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AM Feed - May 19: Hayden Defends Controversial Wiretaps

Hot Topics

• Gen. Michael Hayden faced nearly eight hours of testimony yesterday before the Senate Intelligence Committee. During that time, Hayden defended the Bush administration’s controversial international warrantless wiretapping program (which he designed). Interestingly, Hayden deferred on questions about recent reports that the National Security Agency (NSA) has also been keeping records of domestic calls as well. A full vote on his nomination as director of the CIA could come next week, and despite his ties to the wiretapping program and the questions that remain unanswered, he is expected to be confirmed. [link]
• A United Nations panel has recommended that the United States should close down the controversial prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the Bush administration has stashed detainees since 2001. The panel urged the discontinuation of such interrogation tactics as sexual humiliation, use of dogs and “water boarding,” and stated that detainees had died from the use of these techniques. The panel – whose recommendations are not binding – also called out the Bush White House for its pattern of shipping detainees off to countries where torture has been known to occur. Estimates suggest that about 490 detainees are currently held at Guantanamo Bay. [link]
• President Bush is drawing even more fire for his plan to deal with the immigration issue – and this time its coming from the leaders of the National Guard. Bush’s plan calls for 6,000 troops to be stationed on the Mexican border, which means that as many as 156,000 of the 400,000 eligible members of the National Guard could be called into rotation at some point. But state-level National Guard leaders are resisting Bush’s plan as an encroachment on their powers, and plan to fight any attempts to place their units under direct presidential control. The Bush administration previously tried (unsuccessfully) to place Guard units under federal control in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. [link]

Quote of the Day

“If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms.” – Former Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson, 5/8.

Morning Snark

• If we heard Pat Robertson right about this quote, it probably means he fell asleep watching the Weather Channel again.

1. Has there been even one year in the last century that the coasts have not been lashed with storms?
   I certainly don’t know of any in my lifetime. That doesn’t take prophecy, just good sense. Of course that leaves Pat Robertson out.
   — Rosalie Stern    May 19, 11:13    #
2. Oh, aren’t we sick to death of the insane musings of little pear-shaped Pat Robertson…
   — John    May 19, 11:14    #
3. Where is thebackbone of the Democratic Senators? This nomination should be filibustered. Hayden is Bush’s Goehring. We are sleeping our way into facism.
   — Rosalie Stern    May 19, 11:18    #
4. When most people hear voices, they’re sent to a shrink for evaluation. Alas, Pat Robertson and George Bush are exceptions: They’re featured by Wolf Blitzer.
   — Doyal Davis    May 19, 11:23    #
5. So Hayden is a shoe-in to replace Porter Goss – it just never ends, does it? Here’s a guy that conducted illegal wiretapping on Americans (no FISA Court warrants obtained) who boasts of “continuing the proud CIA tradition of risk-taking” – what, like overthrowing democratically elected Iranian President Mohammed Mossadegh and installing the repressive Shah Reza Pahlavi in 1953? Of assassinating Salvador Allende in Chile and installing military dictator, Augusto Pinochet, in 1973? Or assassinating Patrice Lamumba in Congo in 1960? How ‘bout kidnapping Aristide of Haiti in 2004? Arbenz in Guatemala in 1954? The short-lived coup of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez in 2002? On and on the horrendous list goes…
   — John    May 19, 11:35    #
6. Yeah Doyal, it has been said that if a person talks to god than he is thought of as religious; if gods talks back he is delusional. I personally don’t buy that these hucksters actually believe in god – their only object of worship is mammon, money, moolah, mean-green.
   Rosalie, I share your frustration – Russ Feingold asked Hayden tough questions, but that doesn’t ever amount to much.
   — John    May 19, 11:42    #
7. John
   If you haven’t noticed already…the Democrats aren’t going to reverse any damage done by the Bush regime. They are too entrenched in corporate welfare themselves and are always going to support status quo candidates whilst sidelining true leaders…like Kucinich etc etc (and No i’m not talking about Dean). Look what happened to McKinney!!
   Hillary is a bigger disaster than Kerry.
   — Chris    May 19, 11:43    #
8. John thanks for your comments on the hearings.
   I admire Feingold. Has he got a chance in 2008?
   — Rosalie Stern    May 19, 11:48    #
9. Chris, you are so right!!! I’m proud to say that I’ve never voted for a Dem or a Repug. I did contribute to Mckinney’s campaign because unlike EVERY other Dem (the vegan Kucinich included), her ultimate loyalty is to us. I was very tempted to contribute to Kucinich because he’s a fellow vegan, but so glad I didn’t because he caved in like a good little Dem and endorsed John “I want to escalate the Iraq War” Kerry in 2004 when Kerry won the Dem nomination. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Naderite – and I catch a lot of hell for it.
   — John    May 19, 11:59    #
10. Rosalie, I think Russ Feingold has a pretty good chance of winning. Hillary’s jumped in bed with the reactionaries so I think she will fizzle out – especially since she is so cynically dissing women and all of us pro-choicers. Kerry has said he will throw his hat in the ring again, but after he betrayed us all by saying he would fight to see every vote counted, he conceded immediately and let this corrupt and murderous junta steal another “election.” Note: He had something like $50 million left in his war chest to fight the bastards after the “election” and he didn’t. Al Gore, the new Al Gore, who seems to have jettisoned his timidity could be a real contender in ‘08. Of course, the whole political landscape could change dramatically well before then so take my assessments with a grain of salt.
    — John    May 19, 12:14    #
11. Sorry John I actually looked again and saw that Rosalie was the one asking about Dem Senators.
    I had to vote from overseas for Nader. Nevermind the dirty tricks that the Dems tried to use to keep him of the ballot.
    Yea I was really disappointed in Kucinich for backing down to the ABB crowd. Normon Solomon, Michael Moore…etc etc have yet to apologize for spouting that illogic.
    — Chris    May 19, 12:29    #
12. I’m very heartened and encouraged to see Latin America, especially South America (with the exception of Colombia) in open revolt against neo-liberalism, the so-called “Washington Consensus”, and America’s inhumane foreign policy. I have heard that Venezuela’s 15,000 Jews are leaving Venezuela and heading to Israel though because of some hateful rhetoric Chavez spoke last year. I have heard this from what I deem a good source – not State Department propaganda, of course. I think Chavez is doing wonderful things for his people so I’m keeping my mind open, but not so open my brains fall out.
    Oh, and Cheney pissed off Russia’s Putin recently. Plus, Italy’s Berlusconi has been purged, so Bush is losing allies like crazy!
    — John    May 19, 12:33    #
13. Ironically one of the boards members of this site is former AIPAC president and Democratic Senator from Mass Steve Grossman.
    See how long our anti-Dem posts stay up here John
    — Chris    May 19, 12:38    #
14. Oh boy, you can tell it’s election time coming up because the Cheap Labor Regressives are gay-bashing again. Race-baiting by vilifying Mexican immigrants exploded in their faces, so they are reviving that goofy old Defense of Marriage Bill again or some variation on it. How many of you formally married individuals out there got divorced because a gay couple moved in on your street? Ya know, some of this stuff is so ridiculous you want to laugh – but ya realize these policies and agendas cause untold pain and suffering and then the impulse to chuckle vanishes…
    — John    May 19, 12:46    #
15. John don’t believe anything about Chavez you hear from CNN. He didn’t actually say anything about the Jews.
    Check out counterpunch.org. There are a few articles about his supposed anti-Semitic remarks.
    He was actually talking about the colonial Europeans!
    — Chris    May 19, 12:50    #
16. Thanks for the info Chris – that’s very interesting
    to know that Grossman is a former AIPAC President. I care very deeply about the plight of Palestinians and I care very much about Jews. I read a lot on the topic of AIPAC and the pro-Israel lobby and both sides of the issue of whether AIPAC and others exert an undue influence on U.S. foreign policy. They do certainly vilify any critics as “anti-semitic” as a kind of reflexive response. And, of course, any investigation of the death of Rachel Corrie by American-supplied Israeli home-demolishing bulldozer was stillborn. No justice whatsoever for that precious girl.
    But I’m persuaded by Stephan Zunes’ piece www.fpif.org entitled, “The Israel Lobby – how powerful is it really?” where he makes the point that U.S. elites have never needed a powerful lobby to wreak havoc on the lives of people all over the globe. There’s no powerful Indonesian Lobby pressuring U.S. Gov’t officials to supply the repressive military dictators in Indonesia with arms to slaughter East Timorese or Acehnese, for instance. Now, Congresswoman McKinney lost her seat (before re-gaining it) by a variety of opposing forces, according to her. She’s a strong, courageous, compassionate Black woman who’s made a lot of enemies. But, a lot on the political left just blame AIPAC for her temporary banishment from the U.S. House of Reps. Like usual, I’m going to keep an open mind, be fair and as unbiased as I can on this and all matters.
    Btw, after African-Americans, Jewish-Americans are the most anti-Bush. Atheists are the third most anti-Bush…
    — John    May 19, 13:20    #
17. Glad to hear that about Chavez, Chris!!! I wouldn’t be caught dead watching CNN – I refuse to even get cable or satellite. My source was La Voz de Aztlan – I’ll send you the missive I received by email regarding Chavez. I thought something was a little off…
    — John    May 19, 13:27    #
18. Chris, Dixie (another AFV reader) and I both are such fans of Chavez that we buy only CITGO gasoline because CITGO is a state-owned Venezuelan oil company which directs a large portion of its proceeds into meeting the needs of impoverished Venezuelans. My hybrid actually seems to get even better mileage on CITGO gas too, although I haven’t rigorously tested this out yet…
    And good ole Cindy Sheehan is his buddy too!
    — John    May 19, 13:45    #
19. Jen, MO, Reep Daggle, Deborah, Rosalie and all the other regulars (and you occasionals and newbies too)- please jump in and comment on any political issue you feel like – I love your thoughts and ideas…
    — John    May 19, 13:58    #
20. IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT – AND BUSH TOO!!!
    — Teekleman    May 19, 14:24    #
21. I think Teekleman’s comments have stolen my thunder today – as with Teekleman’s bon mot about bush and the blow job!!!! That was the best snark of all!
    — jen    May 19, 14:43    #
22. Ah, yes, Teekleman, you are the Abbie Hoffman of the Bush Era!
    — John    May 19, 15:05    #
23. The founding Fathers of this country didn’t envision the situation we freedom-fighters face today – they assumed that the 3 branches of gov’t would provide checks and balances and each jeolously guard their own powers. Initially, we had Congress hand over to the executive branch their war-making powers to cowards in the executive branch who gladly sends others to die in bullshit wars, but who were draft-dodgers when it was their time to fight in a war they all believed in. Now traitors in Congress are handing over their powers of intelligence oversight with a wink and a nod to Benedict Arnolds in the intelligence community and Bush cronies. I would like to name these traitors to America and the Bill of Rights: Congressman Hoekstra and his counterpart in the Senate, Senator Pat Roberts, head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Bush confidant Democrat Jane Harman, ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee and, of course, Generallisimo Hayden himself who was head of the NSA when this, the largest spy agency, collaborated with Big Telecoms to illegally collect phone records of tens of millions of Americans. THERE IS NO LONGER A 4TH AMENDMENT IN OUR BILL OF RIGHTS!!! Who do these traitors go after? Freedom-loving patriot whistle-blowers who divulge their nefarious deeds to the press. I do believe it’s time for another American Revolution – we now know that aristocracy has survived Democracy and I, for one, refuse to go back in time to 1214, the year before the Magna Carta was born.
    — John    May 20, 11:46    #
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