DNI McConnell: I Lied To The Senate
DNI McConnell: I Lied To The Senate
Earlier this week, in testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell claimed the new expansive FISA legislation passed by Congress prior to the August recess — the so-called Protect America Act — had helped to thwart a an alleged terror plot in Germany.
A government official later told the New York Times that McConnell was wrong, and that the intelligence had been collected under the old FISA law which required warrants. A chorus of House Democrats immediately raised concerns about McConnell’s claims.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) demanded McConnell back up his sworn statement. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) said the Protect America Act “played no role in uncovering the recent German terrorist plot.” House Intelligence Committee chairman Silvestre Reyes urge McConnell “to issue a public statement immediately” correcting his remarks.
In a statement released today, McConnell unapologetically acknowledged he lied to the Senate:
During the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing on September 10, 2007, I discussed the critical importance to our national security of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and the recent amendments to FISA made by the Protect America Act. The Protect America Act was urgently needed by our intelligence professionals to close critical gaps in our capabilities and permit them to more readily follow terrorist threats, such as the plot uncovered in Germany. However, information contributing to the recent arrests was not collected under authorities provided by the Protect America Act.
Read the statement here. McConnell would be well-advised to officially correct his testimony.
Note that in the statement, McConnell does not apologize, but rather uses it as another opportunity to call for Congress to authorize the “unnecessary and dangerous” expansion of the administration’s spying power.
UPDATE: Here’s exactly what McConnell said in his Senate testimony:
MCCONNELL: [The new FISA law] was passed, as you well know, and we’re very pleased with that. And we’re better prepared now to continue our mission; specifically Germany, significant contributions. It allowed us to see and understand all the connections with –
LIEBERMAN: The newly adopted law facilitated that during August?
MCCONNELL: Yes, sir, it did. [Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, 9/10/07]
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** **!!!!!!
(speechless…)
September 12th, 2007 at 7:30 pmHey kids, its ok to lie, cheat, steal, spend money you don’t have, cuz your government does it too!
September 12th, 2007 at 7:30 pmScumwad.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:31 pm“The Protect America Act was urgently needed ….However, information contributing to the recent arrests was not collected under authorities provided by the Protect America Act.”
Obviously, the Protect America Act was NOT needed then and neither is it needed now. Will some journalist attack the logical twisting to justify the power grab? Please?? Someone? Anyone???
September 12th, 2007 at 7:35 pmProtect America Act
Got Orwell?
September 12th, 2007 at 7:36 pmGet a load of McConnell’s bullsh*t: in one breath he claims “X” is needed to achieve “Y”, then in the next breath admits it is true that we achieved “Y” without “X” already.
What a treasonous, bootlicking piece of dog snot.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:37 pmno shit he lied, he is a republican.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:38 pmThey’re all Liars! Get them the heck out of town! Impeach the whole sorry lot of these frauds now!
Incidentally, off topic – Rudy’s “slip” is showing….after his last abysmal performance in the debate, he’s slid from 38% to 28% and dropping like the Titanic. Rudy’s a lying fraud just like the rest of BushCo.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:38 pmHey kids, its ok to lie, cheat, steal, spend money you don’t have, cuz your government does it too!
Comment by ForTruth — September 12, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Oh and if you do get caught in an act, no worries, the Democrats will let you come up and change your answer.
Bring lotion, cuz you just might get a slap on the wrist too!
I’m SICK of all politicians currently in my government!
OUT with all of them this November 2008! In with real progressives!
September 12th, 2007 at 7:39 pmMcConnell would be well-advised to officially correct his sworn testimony.
so… is it ok for john q. citizen to get a do-over if caught
lying under oath?
… didn’t think so…
what the hell is that about???
September 12th, 2007 at 7:42 pm.
This gentleman is well suited to be the director of national intelligence as he sets the benchmark by which all intelligence should be measured. It is quite obvious that King Geprge the Dumb is the only one in the administration with less intelligence than his intelligence director.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:44 pmThe transcript hearing doesn’t indicate whether or not the witnesses were sworn in and were under oath. If anyone has any information on that, please let me know.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:47 pmwhat the hell is that about???
.
Comment by katy — September 12, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
Perhaps that’s the point, katy… kind of like misinformation.
No rules, no definitions, no laws upheld… no consequences, or accountability… it just keeps getting uglier and uglier.
Wait, wait… here it comes… Clinton did it too!
September 12th, 2007 at 7:48 pmDidn’t some trolls whine the other day about how the NYT was relying on unnamed sources and therefore the story was not credible?
Do ya think those trolls will apologize?
Oh, hell, what am I thinking? Those trolls have left behind whatever names they were using and have cycled through six or seven new ones by now.
The trolls these days are so lame. Not like the ones we had in the good old days of ‘06.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:49 pmThis isn’t worthy of more sarcasm and humorous retorts. This is pure evil.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:49 pmMaybe I’m missing something; Where did he say that he lied?
September 12th, 2007 at 7:50 pmThe Bush admin and its lackeys are without a doubt the most corrupt and disingenuous we have seen in the 200+ yrs of America. The GOP is pondscum and needs to be eviscerated from American politics.
September 12th, 2007 at 7:52 pm… Not like the ones we had in the good old days of ‘06.
Comment by trollbuster — September 12, 2007 @ 7:49 pm
they are a simple lot…
but i must say, i do NOT miss the IRI bile…
another hate monger i have blocked also…
…
sorry OT…
September 12th, 2007 at 7:55 pmdo the math:
republican = liar
September 12th, 2007 at 7:59 pmMaybe I’m missing something; Where did he say that he lied? — Ringo
Youre missing something.
What McConnell said on Sept 7th, under oath:
LIEBERMAN: The newly adopted law facilitated that during August?
MCCONNELL: Yes, sir, it did.
What he said today:
“However, information contributing to the recent arrests was not collected under authorities provided by the Protect America Act.”
Hence, he lied. Q.E.D.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:00 pmMaybe I’m missing something; Where did he say that he lied?
Comment by Ringo — September 12, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Did you actually READ that post in its entirety?
September 12th, 2007 at 8:00 pmwell now, ringo has a bit of a point…
but notice, ringo, the absence of quotation marks…
it’s a headline…
September 12th, 2007 at 8:01 pmTP’s headline reads “DNI McConnell: I Lied To The Senate”.
He said no such thing; ThinkProgress is lying…..again.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:03 pmWhat I like is how Lieberman went right along with it, fully willing to accept it at face value.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:04 pmTP’s headline reads “DNI McConnell: I Lied To The Senateâ€.
He said no such thing; ThinkProgress is lying…..again.
Comment by Ringo — September 12, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
Bah. He admitted that he’d told a lie, although he didn’t concede that he’d lied. In other words, he’s a Republican.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:06 pmOkay, Wrong, here ya go…
Here’s what he originally said about the subject matter.
At a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Monday, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, the committee’s chairman, asked McConnell whether “the newly adopted law facilitated (surveillance of the German suspects) during August?”
“Yes, sir, it did,” McConnell said. “The connections to al Qaeda, connections specifically to what’s referred to as IJU, the Islamic Jihad Union, an affiliate of al Qaeda. Because we could understand it, we could help our partners through a long process of monitoring and observation.”
Here’s what he said today.
However, information contributing to the recent arrests was not collected under authorities provided by the Protect America Act.
READ VERY CAREFULLY…
1st statement – “Yes, sir, it did…”
2nd statement – “was not collected…”
Sure sounds like he tried to spin things nad then retracted his own words. No doubt, you fantasize you know better… ;-D!
September 12th, 2007 at 8:08 pmComment by Ringo — September 12, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
Jes’ like Dr Dog, Ringo’s eatin’ his own waste, agin!!!
September 12th, 2007 at 8:08 pmhttp://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_5900&pageNum=4
September 12th, 2007 at 8:09 pmIsn’t lying to Congress a felony? Just wondering.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:18 pmHUh
September 12th, 2007 at 8:19 pmIsn’t lying to Congress a felony? Just wondering.
Comment by Uncle Ho — September 12, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
It’s only a felony if you’re a Democrat or a liberal. Otherwise, it’s more like a game.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:23 pmIt is a crime under 18 USC 1001 to make a false statement to congress and it doesn’t require that you are sworn in or not or that you promise to tell the truth…
Former combat pilot – federal prosecutor
September 12th, 2007 at 8:27 pmGee, I wonder how that happened? In a den of Liars, go figure.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:30 pmEven Lieberman seemed taken aback by suchan outlandish claim. That’s when you know you’ve reached Looneyville – when even Lieberman questions your fascist b.s.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:33 pmGee, where’d Wrongo go?
September 12th, 2007 at 8:37 pmSince lying to Congress IS a felony, but McConnell is a Gopher, I guess it would be too much to hope for if he is brought up on charges.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:41 pmIf it were a Democrat, he would have been crucified.
I recently was pulled over for speeding. The officer offered me a do-over, which I was glad to take. So I went back and re-drove the block, doing the posted speed limit. The kindly officer waved cheerily to me as I passed by and went on my way.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:42 pmringo?
(where’d he go?)
September 12th, 2007 at 8:43 pmwhere’s waxman when you need him? oh, investigating the republican rabbit trail accusation about how clinton “politicized the government” while he was in office.
i guess the dems and progs are duped again.
hello, anyone…felony…something about lying to congress…(chirp, chirp)…
ok, guess we can go back to watching Dancing with the Stars now.
god bless amerika.
September 12th, 2007 at 8:43 pmi guess the dems and progs are duped again.
hello, anyone…felony…something about lying to congress…(chirp, chirp)…
Not quite sure why you consider “progs’ as being duped here, but hey, it’s a free country… you can be as stupid as ya want!
September 12th, 2007 at 9:05 pmLes Nessman didn’t win the Buckeye News-hawk award??
September 12th, 2007 at 9:07 pmThis is not just a lie, it is a lie about classified information and thus a fundamental breach of trust. As citizens, we entrust our government with the power to keeps secrets from us. But it should never be acceptable that those privy to this secret information lie about its contents. Any example of this should result in automatic withdrawal of security clearance. It is fundamentally illogical to entrust someone with classified information and allow them to lie to us about it.
The Bush Adminstration’s abuse of classified information is one of their most impeachable offenses.
Unless we act like we are a democracy, we have no prayer of actually being one.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:07 pmTwo of us were sitting at an ice cream stand. Each of us were eating a big fudge Sundae. I said in my most truthful voice, “Gotta go lose a couple of pounds.” He said, “Doesn’t look like it to me.” I replied, “How would you know?” “Just my opinion,” he said. “By God, You’re right as rain,” I said, “Lets have dessert!” We did just that. Birds and their delusional feathers, you know.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:10 pmMitch McConnell
September 12th, 2007 at 9:12 pmDirector of Nominal Intelligence
One wonders if there is any body from the megalomaniac, compulsive, obsessive, sociopath, with his divine religious mandate, being the messenger of his god, down in the GOP that is not lying and out right hypocrite. Is it not enough that these PEOPLE OF THE LIE are destroying the country from within at a fast track. The nation is saddled with over $4 trillion federal deficit albatross hung around its neck, another over $13 trillion national assets hocked to the likes of the Arabs, Chinese, Japanese and others. The fraud Iraq war now in its 5th year cost over $12 billion a week. Of course Bin Laden who was created by Reagan/Bush as their beloved favorite freedom fighter is as big a megalomaniac but the Iraq war has multiplied his kind over two million fold and now even the Administration calls the bunch with importance as al qaeda central as if the organization was some high powered military operation. Perhaps that is what the Bush Administration always wanted to make the war on terror as a shock doctrine, along with the propaganda of terror hype, fomentation of hate , fear and the republican feeding frenzy to control the hearts and minds of a misled and gullible nation.
Admiral what is wrong with you that you have to make excuses and lie to that your agency can spy on the innocent decent American. Is your perversion of inequality and rights only of your kind so important that you and your kind dismiss the rule of law, chuck our Constitution out of the window.
No wonder the like of bastard Bin Ladens of this world are winning this econmical war and all you do is lie.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:14 pm“House Intelligence Committee chairman Silvestre Reyes urge McConnell “to issue a public statement immediately†correcting his remarks.”
September 12th, 2007 at 9:22 pmWhy did Reyes do that? If McConnell issues a public statement immediately, does that mean we’ll forget all about it?
That’s all they have. Lies and half-truths (lies). This administration and those who champion it are scum. For me there is no better word.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:27 pmAnother full of Sh*t repuglican pillow biter.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:30 pmdlet @ 48,
Yup, that’s a pretty good word. ‘kinda sums it all up.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:37 pmLock up both McConnells — Mitch and Mike. Throw away the key.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:48 pm#41–Not quite sure why you consider “progs’ as being duped here, but hey, it’s a free country… you can be as stupid as ya want!
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity
you’ve got a point…unless they actually break the pattern of half-assed ‘investigations’, ‘oversight’ hearings which go nowhere…you’re right it’s a pretty stupid comment…however if they don’t then i guess maybe i’m just being prophetic.
September 12th, 2007 at 9:52 pmLes Nessman didn’t win the Buckeye News-hawk award??
Comment by Uosdwis — September 12, 2007 @ 9:07 pm
I think he was disqualified after the “turkey incident”.
September 12th, 2007 at 10:01 pmThe whole argument us moot once the Bush admin realizes it’s okay to “eavesdrop” AS LONG AS the third branch of our government (Judicial) has reviewed and agree to allow/admit such as evidence.
September 12th, 2007 at 10:29 pmHence the change in FISA years ago to allow 72 hours between intercept and court approval.
Too bad the Neocon whores are such traitors who put the rights of th individual SO FAR ahead of the needs of the populace that they are mortgaging our future for their own short-term gains.
Remember, there are now ‘Gated’ communities in Hell.
Democrats, liberals, and progressives everywhere seem missing the fact that Bush Administration officials are allowed to lie to Congress. It’s not as if anyone will hold them in contempt of Congress or anything. They all seem to still think like it’s 2002 again and Bush and company still have that sway over the public. Bush has always wanted to re-institute Nixonism and it’s time that the Congress stood up to him and took it to the D.C. U.S. Attorney. Bring them all out from under their rocks and into the Sunshine
September 12th, 2007 at 10:35 pmso what, is Leahy gonna wrie a letter or something?
September 12th, 2007 at 10:45 pmDo you hear that Bill O’Reilly? It’s NOT true so quit bragging about it on your radio show!
September 12th, 2007 at 11:20 pmTo any member of congress who might actually read: please assume that all members of Bushco are lying at all times. All nominees for any position at Justice or in the white house or judges or EPA or Surgeon General or any other agency are lying. That is what they do. They have no truth to tell. They know no other way. None of them should ever be confirmed.
September 12th, 2007 at 11:30 pmThe link to the PDF isn’t working, at least for me.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:00 amI would lie to to all those a hole senators who dont represent a damn thing about me
September 13th, 2007 at 12:13 amit’s time that the Congress stood up to him and took it to the D.C. U.S. Attorney. Bring them all out from under their rocks and into the Sunshine
Comment by Dutch
September 13th, 2007 at 12:15 amthi left wing party is too afraid of Bush, how can we vote for anyone afraid of Bush
Tough talk from the Democrats. I can only imagine what horrible fate they have waiting for McConnell. They’ll never invite him to the Christmas party.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:26 amTerrible.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:31 amSurprised….not, every word coming out of any Repukian Bushco Loyalist is a lie, period. They lie and lie and lie somemore, if they lie and do enough crimes then everyone is sooooo busy investigating these crimes that no one has time to follow thru on them….it’s a very, very, sick repukian party, shame on them, criminals one and all.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:32 amIt is quite simple what he meant. They were following the new law before it became law, meaning they collected the useful intelligence exposing the Germany plot unlawfully, hence the need for the new law to make what they were unlawfully doing lawful.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:14 amthi left wing party is too afraid of Bush, how can we vote for anyone afraid of Bush
Comment by Kim — September 13, 2007 @ 12:15 am
Indeed… in your case, Bush appears to have scared the grammar and spelling right outta ya!
September 13th, 2007 at 1:17 am#64: They were following the new law before it became law, meaning they collected the useful intelligence exposing the Germany plot unlawfully, hence the need for the new law to make what they were unlawfully doing lawful.
Except that wasn’t what happened. The information that was used to gather the information needed to thwart the plot in Germany was gathered with the permission of the FISA court. Which is how it still should be done. The whole point is that the FISA court is not–and should not be seen as–an obstacle to effective intelligence gathering.
September 13th, 2007 at 1:47 amThe headline of this article is misleading to say to the least.
Shame on who ever wrote this piece, I got my hopes up thinking McConnell acknowledged a lie he told.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:10 amI’ll cop to not reading all the comments — but if nobody has mentioned it — the Dems control the f-ing Congress, how can they still let this get through titled the “protect America act”? I feel like it’s giving the bill’s supporters the ball at mid-field rather than deep in their own end.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:11 amCorrect me if I am wrong, but doesn’t FISA only cover warrants for intelligence gathering inside the US?
If that is that case, and no warrant is needed for intercepts made on communications outside the US, then in what way did FISA (new or old) play ANY role?
Unless the German terrorists were communicating with people inside the US, who, if they existed would thus be terrorists themselves. If this happened, why haven’t those people been arrested?
The whole thing doesn’t make sense regardless of whether you are talking old FISA or new FISA.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:32 am“Read the statement here. McConnell would be well-advised to officially correct his testimony.”
Yeah, or he will get such a pinch!
September 13th, 2007 at 7:47 amI’m shocked!
Oh…not at the lying part…I’m shocked he admitted it. Is Mr. McConnell headed for an early retirement?
September 13th, 2007 at 8:38 amSoooo….let’s see…was McConnell sworn in? If so, then he can still lie, get caught, and “correct” his testimony so he isn’t indicted on perjury charges. Meanwhile, Congress votes on his (and other’s) lies. Do we see a pattern here? This Administration encourages lies because even if they get caught they have time to justify and “re-state.” Yet nothing really happens to the liars. Gonzales will never be held accountable, nor will anyone else in the J.D., including recently confirmed Supreme Court Justices.
I can’t see why anyone is shocked that Petraeus wasn’t required to be sworn in. Maybe it was because the members of the committee knew he’d lie anyway and not be held accountable. What’s the point? Remember, the CEOs of big oil never had to be swarn in. Cheney never had to reveal about the US Energy policy and who was on the board.
IF, and it’s a BIG IF, the Democrats take over in ‘08, you’d better F-ing believe that Repub members of Congress–and the subsequent committees–will make damn sure that anyone who appears before them must be sworn in. And they’ll prosecute with reckless abandon once they detect even the slightest stretching of truth.
September 13th, 2007 at 9:44 amNote to #34 and #63.
September 13th, 2007 at 10:14 amDo not the committee members get copies of the testimony that witnesses are to provide? Else how would some of the doofuses have a clue to what kind of questions to ask or be the “stooge “straight man” asking the obvious leading question. And… who better than Lieberman, Zionist Party, more representative of Israel than CT, to be the stooge to ask the question
“Maybe I’m missing something; Where did he say that he lied?”
Comment by Ringo — September 12, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
Yeah, Gringo you’re missing something alright. I believe it’s a chromosome.
September 13th, 2007 at 10:43 amThe problem with our compadre Ringo is that he is stuck in the past.I mean who else would use a name like Ringo?A relic,thats who.
September 13th, 2007 at 10:57 amA God-fearing Christian, family values, moral, upright, America-loving REPUBLICAN ….caught lying?!?!
SAY IT ISN’T SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
September 13th, 2007 at 11:16 amImagine a similar statement from a Democratic appointee, say under the Clinton watch. There would be calls for investigations, resignations & who knows what else. It is truely unprecedented the level of desception permitted by this administration. They will boldly lie & when called on it will blame the observer for not fearing the external threat & being unamerican. These people are the biggest threat facing our nation right now.
September 13th, 2007 at 11:27 amno wonder he looks so sad.
September 13th, 2007 at 11:35 amhe’s riddled with guilt.
could it be that he actually has a conscience?
nah! he’s a f_cking republican!
probably just needs a good bowel movement.
Comment by PFT — September 13, 2007 @ 1:14 am
I wonder if someone could obtain a copy the warrent that was supposedly used and required by the old FISA laws to obtain this info via the FOIA. If there is none, sadly you would be correct PFT but at least it would PROVE they were acting outside the law.
Comment by Dutch — September 12, 2007 @ 10:35 pm
As to your comment Dutch, unfortunately I believe the D.C. US Att. is another Bush “loyalist” and has already been instructed not to bring any charges against this Administration.
September 13th, 2007 at 11:48 amAll Republicans lie. Every damn one of them, always have and always will.
September 13th, 2007 at 11:54 amHey, back off of Ringo. He’s got a good point.
McConnell obviously DID lie, but that’s no excuse for Think Progress’ misleading headline.
It’s tabloid journalism, and as a former editor, I’d seriously discipline (if not fire) one of my reporters if they tried such a stunt.
September 13th, 2007 at 12:04 pmAny body get the feeling that we are living in the “old U.S.S.R.”? Fascist imperalistic pigs…manipulative bastards..these are the people who belong in Git-Mo
September 13th, 2007 at 12:05 pmEverybody lies to Congress. So what? What are they going to do about it?
September 13th, 2007 at 12:14 pmA loyalist liar, just like the man who appointed him. These disingenous pricks have no idea what they’re saying: they just make the sh*t up on the fly, as if someone isn’t recording what they say and the readers are too stupid to check the facts for themselves. Obviously, this guy has spent to much time in the special needs classes for Republican loyalists: now, his head has retreated so far into his torso that his wrinkled white posterior does all his thinking.
September 13th, 2007 at 2:05 pmIt’s a War For Oil. Everything leads back to this unpleasant truth. Warring is an effective way for a military industrial oligarchy/complex to thrive.
If everyone in the US cut back ten percent of their oil use, and elected only those who *swore while campaigning* to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution or resign immediately, we’d be in a much different position than we are now.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:33 pmThe spin on this article is pathetically biased. The author writes, “In a statement released today, McConnell unapologetically acknowledged he lied to the Senate”. That’s a blatant mispresentation of the truth, since McConnell never said he “lied” to the Senate. Instead, he wrongly characterized that the intelligence had been collected under the Protect America Act, when it actually had been collected under the old FISA law. In fact, it’s pretty obvious that the spin here is possibly a bigger lie than what came from McConnell. If anyone wants to delve further into how he made the mistake, they’ll find upon further reading in the mainstream media that it’s very believable that it was an honest mistake.
It’s incredibly ironic that this author attempts to cast doubt into the integrity and truthfulness of McConnell, when it’s so obvious that the author himself strives so hard to mislead. Both liberal blogging and conservative blogging have a place in our society, but when someone so deliberately attempts to mislead other readers, the whole blogging process breaks down and makes the information process a difficult course to navigate to arrive at any truth. The worst of the liberals and the worst of the conservatives, though, have no desire for the truth. They just want to cast doubt upon their opponents and to win, no matter what the cost to our society. McConnell may or may not be a liar, and simply another administration goon, but one thing is clear ….. this particular author is incredibly biased in his own right, deliberately attempts to mislead his readers, and is actually an ugly wart on any perfect ideals of free thought.
September 13th, 2007 at 4:59 pmRebecca L.:
September 13th, 2007 at 8:38 pmCome on down off the hosey lady. Guess it is okay for McConnell to “re-frame” but not for the writer? The writer did in fact “re-frame” to suit, as did McConnell to suit. If you are in fact looking for “the truth” in the “blogosphere”, then it is in fact your own search for truth process that is in error. You come off sounding more like someone wanting to be led and told what to believe, feel, say, and do rather than someone able to take in all available information finding SOME truth in all and then forming your own opinion based on the common facts that came to light during your investigation. TP does not happen to hold a monopoly on truth dearie, get over it.
Not to side with the administration or anything, as McConnell was obviously (and, in my opinion, probably intentionally) giving misleading testimony, but not only does he not admit that he lied in the portion of his official statement excerpted above, but (at least as far as the portion of his original testimony that is included above is concerned) an argument could be made that he didn’t actually ‘lie’.
Obviously I wasn’t at the hearings, so I don’t know the whole context, but if you pay close attention to the wording here, McConnell isn’t necessarily saying that the expanded legislation led to the arrests, but simply that it made it possible to “see and understand all the connections” surrounding the plot. The way that he says it, such observation and understanding could well have taken place outside of the actual investigation, after the arrests had already been made, or even be entirely hypothetical concerning the investigative capacities enabled by the new legislation.
September 13th, 2007 at 10:20 pmCan you say “perjury”?
September 13th, 2007 at 11:32 pmTo quote Paul Bradford (actor Jeffrey Byron) in the 1985 movie Dungeonmaster, “Well, I reject your reality and substitute my own!”
(You did know that Adam Savage “borrowed” that one, right?)
September 14th, 2007 at 12:53 amWhy won’t Congress use the RICO Statute(s) to secretly investigate, indict, and arrest the Bush/Cheney Crime cabal? RICO was designed to combat organized crime, but taken in context, especially when you consider the conspiracies that have been the hallmark of this administration, which span state and international borders – the prerequisites of a RICO prosecution have already been met, therefore are a legal tool for Congress to rid ourselves of these new-age dictator(s) without their knowledge until they are actually arrested and hauled out of the White House in chains.
It’s our law, why not use it?
It’s time to unseat these criminals before they finish destroying America!
September 14th, 2007 at 9:14 amto #47
indeed. however, the supposition behind the Protect America Act is that global communications links cross the united states proper and are trunked in the at&t facility in atlanta, georgia, to be routed to (mainly) south america, but other foreign destinations as well.
previously, nsa considered communications gear within the borders of conus to be off limits (har), hence the need for a warrant. with the passage of the PAA, they can legally monitor communications inside the at&t trunk facility, even though they themselves admit that they inadvertently pick up lots of american citizens’ crosstalk.
it’s obvious that being able to monitor international comms is very handy; the obvious constitutional factor is the physical location of the gear that they are tapping.
it’s actually a thorny legal question, deserving of careful consideration, but certainly not by this administration.
which raises the question: why on earth would any telephony company route intra-europe telephone calls through atlanta, georgia?
if in fact at&t doesn’t, then, well, the bushites are lying about that interception, too.
September 15th, 2007 at 4:22 amAnother example or orwellian framing… Ringo seems to be saying that the headline is wrong, wrong, wrong, because McConnell did not actually admit to having performed an L. I. E.; insteady choosing to say the very same thing, but with a little dance around the “L” word. Kind of like when you want to make sure there’s a bidet in your hotel room (I know this has happened to everyone here), but don’t want to blurt out the “B” word for the whole bloody lobby to hear.
Civilized people in the above predicament say to the hotel clerk, “…and does it come with a, um…” and the clerk, who deals with it all the time, cuts in with, “Oh yes of course, sir, all the conveniences.”
Republicans, you see, are so civilized that even a lie is not a lie any longer; but just a truth that hasn’t yet been told, just as a promised resignation from the House wasn’t really such a promise at all, after we stretched the definition of “intend to resign” just a bit.
“We’ll get to the truth part when someone notices it’s missing, thank you very much; complete with a little reality revision that pretends we said it the last time, but you just didn’t notice, dumb squat that you are.”
Thank heaven some people (like the writer of the plain-as-Kansas headline above) can see past doubletalk bullsh*t to what’s happening.
I guarantee you, if I got pulled over doing 60 through a school zone, the judge would give me exactly one chance to get the story right. This administration is chockablok with people who think they can set reality straight, when it doesn’t live up to their spin. If they are caught fabricating, they just adjust the lie a bit for the next news cycle. Bush has figured out that huge blatent lies put people into shock, while they try to figure out what he meant, because surely he couldn’t have meant what it sounded like he said…
Then the press and punditry argue about what he said, and if it actually rises to the “lie” label, or if it was some other kind of dumbf*ckery. And before that argument can create any understanding, the next cycle of brand new spin is issued from the Oval Orifice and away we go again. Spun out to dry.
September 15th, 2007 at 7:56 am