’ could possibly cover the stink of the failed Bush Administration.
    Comment by Above the Clouds — July 8, 2006 @ 9:10 pm

    Sorry, pal. It just did. It was in the morning of september 9th in 2001.


  19. Zooey says:

    No shit.
    Comment by Juan C

    Your usual charm, Juan. :)


  20. Monkeyfister says:

    Hoekstra’s work hard for some political hay in Michigan, where The Poeople are freaking PISSED, at the Right Wing that has raped the living hell out of dear Michigan, my beloved homestate, for well over 10 years, now.

    I don’t know what challenge he’s facing, but, I KNOW Hoekstra in person, and I know that he is nothing but a nasty, nasty political beast, and nothing more.

    Within days, after this percolates through the media, he’ll turn into Arlen Specter, and forget he EVER said ANY of these words.

    I predict he’ll even apologize, if pressed.

    He’s a nasty, nasty West Michigan Republican, driven by his constiuency of West Michigan-based, AmWay MOONIES. Everything that fool utters is either driven by MOONIES, or the VanAndel and DeVos families… MOONIES, MOONIES, MOONIES… every one of them.

    Hoekstra is a TOOL of the MOONIES… Bought and sold– completely– NOT to be confused with an American.

    –mf


  21. Barbera says:

    Hoekstra is in no danger, just got his name published again.


  22. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Monkeyfister, just how many AmWay Moonies are in Michigan? I’ve lived here all my life, and I had no idea.


  23. Juan C says:

    We need Seixon. We have only 22 comments. ;)


  24. LCLiberal says:

    Hoekstra will go on the Sunday news shows tomorrow and deny he ever said it. This isn’t some big right-wing “breakthrough”. We’ve seen this before. H will be back to supporting the murder of Bill Keller in a few days. Even if he did actually believe this he wouldn’t do a thing. No story.

    http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog.php
    Jack Abramoff: GWBush’s best friend and 7-time White House guest. Plus, the SEcret Service WH visitor log that shows the JA visits
    Only on SSA
    http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog.php


  25. Zooey says:

    We need Seixon.
    Comment by Juan C

    Juan, shhhhh. It’s got to sleep sometime…


  26. Above the Clouds says:

    Rove wanted a divided America after 9-11. He fully understood that if we stood together as one to fight terror ANYONE would look and act better at it than “his man” Bush. You’re either “with us or with the terrorists” sound like a uniting attempt? False promises, false choices, and false alarms are the cornerstones of the Bush policy agenda.


  27. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Zooey, are you sure? It’s entirely posible that the mystery ‘norwegian’ is nothing more than an Eliza-style bot programmed to search for snippets of news and law and present them as ‘evidence’ to support his hatemongering. I’ve seen IRC eggdrop bots present more coherent arguments.

    By the way, if Seixon is actually in Norway, why, then, is he most active during 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST? Makes you think, n’est pas?


  28. Barbera says:

    Above the Clouds
    Oh wow, how intense was that? Stupidest thing I ever heard.


  29. Juan C says:

    False promises, false choices, and false alarms are the cornerstones of the Bush policy agenda.
    Comment by Above the Clouds — July 8, 2006 @ 10:14 pm

    Agreed. Then add 2538 dead soldiers, 300 billion dollar war for 500 WMD carcasses and Tom Hank´s Cast Away character aka Saddam Hussein, a nice Patriot Act, homeland surveillance, thousands of dead afghans and iraqi civilians, thousands of exiled citizens…but BIG OIL BUCKS FOR BUDDIES.


  30. Zooey says:

    By the way, if Seixon is actually in Norway, why, then, is he most active during 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST? Makes you think, n’est pas?
    Comment by TripMaster Monkey

    I wish it were as interesting as that, Trip. I’ve been to the boy’s website, and I’m pretty sure he’s there, thank goodness. He just seems to have an extraordinary capacity for right fighting.


  31. Cyra Brown says:

    After some time to ‘reflect’ upon the wisdom of his impromptu “Media Event”, it appears the Congressman is feeling some regret for giving in to the heat of the moment. And now he is overcompensating for it by wagging a finger of warning in the general vicinity of BushCo, while praying that it will be enough to salvage his image, so he won’t actually have to ‘do’ something. Yap in haste, retreat in shame. Funny.


  32. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Juan C:

    If you think this is just about oil, you’re not seeing the big picture.

    This is about power. This is about the U.S. extending its hegemony acros the globe, ushering in the ‘New World Order’ Dubya’s daddy spoke of. The oil is certainly an important part….arguably themost important part, but to these monsters, it’s only a means to an end.


  33. Juan C says:

    Monkey and Zooey. I cant believe what you are saying. Seixon is a great man, with great original breakthtrough opinions. Ok…he is a liar because calls himself centerist yet always support Bush regime, ok he is a copy-paster with little opinion, ok he is boring, ok he is annoying, ok he refutes argument like a 18 year old, ok he invites everybody to his blog so he can make some bucks, but he is a great man. Shame on you. :P


  34. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Cyra,

    Yup….these days, if I see a politician doing something right, my first question is usually ‘what did they do earlier, that they’re trying to distract us from now? This goes double if they’re Repubs.


  35. Juan C says:

    This is about power. This is about the U.S. extending its hegemony acros the globe, ushering in the ‘New World Order’ Dubya’s daddy spoke of.
    Comment by TripMaster Monkey — July 8, 2006 @ 10:29 pm

    You are right. But you see, they are really stupid (Ok, we knew that but let me explain) they want to use the same strategy of Nazis: they thought they could own markets by invading countries. (Right, they are not invading Canada, Mexico) but they think that by putting puppet presidents in the countries they invade, can give them open door to US products. It certainly does, but Japan and China have not invaded (recently) any country yet they are filling the market with their products. Those countries will prevail (and I am not celebrating either…I dont believe free market is humanity´s ultimate goal)


  36. Barbera says:

  37. Cool Breeze says:

    hoek heck but if we simply alter the structure

    hoek
    hoak

    you see? hoakstra =)
    hoak-xtra


  38. Jay Randal says:

    If I post on here, then the Norwegian might come on here soon > lol.


  39. Cyra Brown says:

    And given the fact that he was attempting to validate BushCo’s lies about WMD, which was a result of BushCo making up their own ‘intelligence’ to get what they wanted, he now wants to bitch about having intelligence withheld by BushCo. Nutty!


  40. TripMaster Monkey says:

    Juan C:

    But you see, they are really stupid

    NO!

    The perception that this administration is stupid and incompetent is the BEST trick they’ve played upon the American public, bar none. Do not be deceived! This administration actively cultivates the perception that they are incompetent, but look at what they’ve managed to do so far.

    Remember, if you buy into the idea that their goal was to ‘free’ Iraq, then yes, their current actions do look stupid. If their goal is to keep Iran from having nuclear weapons, then yes, their current actions do look stupid. If their goal is to keep us safe from North Korea, then yes, their current actions do look stupid.

    But those aren’t their goals….not at all. Their goal is world domination, and viewed in that light, the perpetual occupation of Iraq and the agitation for military action in Iran and North Korea fall into this strategy with bone-chilling clarity.

    Don’t be deceived. Bush plays the Bible-thumping bumpkin on TV, but behind the scenes the charming bumbling disappears. Rove has been compared to Niccolo Machiavelli so many times that the adjective ‘rovean has entered the lexicon as a synonym to ‘machiavellian’. By inderestimating them you are playing right into their hands.

    Time is slipping away. If we don’t wake up soon, we never will.


  41. Cool Breeze says:

    I dont believe free market is humanity´s ultimate goal)

    Comment by Juan C — July 8, 2006 @ 10:38 pm

    I agree, if anything unregulated free market results in a breakdown of the democratic republic principles.
    Lobbyists are surely a sign of the senates corporate self interest and free market bill buying.


  42. Lily says:

    It was Hoekstra and Sanorum claiming WMDs were found.
    http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/22/administration-hid-wmd/


  43. Publicus says:

    These members of Congress are always so shocked at the President’s lawbreaking, that they can’t act fast enough to make his actions “legal”.


  44. Juan C says:

    As far as my experience go: free market = profit above all (human rights, civil rights, people, feelings, you name it)


  45. AvengingAngel says:

    It is also worth noting that Hoekstra’s letter contained a vicious attack against the CIA’s Stephen Kappes and a group within the CIA Hoekstra claimed “intentionally undermined the administration.”

    For the Hoekstra letter and the latest news, legal documents and other key materials, see:

    “The NSA Scandal Resource Center.”


  46. Clyde the Ripper says:

    #16 “…the administration “will continue to work closely” with Hoekstra and other congressional leaders on intelligence matters.”

    Yes indeed! The first meeting will be dinner in Aspen. Coincidentally at the same restaurant where Kenny Boy Lay ate his last meal and Uncle Tom Powell got “food poisoning.”

    Good Luck, Turkey!


  47. Juan C says:

    The perception that this administration is stupid and incompetent is the BEST trick they’ve played upon the American public, bar none. Do not be deceived!
    Comment by TripMaster Monkey — July 8, 2006 @ 10:53 pm

    nice post, buddy. I totally agree. Of course they have some wits to carry on their activities. Perfect example: 9/11 (in my humble opinion, I know people here is very sensitive about it, I dont want to provoke anybody) But, I guess there is something else cause they cant be that smart, at least not GWB, we all know he speaks out of his ass all the time, and this is: Dems complicity. Or some of them.


  48. Clyde the Ripper says:

    #41 Cool Breeze

    Your “unregulated free market ” is a redundancy. By definition a Free Market is unregulated. When regulations are applied it becomes something other than a “Free” market. Basically, the free market in this country is non-existent because of all the peripheral regulations (e.g. EPA, OSHA, Labor Unions, Transportation regulations, export/import tariffs, on and on ad nauseum). I have been in business since 1942 and the only free market I have encountered in over 64 years was in my first business in 1942. As a boy of 9 my father allowed me to set up a vegetable stand on the street in front of our garden (an organic garden because we used the unsaleable vegetables recycled through the family cow for fertiliser). For two summers I was fortunate to learn what a free market really is supposed to be. Those days are gone forever unfortunately as well as a good tasting tomato!


  49. Marie says:

    Hoekstra is supposed to be in Iraq digging for buried WMDs.
    Perhaps he thinks he has some insider influence after all the years of kissing Bush’s backside that he feels free to tell him something for his own good. He should know that Bush/Rove/Cheney and AG will do whatever they will and they will persuade the courts too.
    We all believe Bush has broken federal law – more than once. Perhaps we will still see the day when Bush is a convicted felon.


  50. Red says:

    Note the key quote:

    “But Mr. Hoekstra, who was briefed on and supported the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program and the Treasury Department’s tracking of international banking transactions, clearly was referring to programs that have not been publicly revealed.”

    So, there are more spying scandals to come, boys and girls.


  51. Bob Dog says:

    How unsurprising it is to read these comments.

    As soon as a Shrub loyalist makes one statement at odds with the dictator, out come the long knives to silence him.

    Disloyalty = Treason
    Questions = Treason
    Fact checking = Treason
    etc.


  52. Zooey says:

    #33 – Shame on you. :P
    Comment by Juan C

    Funny stuff, Juan!
    I’m so ashamed…


  53. Babs says:

    # 48. Clyde the Ripper:

    According to my math,you are @ 73 years young.
    ?


  54. Doodle Bug says:

    HOW TO AVID BEING SPIED ON SO EASY

    And it’s not going to make you any safer


  55. In utter dismay says:

    I said F*ck Bush, And I said it LOUD!!! Someone chain my arms to the ceiling, and my feet to the floor. Don’t feed me for a string of days. Spit on me. [I was driving WMD to Mars, where there is no global warming. I'm keeping them for myself, so when Bugs Bunny and that little Marvin Martian come and try to take my space mod-u-la-tor, I can blast them off their little space scooters!!]


  56. Doodle Bug says:

    BUSH IS BREAKING THE LAWS BY SUPPLIYING THESES INTERIOR MINISTRIES WITH ARMS UNIFORMS AND MONEY TO JUSTIFIYING STAYING IN IRAQ STOP HIM

    At least 37 people have been killed at a fake checkpoint set up by Shia militia members in a predominantly Sunni area of Baghdad, police said.

    The victims were gathered together, Sunnis were then separated according to the names on their identity cards and killed after about an hour, said Maitham Abdul-Razzaq, an Iraqi police lieutenant.


  57. unbelievable says:

    Expect another ‘terrorist incident’ real soon to take our attention off this latest embarassment to the administration.
    Comment by TripMaster Monkey — July 8, 2006 @ 9:03 pm

    I think if that happens, the Democrats and all of us liberals can all stand up and say “Look what happened on your watch. You aren’t keeping Americans safe at all if this just happened.” I think it would backfire on them.


  58. Sharon Cox says:

    Good Morning Unbelievable and all, It would seem that the bull shit bush bunch are very busy in the past few months, keeping our heads full of crap while they do their usual behind the scenes stealing our freedoms and selling out our country.

    If in fact they were involved in 9/11 or at the very least allowed it to happen I don’t think a (big One) is likely to happen untill after the November elections. They will present little fear schemes but nothing big, just so they can say they are keeping us safe. To many times filmed speeches by bush’s buddy ben lauden and made up huge captures or killing of terrorests have coincided with poor poll figures or wanting to push through huge bloated bills in the house and senate. It’s all about power and controling the masses…Ofcourse you all knew that..

    The new guy in the white house has helped turn me off totaly…Forgot his name, the one that is putting bush’s fake face all over the media lately, more photo op’s are not going to get it with you and I but their base is eating it up.

    Is there any one else on this thread that has been working with the public of late.? I have seen anger like never before in our little communety. People turning to rage in a second. Our country is severly devided and I see stupid confrontations daily by right winged nut cases trying to pick fights and to the point of wanting to kill their own neighbors…It is clear to me this bunch is accomplishing the evil they had planned..We are very close to a revolution right here at home……Blessings all, we need them.


  59. In utter dismay says:

    When they thaw out Uncle Disney,
    going to be some changes made,
    Pointin’ fingers, askin’ questions
    40 years of decisions made

    When they thaw out Uncle Disney
    All us toons gonna be just fine,
    America’s just a giant theme park,
    Put on your mouse ears and get in line

    When they thaw out Uncle Disney
    Boy won’t he be surprised
    Carton cures for all our cancer
    Thunder clouds in the Florida skies.

    When they thaw out Uncle Disney
    You’ll be coming home to me to stay
    I’ll be waiting for you to call me
    As they roll the credits and the music fades

    When they thaw out Uncle Disney
    heads will roll, I’m afraid
    Someone will be held accounted
    For 40 years of decisions made


  60. In utter dismay says:

    Courtesy of Drive By Truckers, of course….


  61. big papa says:

    This TREASONOUS bi*ch Hookster has SINCE he found this out…

    …been out on the stump touting the TREASONOUS criminal Bushite junta’s “constitutional authority”…

    …to spy on us…

    …to lie us into war- (Hookster and Sanitary Napkin both tried to spin the 500 old Iraqi munitions as the fabled WMD)…

    …and NOW we find out this al Cracker son of pigs KNEW Bushiva was “breaking the law…

    …so, WHY aren’t you TRAITORS impeaching Bushiva and L’il Dick Hookster?

    …because you care more about your party than you do your country…

    …and THAT’s what makes ALL of you Bush worshipping scum TRAITORS…


  62. Gay Incest Gay Cumshots Gay Jock says:

    Gay Incest Gay Cumshots Gay Jock

    I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view



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