Reid, Pelosi Split on Commissions
EmailABC News’ Jonathan Karl reports: Democrats are in disarray on how to deal with the torture issue — and a commission fever on Capitol Hill has the top Senate Democrat and the House speaker at odds.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters today that he is against the idea of starting a so-called "truth commission" to look into the issue. He believes that, for now, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation into the issue is adequate. Until we get all the facts, Reid said, people should "relax." He added: "Justice should be served, but it should not be retribution."
But Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters yesterday that she favors a truth commission. So does Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., and several liberal Democratic Senators, including Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.
Meanwhile, the Senate passed a measure yesterday to create an independent 9-11 style commission to examine the causes of the financial crisis.
Reid favors that commission.
Pelosi, however, is against it, preferring a bi-partisan Congressional commission.
So, for those keeping score:
Reid: Wants an independent economic truth commission, not a torture truth commission.
Pelosi: Wants a torture truth commission, not an independent economic truth commission.
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Posted by: reaganfan | April 23, 2009, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
This has the potential to tear apart the party…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | April 23, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
I can’t wait to see how ALL the Democrats on the Intelligence Committee were in formed many times of the CIAs plan and how such interrogations were to take place. How will Nancy Pelosi be able to blame someone else for her votes. Politicians should also be held accountable and face prosecution if this whitch hunt continues.
Posted by: James Smith | April 23, 2009, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm
There was no actionable intelligence gained from using enhanced interrogation techniques on Abu Zubaydah that wasn’t, or couldn’t have been, gained from regular tactics.
————————————-
The above quote is from the FBI agent who was interrogating Zubaydah – he’s the one that was waterboarded 83 times.
Torture is wrong, unnecessary, and the fact that the US did it is disgusting. We as a country need to get to the bottom of this and squeeze the pus out of this national boil.
Read Ali Soufan’s editorial in yesterdays NYTimes. Democrat, Republican, doesn’t matter. Need to get everything out.
Posted by: Steve From NH | April 23, 2009, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
“Politicians should also be held accountable and face prosecution”
Yes they should, and if any Democrats were in on it they too must be held accountable.
Either we let a judge or a commission look into this and let the evidence take us where it leads us or we accept that torture has become part of what America stands for.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | April 23, 2009, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
trickle down Reagonomics is what created this financial mess we’re in.
Posted by: reagonRIP | April 23, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
They seriously must have something better to do!
Don’t forget Reaganfan – they have been busy going around the world apologizing for our arrogance. Now that will keep us all safe!
Posted by: jfk767 | April 23, 2009, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
reagonRIP – are you serious? You might want to go back to the Clinton admin when all the pressure was put on the banks to make loans to people that could not afford it.
That is why we are here! If you listen to what Reagan said and I quote for you “Government is not the answer – it is the problem”
I think this applies today.
Posted by: jfk767 | April 23, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
How about we Put Party aside and Get to the Bottom of this and if Laws were Broken Regardless Democrats or Republicans lets do the right thing!
Posted by: Angie in Pa | April 23, 2009, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
What a JOKE Pelosi is….that dumb B has been the 3rd in line to the presidency for a few years, so she was included in ALL THE Details of our interegation programs. I’m surprised she isn’t keeping mum on this subject, but it just goes to show her intelligence. And, of yeah, I don’t care how much you tortured those imbeciles, they deserved much worse. Who’s questioning the ethics of the other side that beheaded their captives…?????
Posted by: Scott from Quantico | April 23, 2009, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
One liberal posted that there was no actionable intelligence….attributed to someone at the FBI. Funny, I’ve heard that a second 9/11 (aimed at L.A.) was averted thanks to the information derived from a waterboarding “interview”. If you asked any Liberal (off the record and no on tape or camera) which they’d prefer: using techniques that produce information that keeps thousands of Americans safe from a specific attack or not. They’d all want to avoid another 9/11 (God, I pray they would)!
Posted by: S Rose | April 23, 2009, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
I’ll tell you what is disgusting…. the enemies of our country the US and how they torture and how they treat americans. No one is thinking about that!! Who will look out for us? Who will defend us? Who will show us mercy? NO ONE – All we have to look forward to is a Shiek, sending electric shocks up our behind and running us over with car while Filming it!!!!
Posted by: Pink | April 23, 2009, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm
As if they have not screwed up enough, now let the politicians — headed by Twiddle Dumb (Harry Reid) and Twiddle Dee
(Nancy Pelosi) — take on truth commissions! We have the worst recession since since the 1930′s; we have a public education system in steep decline; we are involved in two wars with threats rising daily; and these two idiots (along with ‘Leaky Leahy’) wanting ‘truth commissions’! Would someone please remind these clowns that the USA, repeat USA was attacked on 9-11-2001 due in part to the failure of the Clinton administration; and that 3,000 innocent American citizens were killed?? These fools are causing less and less confidence in the US government, and WE DID NOT ELECT THE WEST COAST LIBERALS TO GOVERN THIS COUNTRY!!
Posted by: PappyHappy | April 23, 2009, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
S Rose,
that “someone” at the FBI was probably supervisory special agent Ali Soufan whose objection to the use of torture led to the FBI pulling out of cooperation with the CIA. He has an op-ed in the NY Times today that I think you should read.
And the story about the second 9/11 in LA, plantet by Bush’s former speech writer, – that plot was foiled BEFORE the CIA began using torture. Timothy Noah of Slate did a great article on that.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | April 23, 2009, 4:02 pm 4:02 pm
Doen’t the geneva convention only apply to wars between countries? The last i heard, we aren’t fighting a country, but rather terrorists who send children strapped w/ bombs into crowds of civillians. Allowing Terrorists to be protected by the geneva convention is similar to allowing ILLEGAL aliens to file civil suits against farmers for protecting their property.
Posted by: Corey | April 23, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
Need to get everything out.
So Stevie…You want the Dems like Frank & Dodd under the microscope for their actions?
Posted by: Mike_C | April 23, 2009, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm
“Doesn’t the geneva convention only apply to wars between countries?”
It is not that simple, but forget about the Geneva Conventions for a moment and take a look at the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The US is bound by that and what went on was a clear violation.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | April 23, 2009, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Sounds like Pelosi is more interested in protecting Chriss Dodd and Barney Frank and Jihadist Community Organizers than she is protecting the country.
Posted by: Don't waterboard me Bro! | April 23, 2009, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm
testing
Posted by: anonimus anonimus | April 23, 2009, 4:29 pm 4:29 pm
testing
Posted by: anonimus | April 23, 2009, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
How about we Put Party aside and Get to the Bottom of this and if Laws were Broken Regardless Democrats or Republicans lets do the right thing!
———————————–
Angie in Pa,
For once your right….We need to know what people like Barney Frank and Chris Dodd did to help the economic collapse occur.
Posted by: Mike_C | April 23, 2009, 4:33 pm 4:33 pm
“Doesn’t the geneva convention only apply to wars between countries?”
It is not that simple, but forget about the Geneva Conventions for a moment and take a look at the United Nations Convention Against Torture. The US is bound by that and what went on was a clear violation.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | Apr 23, 2009 4:18:10 PM
Thats a freakin joke what we did to the Jihadist Community Organizers was Hazing. If you want to call it torture ask our Navy Seals they are put through the same and worse.
Posted by: Don't waterboard me Bro! | April 23, 2009, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
hi!the dnas’chipping used in usa soil is much worst that the published tortures memo of cia.it’s handdled/manipulated by the federated/sindicated net of corruption on usa!!it works with your dnas-unique genetic code and so in their databank assigned another one to arage it.otherwise they’ll get a mess.it’s used to torture sadistically the ones like me that denounce it and of corse play out as a “fruitcake” the silencer they use not to pay attention, file info on file 13-disregarded and keep on going with impunity!!!have you read on salon.com”your dna is a snitch”?have you heard about australia deniying health coverage due to genetic profile?have you read about homeland security scanner the “mind reader”?have you heard about bilderburg group secret meeting in virginia,usa were they’re planning to chip evryone in usa in the hand by 2017?have you read about illuminate(i) group?have you read rev 13:16-17?(sacred scripture)have you heard about genetics advanced researchs,and neuroscience advanced researchs?have you heard about super mega computer that can process trillion of facts per secon,per person on earth in all alnguages?have you watched dr jack van impe program aired in east coast at 7pm sat ctn network?don’t be fooled!!look for info on your own!!!”moder genetics” is not always working in your favor not in usa best interests either!!
Posted by: anonimus | April 23, 2009, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
Just make sure every who served at that time in the senate and congress should be investigated the same way. For both Democrats and Republicans participated. If I remember the Democrats barely controlled the House at that time. The democrats say they didn’t know but honestly I find it hard to believe. They vote on things daily and are subject to a lot of private information. I think all aprties are guilty and if you prosecute one do them all. This should set a precendent for future laws.
Posted by: Steve | April 23, 2009, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
“Reid, Pelosi Split on Commissions”
As the situation progresses they will be split more & more, because this is not a simple and easy issue as the Liberals keep saying.
I still challenge any libby commenter to Define & Articulate the – ‘PUBLIC SAFETY EXCEPTION’ – ….. Anyone, anyone at all (even an ABC Employee!!)
Posted by: Mr Reality | April 23, 2009, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm
Pelosi and the crazy democrats need to concentrate on the economic issue we face now. Dont foolaround with the past and divert peoples attention. Its not helping us anyway. She may be inetersted in spending more, forming committees.
Posted by: shivaglal | April 23, 2009, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
Yeah they’re split. Because Pelosi was briefed dozens of times and KNEW all about the interrogations, CIA prisons out of the country, in fact, everything the dems now want to pursue criminal charges for. Democrat leaders will look really stupid once the public figures out they approved the interrogations while they were going on, and now want to jail republicans doing the dirty work. Their Blatant hypocracy will really embarrass them.
Posted by: Dave C | April 23, 2009, 6:13 pm 6:13 pm
El_Pajaro said “It is not that simple, but forget about the Geneva Conventions for a moment and take a look at the United Nations Convention Against Torture. ” Oh please. The UN is a joke. Does ANYONE take them seriously?
Posted by: ellsbells930 | April 23, 2009, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
Look, President OHB, Nancy, Harry, what do you think that three of you have pulled out and released torture memo in the past, WHILE the FEMALE SUICIDE BOMBERS IN IRAQ LAUNCHED TWO DEADLY ATTACKS, KILLING AT LEAST 55 PEOPLE IN DIYALA PROVINCE AND AT LEAST 28 PEOPLE IN BAGHDAD, AN INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAID. Which country has the strongest sea power that puts Naval Power on display? It’s not USA or British neither Viking’s Generations, but it’s solely communism country, China. While Obama has released torture memo in the past, China showed their Naval Power with high tech. in the port of Qingdao. WHY YOU FIRST SHOULD PROCECUTE ACORN-VOTERS-FLAUDER, TAX CHEATERS, TIM GEITHNER, CHARLES RANGEL(D-REP, Manhattan), TOM, THE SACRETARY OF HHD AND CHRIS DUDD which RECIVED $200,000 FROM AIG BEFORE YOU PROCECUTE FORMAL BUSH’S ADMIN. ????
Posted by: Unhappy W "Apology Tour 09" | April 24, 2009, 12:42 am 12:42 am
The Democrats are in disarray because they want to prosecute the people who’s actions they themselve approved. It’s tough being a demigod these days….
Posted by: realitycheck99 | April 24, 2009, 12:55 am 12:55 am
It is good politics to disagree sometimes even when in the same political party; that is democratic, but it is republican to agree all the time even when it does not make any sense!
Posted by: Austin Chuks | April 24, 2009, 4:23 am 4:23 am
This is a very bad idea and BO knows it. I don’t think he’s going to back down and this is going to end up with his and Pelosi’s relationship in disrepair. And you know what? F her. When she starts losing Democrats like me, it’s time for her to step aside. Not saying it has to be MY way, just saying that I think I’m probably a good indicator for where moderates in the party are on this issue. BAD IDEA.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 9:23 am 9:23 am
“It is good politics to disagree sometimes even when in the same political party; that is democratic, but it is republican to agree all the time even when it does not make any sense!”
Well, much of the party, anyway. And the people in question don’t argue. They copy and paste.
Posted by: Silky | April 24, 2009, 9:25 am 9:25 am
Looks like given the reigns of power the democrats are beginning to self destruct…they have already done great damage to our foreign policy and intelligence gathering capabilities it will only get worse…as a democrat I am glad to see some common sense out of Reid …but also disturbed to find that my assessment of Nancy Pelosi as a lunatic is correct…does any democrat care about whats right for the country or do they just want to destroy republicans?
Posted by: phillysmart | April 24, 2009, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm