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Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Boehner slams Obama, Pelosi

Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009 2:34 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: , ,

From NBC's Luke Russert and Mark Murray

Responding to President Obama's national security speech today, House Minority Leader John Boehner criticized the president's stance on the closing of Guantanamo Bay. "Republicans oppose releasing these terrorists or importing them into our local communities," he said today at his weekly press conference.
 
Boehner also accused Obama of holding a "pre-9/11 mentality" in fighting terrorism -- which he argued has made America less safe. "Today, the president spoke a great deal about trust, but he declined to provide Americans with a clear plan for what to do with these terrorists," he added.

"What he did make clear, however, was that despite the overwhelming opposition from the American people and a bipartisan majority here in Congress, he's moving ahead importing terrorists into the United States for trial in our own civilian courts. I think this is a pre-9/11 mentality and I think it'll make our nation less safe. We cannot afford to learn the same lesson twice."

Also in his press conference, Boehner again went on the attack against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in her back-and-forth with the CIA. He also noted that House Republicans were introducing a resolution to launch an investigation into Pelosi's allegations that the CIA misled her on the use of waterboarding. As expected, however, the Democratic-controlled House tabled the measure.

"The Speaker has had a full week to produce evidence to back up her allegations, and frankly I am disappointed she hasn't done so," Boehner said. "We'll have no choice but to call for a bipartisan investigation.

During the Q&A with reporters, Boehner added that Pelosi's charge against the CIA was "damaging to our intelligence efforts and is having a chilling effect on our intelligence officials around the world." Boehner was then asked by reporters about a recent story being circulated by Democrats noting that Boehner accused the intelligence community of "misleading him" by changing the 2007 national intelligence estimate about Iran.

In response, Boehner said: "We are mixing apples and oranges here. It's different because when the national intelligence estimate with regard to Iran, it contradicted most everything I had been told in the six months leading up to it, and that's why I questioned what was coming out of this group that put the report together." When pressed further about whether his own accusations had a "chilling effect" on the intelligence community Boehner said: "No, I was questioning how this national intelligence estimate could vary and contradict a lot of information I had been told for the six months coming up to it. As simple as that."

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GAG!!!! I am so sick of these phony hypocrits, and of course when confronted with their hypocrisy, they say that is different. Ok whatever you and your party are irrelevant and most of the American People see these attacks as baseless and crazy
This is the same Boehner that helped pedophile Mark Foley to prey on teenage congressional pages for over a year.
Someone please tell Boehner that President Obama knows full well what to do with the terrorist that are on the battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq and on the border of Pakistan. The problem the President has is what to do with the people that were detained by Bush/Cheney and no one knows who they are or what they did to be labeled terrorists.
Just like with the economic mess, President Obama has the responsibility as CIC to clean up the mess in Gitmo and find ways to improve our national security because the previous administration was a colossal failure!

Boehner has a nerve slamming Pelosi. She has more cajones than he does. She at least challenged an assertion by the CIA that they explained EIT's to her and others when it is slowly becoming more apparent that they lied.
McConnel Critisizes Obama, but, Boner Slams Obama & Pelosi.

Geewiliker's batman, shall we head to the batcave b4 the Pow,bamBam & whatever other word's, this Incompetent MSM chooses to use to describe an inept peice of Crap, such as McConnel & Boner is Headlined.
Wow--Boehner is sure intimidated by Pelosi!

Does he really want to open this can of worms?  I hope that they have a "truth commission" and expose all of the lies not only from the CIA but also from the past administration, which was WORSE than Nixon's for lying to us. Nixon's lies didn't lead to deaths. Bush & Cheney's have lead to the needless deaths of over 4,000 American soldiers in Iraq and countless Iraqis. Yes, their innocent lives do count, too.
Responding to President Obama's national security speech today, House Minority Leader John Boehner criticized the president's stance on the closing of Guantanamo Bay. "Republicans oppose releasing these terrorists or importing them into our local communities," he said today at his weekly press conference.

Smiling Bob, finally chirps in and as usual with nothing but the same old tired assed talking points, Pelosi and Blame. I would think that they would tire of wearing boots to keep from waiding in the piles of dung they left us. Not to mention the ongoing stench of CYA politics. We need the truth commission, we want the truth commission and Cheney will be the first one in the hot seat.
So, in other word's Boner, You were LIED to, is that what your saying.


In response, Boehner said: "We are mixing apples and oranges here. It's different because when the national intelligence estimate with regard to Iran, it contradicted most everything I had been told in the six months leading up to it, and that's why I questioned what was coming out of this group that put the report together." When pressed further about whether his own accusations had a "chilling effect" on the intelligence community Boehner said: "No, I was questioning how this national intelligence estimate could vary and contradict a lot of information I had been told for the six months coming up to it. As simple as that."

Naw, that could'nt be.
SO WHAT?
Is this the same pre-9/11 mentality that allowed 9/11 to happen? There is no way in he** that Obama's  or the new administration's mentality can be compared to Bushes.
John Boehner!!!
We don't have to bring in torrist the FBI arrested a few home grown ones today.
So what are we going to do with them? Are they to DANGEROUS the be tried and held in our prisons.
OHHHH YEAH, They should be sent to getmo with out a trial and stay there for ever.
Get a Life You FOOOOOL.
Did he use the phrase "Democrat-Socialist" anywhere in his speech?  I hear the Repubs spent a lot of time on that bit of brilliance.

"Boehner also accused Obama of holding a "pre-9/11 mentality" in fighting terrorism -- which he argued has made America less safe."
------------------------------------------------------
You mean like when Richard Clarke was running around in August 2001, trying to get anyone in the Bush administration to listen to him about Al-Qaida?  Nope, I didn't think so.  Apples and oranges, indeed.
A PREDICTABLE Response from the Boner

Would you expect ANYTHING ELSE ??

Let him justify TORTURE !!

How about a Truth Commission Boner ??



From Progressiveerupts.blogspot.com:

Progressive Eruptions

MORE GOP HYPOCRISY FROM NEWT GINGRICH

Newt Gingrich is calling for Nancy Pelosi to resign because he says she dishonorably accused the CIA of lying to Congress.

What Gingrich doesn't include in his hypocritical diatribe agains Speaker Pelosi is that a Republican member of Congress, Rep. Peter Hoekstra’s (D-MI), also accused the CIA of lying, but Gingrich was nowhere to be found, back in 2007, demanding Hoekstra's resignation for saying so.

When interviewed by Diane Sawyer on ABC's Good Morning America today, Gingrich was asked by her why he didn't call for Hoekstra's resignation when he said the CIA lied:

In 2007 this is what Hoekstra said about the CIA: “We cannot have an intelligence community that covers up what it does and then lies to Congress.”

Hoekstra wrote a letter to President Bush in 2006 accusing the intelligence community of withholding information on their activities from Congress. “I have learned of some alleged Intelligence Community activities about which our committee has not been briefed,” Hoekstra wrote. He said that he believed the Bush administration’s failure to fully brief his committee could constitute “a violation of law“:

Similarly, in 2007, Hoekstra described a closed-door briefing by representatives from the intelligence community (including CIA) on the National Intelligence Estimate of Iran’s nuclear capability, saying that the members “didn’t find [the briefers] forthcoming.” More recently, in November 2008, Hoekstra concluded that the CIA “may have been lying or concealing part of the truth” in testimony to Congress regarding a 2001 incident in which the CIA mistakenly killed an American citizen in Peru. “We cannot have an intelligence community that covers up what it does and then lies to Congress,” Hoekstra said of the incident.

When asked about this inconsistency by Diane Sawyer, Gingrich dissembled uncomfortably:

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.

Apparently only US Representatives with a "D" after their names should resign when they accuse the CIA of lying. When Republican Representatives do so, not so much...'

Will you Condemn the Grinch, Boner ??

Memo to Boehner:  Shut the Hell Up!!
"Today, the president spoke a great deal about trust, but he declined to provide Americans with a clear plan for what to do with these terrorists," he added.
=======================================================
Well why don't I save the president time and the taxpayers time/money by giving y the repubs. their answer to Obamas plan.
NO NO NO NO.
I see now how different your statement and Pelosi's statement are. (sarcasm)
Apples to oranges????
Good luck with the truth commission allow me to offer the repubs. findings.
The Democratic party should now officially be called that Lying Group of Socialists.
I bet I just saved the American taxpayers an amount of money equaling the current deficit.
Why don't you actually work on something that will actually do something for the citizens of this great nation instead of grandstanding. We all know all politicians lie and distort the truth.  
Hey LB - No we shouldn't ban Bad Chihauha from posting here at First Read just because we don't like what "It" posts.  "It" is merely a deranged rabid dog yipping and yapping here to gain the attention "It" does not get in the real world.  Do what I do and ignore "It".  No if we stop "It" from posting here we'd be no better than that Billo the Unculture Clown at fox and freaks.  Besides everytime "It" clicks to post here "It" is supporting our Liberal First Read website.  Just ignore what "It" posts and be thankful that we're not as deranged and rabid as "It" is.  Maybe we could start up a collection to hire that Dog Whisperer to teach "It" obedience to "It's" new master President Barack Hussein Obama and teach "It" proper manners!

Bonehead Boehner is just a big crybaby so nothing new with his clueless rants.  He's so going to regret attacking Nancy Pelosi, who has more balls than this wimp.  She's going to trick the repugnant ones into investigating her that will come with investigating the torture club of the repugnant ones and they'll be the ones whining what the investigation uncovers about their perfidy of torture.

Investigate the Torture Club!
More meaningless political posturing from the GOP.  Are the Republicans ever going to do anything to contribute to any solutions?
I’m shocked!  Never saw this one coming now did we?? They make my job too easy!

In Bonehead’s world up is down and down is up… pigs fly and everyone gets a tax cut!  Like I said… can’t someone in the party of the GEENOPEE make any sense?  

Only guy(s) out there that I’ve heard so far is Colin Powell & Charlie Christ and what do they do but throw them both under the bus!

Uptight Right Wing Whack Jobs – UNITE!!  Yeah that’s worked out so well for you so far!  
Boehner also accused Obama of holding a "pre-9/11 mentality" in fighting terrorism -- which he argued has made America less safe.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

P-u-l--l-le-e-z-z-e-e-e-e!

How can can Boehner (Bonehead) hold the pre-9/11 mentality" when it was republican house that was more corned about President Clinton's sex life than going after Bin Laden!!
Shouldn't he be tanning?!!! Boring, time to move on from this. How about healthcare reform?
More inane and off the wall pure ignorance postings by the socialist democrats here.  One has to wonder exactly when will they ever get a clue.
pigs fly and everyone gets a tax cut!  Like I said… can’t someone in the party of the GEENOPEE make any sense?  
----------------------------------------------------

He's like the willy wonka of politics.
"Exactly what kind of delusional definition of "kept us safe" is swirling around your cobweb covered newsrooms? That definition must be some kind of crazy, because it accommodates not only the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history and the tragic death of thousands in New Orleans, but dozens of other yikes-we-are-so-not-safe moments, all which happened during George W. Bush's Presidency."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-feldman/george-w-bush-kept-us-saf_b_206264.html
bone head is all wronbg on this issue the gop makes the word terrorist sound so scare but in reality most terrorist dont look very scarey at all. if you really want to crap your pants in fear you should look at the people we really have in our prison system these guys pump iron all day long and will kill you just for breatheing in their direction. chances are any detainees sent to american prison will be dead by lights out. as for radicalizeing the prison population that is just fantasy. the gangs would never allow the breach of terrtaroy.
Can we just ban Boner and the rest of the republicans in Congress until they come up with an original idea or a single honest idea? What an absolute embarrassment they have become in this desperate attempt to find anything they can rant about.
What an idiot fool Boehner is. No suggested alternatives other than leave them where they are and let AlQaeda use it as a recruiting tool. To hell with the Constitution and to other nations do as we say not as we do. Way to go Boehner so typical.

Truth commission, Mr. Boehner? Be careful what you wish for.

Remember it is the Speaker who has the ultimate decision as to what gets to the floor for discussion and a vote. Keep treating the Speaker like that and anything you and other GOPers propose unless it is FINALLY good sensible legislation or is some little inane shout out or something, will never see the light of day.
Nice picture of Boehner - look like he's been staying away from the tanning booths.

Now that's something to talk about

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
"A pre-9-11 mentality" means that we respect the rule of law even in our own country.  We hold our ideal and our actions to the highest level.  To me, that is what is meant.  I don't understand how we went down hill.  I think one of the founding fathers described giving up liberty for security get you neither and those that do deserve neither.  I think it was Benjamin Franklin.
Boehner says Obama wants to put these detainees in our local communities. DUH, no he did not! We house Moussai (the 20th highjacker) in a US Prison and he has never caused any problems.  Prisons here are more than capable of holding these men.  We are not the idiots the RNC thinks we are!
Hey Senator Boehner, how about contributing some useful solutions to help President Obama out.  What could possibly be going through that pea brain of yours?  Maybe too much time in the tanning salon!  LOL
Truth Commission sounds like something Stalin and Mao would come up with. Sounds like the insane trying to enforce their new god "Political Correctness". Political Correctness is what has become the new god of this country. They don't want no Bible around because it would expose their immorality, lack of common sense and their insanity.
All the comments here are just idiotic.. Next terrorist attack I hope it involves your family like 9/11 did mine and we will see how many rights you wanna give these people.. Home grown or foriegn they should all go to gitmo..
Angry Mom in Texas-

If you are going to make such a harsh statement claiming that this administration was worse than Nixon's in lying, you need to back it up with some facts, not just what you hear on the news.  Everyone has an opinion and unfortunately many news anchors mix their opinions in with their stories.  Now if you wanted Bush to do nothing when our country had been ransacked by some people in another country- and do nothing with intelligence to rid the world of terrorists that were crossing over our borders to kill our people, that is just LUNACY!!!!!!  To think if you are just nice to people, that they won't bother you is ridiculous - there would never have been a single world war if that was the case.  The fact is that 4 thousand men and women have died not in vain, or because of lies, but to preserve the ideal of freedom from tyranny.  My father served for 23 years in the military.  He chose that occupation to defend the right to liberty and freedom - every soldier that signs up in our country's military has that choice, and my great thankfulness to every single man and woman that has chosen to take that role in defense of freedom.  Some have died, but for every man that has freedom today, those lives have not died in vain.  God Bless America.
"Republicans oppose releasing these terrorists or importing them into our local communities," he said today at his weekly press conference.
This is a line repeated by republicans and it is intellectually dishonest.  Boner and the repubs are trying to scare the few supporters (the base) by intimating that these Gitmo inmates are being freed into your communities.  Why you could be shopping right next to one.  They will be going to SuperMax prisons, not released inot the community.  If Boner had a real arguement he would not have to disguise it.
The other thing the Republicans and Joe Scarborough cannot tell me is that the CIA never lies.  They lie or exaggerate the truth all the time.  Speaker Pelosi is not my favorite person in politics, but trying to get her to step down and all the stupid comments that Scarborough makes in the morning just inflames this argument.  

We should be looking at Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld etc. not whether Nancy Pelosi was briefed by the CIA in 2002.  Who really cares except the Republicans and Scarborough (oh who just happens to be a Republican)!
Come on Congress, open up the commission so that the Attorney General can proceed with prosecution. Since the republicans are determined to dare and scare this administraction, we'll send them another message come next election.

Keep up the good work republicans, love those talking points!
Its amazing, but reading these reply's is ALMOST as bad as going to a game between the yankees and red sox.  People - when are you all going to wake up and realize that ALL, ALL (well almost all) of our politicians are corrupt, dishonest and self-serving harlots.  The fact that the american people lash out at each other over politicians behavior only underscores how stupid we really are.  Pelosi is a lying snake, and Boehner is a hypocrit.  We need to stop treating american politics like we are choosing a sports team (reps vs dems) and see the truth behind the entire system. The "stand behind my team mentality" has got to be replaced by honest appraisals of people based on their merits and not their affiliations -  if our political system has ANY HOPE of eventually serving its purpose.  It was meant to be an instrument created to serve america as a whole and not just the avarice needs of a few. We need to grow up as a society and realize how we are contributing to the perpetuation of the mess we have today.

G Gallos MD
gg2125@columbia.edu      
Please let us stop all this hate and discontent. Calling names will not do anything but show your own lack of vocabulary.  We need to all just relax and take it easy.  

Now that we all are subjects of the United Socialist States of America, we no longer have to worry about such things.  Our great and benevolent Government will take care of us and protect us. It will also make certain that all criminals and terrorists are well taken care of and treated with love and respect. Enjoy this time of understanding and empathy, after all, this is what you all voted for.
Now that the RNC has spent the better part of their annual meeting passing an important resolution asking the Democratic Party to insert "Socialist" into their name, I suggest they insert "Nazi" into theirs.  Aren't secret prisons, spying on your own citizens, "detention camps" and Nuremburg type rallies right out of the third reich.  I bet you Rush would be thrilled by it!
"Importing Terrorist into our local communities"????  Is this somekind of new student exchange program.  You to can have your very own terrorist.
It's scary. Many good people are buying the Obama crap.Pelosi and and the goon squad are taking us down a very dangerous path. Bush haters, it's OVER!
These comments are why our country is doomed....
All politicians lie at some point, (D) or (R) doesn't matter. Bush lied, Obama Lies, and we argue about it. Why do we keep electing the same lying politicians over and over and over..
How can can Boehner (Bonehead) hold the pre-9/11 mentality" when it was republican house that was more corned about President Clinton's sex life than going after Bin Laden!!
Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, May 21, 2009 3:07 PM)


=====================================
Wasn't it Billy Clinton himself that refused to go after Bin-Laden when Osama was practically handed to him on a silver platter?  Billy was having too much fun with his cigars to worry about terrorists.
I wish the Republicans would stop the campaigning.
No respect,  no class.  Dick Chaney comes across as desperate and trying to save his butt as he keeps his fingers crossed that we do get attack.  
He destroyed George W. Bushs' legacy and would love to do the same with President Obamas'.
Boehner still insist that conquer and divide is best for this country. He is annoying and needs to go away.
Pre-9/11 thinking---you remember, before the Republicans went insane and decided to trade our constitution and our way of life for security and safety.  9/11 was a national tragedy; but, we cannot give up our liberty and live in fear for the rest of our lives!   The Republicans have gotten all the fear-mongering benefits to be had from 9/11 and it's time to move forward!  We must protect ourselves, of course; but, what good does it do to protect ourselves from a terrorist attack and give up our national identity, our freedoms, our moral standing, our constitution and, as corny as it sounds, our American way of life?
Oh jeez, what a pompous man Boehner is.  Pre-9/11?  As was mentioned on MSNBC last night, the GOP and Gingrich were so busy going after Pres Clinton that they (the majority) didn't do their jobs.  Now the republicans are trying to blame Pelosi, Obama and every other democrat for their failures, their policies and THEIR WARS.  The republicans attended those same intelligence briefings and since they held the majority and had the power to stop EIT's, they now want to say it is Pelosi's fault.  Americans aren't that dumb, Boehner; we know whose fault this entire mess is and it's not the democrats.  Furthermore, I really don't care whether Pelosi knew or not because she could not stop Bush/Cheney anyway; I care that the GOP said nothing.
Hey Boner - shutup.
Only in America, otherwise how could Mr Cheney and Boeher talk about security when they are the same group that messed up this country. The question we should be asking is when will these war and fear mongers and war profiteers be brought to justice?
I really believe that the whole GOP are intimidated with what Obama has done so far in this adminstration.  This has never been seen throughout history how one man has been able to do so much in such a short time.  I believe that the GOP can never meet up to these expectations.  Isn't that just to bad :(
So, Why doesn't Pelosi provide the proof?  It would shut everybody up.
To all those smug posters who say that all politicians lie, I think the scale of the lie should be taken into consideration.  Bush and Cheney's lies and deception took us into an unjustified war that has cost us $1.1 trillion and counting and 5000 lives of our brave service men and women.  They gave a $1.4 trillion tax cut to the wealthiest 0.5% of our population during 2 wars thereby greatly increasing our deficit.  Cheny's secret meetings with the oil industry greenlighting the wild speculation on energy prices helping to push us into the worst economy since the great depression.  They also manged to alienate most of our allies.  what a record for Cheney to be out there defending.


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