Intelligence Committee Investigation Unlikely
The "let's go to the public and con them about the illegal program" strategy appears to have worked. Several lawmakers have switched their public position on the idea of holding an investigation.
The Senate intelligence committee is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a Democratic-sponsored motion to start an inquiry into the recently revealed program in which the National Security Agency eavesdrops on an undisclosed number of phone calls and e-mails involving U.S. residents without obtaining warrants from a secret court. Two committee Democrats said the panel -- made up of eight Republicans and seven Democrats -- was clearly leaning in favor of the motion last week but now is closely divided and possibly inclined against it.
They attributed the shift to last week's closed briefings given by top administration officials to the full House and Senate intelligence committees, and to private appeals to wavering GOP senators by officials, including Vice President Cheney. "It's been a full-court press," said a top Senate Republican aide who asked to speak only on background -- as did several others for this story -- because of the classified nature of the intelligence committees' work.
The "strength of the information in the briefing changed Senators minds" meme is false, it was the pressure from the fearful public that is working it's magic. That, and the not-too-subtle pressure from the White House upon the lawmakers themselves.
The White House characterized last week's closed-door briefings to the full committees as a significant concession and a sign of the administration's respect for Congress and its oversight responsibilities. Many Democrats dismissed the briefings as virtually useless, but senators said yesterday they appear to have played a big role in slowing momentum for an inquiry.
John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), the Senate intelligence committee's vice chairman, has drafted a motion calling for a wide-ranging inquiry into the surveillance program, according to congressional sources who have seen it. Rockefeller declined to be interviewed yesterday.
Sources close to Rockefeller say he is frustrated by what he sees as heavy-handed White House efforts to dissuade Republicans from supporting his measure. They noted that Cheney conducted a Republicans-only meeting on intelligence matters in the Capitol yesterday.
Senate intelligence committee member Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) said in an interview that he supports the NSA program and would oppose a congressional investigation. He said he is drafting legislation that would "specifically authorize this program" by excluding it from the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which established a secret court to consider government requests for wiretap warrants in anti-terrorist investigations.
The high stakes game for the future of the Bush presidency is entering a crucial point. Cheney's fuck-up is not helping things.All that is needed now is a knowledgeable whistle-blower or two to appear and the whole precarious house of cards could fall down.
Or to put it another way, everything moves faster just before it swirls down the crapper.
posted by Effwit at 11:57 AM
7 Comments:
It's just impossible to justify dropping the wiretapping probe because of WH pressure. This is probably something that Democrats and Republicans could mobilize on, but America is still split too much about the issue. Let's hope that changes.
Blake:
The White House will go to any length necessary to stop any investigation that might have teeth.
I doubt that the Rethugs will mobilize on this issue, unless their constituents demand it. And maybe not even then.
Of course, when the real owners of the USA--the big corporations-- finally decide that the Bush/Cheney regime is making American-style Fascism look bad, then you will see a prompt housecleaning, like in 1974.
With a guy like Dewine in for a fight for his Senate seat this fall in Ohio, there's no way in hell he's going to go against his sugar daddies in the White House. As we know, Rove has been basically blackmailing the Repubs to let this all slide.
The whole thing is about to get swept back under the rug. And Cheney's Big Shot on the ranch will likely help that to happen, conveniently.
Drew L:
I am inclined by disposition to expect the worst in this (and every) matter.
Odds are that you are correct about how this will turn out, given the WH pressure.
However, I have a faint glimmer of hope that one of these major blunders will be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
Cheney's poor marksmanship is a convenient distraction, I must say.
Effwit,
Well, there's a surprise for the White House and Congress. There's a way to bypass the RNC-controlled roadblocks and force the Congress to order an investigation: [ For details Click ]
What this process does is forces the House to commit -- with a vote -- whether they are for or against fact finding. The voters will have nine [9] months to digest what Congress does or doesn't do. To read more about this [ Click ]
It doesn't matter what the White House or Congress do or do not do -- at this point, it is clear the Congress refuses to do what the States are fully prepared to do: Compel an investigation.
I appreciate the fact that some think that things look bleak or nothing can be done -- but the problem is Vermont is already moving on this, as are other communities around the country.
The White House's back has already been broken: They have been unable to stop this process, despite the non-sense. It is correct what blake says: Nobody can justify dropping this issue.
They way to mobilize is to share the Kos-link with your friends, and remind others that the Stats have a role to play in this. We will find out who is for or against the Constitution, and make appropriate changes. There is no reason to wait until November to do something: The time for action is now: Call your State legislators, and find out what they are or are not doing to cover this issue.
Then let the world know the responses -- every little bit of information will help tip the balance. It only takes one state, and one blogger and one voter to tip the balance. They have wished for this!
Best wishes,
- Constant -
I don't quite know why - but I and my clansmen really dig your blog. There's something clean about it....Know what we mean by that? (We hope so. Keep truckin' lucid fucker))
Meatball One:
Thanks.
I think I get the drift.
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