AM Feed - May 24, 2006: Hayden Passes Senate Committee, Questions Still Remain
Hot Topics
- The Senate Intelligence Committee has voted 12-3 in support of Gen. Michael Hayden to fill the position of CIA director that was abruptly vacated by Porter Goss. Although Hayden received the support of the committee, he left unanswered questions about the Bush administration’s controversial warrantless wiretapping program, which he designed. Hayden refused to comment on reports that the administration has been collecting domestic calling records. Three Democrats on the panel, Sens. Evan Bayh (IN), Ron Wyden (OR) and Russ Feingold (WI), voted against Hayden. [link]
- Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that it will not investigate whether the National Security Agency (NSA) has access to the telephone records of million Americans. The FCC claimed that the NSA is far too secretive to conduct a meaningful probe. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wrote that the “classified nature” of the NSA’s dealings make a proper investigation impossible. [link]
- Court papers in the Valerie Plame leak case indicate that two top CIA officials will testify that “Scooter” Libby discussed Plame’s identity with them a month before her identity was revealed in a column by Robert Novak. This testimony undercuts Libby’s claim that he learned of Plame’s identity from reporters. [link]
Quote of the Day
“The FCC has abdicated its responsibility to protect Americans’ privacy to the National Security Agency without even asking a single question about it.” – Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), responding to the FCC’s decision not to investigate the NSA.
Morning Snark
- If only the NSA had conducted its wiretaps during the halftime show at the Super Bowl, maybe we could actually get some answers from the FCC.
Comment
- So, the FCC has decided not to protect Americans. The NSA will not protect Americans from anything Bush doesn’t want them to protect us from. The Congress will not protect Americans against illegal or dangerous corporate practices. The supreme court will not protect us from corrupt government. The administration can not protect us from terroists, paricularly homegrown terrorists.
No one seems interested in protecting our civil rights from facists or our voting rights and practices from manipulation and downright thievery.
Cheating and lying is quite acceptable in our society as long as you don’t get caught. Ken Lay is a fine example of true American royalty.
— MO May 24, 11:47 # - The morning snark today is very insightful – the priorities of the monied elites and religious fanatics, the “rapture right”, are so extreme and so out-of-touch with the concerns of you and me that they get hysterical over an African-American woman’s exposed breast, but are blithely insouciant and cavalier about our lost 4th amendment right to be free from having our persons, effects and papers searched and seized without a court warrant issued by a judge on the basis of probable cause. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin just shrugs and declares impotence. This bizarre state-of-affairs is really quite remarkable – it illustrates our society’s overblown fear and sexual repression. Our gov’t is burning the Bill of Rights, but the reactionaries scream bloody murder if the American flag is burned by a disgruntled citizen. Janet Jackson’s bosom is fetishized while a rogue General spies on us illegally and will be confirmed to CIA Director easily. He should be court-martialed, not promoted. What is wrong with this country? Why do the regressives hate America so much?
— John May 24, 12:02 # - MO and John,
Through the fog of war and the obscuring smoke and mist of lies and secrecy we can dimly see the pillars of totalitarian structures in place. The accretion of wealth to America’s royalty is matched by the erosion of our hard-won rights, social justice, general welfare and scientific advancement. A celebration of ignorance is promoted and gulags spread and multiply unabated. Torture is accepted and the environment is trashed. It is time for us to follow this country’s visionary activists’ long and rich tradition of dissent and struggle against power. We must do it in the name of love and justice.
— Countess Sofia Belinskaya May 24, 12:22 # - If anyone was unclear on what the Republican Party platform was before this Administration’s tenure in tandem with this Republican Congress, they should no longer have any doubts. Corporate, wealthy, oil-slick America is the only concern of those in power. How the Christian born-again righteous can align themselves with such ilk is the height of hypocrisy as well as the antithesis of wwjd. Do they really believe Jesus would espouse this doctrine and align himself with such people??? Lying, cheating, stealing, polluting, ignoring the poor and the forgotten. Now that’s a platform to be proud of!
— jen May 24, 12:22 # - Jorge Arbusto (George Bush) hears “the voices” and works in concert with end-timers (Christian Zionists) who have a vested interest in the destruction of the planet. I think it’s time to impeach this cretin on the basis of his manifest insanity. He’s criminally insane.
— Latifah Mendoza May 24, 12:30 # - Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich!
— Teekleman May 24, 12:32 # - Right on Teek!
I stay in touch with this site, only to maintain my sanity. Having others out there, that believe our democracy is turning to Fascism, is somewhat comforting.
— Lilfinn May 24, 16:36 # - I’m curious as to how many of those 12 Senators are Democrat.
Face folks, an overthrown government is the only feasible solution at this point.
— Chris May 25, 05:21 # - Chris, the vote was 12 to 3, so that means the Senate Intelligence Committee has 15 members – so it probably breaks down to 8 Regressives and 7 Dems. Therefore, since all 3 who gave Hayden a thumbs-down were Dems, that means 4 Dems voted in support of Hayden filling the post of Director of Central Intelligence. So, more than 50% of Dems voted away our 4th amendment in the Bill of Rights. Bet those same regressive Dems would vote to put you in jail if you burned the American flag. After all, a piece of cloth colored red, white, and blue is more valuable that the liberties it is supposed to represent.
— John May 25, 09:11 #
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