Comments on: The Storm Shelter from Reality http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:47:40 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: MarkH http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691527 MarkH Mon, 14 May 2007 21:51:52 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691527 <p><a href="#comment-691290"><em>TiredFed @ 160</em></a></p> <blockquote><p>anyone got any more questions we would like to see asked?</p></blockquote> <p>Did you know you were authorized to fire US Attorneys?</p> <p>Who authorized it?</p> <p>Do you have documentation of that?</p> <p>Did you speak to anyone at the WH about the US Attorneys?</p> <p>Whom?</p> <p>Did you take direction from them?</p> <p>What directions did they give you?</p> <p>Were you ever told you were to take direction from them?</p> <p>Specifically when and what were you told to do?</p> <p>Did Kyle Sampson ever tell you who to put on the list (of USAs to fire)?</p> <p>From whom did you or Mr. Sampson receive the USA names which ended up on the list?</p> <p>Did you or Kyle Sampson officially fire the USAs?</p> <p>Did you think it odd that he or you should be in the position to fire USAs?</p> TiredFed @ 160

anyone got any more questions we would like to see asked?

Did you know you were authorized to fire US Attorneys?

Who authorized it?

Do you have documentation of that?

Did you speak to anyone at the WH about the US Attorneys?

Whom?

Did you take direction from them?

What directions did they give you?

Were you ever told you were to take direction from them?

Specifically when and what were you told to do?

Did Kyle Sampson ever tell you who to put on the list (of USAs to fire)?

From whom did you or Mr. Sampson receive the USA names which ended up on the list?

Did you or Kyle Sampson officially fire the USAs?

Did you think it odd that he or you should be in the position to fire USAs?

]]> By: Recluse http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691421 Recluse Mon, 14 May 2007 20:25:39 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691421 <p>Yeah, well, I was proved fucking right. A dog groomer in rural PA knew there were no WMD, knew attacking Iraq was illegal and immoral, knew bushcheney and eveyone in their grotesque administration was lying, and knew the supposed newspapers are propaganda machines. All of which can be made present tense.<br /> Nobody reads newspapers anymore, do they?<br /> And I just have to say, Judy, you lying bitch.<br /> Thanks Firedoglake for giving me the space:) I’ll stop before I get started on Tenet.<br /> Take care, Jan</p> Yeah, well, I was proved fucking right. A dog groomer in rural PA knew there were no WMD, knew attacking Iraq was illegal and immoral, knew bushcheney and eveyone in their grotesque administration was lying, and knew the supposed newspapers are propaganda machines. All of which can be made present tense.
Nobody reads newspapers anymore, do they?
And I just have to say, Judy, you lying bitch.
Thanks Firedoglake for giving me the space:) I’ll stop before I get started on Tenet.
Take care, Jan

]]> By: Neil http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691405 Neil Mon, 14 May 2007 20:00:32 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691405 <p><a href="#comment-691090"><em>Hugh @ 36</em></a></p> <blockquote><blockquote>What bozo thought that Judy Miller was the appropriate person to write a review pass judgment on George Tenet’s self-delusional explanation for his failures? </blockquote> <p>1) Someone with a wicked sense of humor.<br /> 2) Someone recently returned from a desert island where their only companion was a soccerball.<br /> 3) Scooter Libby</p></blockquote> <p>Ironically, the full answer to 2 is “Wilson”.</p> Hugh @ 36

What bozo thought that Judy Miller was the appropriate person to write a review pass judgment on George Tenet’s self-delusional explanation for his failures?

1) Someone with a wicked sense of humor.
2) Someone recently returned from a desert island where their only companion was a soccerball.
3) Scooter Libby

Ironically, the full answer to 2 is “Wilson”.

]]> By: leftdcin72 http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691319 leftdcin72 Mon, 14 May 2007 18:35:41 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691319 <p><a href="#comment-691201"><em>dakine01 @ 134</em></a></p> <blockquote><p><a href="#comment-691193"><em>leftdcin72 @ 128</em></a></p> <blockquote><p>I suspect that the world will soon forget that Tenet was a Clinton appointee along with Louis Freeh and Sandy Berger, not the A team for national security to say the least. No one, to my knowledge, has asked Hillary Clinton how she could have relied upon anything having to do with Tenet, including the NIE, when she voted for the Iraq War. She was close to another of Tenet’s screw ups when the US bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. Tenet’s excuse for that one was that the CIA used an out of date tourist map in its data base.</p></blockquote> <p>Freeh and Tenet were largely forced on Clinton because they were confirmable by the Rethugs in congress at the time.</p></blockquote> <p>“largely forced” is an unusual and seemingly unfathomable expression. I believe Hillary Clinton knew Tenet was a flake when she made up the “if I knew then what I know now, I would not have voted for the war..” (I may not have the exact words but I have the meaning) Hillary Clinton not only claimed to “rely” on Tenet she extolled him. Just part of her continuing expediency and fraud</p> <p>Please do let the Clintons off on Tenet and Berger. If you claim Freeh was “largely forced” on the Clintons, you would, I hope, also suggest that the Clintons could have done better than Freeh.</p> dakine01 @ 134

leftdcin72 @ 128

I suspect that the world will soon forget that Tenet was a Clinton appointee along with Louis Freeh and Sandy Berger, not the A team for national security to say the least. No one, to my knowledge, has asked Hillary Clinton how she could have relied upon anything having to do with Tenet, including the NIE, when she voted for the Iraq War. She was close to another of Tenet’s screw ups when the US bombed the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade. Tenet’s excuse for that one was that the CIA used an out of date tourist map in its data base.

Freeh and Tenet were largely forced on Clinton because they were confirmable by the Rethugs in congress at the time.

“largely forced” is an unusual and seemingly unfathomable expression. I believe Hillary Clinton knew Tenet was a flake when she made up the “if I knew then what I know now, I would not have voted for the war..” (I may not have the exact words but I have the meaning) Hillary Clinton not only claimed to “rely” on Tenet she extolled him. Just part of her continuing expediency and fraud

Please do let the Clintons off on Tenet and Berger. If you claim Freeh was “largely forced” on the Clintons, you would, I hope, also suggest that the Clintons could have done better than Freeh.

]]> By: Wordsmith http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691312 Wordsmith Mon, 14 May 2007 18:31:02 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691312 <p><a href="#comment-691197"><em>dakine01 @ 132</em></a></p> <blockquote><p> Because a lot of us work in organizations or industries where version control is a standard fact of life that does NOT require deleting of old versions of documents.</p></blockquote> <p>In what I do, we delete ‘old versions of documents.’ It doesn’t mean they’re lost forever or that the old versions are not available or recoverable.</p> <p>Besides the fact that my question was essentially rhetorical. I know this administration and just as suspicious of any and every freakin’ thing they do.</p> dakine01 @ 132

Because a lot of us work in organizations or industries where version control is a standard fact of life that does NOT require deleting of old versions of documents.

In what I do, we delete ‘old versions of documents.’ It doesn’t mean they’re lost forever or that the old versions are not available or recoverable.

Besides the fact that my question was essentially rhetorical. I know this administration and just as suspicious of any and every freakin’ thing they do.

]]> By: TiredFed http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691290 TiredFed Mon, 14 May 2007 18:10:05 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691290 <p><a href="#comment-691255"><em>hwmnbn @ 155</em></a></p> <blockquote><p><a href="#comment-691204"><em>TiredFed @ 137</em></a></p> <blockquote><p>Jim Comey is testifying tomorrow at SJC? That news to anyone else?</p></blockquote> <p>That’s news to me. Is it public or behind closed doors? The SJC seems more expert at formulating questions, and maybe Sen. Whitehouse can dig in. </p> <p>I sense Comey WANTS to spill the beans.</p></blockquote> <p>my guess is Senator Leahy wants it all in the sunshine. sounds like mustseetv to me. anyone got any more questions we would like to see asked?</p> hwmnbn @ 155

TiredFed @ 137

Jim Comey is testifying tomorrow at SJC? That news to anyone else?

That’s news to me. Is it public or behind closed doors? The SJC seems more expert at formulating questions, and maybe Sen. Whitehouse can dig in.

I sense Comey WANTS to spill the beans.

my guess is Senator Leahy wants it all in the sunshine. sounds like mustseetv to me. anyone got any more questions we would like to see asked?

]]> By: LS http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691284 LS Mon, 14 May 2007 18:07:11 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691284 <p>I still want to know if, for example, Goodling and Sampson, might have fabricated the “authorization” either after the fact, with or without Gonzo’s knowledge; or at the actual time, using his signature stamp (autopen). That would be a crime. The questions of Gonzo the other day sort of skirted that issue.</p> I still want to know if, for example, Goodling and Sampson, might have fabricated the “authorization” either after the fact, with or without Gonzo’s knowledge; or at the actual time, using his signature stamp (autopen). That would be a crime. The questions of Gonzo the other day sort of skirted that issue.

]]> By: LS http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691277 LS Mon, 14 May 2007 18:03:45 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691277 <p>In my past life, working on the creation of important policy documents or documents of substance and importance, we never deleted a previous draft. We would create a new version of the old one and name it draft 1, 2, 3, etc., because sometimes you need to go back to refer to language previously used in an earlier draft. The final document would be named “Final”. Goodling’s direction to delete was interesting, and unusual, but it is possible that she was trying to make sure that earlier versions were not “accidentally” used as a final (which is what raises the eyebrows), however, I think there must be something else, much bigger, in order for her to feel the need to claim the 5th. JMHO</p> In my past life, working on the creation of important policy documents or documents of substance and importance, we never deleted a previous draft. We would create a new version of the old one and name it draft 1, 2, 3, etc., because sometimes you need to go back to refer to language previously used in an earlier draft. The final document would be named “Final”. Goodling’s direction to delete was interesting, and unusual, but it is possible that she was trying to make sure that earlier versions were not “accidentally” used as a final (which is what raises the eyebrows), however, I think there must be something else, much bigger, in order for her to feel the need to claim the 5th. JMHO

]]> By: TiredFed http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691274 TiredFed Mon, 14 May 2007 18:02:01 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691274 <p>My guess on why Comey left DOJ: here was an honorable man who repeatedly witnessed dishonorable things (NSA Domestic Spying, Plame, torture, etc.) He did what he could do about it (I believe he got Ashcroft to recuse himself on Plame and we know he forced Abu and Card to visit Ashcroft in the hospital on NSA Domestic Spying), including the masterful appointment of Patrick Fitzgerald, and then left. My sense is that he feels he could have done more (I’m guessing that’s the real reason for his tired appearance and emotional reactions). I think he did what he could. I’m grateful for all such public servants who work for us like Jim Comey did. They used to be the norm.<br /> With this in mind, there are a few follow-up questions I would like Congress to ask Jim Comey:<br /> 1. Given your experience with the Department and what you know now, do you believe the “Kyle Sampson” process used to fire U.S. Attorneys (including Black in Guam) was a good one?<br /> 2. What would be the expected impacts on staff morale, recruitment, and the Department’s reputation for independence of such a process?<br /> 3. What would be the expected impacts on prosecutions (notably politically sensitive ones) of such a process?<br /> 4. Why is the longstanding policy of the independence of U.S. Attorneys so important?<br /> 5. Why must U.S. Attorneys be seen as nonpolitical (or at least neutral)?<br /> 6. What was the substance of your conversation with Kyle Sampson earlier this year?<br /> 7. Were you aware of the plan to change the language in the Patriot Act to permit the Attorney General to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys for the term of Congress without Senate confirmation? If so, did you advise against it?<br /> 8. Were you aware of the plan to delegate the authority for hiring and firing of Schedule C and other non-civil service positions in the Department?<br /> 9. Have you ever heard of another instance of a “secret” delegation of authority?<br /> 10. Are you aware of a delegation of authority from the President to any other official to remove U.S. Attorneys?<br /> 11. Why did you resign from the Department?<br /> 12. Were you asked to resign? If so, by whom?<br /> 13. Would you have preferred to stay at the Department as Deputy Attorney General? If not, why not?<br /> 14. Were you recruited by Lockheed Martin or did someone recommend you for the job? If so, by whom?<br /> 15. What substantive disagreements did you have with AG Ashcroft and AG Gonzales?<br /> 16. Were you ever asked by the AG or any other government official to do anything that you considered to be illegal, unethical or would violate the principle of political neutrality of the Department?<br /> 17. Is there anything you wish you had been able to do or say while you were Deputy Attorney General but were unable to do so while in office?</p> My guess on why Comey left DOJ: here was an honorable man who repeatedly witnessed dishonorable things (NSA Domestic Spying, Plame, torture, etc.) He did what he could do about it (I believe he got Ashcroft to recuse himself on Plame and we know he forced Abu and Card to visit Ashcroft in the hospital on NSA Domestic Spying), including the masterful appointment of Patrick Fitzgerald, and then left. My sense is that he feels he could have done more (I’m guessing that’s the real reason for his tired appearance and emotional reactions). I think he did what he could. I’m grateful for all such public servants who work for us like Jim Comey did. They used to be the norm.
With this in mind, there are a few follow-up questions I would like Congress to ask Jim Comey:
1. Given your experience with the Department and what you know now, do you believe the “Kyle Sampson” process used to fire U.S. Attorneys (including Black in Guam) was a good one?
2. What would be the expected impacts on staff morale, recruitment, and the Department’s reputation for independence of such a process?
3. What would be the expected impacts on prosecutions (notably politically sensitive ones) of such a process?
4. Why is the longstanding policy of the independence of U.S. Attorneys so important?
5. Why must U.S. Attorneys be seen as nonpolitical (or at least neutral)?
6. What was the substance of your conversation with Kyle Sampson earlier this year?
7. Were you aware of the plan to change the language in the Patriot Act to permit the Attorney General to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys for the term of Congress without Senate confirmation? If so, did you advise against it?
8. Were you aware of the plan to delegate the authority for hiring and firing of Schedule C and other non-civil service positions in the Department?
9. Have you ever heard of another instance of a “secret” delegation of authority?
10. Are you aware of a delegation of authority from the President to any other official to remove U.S. Attorneys?
11. Why did you resign from the Department?
12. Were you asked to resign? If so, by whom?
13. Would you have preferred to stay at the Department as Deputy Attorney General? If not, why not?
14. Were you recruited by Lockheed Martin or did someone recommend you for the job? If so, by whom?
15. What substantive disagreements did you have with AG Ashcroft and AG Gonzales?
16. Were you ever asked by the AG or any other government official to do anything that you considered to be illegal, unethical or would violate the principle of political neutrality of the Department?
17. Is there anything you wish you had been able to do or say while you were Deputy Attorney General but were unable to do so while in office?

]]> By: emptywheel http://firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691264 emptywheel Mon, 14 May 2007 17:56:52 +0000 http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/05/14/the-storm-shelter-from-reality/#comment-691264 <p><a href="#comment-691240"><em>TiredFed @ 152</em></a></p> <blockquote><p><a href="#comment-691207"><em>emptywheel @ 140</em></a></p> <blockquote><p> Bestill my–are you serious? Finally, tehy’ll ask teh follow-up HJC didn’t do. Like, “So Mr. Comey, care to tell us–besides the old, “5 kids to put through college” why you left in August 2005?</p></blockquote> <p>Marcy - I’m working on a set of questions for Monica. Is it ok if I ask for input over on TNH at the last post you wrote on her?</p></blockquote> <p>ABsolutely.</p> TiredFed @ 152

emptywheel @ 140

Bestill my–are you serious? Finally, tehy’ll ask teh follow-up HJC didn’t do. Like, “So Mr. Comey, care to tell us–besides the old, “5 kids to put through college” why you left in August 2005?

Marcy – I’m working on a set of questions for Monica. Is it ok if I ask for input over on TNH at the last post you wrote on her?

ABsolutely.

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