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Nancy Pelosi; Courageous Hero
By Rob Kall (about the author) Page 1 of 1 page(s)
For OpEdNews: Rob Kall - Writer It's become clear to anyone who wants to see clearly that we now know that torture is unreliable generally and in the case of Al Libi, it is a known fact that the information was bad. We can play with words and argue whether the CIA lied or was misled by Al libi. But it's not a black and white question. McGovern makes it clear that the report Powell received and there's good reason to believe Pelosi received a similar tainted on, was bad information that would not have made it through the normal CIA vetting system. Tenet was ushered out of the CIA and given an award by Bush. At the time, there were millions of Americans who knew then, who knew when Powell gave his infamous UN speech, closing the sale of the Iraq war for Bush and Cheney, that the evidence he was giving was not true. It's now ironic that the mainstream media is vilifying Nancy Pelosi for speaking now. They have totally failed, in every broadcast I've seen, to mention the misleading of Colin Powell. Blowhards like Scarborough, who has blown his cover as a moderate and has now returned to his extremist right wing reality, and losers like Rudy Giuliani are pumping out right wing echo chamber talking points, protecting the CIA-- not today's CIA-- but the Bush Cheney CIA that we now know aided and abetted in the deception of the American Public and the congress in the fraud that led us to war. It's clear that President Obama has left Speaker Pelosi hanging, even, apparently, encouraging CIA Director Leon Panetta to skewer her when Panetta could have handled differently, questioning Tenet's Cheney tainted role. I'm no great fan of Nancy Pelosi, who took impeachment off the table and who has, following the Obama "look forward" mantra, has not pursued hearings for Bush administration war crimes and justice department crimes. But when it comes to standing up the CIA, it takes a lot of cojones and she clearly deserves credit for having them. If only the mainstream media and its gutless wonders would do the same. At least Bob Shrum held HIS ground on the Morning Joe show, as Giuliani and Scarborough found the need to raise their voices as they recited, predictably, the "Pelosi's bad" message that will be echoed throughout the right wing media echo chamber for the next few days. Shrum cited concrete examples of how the CIA had lied, and challenged Giuliani to actually say that the CIA never lies. Giuliani wouldn't admit it. The CIA failed America and Tenet was a traitor. That's the real truth. It would be easy for Leon Panetta to say that it was the leadership of the CIA that failed, in spite of the honest hard work of the loyal CIA employees who did the right thing. Obama could be saying that too. It is sad that they chose not to take that road. Update; 2:01 PM EST After 19 comments and a verbal tongue lashing, I'll try to address some things. 
Think back six years. How often did we hear then-Secretary of State Colin Powell tout his intense four-day vigil at CIA headquarters preparing the speech he would give to the United Nations Security Council on Feb. 5, 2003? Retired Army Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Powell's chief of staff, who was asked by Powell to herd cats in putting that speech together, recently threw light on why it turned out to be such an acute embarrassment. Surrogates of Vice President Dick Cheney were insisting on giving prominence to highly dubious reports of operational ties between al-Qaeda and Iraq, but on this particular issue (unlike the phantom WMD) CIA and State department intelligence analysts had stood firm in the face of heavy pressure. Indeed, the CIA ombudsman saw fit to tell Congress that never in his 32 years as a CIA analyst had he witnessed a more aggressive "hammering" on analysts to change their minds and give credence to reporting that was trash. How was it, then, that Secretary Powell ended up citing a "sinister nexus between Iraq and the al-Qaeda terrorist network" to depict a relationship that did not exist? Fair labeling: Reading what follows may not make you quite as ill as reading the Department of Justice torture memos, but it may well sicken""and anger""you just the same. According to Col. Wilkerson, just days before trying to sell the invasion of Iraq to the United Nations, his boss Colin Powell had decided not to regurgitate the dubious allegations about Saddam Hussein's ties to al-Qaeda. Just in the nick of time, however, top CIA officials produced a "bombshell" report alleging such ties. The information was more than a year old and apparently extricated via torture, but Powell took the bait. Wilkerson says the key moment occurred on Feb. 1, 2003, as the two men labored at the CIA over Powell's presentation to the U.N. Security Council four days later. "Powell and I had a one-on-one "" no one else even in the room "" about his angst over what was a rather dull recounting of several old stories about Al Qa'ida-Baghdad ties [in the draft speech]," Wilkerson said. "I agreed with him that what we had was bull___t, and Powell decided to eliminate all mention of terrorist contacts between AQ and Baghdad. "Within an hour, [CIA Director George] Tenet and [CIA Deputy Director John] McLaughlin dropped a bombshell on the table in the director's conference room: a high-level AQ detainee had just revealed under interrogation substantive contacts between AQ and Baghdad, including Iraqis training AQ operatives in the use of chemical and biological weapons." Although Tenet and McLaughlin wouldn't give Powell the identity of the al-Qaeda source, Wilkerson said he now understands that it was Ibn al-Sheikh al-Libi, who had been captured 15 months earlier; who later claimed he gave the CIA false information in the face of actual and threatened torture; and who now seems to be quite dead. Presumably not realizing that the "new" intelligence was tainted, "Powell changed his mind and this information was included in his UNSC presentation, along with more general information from a previous draft about Baghdad's terrorist tendencies," Wilkerson said.
First, I don't forgive or excuse Nancy Pelosi for what she's done before.
Second, I've thought a real, real lot about heroism. Heroes are never perfect. Most people credited with being heroes today are really not that heroic. Often, heroes trip and fall and land unintentionally in a situation where they have an opportunity to act heroic, often while trying to save their own asses. That's exactly what's happened to Nancy Pelosi. She's trying to cover or save her ass from the Republican attack on her regarding torture. And maybe saying the CIA lied was a stupid move. But it was not something, I am certain, that she accidentally or impulsively said.
The journey of the hero does not end with one action or decision. It starts there. Some falter or leave the trail. We'll see what Pelosi does. Sometimes when someone finds his or her self on the hero's journey everything appears in a new light. I have been accused of being an optimist and framing things positively. When the capitol is full of cowards who fear facing the CIA, even a flawed person can be heroic if she faces what others all fear and avoid. History is filled with flawed people who made a difference.
Rob Kall is executive editor, publisher and site architect of OpEdNews.com, Host of the Rob Kall Bottom Up Radio Show (WNJC 1360 AM), President of Futurehealth, Inc, (more...)
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
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Number of pages: 15
Publisher: Stationery Office Books
Number of pages: 15
Publisher: Stationery Office Books
by Kathryn Stone
Number of pages: 47
Publisher: U.S. Army War College
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Oh My Dear God
Orrrrrrrrr Nancy Pelosi is trying to cover her a** because the CIA did not lie, that the CIA HAD told her about torture. I am starting to understand why some hard hitting COTO articles are not published here (while nice fluffy pieces are), why Mr M is banned from posting for a month, why some articles with very interesting discussions on healthcare suddenly dissapear from headline status etc etc etc Rob, I expected so much better than this from you. Come on man. Do the math. This issue is WHY Pelosi was so opposed to Impeachment. by Michael Cavlan (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 538 comments [131 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:06:21 AM  (7+)
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Reply: Double Negative
So you are saying that Pelosi is lying about the CIA lying?--so she is telling the truth? by Allan Wayne (28 articles, 8 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 446 comments [137 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:48:44 AM (1+)
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Reply: turf
They are ALL liars...that is what DC is all about...this is a turf battle. by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1711 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:57:19 AM (6+)
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Reply: Everybody?
Apparently, you do not believe in honor among liars. by Allan Wayne (28 articles, 8 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 446 comments [137 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:07:47 AM (0+)
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Reply: Yea EVERYBODY
"Apparently, you do not believe in honor among liars."--Wayne
by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1711 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 1:50:41 PM (0+)
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Reply: My Bonnie lies over the ocean!
Damnit!--You seem to have gotten me there! What about little white lies? And I don't mean "little white liars" because those would be Republicans. by Allan Wayne (28 articles, 8 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 446 comments [137 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 4:40:20 PM (0+)
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Reply: Well, you present an epistemic twirlygig...
I just have to say, it's like that. by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1711 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 5:05:05 PM (0+)
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Reply: Taxonomy
That's a whirlygig you are referring to, and they are aquatic beetles. Is your back yard underwater? God forbid, you are not waterboarding beetles!--are you? by Allan Wayne (28 articles, 8 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 446 comments [137 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:13:11 PM (0+)
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Reply: A good summary
In a culture of deception, the best deceivers will lead. After all, every single candidate in your Congress/Senate needs major financial and media backing in order to gain the needed publicity. They are bound to owe some favors. We Europeans are no better, I'm afraid. We just have longer and more elegant traditions about the corruption. We have royalty. by Kimmo Salonen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 149 comments [108 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 12:25:56 PM (1+)
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Reply: Kimmo
"We just have longer and more elegant traditions about the corruption. We have royalty."
by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1711 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 1:53:45 PM (0+)
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Ditto Michael!
A very disappointing piece by Rob Kall. Another "Republicans bad, Democrats good" bullsh*t piece. America slides further into the..abyss... by Mark Watterson (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 207 comments [133 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:12:02 AM (11+)
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"I say she's a real hero." -RK
So was Al Capone to some people. by Mark Watterson (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 207 comments [133 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:32:46 AM (4+)
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Reply: As a bar owner.
Capone did fight against the injustice of Prohibition. by Allan Wayne (28 articles, 8 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 446 comments [137 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 4:42:39 PM (4+)
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Oh, boy!
If Nancy "The Weathervane" Pelosi is a hero with cojones, I'm killing myself...NOW! by Trailing Begonia (4 articles, 224 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 996 comments [622 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:44:06 AM (7+)
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How many
Democrats are in Congress, again? Getting rid of the Speaker doesn't look so good, does it? The idiots are playing Rovian politics again, it has nothing to do with Pelosi, per se, it has to do with '10. The thing they aren't asking themselves is "do we as a nation have time for this bullshit?" We need to hammer them from outside the Uroburos [aka Beltway] to start getting some goddamn work done, and quit their freaking high school games. The smear campaign always has a purpose, never forget that. by Jennifer Hathaway (17 articles, 56 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 853 comments [253 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:47:50 AM (6+)
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The Jury is In
If the CIA lied, if Panetta lied, if Goss lied, if __________ lied, prosecute them. That is about as simple as it can get for the Pelosi Fan Club. Prosecute them. They won't be prosecuted because they did not lie. The Speaker of the House, 3rd in line to the Presidency, lied. She did not misspeak. She did not recall. She did not get bad information from her staff. She lied. And what makes it worse is that she did it to try to politically smear another administration at the behest of a bunch of left wing wackos like George Soros and Moveon.org and the DailyKos and thought she could get away with it. by Mad Jayhawk (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 827 comments [94 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:11:59 AM (1+)
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Rob, I am astounded by your position
It is not "courageous" to silently tolerate knowledge of torture for six or seven years. It may take some political courage to do the Right Thing, but that is the moral imperative of democratic (small "d") leadership. She was NOT "courageous," but furtive in keeping the treachery silent, thereby perverting the cause for slaughterous war. She was not "courageous" but cowardly. She was not "courageous" but self-serving: she was not only protecting her own backside and endeavoring to enhance her own political career then, but insists in pursuing that same course today. And she is not "courageous" today but pitifully despicable in justifying her false ignorance and innocence. But we decent Americans beyond the influence of the excrement feeding liars of the Conservative-radical media, are on to Ms. Pelosi, and I am shocked that you of all people are absent from our numbers! by Rafe Pilgrim (82 articles, 0 quicklinks, 27 diaries, 102 comments [20 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:13:48 AM (5+)
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Excuse me, Has anyone seen
my respect for Rob Kall, I seem to have lost it... by Mark Watterson (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 207 comments [133 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:21:33 AM (0+)
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The CIA is getting too big for its britches as Mom would say
The CIA thinks it does not have to obey our Federal Laws and our Constitution. The CIA has become a rogue agency. It is time that some of the CIA leadership went to jail. If the CIA is manipulating our leaders and risking our freedoms, shut it down. Perhaps some of our field agents as well. Anyone in the military understands they do not have to obey an illegal order. Should the CIA be any different.
SIGN THE PETITION by John H Kennedy (12 articles, 7 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 319 comments [29 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:38:34 AM (1+)
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Rob you know I love you,
But even if Pelosi was "lied" to about waterboarding in 2002, she has admitted to knowing about waterboarding in 2003, 6 months later in March. And even if she was not told about waterboarding in 2002, she was told about other forms of "Enhanced interrogation." If she had "cajones" she would have exposed the Bush admin for the frauds and torturers they were/are and we would not be here today. Many of our soldiers have been killed because of the cruel practices of the Bush regime and over one million Iraqis are dead. Nancy Pelosi is not courageous; she's a craven coward and is no beter than BushCo. IMHO, the "right" is just shooting itself in the foot demanding her resignation because as long as she is in the speaker's seat, BushCo will be protected and only because if she is exposed, they are also. Wow, Democrats are bad, too...let's attack the system that protects felons. Cindy by Cindy Sheehan (74 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments [22 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:43:20 AM (10+)
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Reply: Let 'em lock and load then...
because the more that swine is able to enjoy sunshine the deeper into the abyss we-the-people sink.
by bucketslogg (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 290 comments [112 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 3:27:36 PM (2+)
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Reply: We'll discuss this on my radio show tonight
Glad you weighed in. We've been in agreement on Nancy Pelosi in the past. But We are stuck with her. What if she does something good, even for the wrong reason? Do we reject it? Do we question the doing good because of the motivation or do we give positive reinforcement because, at least, the right thing was done?
by Rob Kall (1036 articles, 4275 quicklinks, 396 diaries, 2208 comments [122 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 9:46:39 AM (0+)
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Reply: Sorry, I haven't been around lately... No, actually...
because anything and everything they do, and when I say "they" I mean Pelosi -is just for the cameras. While I could only guess what the motivation is, perhaps coercion, at the end of the day... who loses, once again? by bucketslogg (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 290 comments [112 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 1:25:00 AM (0+)
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This is "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" logic. Just
because the CIA & Pelosi are hurling accusations at each other doesn't mean that either one of them is "good" (or right, or courageous). Pelosi is a liar & a coward, and the CIA is an organization of professional liars & murderers. In the current dust-up, they have divergent interests, even though Pelosi's usual stance would simply be to let the CIA do whatever it wants, & try to keep out of their way. She's only fighting with them to protect herself, while they were obliged to attack her as part of the right-wing counter-offensive to the memos & new (now-withheld) torture photos. The Right's attack was meant to illustrate that they will bring down any Democrats who don't obey their orders. It was a warning to Obama, essentially saying, "We will destablize your administration if you pursue anything that publicly exposes our crimes." Obama got the message, of course, and caved on the photos. But sending this message damaged Pelosi. She's fighting back not because of any commitment to the truth, but simply to protect herself. The actual difference between her version & the CIA's version is not great. She is basically claiming that they didn't unambiguously tell her the torture was already taking place in Sept 2002. That may be so, but what constitutes "unambiguous" is somewhat in the eyes of the beholder; & in any case, she almost certainly knew, within a very few months of that. So her dispute with the CIA is at the level of parsing & feigned outrage over what are really minor shades of difference. If she had the choice, she'd much rather kiss with them & make up, but she sees they've made her look bad, & so feels compelled to fight back. That's defense of one's self-interest -- not "courage." by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1552 comments [256 recommended, 5 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:49:19 AM (5+)
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She is covering her #$$
It is obvious. And, yes do away with the CIA . Their actions have only endangered the American Public and compromised, our borders, our Constitution and our God given freedoms. Who do they work for? Foriegn world bankers, not the USA. by Davey Jones (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 83 comments [40 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:51:11 AM (5+)
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pelosi the Bernadette Devlin of America
Dennis Kucinich has exhibited courage in my opinion. Nancy is protecting her own career. The time to stand up to the C.I.A has long passed. When it was time to stand up Nancy was under the table. She defined what was on the table with only her perception of The Democrats interest. The interests of the American people and the Iraqui peoples weren't primary. I guess I believe a hero is capable of putting human life ahead of political expedience. by robert braunstein (69 articles, 0 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 207 comments [49 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 11:55:18 AM (6+)
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Reply: How is Pelosi like Devlin?
Bernadette Devlin stubbornly held to principle and would not compromise even when it hurt her dearly. Pelosi won't go to the bathroom without first reaching a consensus with everyone. In this dust up between Pelosi and the CIA though, I would tend to back her. She is a careerist who always chooses the path of least resistance and the CIA has become a wicked, black hearted agency who sold its soul long ago. For my part, I would like to see someone leading the House who would be more coureageous in standing up against the CIA....like Bernadette Devlin. by vidiot (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 330 comments [24 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 7:10:14 PM (0+)
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Reply: Robert- I Know Bernadette Devlin
My parents are from Co Tyrone in northern Ireland (Coalisland and Dungannon, Bernie is from nearby Cookstown)
by Michael Cavlan (15 articles, 0 quicklinks, 6 diaries, 538 comments [131 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 7:45:54 PM (1+)
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Reply: michael
I may be wrong.. but I believe robert's devlin remark was tongue in cheek?? Otherwise it doesn't jive with the rest of his comment :) by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [738 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 8:20:17 PM (2+)
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Reply: my hero Bernadette
Michael- I love bernadette Devlin- I once saw her stand up and walk accross parliament and smack some sonuvagun right in the face. They shot her five times and she still gave them the finger. I am sorry if I was unclear. Angela Davis wasn't too cowardly either. bob by robert braunstein (69 articles, 0 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 207 comments [49 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 9:04:34 PM (0+)
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Huh??!
Heroic would have been standing up to them when it became evident that the UCMJ and Geneva Convention Treaty was being violated. Now? Not so much, what's her risk now that everybody is jumping on the bandwagon... by Roger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 517 comments [38 recommended, 2 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 12:42:00 PM (0+)
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Elections '10
This distraction from the work that needs to be done NOW is the Whitewater/ intern-sexed/ Rovebot bullshit distraction story AGAIN. Get this NOW: I DO NOT CARE ABOUT PELOSI AND HE-SAID/SHE-SAID BULLSHYTE OF THE UROBUROS. I CARE ABOUT THE NATION. WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS BULLSHYTE. STOP ALLOWING THEM TO DISTRACT YOU. Right now, we need universal healthcare, we need jobs, and we need to make sure we don't go to war with Iran for Big Oil. If the neocons manage to play the sleight-of-mind game with us again, it's our bad. And if they manage to gain control of Congress again as a result of playing this game, I'm leaving the freaking country, because the FEMA camps will be next. Don't be stupid, people. by Jennifer Hathaway (17 articles, 56 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 853 comments [253 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 12:58:47 PM (5+)
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No, Impeachment was off the table
What is now occurring in our Nation's Capitol has surpassed politics as usual. It is indeed a "turf war." Speaker Pelosi, as Ms. Sheehan has pointed out is craven coward. She could have at least attempted to put Impeachment upon the table where it rightfully belonged. She had an opportunity to stand up to the Bush Co. tyranny which has encapsulated our downtrodden country of ours. That would have been "courageous." The Founders would have also been proud. But no, Ms. Pelosi refused. As a result she is now reaping what she has sown. Suffering the consequences of this faux right-left paradigm, which is then pawned off to the American people as politics. Erstwhile, Ms. Pelosi is being devoured by this feckless "Corpstream" media, these empty suits who have the audacity to call themselves journalists. i.e. Scarborough (morning joke) Matthew's, Blitzer, Gregory, Mitchell, Schieffer etc. and who I should note, have supplied the platform for the tyranny. by Munich (1 articles, 86 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 1125 comments [86 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 1:11:13 PM (5+)
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CYA policy
She played ball as did the rest. Her CYA policy wasn't as good as the others. She got cornered. Once cornered she is fighting back. She should have known better then to play ball in the first place. Maybe, she can find redemption but it will take more then another CYA policy. She needs to stand strong and expose all those who are Complissed about this disgrace. by Sleeper (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 17 diaries, 323 comments [22 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 1:19:16 PM (0+)
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Whatever you think of Nancy Pelosi,
The proposition that we are shocked--shocked!--that she should accuse the CIA of lying, that she is therefore unfit for her office and should resign it immediately, rises to a new level of hypocrisy. Just as I was beginning to think it couldn't go any higher. For those of you who say there is no difference between the Democratic and Republican parties I offer this: for every example of bald-faced hypocrisy on the part of the Democrats, I can find you two by the Republicans, even if I don't count the current one as two which, by rights, I should. P.S. Five years ago the mere suggestion that the Bush administration made sh*t up to justify invading Iraq could get you tarred and feathered as "unpatriotic". Now the story that they carried out and justified illegal torture as a means to that end is beginning to get real traction. Could the real reasons for invading Iraq, and the real culprits behind 9/11, be far behind? In spite of the current administration's stated desire to "move on"? by Maxwell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 481 comments [118 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 2:55:15 PM (2+)
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Courageous, Rob?
What'd it take to duck debating Cindy Sheehan? I'd say Pelosi goes for the main chance whenever it's available, like all the dim Dems. And has a spine of pure jelly. by GL Rowsey (24 articles, 19 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 427 comments [90 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 4:05:00 PM (3+)
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Bleahh...
He said... she said... hooz takin hoo to the prom? All this American Idol drivel is not going to lay one mile of , fab a door of rolling stock, set up one wind turbine, fund one hospital, pay one teacher, install one solar-panel or upgrade one wire on the grid or even grow one lousy potato. Let's all get ready for the '10 Punch and Judy Show! Can anyone seriously believe there is a "government" or that the USA is anything but a network of Corporate fiefdoms? Never mind. Rhetorical question. by waldopaper (15 articles, 3 quicklinks, 34 diaries, 609 comments [84 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 4:54:29 PM (6+)
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Torture
So, if you waterboard Pelosi, to make her confess that she knew about waterboarding, she would make something up just to get out of it? But if we ask her nicely, using normal interrogation, and stress positions, she is more likely to tell the truth? Hmm, maybe that is why the CIA likes waterboarding. by Allan Wayne (28 articles, 8 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 446 comments [137 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 4:56:35 PM (2+)
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Reply: Allan
Nancy thought they were talking about 'surf boards'..they were in Cuba you know, right next to the ocean. by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1711 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 5:10:21 PM (0+)
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Reply: Hang Ten
Ain't much surf in the tropics, although I used to lifeguard at Assateague State Park, on the coast just south of DC. Of course, when there's a Nor'easterner, Nancy just might hear it blow, and we could talk about the lemon sharks. Hey, wait a minute!--I like Nancy! If it wasn't for Nancy Drew and Tom Swift, this country could totally suck! by Allan Wayne (28 articles, 8 quicklinks, 29 diaries, 446 comments [137 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 5:48:14 PM (0+)
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I don't buy it, Rob!
Think back to early 2002 when folks like Scott Ritter said we are building up for a war with Iraq under false pretenses. Then we have the chief UN weapons inspector Mohamed el Baradei saying flat out Iraq had no wmds. Thousands, if not millions of people knew the case for war was a total fabrication. Many like myself knew that from day one - connecting the dots was a simple task. Pelosi is just another political hack trying to save her butt. She should be behind bars, along with that ass kissing Powell, and the whole cabal. I would not cut her one inch of slack - ever. What she and they did was unforgiveable. by Cinderfella (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 248 comments [96 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 5:04:51 PM (7+)
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Reply: scott ritter
Scott Ritter exhibited heroism. They accused him briefly of being a pedophile. The length that the liars go to destroy someone is in direct relationship to how brave they are. During the debates Joe Biden said to Dennis Kucinch,"The only thing I like about you is your wife" There ain't a bunch of heroism going around. by robert braunstein (69 articles, 0 quicklinks, 23 diaries, 207 comments [49 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 9:16:19 PM (0+)
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I come late to this - correct me if I'm wrong
Has anyone mentioned the John Dean article in Findlaw. He instructs that all rooky presidents get roughed up by the Intelligence Community. When the president backtracked on showing the torture photos, that conclusion was that Obama has to figure out who sits in the White House. And the Leader of the House probably is having a mini-test. The spokespersons (Rove, Cheney, and now copy cats) are billing Nancy for a trial for treason. Politics will find someone else to pick on soon enough. I think Obama did a pretty job of handling the righteous crowd in South Bend, thanks to his former association with President Emeritus Hesburgh. Who knows how he'll do in Cairo with another big religious group. With Netanyahu's visit, what else. I sure hope things work out for that brave lady in Burma. Where does the nominated Ambassador to China fit? As our globetrotting president goes on missions, it's beginning to seem we need a broader definition of "mission." by Margaret Bassett (51 articles, 3819 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 2539 comments [200 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 6:00:21 PM (1+)
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wow---
ruthless you all are to rob ----lighten up---- just kidding---after all rob is ruthless when he wants to ban sombody from here-just a thought why are the democrats not going to fund the closing of GITMO--are NANCY'S fingernails in that too??---would rather have read a --WE MARCHED FOR MY SON TODAY-- article from rob then this---since his son got the heck beat out of him and didnt have insurance---- by TRADESMAN (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 335 comments [40 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 6:45:09 PM (2+)
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Who doesn't lie in Congress? Few.
I find it amusing when politicians and the MSM curse someone for lying. Like we aren't living in one big LIE? We are living in ILLUSION of Democracy but FASCSIM is the mode of government. Corporation yield all the power and Nancy pelosi is a butt kisser just like Obama and my state Senator Max- Kiss the corporate ass- Baucus. Mr M got Banned? A month will go fast; however, I hope he doesn't NOT come back. I enjoy his knowledgeable comments. THEY ARE ALL LIARS! WAKE UP AMERICA! OUR government is one big false joke. DEMOCRACY in AMERICA is ONE BIG I~ L~ L ~U ~S ~I ~O ~N. by shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 686 comments [149 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 7:08:08 PM (5+)
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I like Jesse Ventura's take on torture and Nancy Pelosi
In case you all missed it.... here's your chance..and remember Ventura is no fan of Pelosi.. I'd gladly vote for this man by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1201 comments [738 recommended, 12 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 7:37:54 PM (4+)
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Reply: Write on, jersey girl!
Yep, I'd vote for Jesse in a heartbeat. He's a true iconoclast. I esp enjoyed his final comment, "You give me a water board and Dick Cheney for one hour and I'll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders." The purpose of torture by the previous (and perhaps the current) administration was plain and simple - solicit false confessions. Case closed. Remember, remember, the 5th of November... "we caught the terrorists - and they confessed." Another by product of torture is humiliation. by Cinderfella (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 248 comments [96 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 10:33:45 PM (2+)
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Nancy Pelosi; Not my Hero
from The Nation "Now, however, comes the news that Pelosi knew as early as 2002 that the U.S. was using waterboarding and other torture techniques and, far from objecting, appears to have cheered the tactics on. The Washington Post reports that Pelosi, who was then a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, was informed by CIA officials at a secret briefing in September 2002, that waterboarding and other forms of torture were being used on suspected al-Queda operatives. That's bad. Even worse is the revelation that Pelosi was apparently supportive of the initiative. According to the news reports, Pelosi has no complaint about waterboarding during a closed-door session she attended with Florida Congressman Porter Goss, a Republican who would go on to head the Central Intelligence Agency, Kansas Republican Senator Pat Roberts and Florida Democratic Senator Bob Graham." by Margie Laupheimer (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 27 comments [34 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 8:37:59 PM (4+)
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The birds
Note how the conspiracy people are joining in on this latest Republican attack. It is my observation that the 9/11 Truth Movement will repeat any right-wing smear against any Democrat. Of course, this alone proves they're for the birds. ;) by Perry Logan (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 759 comments [135 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 5:33:28 AM (1+)
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Reply: Your comment proves nothing!
Speaking of birds... you are just like many of the masses who gets their news from msm. Do some serious homework, otherwise you're just talking off the top of your head. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. COTO KNOWS. Keep your head in a hole like an ostritch, it's probably the safest place for you, although your other end makes for a large target. Obviously you're not a truth seeker, but a truth slayer with a rabid addiction to such. Read some history, get enlightened - at least a little bit. You're agenda betrays any research for reality. by Cinderfella (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 248 comments [96 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 6:28:51 AM (4+)
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Reply: manifest lunacy
"Note how the conspiracy people are joining in on this latest Republican attack."--Logan
by William Whitten (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4880 comments [1711 recommended, 28 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 11:40:54 PM (1+)
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Sorry Rob
no points for you on this one, and no get out of jail free card for Nancy either. by Jack Harrington (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 680 comments [72 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 1:02:00 AM (1+)
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For some reason
I cannot fathom why Nancy Pelosi was quiet for so long if indeed the CIA was telling the truth. On the other hand why then did she take impeachment off the table as her first act, help to gun down prosecutions of Bush and the telecoms over illegal domestic spying and today is in lockstep with the president in the idea of forgetting the entire past and moving on(unless of course you see a truth commision as substantitive rather than a dog and pony show)? If we can believe she is telling the truth then what on earth has made her go in this direction? What do they have on her? Or is it the president pushing the buttons? Is the right wing smear machine correct when they accuse Obama of not being a citizen? I mean what in the hell is it? The simple truth in the matter is the democrats have no excuse not to prosecute. They should have impeached. They should now be aggressively investigating the CIA and everyone else who were involved in torture and trying to make it legal by setting up an independent prosecutor and giving him real teeth. Now they won't release more photos of torture even to a court or a judge in affect weaking already pending lawsuits by the ACLU and other organizations. Also they seem to be backpeddling on practically everything they promised us, including health care reform, the economy, the war in Iraq, Guantanamo and open government. In fact the democrats are acting nearly as poorly as the republicans, becoming or so it seems, less of a lesser of the two evils. Rob is right about one thing, Obama and his newly appointed CIA director, Leon Panetta seem to be the fearful ones when it comes to the CIA, along with the rest of congress on both sides of the isle. All of it reminds me of the day Nixon fired J Edgar Hoover only to reinstate him the next day with honors and a bigger salary. It's as if the CIA has dossiers(dirt) on everyone and enough dirt to make them do whatever the CIA (aka MIC) wants them to do. So why jeopardize their cushy jobs and lucrative business partnerships that keeps them on their primary goal of staying in office for as long as possible then enjoying their millionaire retirements. by Michael Shaw (13 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 484 comments [47 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 8:38:31 PM (0+)
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You must be kidding
She keeps changing her story, trying to find what will be politically profitable at the moment. She completely lacks integrity. She refuses to even meet with peace advocates in her district. Very strange hero. She's a symbol of all that is wrong with America. by Bill Samuel (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 474 comments [25 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Friday, May 22, 2009 at 7:25:06 PM (1+)
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