It goes without saying that, where there is a story of constitutional or human rights abuse, Dick Cheney cannot be far behind. It is therefore little surprise to learn this week that, according to sources in the recent disclosure of a hidden counterterrorism program, the prior concealment from Congress was allegedly ordered by Cheney.
The Central Intelligence Agency reportedly withheld information about program for eight years on orders from Cheney, who continually fought any disclosures on a host of subjects to either Congress or the courts.
As I discussed on this segment of MSNBC Countdown, it is a crime to withhold such information from Congress — yet another crime that is not being investigated by the Obama Administration.
While covert operations can be limited to disclosures to the Gang of Eight, the National Security Act of 1947 requires such disclosure.
It was previously known that Cheney’s legal adviser, David S. Addington, (another dark character in these scandals) was involved in this matter as well.
Once again, it is astonishing that Attorney General Eric Holder continues to refuse to appoint a special prosecutor to deal with the mounting allegations of criminal acts by the Bush Administration. The blocking of such investigations by the Obama Administration reaffirms the view that our intelligence services live beyond the reach of the law and that our leaders are unaccountable under the criminal laws that they apply to average citizens. While Obama insists that no one is above the law, he has ensured that we have two separate systems of justice for the powerful and the plebes.
In another story, Gen. Michael Hayden who carried out many of the presumptively unlawful programs during the Bush Administration insists that Congress was informed of this particular program, here.
For the full story, click here
bdaman wrote “Nichols said Browner quietly orchestrated private discussions from the White House with auto industry officials. Browner started the talks soon after becoming Obama’s special assistant on energy and climate, a position that gives her wide-ranging authority to coordinate top officials at the Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. EPA, and the departments of Energy and Transportation.”
Fact:
Bd did not write that himself or herself, even though it is posted under the name bdaman without any quotation, attribution or link. It was copied verbatim from an article by reporterColin Sujllivan in the New York Times, published: May 20, 2009:
“Nichols said Browner quietly orchestrated private discussions from the White House with auto industry officials. Browner started the talks soon after becoming Obama’s special assistant on energy and climate, a position that gives her wide-ranging authority to coordinate top officials at the Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. EPA, and the departments of Energy and Transportation.”
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/05/20/20greenwire-vow-of-silence-key-to-white-house-calif-fuel-e-12208.html
Compare them for yourself.
Nichols said Browner quietly orchestrated private discussions from the White House with auto industry officials. Browner started the talks soon after becoming Obama’s special assistant on energy and climate, a position that gives her wide-ranging authority to coordinate top officials at the Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. EPA, and the departments of Energy and Transportation.
bda asks “Where and who made the correction. First you say it was corrected then you say it doesn’t look like she said it. Either she did or she didn’t.”
Please re-read. I said that she did not say it. I made the correction. In that order.
bda should leave this alone: when in a hole, stop digging.
Vince when you said to Mike google it it’s all over the right wing web, you in fact have brought right and left into the debate. Myths are nothing new. Some of the greatest myths/hoax are
Pilt Down man (greatest ever)
Gay Gene
Columbus proved the Earth was round
Bell invented the Telephone
Megellan was first to circle the world
Miks S.,
I was not around for Boss aka Tweed William M. Tweed who was a
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York’s 5th district. He was an American politician most famous for his leadership of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the politics of 19th century New York.
In 1858, Tweed became the “Grand Sachem” of Tammany Hall. Maybe mespo should take heed.
Tweed was convicted for stealing between $40 million and $200 million from New York City taxpayers through political corruption. He died in the Ludlow Street Jail.
Ah yes Democrat.
Vince Treacy lets examine what you say:
Let me spell out the one big problem with badaman posting that Browner said to never put it in writing. It turns out that she did not say it. Mary Nichols said it. The posting was wrong. It has been corrected.
bdaaman has said just about everything about this, except to say that it does not look like Browner said that.
Where and who made the correction. First you say it was corrected then you say it doesn’t look like she said it. Either she did or she didn’t
Mike S.,
Unfortunately, the art of deception is well-known on both sides of the political spectrum. I could present names and the lies they have told -if needed, but I think we have all learned that politicians lie. One side is no less guilty of lying than the other.
We have a tendency to remember the lies of our opponents, but forget the lies told by those we support. (Selective memory?)
“I guess the right is taking a page from the lefts playbook.”
IS,
Please get your facts right. The man who made this a trademark was the Republican operative Lee Atwater in the 80’s, who admitted regretting it before his early death. Karl Rove was a Lee Atwater disciple. You’re not a bad guy IS for all your political baggage, but discussion would be so much easier if you concentrated more on real facts, rather than home team speculation. In truth it also can be traced back to Nixon and much infor came out during the time of Watergate. Do some Democrats lie? Yes they do. However, in Republican circles the lie and rumor have become art forms, when you figure they have to convince a majority of people to vote against their own best interests and vote for them. You know: Family Values, Fiscal Conservatism, Low Taxes for the Rich and high Taxes for everyone else and most importantly of all Corporate Welfare over Public Welfare. With all the shilling you do for them I hope at least you’re wealthy enough to reap the benefit of their policies.
IS, did I say this is how myths are perpetuated BY THE RIGHT in the internet age?
Nope.
I said “This is how myths are perpetuated in the internet age.”
I did note that this particular myth was on all the right wing sites.
But I made no generalizations about left OR right.
So please do not use the type of argument that criticizes something I did not say.
That is called attacking a straw man.
Straw person.
Mike, don’t expect Sensenbrenner to correct his letter.
Don’t expect bdaman to correct the quotation.
Keep up the good work.
As an aside, remember that George Smiley used Moscow Rules for his spies. NBA players used Jordan Rules to play the Bulls. At this site, we use Turley Rules.
And Turley geta his quotations right:
QUOTE Palin has long had trouble with quotations, particularly with regard to the Framers. Her departure speech is no exception. The most notable line was a quote attributed to Gen. Douglas MacArthur: “We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.” For those of us who are military history nuts, the line is well-known and not the words of MacArthur. UNQUOTE
http://jonathanturley.org/2009/07/03/sarah-palin-resigns-as-alaskan-governor-effective-july-26th/
Vince Treacy:
“This is how myths are perpetuated in the internet age.”
The left does a lot of that, a small quote by some irelevant profeesor or government official gets picked up and all the newspapers quote it and then the major networks and pretty soon everyone believes it and takes it as gospel.
I guess the right is taking a page from the lefts playbook.
Vince,
It seems we were writing at the same time. This is the problem with our new information age, allegations become matters for debate, whether they are real or not. Your battle on the “birther” front clearly illustrated it. While I’ve no doubt that all parties in the political spectrum at times resort to disinformation, the Republican Party in recent years has raised the art form to mastery.
bdaman,
That was my point. All I saw was an allegation by John Sensenbrunner, who I do not equate with either truth or good government. The quote might be true but the source is highly doubtful. I’m not saying this in defense of Browner, but because
the way things are these days arguments flourish over rumors that have no basis.
Mike Spindell,
I stepped out a for few minutes and look what happened.
Let me spell out the one big problem with badaman posting that Browner said to never put it in writing. It turns out that she did not say it. Mary Nichols said it. The posting was wrong. It has been corrected.
“Vince Treacy did you think it was gonna show up on the liberal websites.” I do not know what the question means. All I said was that it was on the rightwing sites. Maybe the liberal sites did not print it because they checked out the New York Times source and found that it was bogus.
bdaaman has said just about everything about this, except to say that it does not look like Browner said that.
bdaman,
Just go to youtube and search for “turley”. I think you be able to find what you desire.
Prof. Turley speaking of firedoglake he has his own youtube channel. This is the answer to my video section for all your interviews. http://www.youtube.com/user/firedoglake
If it did Mike you wouldn’t of asked me to name the source. Vince seems to search in the same manner I do. In the text of a statement or a post be it e-mail or an article someone is typically quoted as saying something. Alot of times you can put whole paragraphs in a search engine to get the hit. Then look at the bottom line to see the source. If it’s a site you trust go and read.
Did it show up, out of the list I visit the kos and firedoglake. GG I on occasion will read his stuff. I’ll add the rest to my favorites. Thanks
“Vince Treacy did you think it was gonna show up on the liberal websites.”
bdaman,
Yes it would. Do you read Glenn Greenwald, Hullabaloo, Eschaton, Kos, Five Thirty Eight, Alternet, Firedoglake, TPM or many of the others. They wouldn’t hesitate to print it, nor would they hesitate to criticize this Administration.
You should look at who Mary Nichols is and read her articles. She may or not have an axe to grind but I doubt it seeing how she is a strong proponet for clean air.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/15/solutions-green-car-california-oped-cx_mdn_0319nichols.html