Durbin up on Senate floor talking about calls to remove him (Over now)

[Khephra]

from the Senate Intellgence Committee.

I have no idea what this is about, but it sounds DAMN important.

[DEMActivist]

1. Any idea who is trying to remove him?

and why?

TV consumed by cartoons by vacationing children. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[realFedUp]

12. White House asked other Senators to demand Durbin's resignation

from the Intelligence Committee for two items...one was
that he allegedly named the NSC guy who insisted on the 16 word
insertion into the SOTU and that Durbin said there were
500 alleged WMD sites in Iraq, both classifed intelligence.
Durbin said he never revealed the NSC guy's name and the 500 sites were declassified last month. Both assertions and smears by the White House were wrong. Both were to discredit Durbin.

Hurrah for men and politicians like Dick Durbin.

We know what kind of animal this White House has been all along, but
now others are finding out in a more personal way...

[IndianaGreen]

48. Is this Bush's Saturday Night Massacre?

Nixon tried to sidetrack the Watergate case by firing Archibald Cox, Watergate prosecutor, and forced the resignations of the Attorney General Eliot Richardson and Deputy Attorney General Bill Ruckelshouse.

It would had worked were it not for the media and the public going bonkers at what was perceived as a Presidential coup.

Today's media are docile lapdogs, and the public has refused to see Bush in anything other than a benign light.

This is nothing but an attempt by Bush to squash any attempt at an investigation of the circumstances leading to the war in Iraq.

Is this Bush's Saturday Night Massacre in the making?

[Gman]

59. Robert Bork, then Solicitor General and future SCOTUS nominee

finally did the firing for Nixon.

[RapidCreek]

63. In the words of Bill Clinton...anyone can make a mistake!

Chalk another one up for Bush....ah well but that's ok, right, Billy?

RC

[metisnation]

50. my letter to sen durbin

[e-mail] <[e-mail]>


Sen. Durbin,

I am a resident in the proud state of Illinois. I applaud your efforts to find the truth in what happened to intelligence failures that lead up to the Iraq War. I am urging you to continue your battle on behalf of our our brave men and women who are fighting under the pretense of a lie. American men and service women deserve to know the truth about why they are risking their lives. Thank you again Sen. Durbin for taking a stand to find the truth your are my hero for doing what is right and just.

Great job! Keep Going!!

[RapidCreek]

64. my letter to Senator Durbin

I am originally from Illinois. It is good to see the residents of my
birthplace have elected such a fine man to represent them.

I recently watched on C-span your speech addressing Medical Malpractice "Reform" . It was brilliant. Today I listened to your eloquent words defending your efforts to expose the "intellegence failures" which President Bush used as rational for the invasion of Iraq . I encourage you to keep fighting to protect the men and women of our military. They took an oath to protect our county....no place in that oath did they agree to be used as mercenaries, a capacity in which it would appear they are now serving.

As a veteran, I find the military's misuse to be repulsive and inexcusable. A military occupied with securing business opportunities for Bechtel and Haliburton cannot pursue it's intended purpose, namely our nations protection.

I have much more to say....but I realize you are a busy man...so I'll keep it short. Thanks again for fighting the good fight. I only wish the Senator I wasted my time campaigning for would demonstrate the conviction, fortitude and honesty you have. If you ever decide to run for the presidency, you can count on my vote and my help.

Sincerely,
XXXXXXX

[ozone_man]

17. He's quite an impressive speaker, not afraid to confront WH.

I hope other senators will speak up like this. It's great how he tied into the talk that it was really an afront to the American people.

[Khephra]

2. Somehow the White House is involved

Now he's talking about a Krugman piece.

[Khephra]

3. He's talking about Wilson's wife now (from the Krugman article)

And Novak/WH role in the situation!

[Khephra]

4. He's just asked the chairman of the intelligence committee

to investigate the naming of the wife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Khephra]

5. "how far up the chain does it go?"

hehehehehehe

[Flubadubya]

6. This is getting really good...

Keep it up Durbin... but don't forget what Ari said... "Watch what you say!" What they've done to you so far may be "small change" compared to what they have done to the Wilsons, but you surely must know what they are capable of.

[Ellen Forradalom]

8. Go Dick Go!

Go get 'em Durbin!

As for 'watch what you say,' I'm sure he's painfully aware of what could happen. He's seen one colleague go down in a small plane and another get anthrax in the mail. He knows.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. Several got anthrax in the mail

Daschle, Leahy, amongst others.

[metisnation]

51. No one messes

with blue in IL. We will stand firm and united against these tyrants.

:kick:

[Khephra]

7. watch live here

http://www.c-span.org/watch/index.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2&ShowVidDays=30&ShowVidDesc=

[Khephra]

9. I wish I could take notes

But today is a fundraising day for Truthout, so I have to answer the phone.

[dArKeR]

25. 'Pushing the Envelop'? Durbin call Bush a sucking liar and corrupt

leader who should be tried for Treason and 'Wrongful Death'. Tell him you're going to slap him in the face the next time you see him! Grow some backbone Democrats!

Challenge Bush directly to a debate on this. Stop playing games with White House aids. Start using your brains Democrats. Make Bush look like a coward, an idiot, a fool, a liar... because he surely won't debate anyone. 'It time for the President to accuse me directly. Stop using children to do a man's job.' said, Durbin when he grew a spine.

It is so easy to make Junior look like a Child-Wimp-Idiot. So why don't any Dems. do it?

[Rose Siding]

28. Threaten assault?

Threaten Bush? That would imply "spine"? That would imply STUPIDITY.

I surely do not understand the knee jerk attacks on the Dems who DO stand up.

Like it or not, the Dems must to continue to be able to function within the existing system in order to do anything at all.

[msmcghee]

42. Right f***ing on!

Why the hell don't they?

[itcfish]

34. Wow This is Great

I am struggling to hear it, anyone how to make volume higher on windows 95????

[Rollins]

10. good speaker

I am so used to hearing canned speeches this guy is a nice change!

The democrats are breaking these Bush lies down and feeding what they find back to the people, I love it.

[Flubadubya]

11. Nothing like a time-line...

to lock in culpability. Get 'em Durb! :bounce:

[Khephra]

13. That was too short

I want more!

[Flubadubya]

16. I hear ya keph...

I wish he had gone on and on. Having said that, the more important issue is what will be the ramifications of his speech? Will other Dems stand behind him? Will the WH ramp up their smear campaign? How will this be handled now, I wonder?

[Rose Siding]

14. Here's Krugman's article and other coverage

Who's Unpatriotic Now?

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/22/opinion/22KRUG.html?ex=1059451200&en=0137d5b3d5e60433&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

Columnist reveals CIA Iraq operative

http://www.nynewsday.com/news/ny-uscia0722,0,2289800.story?coll=nyc-topnews-short-navigation


Does this nixonian style retaliation have legs?

[htuttle]

15. Now, now. Give him SOME credit

Nixon would never have been stupid enough to reveal the identity of a CIA deep cover agent to the press.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

21. "One weekend a month, my ass."

A widely circulated photo from Iraq shows a sign in the windshield of a military truck that reads, "One weekend a month, my ass."

Unbelieveable! Seems those "complainers" on ABC last week were not too unusual or hard to find.

[nostamj]

23. the photo...

[berry]

33. Jim McDermott also gave a special speech on this in the House

at about 9:30 a.m. I was spellbound. So it looks as if the Dems are coordinating about this. And now we have two on record--the more who speak out, the safer for all of them. (I am so grateful to you guys for the info about Durbin--Comcast in my town preemts C-span 2 for the Tour de France! This has been going on for days. Before that it was some other sporting event. How can they DO this? 'K I'm done with this mini-rant.)

Also, last night this story was on Hardball and Olberman. And Wilson was on the Today show this a.m. (I missed it so can't report.)

[nannygoat]

60. Another one...

Senator accuses WH of retaliation

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&ncid=584&e=4&u=/nm/20030722/pl_nm/iraq_congress_intelligence_dc

[Flubadubya]

19. Anybody know if this speech might be rendered into a video?

I can think of a number of people I would like to share this little gem with.

[Rose Siding]

20. Can the WH do that?

...covertly demand the restructuring of Senate committees?

Um...separation of powers?, she queries meekly.

[nostamj]

22. well.....

they covertly installed FRIST
they covertly installed COLEMAN
they converly installed CHAMBLISS

etc etc etc

[NewYorkerfromMass]

24. well, they blatantly and publicly installed Bush

so who needs "covert"?

[LynneSin]

26. You're a little lacking on that list

I'm still having issues with the outcome of Sununu and Talent, especially since Jean Shaheen was doing quite well in the polls.

[bushisanidiot]

32. I think you mean Jean Carnahan?

And she was doing well.. There's talk of her son running for senate now.

[nannygoat]

62. No, LynneSin is talking about ...

Jeanne Shaheen, Governor of New Hampshire who was running against John Sununu; not Jean Carnahan.

[nannygoat]

61. LynneSin, did you ever hear about this?

Are these GOP leaders aware of their dirty tricks?

http://www.thehill.com/marshall/021903.aspx

[madrchsod]

30. they can`t do

anything..presidents come and go but the senators usually stay forever..durbin has a life long job as senator here in illinios. he`s to well respected in this state by the dems and repups. the senate knows that what comes around goes around and when one side is out of power the same thing could happen to them..the guys who set up this government did know what they were doing,didn`t they....

[berry]

35. Probably they're still living under the delusion that the GOPs

are going to have a lock on all branches of govt for decades at least. This is their goal, certainly. Can they really still believe they can get away with it? Yes, because they only listen to what they want to hear--which makes them seriously (criminally) stupid.

[Cocoa]

49. if Bush tries "he said-she said" with Durbin

Bush will lose, big-time, and will hurt other republicans in IL.

Bring it on!

[madrchsod]

27. durban`s the man of the hour..

everyone was waiting for the dems to fight back and it comes from the heart of the midwest...i never thought he would be the one..he`s unasuming ,i think the whitehouse machine is really scared of this guy. he`s a proffesional and well respected among his peers....since he`s not up for reelection- there`s not a fuck`n thing they can do to him. bush can`t even call his buddy ,daley, to have him shut-up durbin.
now durbin can join the list of great politions here in illinios...

[RapidCreek]

29. I watched him chew the Rethugs a new ass

on their arguments concerning "medical malpractice reform". The man was brilliant. Too bad he isn't running for president.

RC

[dansolo]

55. Speak softly, and carry a big stick

I am so proud of my Senator. Durbin has been quietly serving as one of the most important Democratic members of Congress recently. He has been instrumental in making sure that Bush's judicial candidates have been blocked, and now this. Also don't forget that he voted against the Iraq resolution.

[Loonman]

31. Bunch of damn crybabies

The White House and the elected Repubs will always be the nations biggest crybabies and whiners.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

36. It's way past time

to storm the gates!!

Dick Durbin is great!! I hope others follow in suit. There's safety in numbers.

Anyone know how to get a pitch fork on an airplane? If I check it, would that be ok?? ;)

[joanski01]

37. I saw it, too.

Durbin was great. He said the White House questioned his integrity and tried to get him thrown off the Intelligence Committee. Durbin told them all to be aware that every time someone tried to question what they are doing, they smear them. He told his colleagues not to let the WH intimidate them. They were there to represent the people and it is their responsibility to ask questions.

Durbin emphasized the high crimes and treason committed by "two senior officials" of the White House in telling Novak that Joe Wilson's wife was a CIA Agent. He asked the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Richard Shelby, to investigate it.

Durbin also quoted Ari's repacement (name escapes me right now) as saying the Durbin is telling a lot of little lies. Well, I reckon they picked on the wrong guy this time. Go get 'em, Durbin. Smoke them out and shoot them in the ass.

[julka]

39. I saw that part.......see post

Durbin also quoted Ari's repacement (name escapes me right now) as saying the Durbin is telling a lot of little lies.

Scott McClellan is following in his mentor's slimey, sleazy, lying footsteps, and the media refuses to CALL him on his LIES, forcing Durbin to do their dirty work.

he SAID ALL this CRAP to whom??????????????

the fricking MEEEEDIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


and did they report it, or discuss it anywhere that a normal human being could access it?

nobody here mentioned it til now, and if it isn't being discussed here, chances are it hasn't been mentioned many places in any media at all.

when are the presscreeps going to DO SOME REPORTING???????????

not that I care in the least

who cares

[joanski01]

40. Yeah. It was a total surprise

to me when Durbin started discussing this issue. I never heard about it before today. Durbin mentioned "what he had been going through the last few days". We sure didn't know.

[BelgianMadCow]

43. unheard of in "Old Europe" as well

this is not in our news. Our state channel has been quite subtly and quite clearly against the war (journalists didn't want to embed, typo intented) but I doubt whether any of them read DU or watch C-Span...

maybe I can change that ? :think:

[joanski01]

38. I saw it, too.

Durbin was great. He said the White House questioned his integrity and tried to get him thrown off the Intelligence Committee. Durbin told them all to be aware that every time someone tried to question what they are doing, they smear them. He told his colleagues not to let the WH intimidate them. They were there to represent the people and it is their responsibility to ask questions.

Durbin emphasized the high crimes and treason committed by "two senior officials" of the White House in telling Novak that Joe Wilson's wife was a CIA Agent. He asked the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Richard Shelby, to investigate it.

Durbin also quoted Ari's repacement (name escapes me right now) as saying the Durbin is telling a lot of little lies. Well, I reckon they picked on the wrong guy this time. Go get 'em, Durbin. Smoke them out and shoot them in the ass.

[peterh]

41. An update on this story….

Senator Accuses White House of Retaliation

<http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=3137538WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Democratic lawmaker accused the White House on Tuesday of trying to have him removed from the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee in retaliation for remarks critical of the administration over Iraq. [br />Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois charged that the White House had floated a bogus story that he had disclosed classified information regarding Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction.
"The White House allegations ... were, in fact, false, and inaccurate," Durbin said on the Senate floor.
"Sadly, what we have here is a continuing pattern by this White House," Durbin said. "If any member of this Senate ... questions this White House policy ... be prepared for the worst."


As the WH keeps attacking those that speak out, the outrage will only intensify….bring em on, you little twit.

[BelgianMadCow]

44. I'm sorry to come up with the analogy, but

I think the Americans are finally realising the first real step towards Vietnam is when people are being silenced. We've all seen so many movies, series and documentaries; we all remember the perverse difference between what people experience and what their leaders are saying about it.
I think it is past sorry sayin time :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

It gives me the feeling that finally, the giant sleeping moster has awoken. :smoke:

[carolinayellowdog]

46. Bienvenu a DU, BelgianMadCow

and if you speak Flemish, please tramslate!

All anti-Bush HUMANS welcome here,

CYD

[BelgianMadCow]

65. thx for the welcome, carolinayellowdog

:hi:

I did have to translate your statement, ik spreek Vlaams :lol:

[Hailtothechimp]

45. I'm proud to be an Illinoisian right now

Between Durbin (who was first elected to the House in my home district in Springfield)and Jan Schakowsky, I'd say I'm well represented in Washington.

[carolinayellowdog]

47. Springfield has a lot to be proud of!

Save us from this cabal like you did from the secessionists!

Against whom my Carolina ancestors fought and DIED

CYD

[Cocoa]

52. weren't you proud on Sunday?

when Dennis Hastert's brilliance and compassion was on display on Meet the Press...

[stevebreeze]

54. When Durbin first ran for congress

He had to on several ocasions replace signs that had been blasted with a shot gun, due to his gun control positions. Durbin has got some balls! he does not run for untill 2006, and kicked but this last elction. In fact the republicans did not even fund their candidate and basicly conceded the seat to Durbin.

Also he is one heck of a speaker. I wish he were a presidential candidate but I guess we will have to wait untill 2012, when the next Dem president whomever he or she is retires.
:kick:

[Best_man23]

53. Dumbya is pissing off a lot of folks in the Land of Lincoln

By attempting to smear Durbin.

As a former resident of Chicago, I voted for Durbin when he first ran for the Senate in 1996 and it warms my heart to see him take the Chimp and his cabal to task.

Dumbya can kiss the 20+ electoral votes from IL goodbye, by doing this, he'll has a snowball's chance in hell of winning that state in 2004.

[dansolo]

56. Bush never had a chance for IL in 2004

Illinois was only behind California and New York in it's margin towards Gore in 2000. The Republicans have practically conceded the open Senate seat. The GOP in Illinois is in complete disarray.

[metisnation]

57. GOP are crooks

lets us not forget Slick George and his rip off with Palumbo when he was the Secretary of State. The taxpayers were robbed of millions by these crooks. Or the licence for bribe scandal that ended up killing our some of our citizens. We have the house the senate the govenors office and the city of chicago incuding a majority of wards. Hell would have to freeze over thaw and freeze over again before we ever go back to those crooks. Now the guy that George Ryan placed in the Illinois Department of Transportation is trying to tag on fees during high traffic times is there any question about the GOP motives? These people are all about ripping off the taxpayer!


GO DURBIN!!!!!!!

GO ROCKEFELLER!!!!!!!!

[Tanketra]

58. Not that much moreso than the Democrats

I don't think we can count Fitzgerald's seat in the D tally just yet. The Dems dodged a bullet when Edgar told the party to take a hike, but a race between Oberweis and Hull (or, rather, a race between Hastert and Daley via proxies) could be a lot closer than people think.

Then again, I've gone from being a victim of Hastert to being a victim of Vote-Seller Weller, so my cynicism may be scarring me here.