Roundtable: CIA vs. Pelosi

We must believe the Cheneys because they say so. Don’t think so. Did anybody ask the Cheney daughter how much money Cheney made from Halliburton’s no-bid contracts? I wish we had the Ken Starr money to investigate Bush/Cheney. A perp walk with them putting jackets over their heads would be an event to celebrate.

George how can you let Liz Cheyney control the conversation…You look like a wimp. No one other than Katrina challenged her. I never heard of Liz Cheyney as a Republican Strategist until last week. How can she have credibility? How can you let her make statements as if she was in the White House and in the briefings without asking her how did she obtain this first hand knowledge from the CIA which is a violation of Law? Come on George..I thought you were better than that.

Liz Cheney is not ready for the “Big Show.” Her demeanor is unprofessional in that she has her father’s characteristic disrespectful smirk when others are speaking, she talks over others and takes ad homonym side swipes instead of focusing on the issues. Finally, in the execution of her side swipe, she displayed ignorance in that she mispronounced Seychelles. A surname may open the door but one has to have the ability on one’s own to pass through it.

How long will the pundits allow the Republicans to claim credit for 7 years of keeping America safe? They were on the watch when they got the directive that Osama Bin Laden had plans to attack America with airplanes and did nothing about it. They were on the watch when the most devastating attack on America since Pearl Harbor was carried out. Enough already!

Liz Cheney was intelligent, on point and accurate. She is as impressive as her father who has been attacked relentlessly by the likes of obsessed hacks like VandenEvil. It was refreshing to see her aptly take on the debate and come out on top. WAY TO GO LIZ!!

I wish that the Cheny’s would remember that the Bush Presidentcy Started on Jan 19 and the attack of Sept 11 was on their watch. So who saved lives. I believe the buck stops there.

I read the news regularly. I have not really believed the flack over Pelosi. We belign politicians for not being straight forward, now we belign Pelosi for being honest. Of course she will remember this distinctly. If there is any blame for the events of 911 besides the terroist themselves, it is the CIA. THEY DROPPED THE BALL. How these terrorist could pull this off is unbelievable to me, that is why the conspiracy theories flourish. Lets face it, the CIA is not the well oiled organization we see in flims. Stories about the inner working of the CIA reveal a mismanaged, ineffective, often taken to cover up mistakes and promote the problems rather than reveal them kind of an organization. WE NEED the CIA to be re structured. In this day of suitcase nuclear bombs, we desparately need some one at the wheel who is honestly informed. I completely believe speaker Pelosi and I believe the CAI needs to be looked at carefully, studied by a congressional committee and resturctured. With Pakestan ready to fall to the people who are constructing these suitcase nuclear bombs and plotting to use them in the US and other western countries, we need a strong, honest, on the ball CIA. Cheney is not believable, reliable or even with the best interest of the US at heart. His interest is completely PERSONAL. I can less about punishing the Bush/Cheney criminals than preparing for the up coming nuclear suitcase bombing being planned on the US. And, I believe Pelosi 100%.

You did give Heuvel a wider berth, a woman who is demonstrably over the top, but Liz, rightfully, called you out on it. Review the tape and walk the middle better next time

I think its hilarious how Dems quote polls as truth. Sometimes popular opinion needs to not be considered.

What a great roundtable today. Liz Cheney was brillant, professional and well prepared with the facts unlike the others who just spew their biased political agenda. Please keep have her on more. She speaks for alot of Americans.

About that CIA doesn’t lie thing from Panetta.
Richard Helms, arguably the greatest spy in CIA history and the director, was convicted of lying to Congress.
Reagan’s spymaster Casey admitted to lying to Congress and running a secret war against Nicaragua despite a Congressional ban.
They are spies, after all, what they do is lie.
Also remember, Nancy Pelosi never said the CIA lied!

Liz Cheyney’s mode of interaction is so confrontational and nasty that her presence on the round table ruins the participants’ ability to discourse in a manner that is thoughtful and informative. It is very interesting to me that one uncivil presence could destroy the interactional dynamic of such distinguished group of conversationalists. I switched to another program on another channel.

So why are Katrina and Lindsey Graham so suddenly afraid of Ron Paul? Graham recently went out of his way to say that Paul is not the leader of the Republican Party. Could they be smelling the winds of change since Paul has been getting more airtime lately over the economic mess?

While busy covering for her daddy’s dirty work, Liz Cheney must have missed the televised testimony of Ali Soufan, the FBI interrogator who got the actionable intelligence from Abu Zubaydah without using torture. He said that once torture was used, Zubaydah STOPPED providing information. Other experts like Bob Baer have come forward to say that torture does not work. The one operative who said that it does work was a CIA agent named John Kiriakou, who later admitted that he was lying. (I guess some people in the CIA do lie).
Torture generates false confessions and accusations given just to stop the pain. This creates an environment where innocent people are brought in to be tortured and valuable time, money, and energy is wasted following false leads

How did the debate shift from whether the U.S. did and should engage in torture, and whether torture by Americans should be considered to be a war crime (when torture OF Americans or torture BY any other country in the world is unquestionably a violation of the Geneva Convention and a cause for human rights protest)?
Why are we suddenly consumed with the question of whether or not uninvolved parties should have publicly disclosed briefing material that was undoubtedly classified?
Perhaps it’s time for Congress to re-look the pledge of allegiance. We should reconsider the words “under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.

Liz Cheney gave as good as she got. I was so glad to see her fighting for her time and had a clear voice on the matters at hand. It was nice to see a little balance for a change.

Steve Schmidt and Katrina vanden Heuvel were great. James Carville and Liz Cheney, not so much.

Liz Cheney and Steve Schmidt used words like “Witch hunt!”
They see the Truth as a Witch Hunt? Witch Hunt is a Poll Driven Sound bite? The Truth is not a poll driven sound bite its simple and direct.
Caught our interest Some who worked in the administration are speaking out …-
RUMSFELD’S CRUSADE MEMOS Filed by Nick Graham Huffington Post.
This is important as we can see for ourselves how easily a Democracy was mislead. How the staff from different departments felt. The article by Nick shows the staff still fears Bush and his team.
I would rather see more of this in a truth commission. No want wants to go after someone in the field bullied into carrying out orders or those experts forced to watch out sourced contractors who didn’t listen or care for advice on torture. Its those that created the atmosphere of fear not just for the various staff but for public and our mainstream media. Abu Ghraib happened in this atmosphere. One gets the impression that Bush and his lawyers got a free ride on this. I can see why the conservative media did a full court press on Pelosi because they are not going to come out of this looking good. And to be frank with you I tend to think of any Senate and Congress meetings as dull and unexciting all of them speaking in words that are too technical as both sides very carefully circle each politically (Try reading their bills) But I’m sure they can figure a way out to present their stories. And I’m sure that they wanted to take care of their districts and this didn’t dominate their lives 24 hours a day for 8 years. We know they were mislead. Kids in studying politics in High School and College know they were mislead.
Many of these stories emerging help us understand how America reacted and why all this happened. I’m glad that the staff is speaking out. What caught my interest is that they are still afraid? Afraid People in a bubble must not be backed into a corner and a finger pointed at them and blaming everything on them.
Other thoughts -
When Liz speaks it comes across as dominating the discussion, talk over, interrupting other guests, make sure she got in the last word or sound bit in. Was this how it was in Cheney’s office? A taste of what it must have been like to have to deal with the Bush Administration.
Steve Schmidt – In my humble opinion Steve Our Intelligence Experts and Military Protected US despite Bush/Cheney, Rumsfeld and Supporters.
Also the comment by you and George Wills about “Bush is the past” comes across as “Stop Blaming Bush because we want a fresh Start so we can start running for the 2010 and 2012 elections.”
Sir America’s main street doesn’t get a fresh start until the deficit Bush and his supporters created is gone. America’s main street doesn’t get a fresh start until until our Troops are out of Iraq and Afghanistan. All resources should have gone in Afghanistan. Also Bush acknowledged saw Pakistan
George Will you said “New Generation of Republicans will be the News in the next elections?” you looked for a second hopeful? Also “Bush is the past” You don’t want to talk anymore about Bush and his supporters mistakes? Sir main street has to live with these mistakes for a few more years. The price of food went through the roof. If you include those that gave up looking for work the Unemployed is 14 -15 percent. Its going to be a few years before main street gets a fresh start. Now your friends what to cut Social Security to the bone as well. So when we hear “Free Market” coming from you we know what you mean. Main Street foots the bill and You and Your Friends get the Free Ride.
- James “The Raging Cajun” and The Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel Thank you for speaking up for us.

Because I am not an American, I don’t have the right to comment on any of this, but I must say that it is refreshing to listen to an open and thought-provoking discussion by such a prestigious panel of political minds. Mr. Stephanopolous, you are a fair moderator and were at your best today. My husband and I look forward to your program every week.

yeah.
maybe bad choice of people at the table all around for this discussion.?
DO- OVER?

Blatant lying (her statements directly contradict one another) by the Speaker of the House is indefensible.
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Blatant lying when her 2002 briefing account matches up to Sen Bob Grahm’s three weeks later? Graham keeps copious records on everything, and when he brought up the CIA dates for his briefings didn’t coincide with his records, it was conceeded that there were inaccuracies on their part. Furthermore, Panetta stated in an interview with the Washington Post almost two weeks ago that if Congress wanted to investigate into Pelosi’s claims. there could be some discrepanices in memories between CIA accounts and hers. This, of course, was quite a contrast to a memo and statements released last week. It could be fairly said at this point that the CIA keeps lousy records. Who’s lying remains to be seen. It’s my understanding that Pelosi has put in a request for the CIA records in dispute. You may want to slow down and reflect some before you accuse anyone of being a liar.

I watch this show every week. I will turn it off the next time liz cheney is a “guest”. she did not contribute anything to the discussion, only more of her father’s propaganda. She was out of control.
THIS WAS THE WORST PROGRAM EVER.

If the republicans want to say that they kept us safe after we were attacked on their watch due to torturing our enemy then I guess I can say that Clinton kept us safe after the first attempt on the twin towers without the use of torture since we weren’t attacked again on our homeland for the remainder of his Presidency.

STOP! The Attacks On Speaker Pelosi
Last time they tried to attack Speaker Pelosi ( second in line to the President of the United States) it was about her alleged abuse of military transportation. This attack as expected turned out to be bogus. It turned out that the previous Speaker (Hastert – a Republican) made far more use of military transportation. It turned out that Speaker Pelosi was possibly overly prudent and too self-restrained in her use of military transportation.
Now Republicans are trying to attack her about allegedly having been told by the Bush administration about things she was not told about, like water boarding. Republicans are attacking her because she is being so effective at getting the peoples work done in congress, like healthcare. And Republicans want to stop her. Don’t put up with that. Every time they attack Speaker Pelosi they are attacking you and the rest of the American people. If they go after her, go after them even harder.
They are trying to con Speaker Pelosi and the American people. And here is how it works. Approximately 6 years ago CIA had a briefing with Pelosi and congress, but DID NOT tell congress and Pelosi that the Bush administration was using torture ( water boarding ) on detainees. Then the Bush administration sent in Porter Goss to head the CIA and to destroy, and doctor records in part to make it look like Pelosi, and the Democrats in congress were onboard with the illegal torture of detainees by the Bush administration.
See, apparently at these intelligence briefings members of congress are not allowed to take notes. And if they do, they are not allowed to keep them. Apparently the CIA makes notes, but the members of congress are not allowed to see those notes either. And they can’t tell anybody about what was said at the briefings. But the CIA can come back six years later and claim they told members of congress something six years ago that they did not tell them at that time. And they can use falsified notes to substantiate their claim. Planting disinformation was the type of thing the CIA became very good at during the time Porter Goss was a young CIA agent. Just gotta love it. :-)
If you will remember, their was a mass exodus of senior CIA officials after Porter Goss took over. And the complaint at the time was that longtime, highly experienced agents were being replaced by other people based mostly on their political loyalties to the Bush administration and their extreme right-wing ideologies. Which is just exactly what you need if you want people who will be willing to break the law under orders. Sound familiar? I don’t think you can trust any CIA records after Goss took over.
I have nothing but the utmost respect, and admiration for the dedicated and patriotic members of OUR! Central Intelligence Agency. When the Bush administration betrayed one of OUR! agents (Mrs. Wilson) it made me boiling MAD! I think our new Director Pennetta has got some internal investigation and agency house cleaning to do. If you backtrack on the individuals that have been making the false attacks on Speaker Pelosi, and trace who they have had contact and conversations with, you should be able to connect the dots and catch your conspirators.
The key that the CIA records are falsified is Sen. Bob Graham and his journal, and common sense. :-) By the way, I think Mr. Pennetta is an excellent choice to head the CIA and fix it.
They are trying to kill healthcare reform. And continue our healthcare crisis. Don’t put up with that.
PASS THE WORD.
To The Congress Of The United States:
If it is true that you are not allowed to have or make any permanent records of your intelligence briefings for later clarifications, and protection, that is ridiculous. That leaves all of you vulnerable to just this type of scam that is being perpetrated on Speaker Pelosi. So here is what you can do about it to protect your-selves in the future.
Members should be able to make notes and other recordings of these briefings. Then these briefings and recordings can be reduced to a computer file that can then be encrypted and digitally signed with a detached digital signature using key encryption. Then each of you can encrypt, and sign each others copy of the record that can only be unlocked with the other parties key. And both parties copies can be verified with each others copy of the files detached digital signature.
Very easy. Very secure. No more exposure to falsified records down the road. :-)
You see, it almost doesn’t really matter what CIA allegedly did or didn’t tell Speaker Pelosi, and congress. Because the briefing format is so deficient of any checks, balances, or verification that all we know is that all external briefing accounts support Speaker Pelosi’s version of events. Pelosi and congress should have been given every benefit of the doubt. And that should have been it.
There are many other booby traps out there set for you congress. Be careful.
God Bless You
jacksmith — WORKING CLASS

Cheney does not deserve to be on this round table. Who’s decision was it? This episode was poor quality compared to other weeks. PLEASE DO NOT INVITE HER BACK ON THE SHOW.

This week’s “This Week” was excellent. Articulate and fiercely adversarial participants who you let speak at length. Will looked ill at ease at all this emotion expressed around him. (Tut, tut, bad form chaps.)
I tape all the Sunday morning shows and I am coming to believe that you are the best moderator. One who, despite his own political proclivities, balances the opinions of others yet still poses incisive questions and encourages the kind of discussion you had today.
OK, that’s enough accolades from a Republican. But just let me add that Liz Chaney has the voice of her mother and the steely intellect and courage of both her parents. Hope we see more of her.

I watch This Week to listen to opposing viewpoints on issues. My husband and I agreed that the next time Katrina is on we will not watch it. Her message gets lost in her rude and venomous attacks on any issue or person with which she disagrees. There is a polite and civil way to express one’s point of view – behavior which your guests almost always display. Katrina is abrasive and discourteous. Her comment that religion and academics should not be mixed was hysterical given the fact that she was talking about — NOTRE DAME. Does she realize it is a Catholic institution????

How did this L. Cheney become the expert? Why is anyone listening to her.was she there? No she is prophetizing what her father has said happened. Biased…I think so. Couldn’t they get Cheney himself? I was disappointed that Stephanopolous gave her so much time and was pleased she got some rebuttal from Katrina the other woman on the panel. She was not backing down and obviously wants to see some trials go on and maybe she is right. Then there will be no doubt as to what really happened. At first, I agreed with Obama that this should end and was in the past but now with all this rhetoric by the republicans….I think we need to know how they sold us a bill of goods especially on “weapons of mass distruction” Remember this Mr. Cheney…you were adament about there being some.

OMG, Liz Cheney is just as sadistic as her father. The entire Bush Administration needs to answer questions UNDER OATH!

Bye bye Nancy, bye bye Nancy, bye bye Nancy we hate to see you goooooooooooooo!

As for Mrs. Pelosi…while she is not my favorite person, I feel that maybe she is right and was not told on the initial briefing. There were others who said the same thing which is being overlooked by the press as they are only concentrating on her. She did not actually say they lied….a reported said to her “Are you saying they lied?” She corrected him and said they misinformed her. I think it is a 50/50 case and until it can be proven either way, Mr. Gingrich and others ought to lay off the prosecution of Mrs. Pelosi. If anyone is to be prosecuted…first it should be Mr. Cheney and then they can go after Mrs. Pelosi.

pelosi is lying, she should step down and resign

Talk about the extreme right and extreme left. Liz Cheney battles Katrina vanden Heuvel. Katrina did seem a bit shrill on the left but Liz wasn’t listening and they were both talking past each other. When Liz was on GMA this morning, she was arguing so much with the other guy that Cuomo had to shut them both down. It’s clear that Liz Cheney, like her father, won’t listen and has a closed mind about what SHE thinks is right and wrong. This is not good for the GOP’s big tent.