Newt Gingrich found a new level of hypocrisy this week in insisting that the Congress has “an obligation” to investigate Speaker Nancy Pelosi. I have been highly critical of Pelosi who at a minimum appears to have abandoned her duties of oversight for political convenience and at worst is outright lying. However, Gingrich who says that Pelosi is acting in a “despicable, dishonest and vicious” way, does not believe that there is any need to call for an investigation into torture and the commission of both federal and war crimes.
Gingrich called Pelosi is a “trivial politician, viciously using partisanship for the narrowest of purposes.” Of course, Gingrich has opposed any investigation into a myriad of Bush violations and alleged crimes. What astonishes me is how comfortable both Democratic and Republican leaders are in such hypocrisy. I discussed the Pelosi story last night on this segment of Countdown.
The fact is that Pelosi should be held accountable for her failure to act on torture and her effort to block any investigation into torture. The support of her district shows precisely the same type of blind party loyalty that Republicans showed to their members from Randy Cunningham to Ted Stevens. This is precisely why the GOP lost power. Voters stand with politicians rather than principles — encouraging this type of flagrant hypocrisy. The manipulation of this scandal by both the Democratic and Republic leadership shows an utter contempt for the intelligence of voters. Likewise, Obama’s abandonment of core civil liberties principles shows that the White House has concluded that the left will never withdraw its support for Obama, even when he is adopting the very same policies as the prior Administration on civil liberties.
For the interview, click here.
For the full story, click here.
I’m thinking that just as the R party seems to be tearing itself in two, or maybe more separate parties, so will the Democratic Party. We “Libs” won’t go along with Presidential lawlessness, just because the Pres is a Dem. New parties will be formed, possibly in a more horizontal-power-structure instead of the typical Top-down party.
There is a fascinating (Science fiction)book written by Donald Kingsbure, called Courtship Ritual, which describes such horizontal systems. Its a bit sophomoric, but a very good and entertaining read or “good yarn” as my father used to say.
I think this is the ideal time for a third party to take hold. Neither major party represents civil liberties, the Constitution, the legalization of drugs, a foreign policy of diplomacy instead of war, justice for all people, good envirnomental policy, good social programs that provide a social safety net/education, heathcare, or sound financial policies. I realize that conservatives and liberals are not going to agree on this list, but we agree on a lot of it, a lot more than we differ. This would be an excellent time for a slate of candidates who will put forward ideas based on sound thinking and real principles. Historically, it is precisely when one major party collapses that another gets a chance to take its place. Now, we have one corporate party, arrayed against our citizens, with slightly different policies around the edges of the two wings. This would be a great time to for a true opposition party to step into the breech.
Spindell spun:
“Now that’s a Party you can believe in.”
_______________
Now Mikie you aint sussposed to kick a Party lyin’ in the gutter…
My GOP = Gosh Offal Party….only the entrails and the politically butchered are in contention for the leadership…
Ifin’ I didn’t dislike most Democrats so much, I might…nawh, only when bumblebees give up on them purdy bull thistle blossoms…and when 2 world collide…..
When you think you have just about seen it all, or read as much as you can,lo and behold here is another point being made.
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/05/15/dick-cheney-torture-iraq-and-valerie-plame/
I can’t wait for the next Republican Presidential Primaries.
Thrice married adulterer Newt Gingrich vs. thrice married adulterer Rudy Guillani vs. Flip Flopping Mitt Romney vs. dumb but attractive Sarah Palin vs. smart but laughable Bobby Jindal
vs. lying Mark Sanford vs. secessionist Rick Perry. Now that’s a Party you can believe in.
“‘Prisoner abuse’ photographs surface as Barack Obama prepares to block publication”
We knew this would happen.
Guess who is going to get blamed NOW for American soldiers being in more danger? the WACKED OUT LEFT that is printing these stolen pictures.
Guess which President is going to be blamed for opening up the issue in the first place by waffling and pandering to the left before running back hard right? Obama.
Guess what happens when American civilians or soldiers are harmed as a result of these pictures being released by wacked out lefties: YOU LOSE POLITICALLY.
Please tell me what a blue dog Democrat is and why Democrats HAVE BEEN REDUCED to running blue dog candidates in elections if they want to win. Could you also tell me where blue dog alliances are; are they with the nancy pelosi loons that represent you and the half dozen SCREWBALLS HERE or are they with Congressman Tanner:
Tanner is a founding member of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition with the goal of representing the right of center and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. Currently there are 51 members of the Blue Dog Coalition. For more information, visit the Blue Dog Web site at http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/.
There are currently 51 Members of the Blue Dog Coalition:
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Co-chair for Administration
Rep. Baron Hill (IN), Co-chair for Policy
Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA), Co-chair for Communications
Rep. Heath Shuler (NC), Whip
Rep. Jason Altmire (PA)
Rep. Mike Arcuri (NY)
Rep. Joe Baca (CA)
Rep. John Barrow (GA)
Rep. Marion Berry (AR)
Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA)
Rep. Dan Boren (OK)
Rep. Leonard Boswell (IA)
Rep. Allen Boyd (FL)
Rep. Bobby Bright (AL)
Rep. Dennis Cardoza (CA)
Rep. Chris Carney (PA)
Rep. Ben Chandler (KY)
Rep. Travis Childers (MS)
Rep. Jim Cooper (TN)
Rep. Jim Costa (CA)
Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX)
Rep. Lincoln Davis (TN)
Rep. Joe Donnelly (IN)
Rep. Brad Ellsworth (IN)
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (AZ)
Rep. Bart Gordon (TN)
Rep. Parker Griffith (AL)
Rep. Jane Harman (CA)
Rep. Tim Holden (PA)
Rep. Frank Kratovil, Jr. (MD)
Rep. Mike McIntyre (NC)
Rep. Jim Marshall (GA)
Rep. Jim Matheson (UT)
Rep. Mike Michaud (ME)
Rep. Walt Minnick (ID)
Rep. Harry Mitchell (AZ)
Rep. Dennis Moore (KS)
Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA)
Rep. Glenn Nye (VA)
Rep. Collin Peterson (MN)
Rep. Earl Pomeroy (ND)
Rep. Mike Ross (AR)
Rep. John Salazar (CO)
Rep. Loretta Sanchez (CA)
Rep. Adam Schiff (CA)
Rep. David Scott (GA)
Rep. Zack Space (OH)
Rep. John Tanner (TN)
Rep. Gene Taylor (MS)
Rep. Mike Thompson (CA)
Rep. Charles Wilson (OH)
Seven days in May
Recall the popular sixties novel and movie Seven Days in May. The story is a liberal fantasy involving a threatened right- wing military takeover of the United States government.
In the seventies the CIA joined the Pentagon as a villain in the liberal imagination, as in the film “Three Days of the Condor.” Unfortunately, in the event, the real-life intrusion of the CIA into domestic politics during the Bush administration was celebrated rather than regretted by liberals. They turned the monstrous Joseph Wison into a celebrity and culture hero.
Nancy Pelosi has given us Seven Days in May with a difference. The CIA has exposed Pelosi’s prevarication and ineptitude. It was only last month that Pelosi emphatically, if awkwardly, avowed:
“In that or any other briefing…we were not, and I repeat, were not told that waterboarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation techniques were used. What they did tell us is that they had some legislative counsel…opinions that they could be used.”
Then last week the CIA released its summary of intelligence briefings to congressional leaders including Pelosi. By contrast with Joe Wilson’s tales, the CIA summary has, so far as we can tell, the advantage of accuracy on its side. It contradicts Pelosi’s feigned ignorance, and it has thrown her into an addled state that makes her something of a spectacle.
Over the past seven days Pelosi has told a succession of stories regarding the state of her knowledge of waterboarding/”torture” practiced by the CIA in 2002. On Thursday Pelosi accused the CIA of lying, but she was unable to keep the story of her ignorance straight. She made herself a spectacle.
As we observed last week, the Pelosi spectacle reveals the key to the “torture” controversy. It is a partisan charade. And it is a charade of a particularly disgusting kind. The Democrats’ “torture” charade is a case of low politics masquerading as high principle.
In Pelosi House Democrats have the leader they richly richly deserve. She is perfectly represenative of them. In the past seven days, we have seen the “torture” charade unmasked as the highly useful pretense of the Democratic Party. It has served the party well, but this week the CIA exposed it for what it is.
rafflaw, former Senator and partisan DEMOCRAT Bob Graham “confirming” the CIA lied doesn’t make it so does it. Out of dozens of House & Senate members that were privy to this information, out comes one FORMER Senator saying Pelosi is right.
LOL! I got a bridge to sell you.
Gingrich is one of the most partisan people on this planet and we are supposed to listen to him complain about Pelosi? I guess if I was deaf, dumb and blind like the trolls, I just might believe that. I think you need to look at more than just the language of the Contract with America. It was nonsense and of course was not successful and did not do what it promised. Why do you think Gingrich was gone shortly after that?
Pelosi is far from my favorite, but don’t you see that all of this attention to her is an attempt to hide the fact that Bush and Cheney authorized and ordered the torture,not anyone in Congress. Secondly, former Senator Bob Graham has confirmed that the CIA lied about his briefings and he wasn’t briefed on the waterboarding so why should we believe the CIA and their latest sugardaddy, Leon Panetta? Open your eyes. Finally, none of the people who were allegedly “briefed” could have said anything about it publicly. If Pelosi, or any of the other Congressional members who were allegedly briefed, had complained publicly, they would have been indicted on felony charges by the Bush regime. Stop looking at the man behind the curtain and take a long look at the Wicked Witches, Bush and Cheney.
From eniobob’s link:
“Because before you get to Pelosi, or to Graham, or Jane Harman, or a host of other congressional leaders who in good time should be held accountable for their action or inaction during the Bush years—before you get to any of that—one thing had to happen. . . .
Someone had to order the torture. Someone had to sign off on the program in its design phase, someone had to render a group of detainees, hold them outside the reach of US law, and someone had to give the order to have them tortured.
I could, at this point, throw out the name George W. Bush—he was president at the time, after all—but we now have pretty good evidence that the real authority for waterboarding (to name but the most talked about of many illegally brutal “techniques”), the real orders to “do that,” and “do that again,” came from the vice president. The order to torture came from Dick Cheney.
Let me say that again: Dick Cheney ordered torture.”
Former:
“if you had a problem with most of the contents of the Contract with America:”
****************
I had no problem with the contract (words are not evil), just the snake oil salesmen who were hocking it. BTW most Americans only favor tort reform when they’re on the far side of the “v.”
Newt the prize you are trying to take our eyes off,won’t go away.
http://firedoglake.com/2009/05/15/late-night-elephants-on-parade-7/
mespo, if you had a problem with most of the contents of the Contract with America:
Government reform
On the first day of their majority, the Republicans promised to hold floor votes on eight reforms of government operations:
require all laws that apply to the rest of the country also apply to Congress;
select a major, independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste, fraud or abuse;
cut the number of House committees, and cut committee staff by one-third;
limit the terms of all committee chairs;
ban the casting of proxy votes in committee;
require committee meetings to be open to the public;
require a three-fifths majority vote to pass a tax increase;
and implement a zero base-line budgeting process for the annual Federal Budget.
Its provisions represented the view of (still) the majority of Americans on the issues of shrinking the size of government, promoting lower taxes and greater entrepreneurial activity, and both tort reform and welfare reform.
THE VINDICATION OF BUSH HAS BEGUN:
It’s a Good Time to Be George W. Bush
May 16, 2009 6:45:59 AM
Commentary Magazine ^
This is shaping up as George W. Bush’s best month in a long time. Obama’s efforts to cast the Bush administration as an immoral stain on American history have not merely collapsed, but collapsed on the heads of Bush’s most public and vocal critics.
Jonolan,
You haven’t been reading this blog lately!!!
I think what MAS, Matthew, rcampbell and many others have been saying again and again is the truth. We need an independent special prosecutor, not later, now. We have rhems of testimony, some of which conflicts, some of which is clear evidence of war crimes. If this is not enough to trigger an investigation, I simply do not know what will constitute the threshold. The other day Holder said it would be a crime if anyone died as the result of being tortured. Well, people have died. If murder is not a serious crime then what is?
Yesterday Obama through Gibbs reaffirmed his desire to “look forward” and that he will not investigate. Not only is this against the law which he swore an oath to uphold, it is just stupid. He’s standing at the crater of Mt. St. Helen’s while it’s blowing up and saying to himself, well I’ll get my helicopter to fly me out of here and everyone else can just get caught in the eruption. The govt. really isn’t functioning. A true leader would understand this and take immediate steps to remedy the situation. You simply cannot let this go. The problem is that Obama is implicated in his own set of war crimes and he’s obviously committed to protecting the prior administration.
Yesterday, GWLSmom said she was becomming cynical. This is a perfectly understandable response. But I would like to propose another type of response, based on love–that is telling the truth. People who support a candidate while ignoring what that candidate is really doing, do not truly care about the candidate. They are supporting their fantasy of the candidate. It’s like when one person says they are “in love” with another person. What this means is they are in love with their own idea of the other person. They do not actually love the person, because, love would require the will to actually understand who the other person is, flaws and all, and still love them. Love requires knowledge. It’s really not different with candidates. To say you support a candidate while you are unable to hear any facts, no matter how well documented, that are not flattering to the candidate means you support your idea of the candidate, but not the real person.
We need the truth. If people want to support Pelosi and/or Obama after they have assessed the facts, by all means, support them. Support based on facts would mean holding people to account for their actions. That kind of support might include forgiveness but forgiveness can’t be based on refusing to see the full magnitute of what a candidate is doing. I would also suggest that true support means asking a candidate to be their best self, not blind acceptance of the worst they can dish out.
“Gingrich called Pelosi is a ‘trivial politician, viciously using partisanship for the narrowest of purposes.’”
How soon we forget the “Contract With (on) America.” Projection, maybe?
My God, now Keith Olbermann has a segment he names WTF on his little watched show.
Bet Turley’s family is impressed with being a guest on a TV show…
with a WTF segment……….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
uh, maybe Turely doesn’t know what the acronym W T F stands for…………
Talk about being on LOW CLASS TV network.
BUT JON, Pelosi IS acting in a “despicable, dishonest and vicious” way.
She is about to find out what goes around COMES AROUND.
PS, your saying Bush committed crimes DOESN’T MAKE IT SO. All America knows is people like you are out to open the gates again to attacks simply for political gain. Shame on you.
And what reason do they have to believe otherwise? The Leftists seem willing to support, or at least never meaningfully complain about, Obama no matter what he does.
The Leftists got their demagogue / messiah and they’re showing no signs of “loss of faith” in him.
Hellfire, even as polls showed loss of favor for each and every one of Obama policies and actions, his personal approval ratings stayed high.
Well…If that’s what works in American politics these days, then the GOP will have to adapt to that and operate in the same manner.