Rep. Issa Questions Mother Of Murdered U.S. Contractor: ‘Who Wrote Your Statement?’
Rep. Issa Questions Mother Of Murdered U.S. Contractor: ‘Who Wrote Your Statement?’
Last week, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held hearings probing the work of U.S. contracting firms in Iraq. The committee heard testimony from four women whose family members were killed by insurgents in Fallujah in 2004, then burnt, dragged through the streets, and hung from a bridge. The women described how the contractor BlackwaterUSA has refused to give them information about the deaths of their loved ones to cover up its own errors.
Almost immediately, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) went on the offense, telling the women, “I don’t think your testimony today is particularly germane to the oversight of this committee.” He added, “One question I have is, the opening statement, who wrote it?”
The women responded to Issa’s attack, explaining that it was a “compilation of all four of us.” But other members came to their defense. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said, “I think clearly the implication was that somehow these wonderful women couldn’t possibly have written that wonderful, heartfelt testimony and that it took a lawyer in order to put it together, and I resent that very much.” Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) added, “I’ve only sat through several hundred, maybe 1,000 hearings, and that is the first time as a member of Congress that I have heard any witnesses asked who wrote their opening statements.”
Watch a compilation of key moments from the hearing:
Much more on Blackwater USA HERE.
Last week, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing on private contractors in Iraq. The star witnesses were four women whose contractor husbands were killed and dragged through the streets of Fallujah.
When it was time for Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., to speak, he said to the women, “Although I don’t think your testimony today is particularly germane to the oversight of this committee, I am deeply sorry for the losses that you’ve had. … One question I have is, the opening statement, who wrote it?”
Witness Katy Helvenston-Wettengel replied that it was a “compilation of all four of us. We all sent in our thoughts and feelings to [attorney] Dean Callahan and he compiled it, because we were told we only had five minutes.”
After Issa exited for a vote elsewhere, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., sitting as a guest of the committee, said she took “exception to the question about who wrote the testimony, because I think clearly the implication was that somehow these wonderful women couldn’t possibly have written that wonderful, heartfelt testimony and that it took a lawyer in order to put it together, and I resent that very much and I wanted to just put that on the record.”
When Issa returned and was informed of Schakowsky’s comments, he asked them to be stricken from the record, calling it “disparaging” and “implying that my question to the witness was related to having been a woman outside the ordinary course of business.”
Next up was Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., who pointed out the elephant in the room. “I’ve only been a member here for five years,” said Lynch. “I’ve only sat through several hundred, maybe 1,000 hearings, and that is the first time as a member of Congress that I have heard any witnesses asked who wrote their opening statements.
“And I might say, also, that if that question is a fair one, then you might ask how many members up here at this table wrote their own opening statements. You might be surprised at those answers.”
Helvenston-Wettengel felt compelled to add, “Good point.”
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108 Responses to “Rep. Issa Questions Mother Of Murdered U.S. Contractor: ‘Who Wrote Your Statement?’”
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Issa or Issn’t A Third Rate A$$HOLE?? Now that is the question.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:09 amAhhhh, the conservative right’s compassion!
February 13th, 2007 at 10:11 amGotta love it!
And then Issa cried like a little girly man…remember that?
Tool.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:12 amMaybe Issa would like to resign from Congress so he can devote his full attention to defending staunch GOP supporters who are profiting heavily from the war through their defense contracts. Just a suggestion.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:12 amAmazing how rabid all these Rebublicans get when anything is remotely questioned regarding the Criminal Administrative activity.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:13 amAnd we’re holding hearings on the deaths of well paid mercenaries why?
February 13th, 2007 at 10:13 amWhat a loser! These men have no empathy and I have heard that is the first sign of sociopathy.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:13 amI guess if you burn your own business down to collect insurance proceeds, then screw your partner out of his business, you look at everything in life through a nefarious lense.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:13 amWhen Issa returned and was informed of Schakowsky’s comments, he asked them to be stricken from the record,
and were they? … i sure hope NOT…
February 13th, 2007 at 10:16 amThe conservatives attack the 9/11 widows. They attack these widows. Who are they going to deride on next the working poor? The displaced black population of N.O.? Oh yeah……….been there, done that.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:19 am#6 klyde
And we’re holding hearings on the deaths of well paid mercenaries why?
Those four men had a reasonable expectation that when they were sent out on a mission that they’d be given the protection that they saw was needed and that they’d asked for. I think Blackwater is scum. And, I wouldn’t work for them or work in Iraq as those guys did, but those four weren’t evil and they didn’t deserve what happened to them. Blackwater could have prevented it and they decided they wanted to cut corners and save money instead. For more info, see the movie “Iraq For Sale” on DVD.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:20 amSounds like Ann Coulter when she claimed that widows are enjoying their time using the deaths of their husbands to be on tv..and for other benefits..
I don’t know what Congressman D.Issa is after by asking such question?
February 13th, 2007 at 10:25 amGee, I wonder who writes the opening statement for some others, such as the cigarette companies, or the oil companies? I’m sure it’s just the extemporaneous thoughts of those high paid CEOs, right?
More to the point, what difference does it make who wrote the statement?
Does that change any of the FACTS being discussed here?
February 13th, 2007 at 10:25 am#8 Don’t forget the stolen car scheme.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:31 amThe Rethugs are going to jail and they know it. That’s why they’re so defensive when anyone questions their morality or intentions. Also (and knowingly off thread) don’t believe any numbers you hear in Hillary’s polls. An insider Rethug has admitted that Rethugs are “schilling as Dems and Independents” in these polls. In this way, it overstates Hillary’s popularity and the Thugs believe that she will be able to be quashed ultimately if she becomes “candidate hillary”. Don’t believe a word of it. It’s what the Republican Think Tanks WANT YOU TO BELIEVE.
Now make mention of Al Gore running again or a “real” contender, and they head for the hills.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:35 amDarrell, meet Daryll
Darrell: “Who wrote your book?”
February 13th, 2007 at 10:35 amDaryll: “A bunch of Roman lawyers in Nicea”
#13 who was it (Boehner? Hastert?) who was caught on the floor of the Senate handing out checks for votes recently?
February 13th, 2007 at 10:36 am#11 We don’t need hearings on paid mercenaries - we need hearings on the “enemy within”….. our own “paid thugs” in this administration who are paid by our tax dollars. It’s time the people use the power of THEIR collective purse to put these people on trial.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:37 am#13….It’s the old hackneyed “diversionary tactic” here at play….first time = shame on you; second time = shame on me. The people know the game and will have none of it.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:38 am#17
February 13th, 2007 at 10:38 amwhat really!? i’d like to hear more….
Well, maybe little Darrell wonders who writes all the pablum that GDumbya spews day in and day out. My guess would be Saul Bellows . . . GDumbya always sounds like it’s “stream of consciousness” (or, more appropriately in his case, “stream of unconsciousness”).
February 13th, 2007 at 10:40 amDARVO - DARVO - DARVO - Karl Rovereich’s brainchild (BTW, someone needs to let the poor little doughboy know that it’s a technique utilized by rapists worldwide - nothing his addled brain came up with!). It stands for (Deny Attack Reverse Victim/Offender) This is precisely what this horse’s pitoot is trying to do to these families. He mistakenly believes that he will effectively hijack the facts this way. There’s no fool like an old fool, Issa and you “issa” huge idiot.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:42 amHe needs to take it up a notch to be FULLY disgusting, he’s only being half ass’d discusting now.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:42 amIssa’s still upset at all that money he spent clearing out most of the other GOP challengers for Gov, only to have Schwarzenegger come in and get all the attention
Don’t worry Issa, at least the Governator still loves you, selfish, uncaring scumbag that you obviously are
February 13th, 2007 at 10:42 am….puddle of consciousness…..
February 13th, 2007 at 10:42 am“Why, it was written by Michael Moore and proof read by the Dixie Chicks.”
February 13th, 2007 at 10:43 am#26. So, you’re OK with insulting these terrorist victims’ families?
February 13th, 2007 at 10:48 amwow. this is the compassion the right loves to shove down our thorats?
digusting heartless bastards
February 13th, 2007 at 10:51 am27 - I was being sarcastic. I was making fun of Rep Issa. Sorry!
February 13th, 2007 at 10:52 am#26 do you support these families or the terrorists that killed them. From your post it would appear your are in support of the latter.
TRAITOR!
February 13th, 2007 at 10:53 amHow can voters elect such scum?
February 13th, 2007 at 10:55 amAgain, I was being sarcastic. It’s how I would love to respond to Rep Issa if she asked that of me.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:57 amsomeone needs to ask issa how many of his staff members are involved in writing his speeches/legislationand also include lobbyists, in addition to the staff members.
February 13th, 2007 at 10:57 amIssa is a typical ignorant, and stupid GOPer, so anything he spews is sick!
February 13th, 2007 at 10:59 amWell, as if we needed any more proof that the Repukes hate our military and the contractors they hire.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:01 amIssa is a moron. This is beyond disgusting.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:04 am#29 E_I
I was being sarcastic. I was making fun of Rep Issa. Sorry!
It was good sarcasm, but we’ve got trolls who really think that way and wouldn’t hesitate to say it exactly the way you did. Sometimes you have to put a little “/sarc” at the end of your post to let people know.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:05 amJust as ridiculous as Issa’s unwarranted attack on the families of the people who were killed at Fallujah is his comment that their testimony is not “germane” to the oversight of his committee. This, of course, is the problem–the Republicans in Congress have decided that they are not responsible for overseeing the disaster in Iraq. They have done nothing to stop rampant war profiteering, nor have they done anything to stop bad policy made as a result of bad intelligence. Perhaps if they started seeing that many things are, in fact, “germane” to their oversight responsibilities, we could start saving lives, as well as billions of dollars.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:06 amLast night I was watching a John Stewart clip in which Issa was downplaying the billion$ missing in Iraq - basically implying that $12 B isn’t really a lot of money to go missing… this guy has already been proven to have no shame. I am surprised that the ladies in question didn’t give him a bit more hell, but I am not surprised at anything that lowlife rich bastard says.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:10 amBeing the representative from San Diego, he wants nothing to interfere with his cash cow, the Navy.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:12 amWhat with the aircraft carrier deployments to the Persian Gulf and all, he’s got dollar signs floating before his eyes…………
Just another Republican j*ckass. It must be painful for diehard Republican loyalists to watch their party going down so far so fast.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:13 amAnd, I wouldn’t work for them or work in Iraq as those guys did, but those four weren’t evil and they didn’t deserve what happened to them.
Comment by chimpeach
Not trying to be inflaming here…but how do you know it?
February 13th, 2007 at 11:20 am#37
Yeah, I’ll remember the sarcasm tags in the future. As a form of irony I love mocking people by giving them what they want to hear.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:24 amOFF TOPIC (somewhat), but you all gotta hear/see thisâ€
Here’s the clip of Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) that we just played. Share it with your friends and ask them, “Is debating the security arrangements for the Speaker the best the Republicans can offer? Is this really the best they can do?â€
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsqprEihjXg&eurl=
fantastic!!!
February 13th, 2007 at 11:24 amIssa’s only previous claim to fame was crying like a little girl when Arnold jumped in the race for CA governor. Issa had engineered the recall of Gray Davis, only to get Terminated himself.
For more of the pathetic public life of Darrell Issa, see:
February 13th, 2007 at 11:25 am“Darrell Issa pulls out of Calif. recall election”
Who is running against this guy in ‘08 and how can we give them money?
February 13th, 2007 at 11:25 amwho is being investigated here? black water? or the military?
is the U.S. of private military being called into question?
February 13th, 2007 at 11:25 amOn Blackwater and KRB, I’ve always wondered who covers the American workers that are on their payroll when they get hurt on the job.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:27 amThe hired guards or contractor husbands, who covers them. Are they allowed the same benefits that the regular military is.
I think that this is an interesting question with the high cost of health care we have today.
The 49-year-old businessman (Issa) said he had been repeatedly pounded for minor scrapes with the law that date back to two arrests in 1972 on weapons charges in Ohio and Michigan. One resulted in a $100 fine; the other was dropped.
Can you say “mobster”.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:33 amanother good example of TP giving us gossipy tid bts with little substance, good think trip master, katy and angry one are here to fill us in….
February 13th, 2007 at 11:39 amre#11 chimpeach
but those four weren’t evil and they didn’t deserve what happened to them.
If Iraqi invaded the United States and people here killed four paid Iraqi soldiers, would you feel the same way?
It is EVIL to participate in crimes against humanity!
They and every other solider paid or otherwise that participates in crimes against humanity deserves to be killed by the people fighting them.
If they do survive, they should be tried and convicted for their crimes against humanity and spend the rest of their lives in prison.
There is one and only one reason for a country to go to war, and that is it has been attacked or is about to be attacked, and any other war is a war of choice, and therefore a crime against humanity.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:42 am#51 now you went and opened the can of worms!
February 13th, 2007 at 11:45 amThese women are pissed Blackwater didn’t provide them with heavy machine guns and armored cars. Sorry, they still would have been killed. maybe they should bemoan the fact that the u.s. gov’t. is willing to payed hired killers craploads of money to operate in Iraq. Mercenaries have knowledge of the fact that they could be killed, its part of their job. I feel really no sympathy for the widows of hired killers.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:48 amAh, Dale WhatanAss Issa! The pinnacle of decorum and class.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:51 amNOT.
I saw a show about one of the guys involved in this incident. He was a loser thug going nowhere, couldn’t cut it in a real job. So he signed up to go kill people as a mercenary. I didn’t feel sorry for him.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:57 am#51 now you went and opened the can of worms!
Comment by karlX
If my country is attacked by a foreign army, and I watch my kids being blown up, my wife beaten, harrased or raped, you can bet I will do the same thing to anyone that looks like the foreign army.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:00 pm#42 Juan C
Not trying to be inflaming here…but how do you know it?
I’ve seen and read some pretty detailed information about the four and how they ended up there. They took the jobs because they had experience in security work. They were basically highly skilled bodyguards. They weren’t the decision-makers for Blackwater. They were well paid, but weren’t getting filthy rich from the job. Like I said, check out the video from Robert Greenwald, “Iraq For Sale”. It’ll give you a better idea of their role. And, by the way, if you recall how that incident went in which they were killed, I can’t think of anyone that deserves that.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:04 pmBlackwater and Halliburton should be the ones on trial here, not the widows. Though I don’t agree with the contractors being over there, this administration and these corporate companies should be held accountable for even making the opportunities available in the first place.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:04 pmHe’s still a beginner - If he’d called Washington for some advice, the Republican’t braintrust would’ve told him to get someone else to ask that question, like a talk-radio host, thus accomplishing the mission of smearing some victims without incurring any dint to his own “political capital”.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:05 pm#47 karlX
who is being investigated here? black water? or the military?
is the U.S. of private military being called into question?
Both. It’s the overcharges, illegal charges, and general malfeasance on the part of the contractors, and the DoD’s refusal to enforce their regulations and hold the contractors accountable.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:07 pm#51 criticalthinker
They and every other solider paid or otherwise that participates in crimes against humanity deserves to be killed by the people fighting them.
Well, I guess that means that every member of the U.S. military is evil. I guess that also means I was evil when I served, too. You’d better stop paying taxes. Your contribution means you’re an evil person, too.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:10 pmCompassionate conservatism at its best. You gotta love it.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:11 pmAnd, by the way, if you recall how that incident went in which they were killed, I can’t think of anyone that deserves that.
Comment by chimpeach
No, of course, I completely agree. But then again, I have not lost any member of my family, I have not suffered what that people suffered and are suffering, therefore I cant say I wouldnt do it even if…
Now, sadly, we have only the american version of what happened. I would like to hear or read what happened from the iraqi side. So, again, we only have the story of some iraqi savages doing inhuman things to some western people, which by the way, is very useful for the sick media.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:11 pmThere was a time a story like this would shock me.
I want my country back! I want it to be a beacon of freedom, health, liberty, and choice!
How can we possibly restore that image at this point?
February 13th, 2007 at 12:14 pm#53 buzzbomb
maybe they should bemoan the fact that the u.s. gov’t. is willing to payed hired killers craploads of money to operate in Iraq.
I think you can make the distinction between “hired killers” and someone who is hired to shield government officials and other civilian personnel from insurgent attacks. For example, when journalists go out to do a story, they need to be protected from getting blown up or kidnapped. Are the armed people who escort them “hired killers”? Should Lara Logan just go do her stories around Baghdad without any protection? Or should she not even be there to report on what’s going on?
February 13th, 2007 at 12:16 pm#55 ForTruth
I saw a show about one of the guys involved in this incident. He was a loser thug going nowhere, couldn’t cut it in a real job. So he signed up to go kill people as a mercenary. I didn’t feel sorry for him.
Which one was it?
February 13th, 2007 at 12:17 pmChimpeach.
I think this is a sensitive issue, Im not trying to push it, although I am anti-military, but I respect you becuz of what you post. Having said this, criticalthinker said that:
those who participates in crimes against humanity deserves to be killed by the people fighting them.
Wouldnt you agree?
February 13th, 2007 at 12:20 pm#53 I heard one of the women interviewed on Democracy Now!, she was very critical of Blackwater as a “company”, as a private military, critical of it being used as a mercenary force by the U.S., here’s the transcript…
http://www.democracynow.org/ article.pl?sid=07/ 02/ 08/ 1611238&mode=thread&tid=25
February 13th, 2007 at 12:21 pm#63 Juan C
I completely agree with you about the situation that’s been created over there. It amazes me that people can’t put themselves in the Iraqis’ shoes and think about how they would view their family being treated as so many Americans have treated Iraqis over there.
I know a former Marine lieutenant who was over there in the first few months after the invasion. He said his Marine unit was careful about the treatment of civilians and they made every effort to be sensitive to customs and try not to offend. He said he watched the 82nd Airborne come in and take over as the Marines were leaving, and all of their work at keeping up good relations with the Iraqis went right down the shitter. The soldiers of the 82nd didn’t care about anybody’s pride or customs or concern for their families. They just ran roughshod over everyone.
If you want to criticize everyone who’s gone over there to serve with the military or with a contractor, go ahead. But, I think there are important distinctions to be made. And, if you don’t take them into consideration, then every troll who comes in here and accuses “libs” of hating the troops might just have it right.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:26 pm#67 Juan C
those who participates in crimes against humanity deserves to be killed by the people fighting them.
Wouldnt you agree?
Yes.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:28 pmIsn’t Blackwater owned by the Carlysle Group?
February 13th, 2007 at 12:28 pmThink about it.
Oil.
Weapons.
Secret activity.
Sure sounds like W’s Daddy’s business enterprise to me.
Which one was it?
Comment by chimpeach
It was the son of the Lady in the forefront of the picture. He was having financial difficulties and couldn’t keep a job here in the US.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:33 pm#67 criticalthinker said that:
those who participates in crimes against humanity deserves to be killed by the people fighting them.
my two cents in this:
those that participate in crimes against humanity should be captured, tried in an international court, and sentenced accordingly (with “life” sentence being the maximum)
but then again we don’t have that “international system” effectively in place. You guys should read “The Banality of Evil” by Hannah Arendt. Or look into the French “collaborators” not being punished after WWII, and how French “resisters” had alot of difficulty deciding how to punish these people, to kill them? torture them? shame them in public? becasue there was no system set up to try them - but then the resisters became much like the very people they had resisted against.
the current situation, especially in the U.S.; if you are not in some way attempting “dissedence” then in some effect you’re helping the “totalitarian cause” (read military industrial corporate system); i think we should continue calling for U.S. citizens to be held to international standards, and allow U.S. citizens to be tried for war crimes, etc in international courts; neither Dems nor Republicans want that.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:34 pmHe said his Marine unit was careful about the treatment of civilians and they made every effort to be sensitive to customs and try not to offend. He said he watched the 82nd Airborne come in and take over as the Marines were leaving, and all of their work at keeping up good relations with the Iraqis went right down the shitter. The soldiers of the 82nd didn’t care about anybody’s pride or customs or concern for their families. They just ran roughshod over everyone.
Comment by chimpeach —
I had heard these same things.
The General I used to work for would never allow me near most of the Army units. We had some locals working on the last base I was at over there and they got “roughed up” by some of the Guys from the local Army unit. So me and a few buddies let the soldiers know that kind of behavior was not appreciated.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:44 pmChimpeach, if we were not in Iraq in the first place….. Besides the big picture though, yeah, some of these guys are hired killers. They answer to no one they have there own terms for using force. I agree, journalists can’t function without bodyguards, but what does that say about the lawless wasteland of various armed factions that Iraq has disentegrated into. These Blackwaters guys get off on this sh*t. I don’t feel bad for them at all. Why aren’t soldiers protecting our government officials? Seems logical to me. This whole thread is “waaaaa! feel bad for the widows of mercenaries that got yelled at by a dumb republican ass.” I don’t. These widows think if only their husbands would have had bigger machine guns they would have been able to complete the “mission”.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:46 pmI worked with a guy years ago that was in Mogadishu. He said they had really good relations with the populace and it all went to shitte when the rangers came to town like cowboys. Just what he said, can’t say if it’s true or not, but this seems to happen alot when new untis replace ones that have ingrained themselves into a native populace.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:52 pm#73 karlX
I think the part of the statement “those who participates in crimes against humanity deserves to be killed by the people fighting them” that you have to qualify is “participates”. I can probably come up with hundreds of examples of people who have participated in a heinous crime but who really had no choice. One example would be a suicide bomber in Iraq who is told he can either blow up a marketplace and kill 20 or 30 people or he can watch his family be tortured to death. Of course, either way he’s not going to be killed by the ‘good guys’. He’s just going to be killed and there wasn’t much he could do about it.
February 13th, 2007 at 12:58 pm76 - What’s this!?? People act like people in places like that!?!? Impossible!! Our understanding is that, in other parts of the world, the people are all crazy dumb and only want to kill us every minute of their lives, and they smell bad because they don’t even care if they do! because they’re so crazy and not-like us (who are good always even if we kill children)
/sarcasm off
February 13th, 2007 at 1:14 pmThe Republican smear machine is in high gear. My question is; who is behind this coordinated smear.
John Boehner was in full Cheney mode as well when he said from the House Floor today “We will give Iran free access to the Middle East, and who doesn’t believe the the terrorists will just follow our troops home?” Note how Boehner is conflating Iran with terrorist now, just as Bush has constantly conflated Iraq with al Qaeda.
I guess when all else fails, you revert to fear and smear. That message, however, backfired in November 2006.
February 13th, 2007 at 1:24 pmre#61 chimpeach
You may be contributing to this war by paying taxes for it but I am not!
You see I am not a HYPOCRITE like you democrats/republicans and liberals/conservatives, and I did not take part in this crime against humanity, like you and all the other HYPOCRITES.
Every year since 2001, I have taken the same percentage that the miltary is to the total, of my taxes and put them into escrow and informed the IRS and explained why I am a war tax resister.
The money will be released and paid out to the government when the the United States stops its two (maybe three?) wars.
In the old days when there was a separate war tax it was easy to resist, but that still does not mean you cannot resist.
The IRS said fine, because they know damm well I want to go to court and make some noise.
I have family members in the military serving and the deserve to die with all the other war criminals.
Over 8000 true patriotic members of the military (+1 officer) now are doing just what Muhamad Ali did, and said NO YOU CANNOT MAKE ME A WAR CRIMINAL.
Cowards like you accept HYPOCRISY, does not mean that I do!
February 13th, 2007 at 1:29 pm“Stay classy, Darrell Issa.”
February 13th, 2007 at 1:42 pmComment by criticalthinker
Good for you, but I think any money you send the IRS these days goes into one big, co-mingled slush fund, so while it may serve your conscience well, it probably has not effect whatsoever.
February 13th, 2007 at 1:48 pmCowards like you accept HYPOCRISY, does not mean that I do!
Comment by criticalthinker
I think you could make that statement without insulting anyone.
February 13th, 2007 at 1:49 pmre#83 Juan C
Chimpeach insulted me by ASSUMING that I would support crimes against humanity.
February 13th, 2007 at 1:53 pmI have family members in the military serving and the deserve to die with all the other war criminals.
You’re definitely not be worthy of that screenname with thoughts like that. Anyone who welcomes their family members death is one sick s.o.b.
February 13th, 2007 at 1:56 pmre#85 wake-n-bake
I am not a HYPOCRITE, and that is what you fail to grasp.
Why are my family members live’s more valuable that an Iraqi family members live’s?
What are they doing half the way across the world shooting at people?
Sick is the primitive thinking that just because someone has similiar DNA sequences as you, that it gives them some kind of “pass” for their crimes!
Do you give the Al-Quada fighters the same “pass” that they are just pawns like the American soliders?
February 13th, 2007 at 2:08 pmChimpeach insulted me by ASSUMING that I would support crimes against humanity.
Comment by criticalthinker
Then be wiser. Please.
February 13th, 2007 at 2:14 pmre#87 chimpeach and Juan C
I am sorry for the coward insult, I let my emotion get the best of me.
I am sorry HYPOCRISY does that to me!
February 13th, 2007 at 2:25 pmDo you give the Al-Quada fighters the same “pass†that they are just pawns like the American soliders?
Comment by criticalthinker
Why not, if you consider them pawns of a sick ideological doctrine, then yes.
ONE PLANET, ONE PEOPLE.
February 13th, 2007 at 2:36 pmWhat a dick
February 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pmAre you all beginning to see that the Fascist Right has the power to drive your Once-Great Republic into a horror? The Senate was not given a great enough Progressive majority to do anything but obstruct any meaningful reform. The corporate news media is entirely in bed with the Corpora-Fascists running America and all you on these boards are like prisoners peering out through a crack in the wall at another world. Sure it’s one reality you can see, but you’re still in a prison camp and nothing will change until you physically change it.
February 13th, 2007 at 2:59 pmOne suggestion, start protesting at the headquarters of the major American television news outlets. Forget about marching in the streets at Washington, or sending letters to your “elected” officials. We are being skinned alive for our wallets by a corporate-capitalist elite who are turning the United States government into a collection agency for the very rich.
Jan Schakowsky was courageous to speak out against the pompous ass, but her comments were later stricken from the record because she was out of turn.
February 13th, 2007 at 3:14 pmShe was heard, however, and so was Issa.
Issa came to national prominence when he personally contributed over $1.6 million to help fund a drive to recall Gray Davis.
February 13th, 2007 at 3:19 pmcriticalthinker
I have family members in the military serving and the deserve to die with all the other war criminals.
Since I went to a memorial service for a Navy Corpsman (medic) today that was killed while rendering aid to an Iraqi who was wounded by another Iraqi, I would like to say just one thing:
COME AND GET ME B*TCH!
Oh, wait, you won’t, you are part of the “peace at any price” crowd. Let me guess, they deserve to die but it wouldn’t by your precious little hands. Advocating death is one thing, administering it is another.
You are one sick F*CK.
I’m off for a while.
February 13th, 2007 at 3:45 pm#84 criticalthinker
Chimpeach insulted me by ASSUMING that I would support crimes against humanity.
I apologize. I’ve never known anyone to try that before. Good luck with it. I don’t think the IRS will accept the explanation, but that’s part of civil disobedience–taking the punishment.
The point I was making is that most people have some kind of involvement, voluntary or not, in what this country’s military does to innocent people in other countries. I don’t consider taxpayers to be evil people, even by degrees. I do what I can to try to either counteract what the government does with my tax dollars or try to bring a stop to it through political means. But, I haven’t thrown myself in front of any tanks and I haven’t done anything that will increase the likelihood of getting audited by the IRS (I hope).
February 13th, 2007 at 3:53 pm#86 criticalthinker
Why are my family members live’s more valuable that an Iraqi family members live’s?
Well, how about this: In the same way that you point an accusing finger at all taxpayers in the U.S. for not stopping Bush from attacking the Iraqis, would you be willing to point a finger at all of the people who paid taxes in Iraq while Saddam was in power and helped support his regime? Are they all hypocrites? Did they all contribute to Saddam’s crimes against humanity by not taking extreme measures to stop him?
February 13th, 2007 at 4:00 pmDid they all contribute to Saddam’s crimes against humanity by not taking extreme measures to stop him?
Comment by chimpeach
Im not defending Saddam, but when did Saddam killed 600,000 americans?
February 13th, 2007 at 4:21 pmsorry, for the grammar mistake.
February 13th, 2007 at 4:22 pm#98 - Juan C,
February 13th, 2007 at 4:36 pmJust turn down the thermostat on that Argentinean blood.
Just turn down the thermostat on that Argentinean blood.
Comment by WaltTheMan
For the grammar mistake? Or some other post?
February 13th, 2007 at 4:54 pmPlease dont go to the Snow thread…I was really mad.
If my country is attacked by a foreign army, and I watch my kids being blown up, my wife beaten, harrased or raped, you can bet I will do the same thing to anyone that looks like the foreign army.
Comment by Juan C — February 13, 2007 @ 12:00 pm
So, Juan, if someone attacked your country and/or committed some type of atrocity against your family and countrymen, you would be justified in attacking those who commited that act…..Yet you condemn the United States for going after Al Qaeda in Afghanistan after 9/11 when Al Qaeda terrorists slaughtered nearly 3,000 innocent people in the span of about two hours?
Some might you call your stances inconsistent at best…Hypocritical, at worst.
February 13th, 2007 at 4:57 pmI cannot believe Rep. Issa said that! I’m glad Reps. Schakowsky and Lynch responded. That was very unprofessional. Good to see that this issue is finally being investigated!
February 13th, 2007 at 5:37 pmYet you condemn the United States for going after Al Qaeda in Afghanistan after 9/11 when Al Qaeda terrorists slaughtered nearly 3,000 innocent people in the span of about two hours?
Comment by Exley
The irony of life…
February 13th, 2007 at 7:10 pm.Yet you condemn the United States for going after Al Qaeda in Afghanistan after 9/11 when Al Qaeda terrorists slaughtered nearly 3,000 innocent people in the span of about two hours? Comment by Exley — February 13, 2007 @ 4:57 pm
Few people condemn America for doing that. What they condemn us for is the string of criminal acts we’ve done in the name of that. Such as invading Iraq (an uninvolved party), and rounding up Afghan and Iraqi citizens that most certainly weren’t Al Qaeda before we invaded Iraq, and still likely aren’t.
But nice ’strawman’ - the construct of the incapable, ineffective and intellectually ‘deficient’.
February 13th, 2007 at 7:43 pmIssa is a vile repugnant-repub(republicant) who doesn’t know his ass from a hole in a ground…anytime he opens his vile yap-trap he puts his club-foot in it–HOW DARE HE ASK SUCH AN OFFENSIVE QUESTION–I would like to ask Issa, “Who does your thinking for you?” or “Who does your speaking for you, you evidently don’t have a brain larger than a pea to put two thoughts together and ask an intelligent question instead of the ridiculous prattle you spew out of your vile maw!” Issa, GO JUMP IN A LAKE AND DROWN–if you know how, that is!
February 13th, 2007 at 7:53 pmWho are my idiot neighbors to the north (of San Diego) that vote for this evil one in the 49th? Maybe I should also ask why we have an evil one down here in the 50th? Watch out, boys, because this ex-Chicagoan is a Democrat here in San Diego. Both 49th and 50th district reps. need to be VOTED OUT!!!
February 13th, 2007 at 8:48 pmIssa may be more annoying than his god forsaken car alarms.
February 13th, 2007 at 11:49 pmMaybe I should also ask why we have an evil one down here in the 50th?
Because the back-country boobs and the little blue haired casino queens think he’s just the man to keep them safe from the Mexicans. He’s even gotten Potrero to OK the building of a “training facility” for Blackwater. They’re going to be doing live fire tests down there in a week or two, to see if the neighbors think it’s too loud.
February 14th, 2007 at 12:06 am