Comments on: Waxman Hearing, Panel II — Part I

By: MS

MS — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:35:29 +0000

PLEASE DO EXPLAIN ABOUT ZAID & TOENSING in a multi-paragraph post!

The linked pages on the two do give tons of info about their law degrees, law firms and college educations.

But it’s still hard to figure out where they fit in the political spectrum and why anyone is listening to them — much less having them come before a Congressional hearing.

I do understand that they are spreading slime, for the most part. But can’t sort out their loyalties or determine why they are important or noteworthy figures.

By: Exhume Goldwater

Exhume Goldwater — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:12:18 +0000

“Goldwater must be rolling over in his grave.”

He may be now, but not when the election comes up: Exhume Goldwater ‘08!

By: nellieh

nellieh — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:27:02 +0000

I’m sorry this is late but wasn’t Valerie’s “COVER” as working at Brewster-Jennings? And her W-2 said Brewster-Jennings? And wouldn’t a citizen working for a private firm, although a CIA front, donate to a political party? If she would have contributed to a Republican Presidential candidate that would have been OK? This woman, Toensing, was built a new asshole by Larry Johnson after her bullshit op-ed was in the paper. Just a shit load of mis-information and lies. She will still keep up the talking points and lie more on TV and in the papers. Why anyone, except those that have the daily dose of kool-aid, would believe anything that gaggy woman says in completely beyond me. How does the CIA defend an agent’s covert status if nobody is to know it? This woman has no conception of logic.

By: Lawyer Smith

Lawyer Smith — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:08:52 +0000

Dear Lexia,
You are right. Liar is a perfectly appropriate gender neutral word. I encourage people who feel the need to call a person a name, if they must, (and sometimes it is gratifying, one must admit), that you stick to gender neutral terms that apply to all humans. Words like jerk, ***hole, ****head, etc. No need to gum up name calling with gender related words. Also, to the men out there, using gender neutral words when you accidentally or stupidly call your mate a name will prevent the firestorm that using gender based profanity produces. You’re still going to get it, having called her a name, just not as bad. Sometimes the person is so stunned you didn’t use the word they expected to jump on, that they are silent – for a moment – before ripping you to shreds.

By: Lexia

Lexia — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 19:02:35 +0000

As invaluable as Firedoglake’s coverage of this hearing has been, I can’t read any more hate speech against women. The words bitch and whore are no less hate speech than their racist equivalents . The calls for the kind of violence against a woman in this hearing that women endure everyday are sickening coming from the left. You might consider why so many women didn’t care in 2004 what ideology was in power.

By: ecoop

ecoop — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:42:36 +0000

As a former federal worker who had a SECRET clearance, I can agree with (UGH!) Toensing on one thing. IF I were disclosing classified info (after I confirmed they had the appropriate clearance AND a need to know), I would tell the person the info is classified. There is no evidence the CIA employees fulfilled this obligation. However, given the restricted discussion in the Libby trial about the status of Plame, I’m not sure there’s evidence the CIA employees didn’t fulfill that requirement, either.

By: Lawyer Smith

Lawyer Smith — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:40:21 +0000

It never bothered me to deal with lawyers defending their clients who deliberately attempted to twist facts and law to obscure the issue for the jury. I always felt it was my job to make sure it didn’t work and the jury came through for my client. Fitz did just that in the Libby case. But what does bother me is that the technique has reached every level of society. Doesn’t the person with no authority at whatever company or government agency or how about an insurance adjustor, (everyone’s had that experience), you are complaining to or attempting to fix a problem with, sound exactly like Ms. Toensing. It’s become everyday corporate practice and it is seeping into just about every facet of life.

By: John Casper

John Casper — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:36:12 +0000

Thanks Lawyer Smith, really appreciate the explanation.

By: jinny

jinny — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:34:27 +0000

The final slap from Waxman to Toensing was that she claimed she wrote the Act, but that was 30 years ago!!

By: LS

LS — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:34:12 +0000

Vicki, when Valerie went on undercover assignments during the last five years, you wouldn’t have known, because she was COVERT!!! What a moron.