White House: Dems want documents first

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:12:40 GMT

Bush is an immensly unpopular President. The Democratic Majority in Congress should take a reserve on any appointment he makes from here on, ande use it to their full advantage.

White House: Dems want documents first

D.G., Pace, Florida — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:20:13 GMT

I wouldn't expect anything less from two of the most politically partisan men in the Senate. Since when has the right thing to do gotten in the way of these two partisan hacks.

White House: Dems want documents first

jerry/corpus christi texas — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:32:14 GMT

I don't know why anybody would want a government position at this late date. Just let the backups quarterback the team and take it to the end.

Kind of hard to listen to anything Patrick Leahy has to say lately. He wanted a $2 million dollar earmark for the University of Vermont when the position that the money was going to was already paid for, which would beg the question why would he want money for something that has already been bought and paid for? Thankfully the Senate voted to save the taxpayers a little money and take the earmark away from him.

White House: Dems want documents first

PJ — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:35:58 GMT

Its not partisanship. Its using what little leverage is available to defend the CONSTITUTION, to put some pressure on King George to remember this is a DEMOCRACY not a dictatorship as we know he would prefer. My hat's off to Leahy. If he doesn't do these kind of moves then he'll get ---"oh see those Dems aren't doing anything to hold Bush accountable." Keep after em Pat!

White House: Dems want documents first

mikeeg,abdn,wa — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:48:05 GMT

The right thing to do is demand accountability from the weak kneed lame duck defeated bush and his master cheney.

White House: Dems want documents first

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:07:25 GMT

Yet anpther example of the White House trying to get what it wants without having to be held accountable for what it does. I think it is perfectly reasonable for the Senate to ask for the documents before approving a new attorney general. Some might consider this blackmail but what about a president refusing to sign a spending bill unless certain things are removed from it. This is the way business in Washington is done, especially now with such emnity between the President and Congress. If the game is to be played both sides should have equal opportunity to play it.

White House: Dems want documents first

jerry/corpus christi texas — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:17:56 GMT

Bush is the worst President this country has ever seen. We need a DEM in the White House in 08 to make this country right again.

White House: Dems want documents first

HP Boston — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:18:20 GMT

Little j this is not a football game, of course you weak minded boys can barely understand how complex that can be with spying and drugs and well yup this is just another football game...sex, drugs, BLING, shootings, dog fights! OKAY go at it you have the ball try to find the goal post!

White House: Dems want documents first

John B, Des Moines, IA — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:32:39 GMT

Why cooperate with the White House until they prove they're willing to cooperate with the lawful duties of Congress? For this administration bipartisanship has always been a matter of "you do what I want."

White House: Dems want documents first

nuanced — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:53:15 GMT

Just ask Mr. Mukasey if he will turn over the documents once he is AG. Also ask if he will appoint an independent prosecutor.

White House: Dems want documents first

Jeffersonian Don — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:02:07 GMT

Jerry wronge again I see. We need a true American in the White House .I'm tired of the partisan attitude of all the losers we have that are self serving . Wake up America and take it back from the elite aristocracy!!

White House: Dems want documents first

nuanced — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:09:07 GMT

Another person with a Guiliani connection. It is more and more clear that he is Bush's annointed successor.

White House: Dems want documents first

Lee Holmes — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:10:58 GMT

Robert: I,however,do not. We have waited over thirteen years for the documents from the Justice Dept.bearing upon the Waco siege which have never been forthcoming and yet bear directly upon constitutional concerns in the areas of posse comitatus,illegal search and seizure,and the illegal relation between the JD and the nations military. Yet to date,Clinton has never been ''held accountable''[and by extention,any effect this would have on his wifes run for president],due to the fact that the public is still not privy to these documents,again,far more than a decade after the events.[as opposed to the passage of only months in the case of the Bush documents which may yet have national security concerns attached to these]. Why?

White House: Dems want documents first

Greg R., Spokane, WA — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:35:50 GMT

More Waco's.....Less Wacko's

White House: Dems want documents first

Bruce, NV — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:37:34 GMT

Jeffersonian: Whilst Mr Bush is rightly accused of "partisanship", do you not find Messrs. Schumer and Leahy to be partisan? Has not Mr Edwards been displaying unbridled partisanship?

Face it, Sir, politicians by definition are partisans. You'll need to go back and get more talking points to use in this situation.

White House: Dems want documents first

AG — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:46:34 GMT

Try to remember the patriots' dream.

White House: Dems want documents first

R.merrell — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:23:33 GMT

Sens. Leahy and Shumer are exactly right. Time to play hardball with this White House. No more Republican soft pitch. Bush and company routinely invoke executive priviledge when any request for information or documents which comes within two blocks of the White House. Everything is a secret. Bush runs around the globe lecturing nations on democracy but shows nothing but disdain for it here in the U.S. His idea of government is one that is closed and shuttered from the citizens who elected him. "National security' are his buzzwords for secrecy and resisting investigations of his corrupt adminisration. "Lame duck" does a disservice to ducks.

White House: Dems want documents first

Don in LA — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:34:23 GMT

Bruce...with the bush WH there is no partisanship, just his demands that it is his way or no way! Tell me, is that the American way? Leahy has every right to ask for those documents and if he has to delay the confirmation of another partisan republican then do it! People on your side of the aisle never seem to have a problem with being partisan, just look at how the block everything in Congress. All the "right moves" are not necessarily partisan as much as being good for the country. Something of which the Repblicans have forgotten.

White House: Dems want documents first

Ken Mesle — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:14:46 GMT

Lee,
Do you have any links to articles about us waiting for Justice Dept. documents? Wasn't there a full report issued in 1993?

White House: Dems want documents first

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:18:53 GMT

Lee, get over Waco already. It was a decade ago and has nothing to do with an Administration usurping the Constitution for political gain. If anything, it was a blunder caused by the "cowboys" who were in tha ATF and the FBI. Janet Reno gave the go-ahead because that is what the people on the ground there wanted to do. You probably blame Reno for shooting Randy Weaver's wife and son. It wasn't her, it was law enforcement agents who think they can step over eanybody's rights because they have the power of the executive branch on their side; yeah, just like the current administration.

White House: Dems want documents first

jerry/corpus christi texas — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:38:29 GMT

The Democrats should nix any A.G. that Bush nominates. Gonzales never should have gotten the job to begin with. Bush is a horrible President and all the Republican candidates suck.
I'm voting Democratic next year and so should you.

White House: Dems want documents first

jerry/corpus christi texas — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:38:30 GMT

When we talk of Roasting children with janet Reno, the dem's don't care.

We invade Iraq and the dem's get all huffy puffy.

White House: Dems want documents first

Right Wingers for Dictatorship NOW! — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:09:03 GMT

It's unbelievable the way the Democrats act like they are an equal branch of government as the Emperor, and how they keep acting the the running of the goverment is some of their business.

Why don't we just get rid of Congress? Who needs those "partisan hacks" when you have a leader as brilliant as El Presidente Jorge?

White House: Dems want documents first

Really - serious question — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:24:33 GMT

Sorry to get all "huffy puffy" over genocide and war crimes. Do you get more F!!!ing crazy every day?

White House: Dems want documents first

John B, Des Moines, IA — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:35:59 GMT

Jerry, I see you haven't lost your knack for going to the most disgusting extreme possible when you have no way to defend your heroes. By being in defiance of Congress and the courts this administration is in defiance of the people they swore to serve. Put up or shut up.

White House: Dems want documents first

Lee Holmes — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:05:31 GMT

Ken Mesle: No there wasent. To date,these documents remain classified.It was a Democrat committee who provided the 1993 whitewash and the GOP in 1999 with the DANFORTH Report. Neither ''hearing''allowed for the release of these still-classified documents to the public. This remains a key reason why Bill Clinton filed amicus on the portion of the Bush administration in the so-called ''Cheney Energy Meetings''knowing that then-Klaymans JUDICIAL WATCH was still gunning for the Waco documents.

Robert:Excuse me while I say dont hand me this crap. Violations of the Constitution are pertinent at any time,under any administration. You demand what we have ample precedent for,past administrations will not do. You cannot ,without presenting your self as partisan,and therefore,hypocritical,demand the release of one set of classified documents based upon constitutional concerns and ignore the other simply because it is based upon the passage of time. These documents must be exposed to the light of day so that the actions dwelling therein will not be repeated. None of us knows the full story due to the fact that we do not even HAVE the facts surrounding what may have been one of the most serious constitutional breaches since Watergate. Besides,Weavers family[wife and baby]was killed by agents under Bush Srs. watch. Not Clinton/Renos.[and yes,these documents are all available under FOIA for public review,unlike those of Waco].

White House: Dems want documents first

Harry, Colorado — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 20:27:57 GMT

I agree with Jerry. Though I have never posted on here, I can see there is a lot of partisanship. Some of you need to get a job, you have too much time on your hands. Is this all you do, argue about politics? Something probably most dont know anything about. No one in here has ever held any public office, and if you have, I know your not that squeaky clean. It takes a dirty MF to win political campaigns. Is it all Democrats in here?

White House: Dems want documents first

OJ, Harris County, TX — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:08:52 GMT

I vote NO! All we need is an Irishman who hates the Federal Government as AG. He doesn't know the American govt is not analagous to oppressive British Federalism.

White House: Dems want documents first

Jeffersonian Don — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:17:57 GMT

Thank you Bruce ,
You sir have truely made my point .THEY ARE ALL PARTISAN. Change is good . If you have the means then you should use them for the good of the many ,not the few. If you are a true patriot and your government is not voicing for the many ,then change it .A little revolution is good now and then. Can you tell me sir who said that? Point clear enough.

White House: Dems want documents first

nuanced — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:30:10 GMT

I like having jerry put comments here. It is better than to hear from a Republican who sounds reasonable. We get to have a foil against which we can air all of our best arguments.

White House: Dems want documents first

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:56:15 GMT

Lee, pardon me for not remembering Weaver was killed on Bush Sr.'s watch. You still did not address my question about who was really responsible for Waco. As for documents to be released to the public, why is the government entity which is responsible for cataloguing these documents so upset with the Administration for making it virtually impossible to mmake some of their records available to the public. The lost e-mails from Rove and others sounds a lot like the Rosemary Woods incident to me. Documents don't just disappear unless someone is shredding them or otherwise destroying them (I'm sure you'll have a Sandy Berger comment all ready). What about this Administration's refusal to turn over documents about Chaney's energy conference, their agreement with theSecret Service not to provide White House visitor logs to the public, and why has an unprecedented amount of government paperwork been deemed classified in agencies which have little to do with national security. Sure, all bureaucrats try to cover their behinds; it's the nature of the beast. However, this Administration has taken secrecy to a new level. On a personal note, Lee, I used to be dead set against guns until this Administration took over. Now, I agree it's dangerous to allow only the government and law enforcement to be the only entities to own firearms. This Administration's secrecy and their willingness to break the law in order to see it enforced in their image and likeness has made me more afraid than any terrorist attack ever could.

White House: Dems want documents first

nuanced — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:21:21 GMT

“I’m the commander, see? I don’t need to explain — I do not need to explain why I say things. That’s the interesting thing about being president." -- GWB

White House: Dems want documents first

Ken Mesle — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:43:05 GMT

Lee,
I take it from your post that at least the congressional committee got to see the reports. Don't you think that this sharing of information is better than how this administration ignores any kind of oversight?

White House: Dems want documents first

Lee Holmes — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:45:12 GMT

Robert: The actionable entity is the National Archives. It releases classfied documents at the behest of the president. Both Clinton and Bush have been defficient in getting these released. Bet the ranch that a president Hillary will not either,even though her husband declassified thousands of pages of sensitive nuclear documents whose ages extended only as far back as the Reagan presidency. You forget that the USSC supported the administrations refusal to turn over the Cheney documents although a Hillary would be the first to release these,but not those of Waco. Then too,Ellsburg was championed as a national hero by the left in grabbing and giving to the NY Times,the then-classified Pentagon Papers detailing the war in Vietnam. [Bergers stunt was outright theft,and he was given a too-light sentance,allowing him to serve in the next administration should it be Hillary].''Lost''documents remain lost. Whether they be Cheneys e-mails,or Clintons 900 FBI files. They are gone just the same. Yet in the Archives,rests the most controversial action by the American government since Watergate and we know all there is to know about that time in Americas past. Indeed,the Democrat-led Congress backed by its president Carter,released hundreds of thousands of pages relating to that scandal only short years later. The very possibility of constitutional breaches in the Branch Davidian siege make clear that these documents be exposed and become a portion of the democratic record belonging to the people,especially when we consider that matters of ''national security''are irrelevant to a defense of non-release due to the huge passage of time.

Ken: This is unfactual. Take the wiretapping as one example. While all of Congress was not privy,members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees also comprised of Democrats,were,and that these meetings,and the information therein,was leaked to the press. Not so with Waco. The press,duly swallowing the ''cult''line of the administration,looked,asked a couple of questions,and moved on,without any of the minutes or documents ever having been released for public review.[critical when we know that such a release will cast an unfavourable light upon Hillarys campaign,which is why partisans nominally crowing for ''release''including the press,remain quiet when it comes to the ''past history''of Waco].
DANFORTH was a whitewash which came to conclusions it disagreed with itself,but was never able to explain. It showboated and punted by one of the most oddly contrived strategies in American history in order to ''put the matter to rest''. DANFORTH brought British Marines and the RAF,of all people and nations,to Waco to ''re-enact''the siege. No missing evidence was ever brought into question or demanded[save that of Orrin Hatch[R-Ut] who was clearly angered at Chuck Schumers[D-NY] attempt to stall any further discussion or investigation despite pleas from members of the FBI and the Texas Rangers].
The deal went down and the documents,like Indiana Jones Ark,rest in a vault,unknown to the world which would yet create a vast prize for historians and a public interested in government excess,if not coverup and scandal at the nations highest levels.

Also see: ''Waco:Rules Of Engagement''DVD/VHS,1999