GOP tries to keep Pelosi story alive

Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:15 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Security

From NBC's Mark Murray and Michael Viqueira

At some point today, a Republican member of Congress will introduce a measure on the House floor, calling for a bipartisan investigation into the back-and-forth between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the CIA.

The resolution has absolutely no chance of passing, but this is yet another way House Republicans are trying to keep Pelosi in the news -- even on a day dominated by Obama's and Cheney's dueling speeches on national security.

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Comments

PELOSI IS A DANGEROUS LIAR --- SHE MUST GO! (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:20 AM)

And who is there to scoop all the crap they are spewing,some of the very folks that are named at the top of the page.They admitted the reason is to keep the story in the news,really,it seems to me the republicans came say anything they wish,lies and all,whinning thru the day,spinning and a grinning.while the scoopers are doopers,and the spewers have there message out,thanks to the super scoopers.

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:26 AM)

Dick, you should have run for pesident with your torture doctrine ... but you didnt.
You uttered two words to the press in 8 years, why should we pay attention to you now ? Steve Biko, NY (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 9:23 AM)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve,

I believe you’re giving the Dickhead too much credit here… it was one word which was…. SO!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:27 AM)

Thanks Nancy!!! 12 of the 16 most corrupt are dEMOcrats.

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/39732

Dave, Tn (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:32 AM)

Please don't ban the Chihuahua. Just throw him some snausages.
Anna Molly (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:09 AM)
==========================

Laced with Xanax!

Your Feel Good Vet (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:33 AM)

"The Speaker has had a full week now to either produce the evidence or retract and apologize, and she's done neither," a senior GOP aide tells First Read. There is no choice now. A bipartisan investigation is needed to get to the facts."

______________

Funny, I recall trying to get at the truth of Gonzalez and Meiers, and hearing nothing but "executive privelege!" "executive privelege!".

Now that the shoe is on the other foot, funny how badly the GOP suddenly want the public to know the truth.

Just more crybaby tactics from the GOP, who have nothing else to do these days.

The descent into oblivion continues (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:34 AM)

Your article makes it sound like a trivial matter. Accusing the CIA of lying to Congress is very serious. Much more serious than the endless stories about Sarah Palin's wardrobe.

Raymond Hernandez (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:38 AM)

Pelosi will blame everything on Bush and the CIA.

Externalizing Blame: the bedrock principle of the Democratic Party.

That is why the Trial Lawyers Association is the second largest PAC contributor to the Democratic Party. Nothing is your fault. Every failure, financial reversal, accident, illness, foreclosure notice, rejection letter, job loss or shortcoming in your life is someone else’s fault. Either Uncle Sam was supposed to protect you from these things or a lawyer is right there to get you the money you deserve. Call now, lawyers are standing by.

I spilled a hot cup of coffee in my lap, sue the coffee shop; I drank a fifth of bourbon during pregnancy now my kid is messed up, sue the liquor company and put warning labels on booze; I did not save enough for my retirement, prop up Socialist Security with more tax money; I smoked a pack of cigs every day and now I have lung cancer, sue Philip Morris; I fell off a ladder while half-stoned, sue the ladder company; I bought a gas guzzler SUV when gas was $1.15/gal and crashed it while texting, sue Ford, ExxonMobil and AT&T; Twinkies made me do it; Mc Donalds and Kraft Foods made me fat!!!!!!!!! Whaaaahhhh, Wahhhhh! It was not my fault. George Bush must be to blame!!!! Call a lawyer.

Uncle Sam and Barack SAVE ME FROM MYSELF AND MY STUPIDITY

St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:41 AM)

PELOSI IS A "DANGEROUS LIAR" AND MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE SPEAKERSHIP ---

IT IS OBAMA'S CROSS TO BEAR --- BUT PELOSI MUST GO!

--- PELOSI MUST GO!

PELOSI ENDANGERS OUR TROOPS AND THE USA!

--- PELOSI MUST GO! PELOSI IS A DANGEROUS LIAR --- SHE MUST GO! (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:20 AM)
-----------------------------------------------------

Hold everyone to the same standard.

I bet if we threw out all of the liars, we'd see a reduction in washington politicians by about 90%

GP NW Indiana (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:43 AM)

Democrats should just add an amendment to this bill to also investigate the use of torture by the US and show the repubs to be the hypocrits that they are.

Rich, Baltimore (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:43 AM)

So msnbc puts up at article saying how stupid it is for republicans to make sure there was no law violations from the speaker of the house, but they can see if there were law violations from interrogation? Makes sense. Get off the government payroll G.E.

Kbo (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:44 AM)

HA the Republicans finally fell into Pelosi's trap like a bunch of idiots. I will laugh like crazy if that Republican bill for "investigations" actually passes and they end up sending a scad of high profile Republicans to prison. OH and incidentally Nancy Pelosi might have known they committed war crimes. How dumb are the Republicans. Its like pulling on a rattlesnake to get its attention, or like trying to stop a bus with your face. How dumb. Wow I hope they get what they are wishing for a FULL bipartisan investigation of what exactly the Republicans ACTUALLY DIRECTLY DID that Nancy Pelosi may have known somethign about. Worse case scenario for Pelosi: She goes fishing while another liberal replaces her. Meanwhile a bunch of Bushies get to spend abotu twenty years in prison. Wow Republicans have really thought this one through just like every stupid thing they've done in the last 8 years.

shawn, mobile, alabama (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:49 AM)

Nancy is not a liar,Eric from Salinas said she wasnt,he knows everything.

DumDum (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:50 AM)

I really don't think the GOP wants to open this can of worms. This could lead down a path to the Bush administration (and some of their key congressional leaders) that they really don't want to go to. Like Bill Clinton wanting to have a frank discussion about sex while he was in office; you really don't want to go there.

Dave (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:51 AM)

'... Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) this statement in 2007:
“We cannot have an intelligence community that covers up what it does and then lies to Congress.”

'...rich struggled uncomfortably and repeatedly attempted to change the subject...'

let's find out who TORTURED
Let's find out who's a WAR CRIMINAL

From Think Progress:

'...Gingrich: Only Republicans — Like Me — Are Allowed To Accuse The CIA Of Misleading Congress

This morning, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich went on ABC’s Good Morning America and called on Democrats to pressure Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to resign her position as Speaker. He claimed that she has “disqualified herself” for the leadership spot, because “if I were a person trying to defend this country, I’d have very little confidence that the Speaker of the House had any regard for what we were doing.”

Host Diane Sawyer challenged Gingrich, noting that he never criticized Rep. Peter Hoekstra’s (R-MI) repeated criticism of the agency, including this statement in 2007: “We cannot have an intelligence community that covers up what it does and then lies to Congress.” Gingrich struggled uncomfortably and repeatedly attempted to change the subject:

GINGRICH: Well, in that case, he’s writing a specific letter asking them to change something they were doing. He did not say the CIA routinely lies —

SAWYER: “Lies,” he said —

GINGRICH: — to the Congress.

SAWYER: Well, he says “lies.” He says “what it does and then lies to Congress.”

GINGRICH: And I think they actually had to come back and testify...'

CAT got your tongue Newt ??

How about a Truth Commission ???

`msIERRA, sf (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:51 AM)

It's no wonder that the republicans are losing ground. Why aren't they working on the real issues of the day rather than taking cheap shots, misdirecting, and looking petty.

Same old stuff. How sad.

comanchesue (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:53 AM)

It's no wonder that the republicans are losing ground. Why aren't they working on the real issues of the day rather than taking cheap shots, misdirecting, and looking petty.

Same old stuff. How sad.

comanchesue, San Antonio, TX (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:54 AM)

I am pissed - I want this Dickhead Cheney to go away!!!!

Just go and STFU --- PLEASSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:54 AM)

GOP Tries to Keep Pelosi Story Alive?"

Why isn't the media doing that job?

Oh. I forgot. You guys don't "do" news, just op-ed.

Gary P. Joyce (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:55 AM)

'...in 2007 Gingrich himself accused the CIA, among other U.S. intelligence agencies, of not just misleading Congress but actively undermining the President of the United States...'

'...Gingrich said that he believed the NIE and its authors were “damaging to our own national security”:

Can you say: 'HYPOCRITE' ?
Sure you can 'Gingrich' !!
(alternate pronunciation)

From Think Progress:

'...But more hypocritical than his silence in response to Hoekstra’s criticisms of the CIA is the fact that in 2007 Gingrich himself accused the CIA, among other U.S. intelligence agencies, of not just misleading Congress but actively undermining the President of the United States. In response to the release of the 2007 Iran National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) — which concluded that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program — Gingrich said that he believed the NIE and its authors were “damaging to our own national security”:

[The NIE] is so professionally unworthy, so intellectually indefensible and so fundamentally misleading that it is damaging to our national security.

The NIE appears to be a deliberate attempt to undermine the policies of President Bush by members of his own government by suggesting that Iran no longer poses a serious threat to U.S. national security because we apparently have credible reports that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

While Gingrich claimed to be aiming his criticisms at “partisan State Department bureaucrats,” the reality is that the NIE was compiled and authored by the Director of National Intelligence and the National Intelligence Council, in which the CIA plays an integral role. It was regarded as the “intelligence community’s most authoritative and coordinated written assessment” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities....'

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:56 AM)

This is a stupid issue, but Pelosi mishandled it and I'm guessing this one might eventually cost her the job as speaker.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:57 AM)

First, if we got rid of the CIA how much money in taxes would that save? It was the intelligence we received that caused some former officials to have a lapse in judgement. In the private business sector we would have spun off, sold or fired the CIA as to save money or to be spent elsewhere more effectively.

Second, just release all th documents for the last 8 years. The American public can handle it. Then we can make good decisions. It might become obvious that there is some CYA going on, and that's the corruption we just don't need anymore in this age. What is wrong with seeking the truth? I do not buy the argument "it will damage our national security". Because if that were really so, then we have fallen far as a nation and deserve no better than any of our rivals.

Katie H (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:59 AM)

I am a Dem, but even I have to admit that Nancy Pelosi is a joke.

Jill F., Tulsa, OK (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:59 AM)

WTF!! Who cares about this B.S. No wonder nothing gets done in D.C Meanwhile the average american struggles to make it each day....how am I going to make that car payment, credit card payment, rent, food, etc. To think that this is the best that these "elected officals" can do during their work day and get paid for it. Enough to make anyone do some projectile vomiting. Meanwhile...........

Dan, Columbia SC (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:00 AM)

The Reps said that they did not water board, so how is she lying if it did not happen. Secondly, if it did happen, (water boarding)they all need to be in jail, Reps and Demos if they committed a crime. Let us not forget about the Bush Era and all the Reps who have left office to take better jobs. Something needs to be done with Dick. Soon.

mary norman, ok (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:01 AM)

Hey MSierra SF since you know so much about truth, answer this:

Why does Obama have $63 billion to give away to the ungrateful third world but only $5 billion to save GM who employs over 250,000 people worldwide and hundreds of thousands more who supply GM and dozens of cities that rely on taxes from GM plants and supplier plants?

The total outstanding bonded debt of GM is $27.2 billion dollars, a trifle relative to $63 billion. How can you be so stingy with an American icon and squander so much on the ungrateful third-world?

I’m sure those kids who grow up in the third world and survive childhood diseases thanks to Uncle Sam’s generous donations and vaccinations, will gratefully take the offshored job of some American worker in the future. I’m sure they will buy a Chevy as well.

Thanks Barack. You truly are the World President.

St. Eleutherius of Nicomedia (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:04 AM)

Until now, I haven't been convinced that we need a truth commission, but yesterday someone here reminded me about Oliver North and Iran Contra, as well as George Tenet and the run-up to the Iraq war.

In the face of just these two examples, continuing to maintain that the CIA cannot lie or won't lie if someone believes that lying best serves the Agency's interests is delusional, at best, and malevolent, at worst.

And, by the way, does anyone else remember the Bush administration's unsuccessful proposal to set up a ministry of mis-or dis-information in connection with the Iraq war? We all thought that idea had been shouted down, but now I'm thinking maybe not. Maybe it just went underground.

What more evidence do you need that lying is not only POSSIBLE with these folks .... more often than not in recent years, and despite Leon Panetta's best efforts to gloss it over, it seems to have been POLICY.

Come to think of it, maybe we don't need a truth commmission after all. We already know the truth.

Anna Molly (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:06 AM)

Anna Molly (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:07 AM)

Pleeeeease!!! Enough already!!! Why aren't the Republican obstructionists also calling for a war crimes special prosecutor to investigate Cheney, Bush, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld? They MADE THESE POLICIES!!!!
They reality is that the Party Of NO is doing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to tie Democrats to the disasters of the Bush Administration to keep the aforementioned foursome from jail.
It's not going to work because Americans have seen it develop in front of thier eyes over the last eight years and they know exactly who is to blame. As time passes, more atrocities are coming to light, and who orchestrated them.
This is what Rebublicans know, and what could very well end up in a criminal court case involving all top Bush members.
So the game continues!

dave NJ (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:11 AM)

Investigate Pete Hoekstra too ... after all he called the CIA liars and said they lied to Congress.

Diane Sawyer nialed Newt Gingrich with this example.

D. Andrews, Charlotte, NC (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:13 AM)

I don't understand all the hype. The other members who were on the committee at the time, Republicans included, have all verified what Pelosi said happened. They simply didn't use the term "lie" when referring to the conduct of the CIA. So what's the problem? The Republicans have a problem with a leader saying the truth?

Neal, New York, New York (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:14 AM)

Don't these people have better things to do with their time? By all means, investigate away but I'm not sure they're going to get the results they're looking for. This just might come back to bite them.

Champ, Lumberton, TX (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:15 AM)

The disrespectful to female republicans are still at it with the Pelosi lied BS. Typical of their idealogy. Females are only good for two things.

The Governor of Texas in under fire for the disrespectful remarks made about females in his state. It seems that a group of professional business women have taken their heels off (so to speck) behind his remarks about the opposite sex.

I guess none of them had mothers or sisters...they are too intimadated by the opposite sex. Use them then lose them is their motto, too bad Sarah, I forgot, Rush has your back, so you just might be of further use to them.

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:16 AM)

For crying out loud, between this and their resolution to have the DNC change their name the GOP is far too busy to worry about silly things like 2 wars and the economy. And they accuse Obama of making us less safe? Good God, people! What of all this makes any sense, and why are some people still supporting this type of nonsense?

Andi, Grayslake, Illinois (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:17 AM)

"There is no choice now. A bipartisan investigation is needed to get to the facts."
------------------------------------------------------
Well, then: Bring. It. On. That's how them GOP cowboys like to talk, you betcha.

The GOP is already backtracking on this, as the Hoekstra vs. CIA issue comes to light. (Thanks to MSierra for highlighting the Newtster's floundering- ha!) Let a bipartisan investigation get underway. Start with Bob Graham's briefing notes. If Pelosi is cleared in all of this, fine. If not, then she goes- along with all at the top who had a hand in this ugliness.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:29 AM)

What is their problem? Did the Democrats ever call for Gingrich's resignation? Could someone check on that; I don't think so. He did have some questionable ethic violations that I can't recall if he was ever investigated on by the Ethics committee.

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:37 AM)

The GOP wants Pelosi to resign so that they can get some spineless Democrat in as Speaker of the House (like Ried in the Senate)

Mel (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:41 AM)

I'm am utterly amazed at the incompetence of the Republican Party... They are totally clueless... Ah rah rah rah, with no answers...

But that's what they have to do, 'cause if Obama succeeds, which he is, they most definitely don't stand a chance...

The Country has moved on...

Droppin' Science, Miami Florida (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:45 AM)

Any time the G'No'P talks about "bipartisanship" what they mean is "doing things the way the extreme right wants it done". This is similar to how any time the right wing noise machine and Fox News get into a snit it means that a liberal has done something good for America.

Nancy Pelosi isn't the best pol in the world. But she's light years better than a would be Speaker Cantor.

The Rational Hatter (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:45 AM)

More attempts by the GOP to desperately do anything to distract from the complete failure they have become. The whole story is laughable to anyone but the GOP and the 20 percent dead-enders who still support them. Yes lets investigate someone who might have heard about the torture, not the ones who authorized it. Pathetic....

PS - to the first poster, typing in all capitols marks you as a idiot even before your post confirms it.

Michael, Eureka, CA (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:45 AM)

With all the vitally important business the Congress has some of them want to play childish games. shame, shame on them.

They are an ever decreasing minority with nothing new to offer to solve our country's problems so they resort to more of the same BS, name calling, attempts to distract, and lord help us if they do the will of the people. Losers all the way around.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:49 AM)

Please, let's move on. The information from CIA records about briefings is unreliable and it is immaterial to the debate whether or not Pelosi knew about torture. She was not the one who set the policy or had any power to change it. Let's stay focused on the real issue.

BOQ1, Dania Beach, FL (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:49 AM)

If the CIA doesn.t lie then show me the WMD,And does the words SLAM DUNK mean anything to the repubs?

Phil Grants pass Or (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:56 AM)

The Speaker is the most influential person in the House when it comes to what bill goes to the floor and when. It looks like IF the Republicans ever have any new ideas they will be forced to introduce them around midnight on a Saturday night and be very limited in debate etc. Nice move GOPers it shows you really have no desire to do the will of the people.

eagle1776 (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:57 AM)

I am so sick of the Swiftboating tactics of the Republicans who have lost all reasoning skills and just ATTACK every and any democrat that they feel they can bring down. On the other hand if Democrats want a legitamate investigation of their political shennanigans they are told to shut up and sit down and labeled UnAmerican, 8 prosecuters fired, Governor put in prison in Alabama links to Karl Rove's hit team no investigation? No WMD no investigation? Thousands tortured at Gitmo Nancy Pelosi says she was mislead Yeah OK let's investigate it I agree but let;s investigate it very throughly!!!!

Robin Columbia SC (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 11:58 AM)

As a certain Democrate put this "it all depends on your definition of torture IS".

btw, if you are going to release all the documents of the past 8 years (of which i am also in favor), how about releasing all the documents from the past 233 years.

Let keep nothing secret. I still want to know who actually killed JFK.

Doc, WI (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:02 PM)

OH and I do have a little advice for the Republicans in reference to the days ahead after this Republican "investigation" bill passes...
BOHICA
You guys are going to have a really fun time being the minority party for the next 50 years. Those trials aren't going to help you guys a lot, and likely not hurt Pelosi in the least. Wave bye bye to Rice, Cheney, and a bunch of other Bush relics. The funny thing is you guys are marching right into it. YOU'VE EVEN BEEN WARNED!

shawn, mobile, alabama (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:09 PM)

Why are you misrepresenting two separate and unrelated speeches as a "debate" between Cheney and Obama?

And if you're going to help the Republicans keep the Pelosi nontorversy alive, why don't you report something about the anachronism that Keith Olbermann said proved the the CIA report on Pelosi's 2002 CIA briefing was written YEARS after the briefing took place? Is what Olbermann said true or not?

Houston (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:15 PM)

Msierra is still cutting and pasting. I am still waiting for an original thought. Obama takes cheap shots all day long at Bush to defend his insecurities about his manhood but no one can take shots at Pelosi? How hypicritical can you get? You lieberals tend to think your perfect and everbody who doesn't smoke the hopium with you is misguided while spending $1 for every 50 cents we take in. California is bankrupt and the rest of you want to follow their lead. How misguided is that?

MB, Valpo (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:15 PM)

Pelosi isn't the only member that pointed out discrepancies in the CIA's notes on briefings. Even panetta and goss won't directly say they were definitely briefed on torture. Ask Pete Hoekstra - he called them out as liars in a similar situation. The cia records on briefings cannot be relied on - there's been too many proven discrpancies.

Pelosi is nothing more than the "shiny object" the gop is using to distract. If someone needs to be investigated, it should be the ones that ordered the torture, not pelosi, she's small potatoes - I want the top of the heap. Bush Cheney. Nice try repubicans, but it just doesn't wash.

Jilli, Houston, TX (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:37 PM)

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