Anyone watching Jane Harmon on NewsHour?

[LeftNYC]

When Lindsay Graham, who is on opposite her, sounds more like a Democrat on this Domestic Surveillance you know there is a problem.

Harmon even said she abhored the whistleblowers. Graham basically skipped over the question and said he wants to make sure the Constitution doesnt get burned, Congress isnt taken out of the process, and the Courts are kept in. But he doesnt want innocent Americans caught in the net to paraphrase.

Harmon said she was in favor of the program. She didnt delineate between being in favor of spying without a warrant and spying on the so-called enemy as Lindsay did. She also said she was hopeful because the House intelligence committee was briefed for 31/2 hours by Cheney and Gonzalez today and that there are good safeguards on the program. She sounds like Ken Mehlman. This is insane!!!!!

Additional Comments- I think the GOP is winning this issue right now. They have turned the argument from "is this program legal?" to "is this program worthwhile and how can we make it legal?". Bush has been using this and breaking the law for how long? Cheney and Gonzalez will say anything. It is unfortunate that Dems like Harmon still take them at their word.

[pretzel4gore]

1. she's a mediawhore...

simple as that. they only allow pigmedia whores on air, cuz truth is toxic to the bushvik scheme

[kstewart33]

2. I am so tired of weak-kneed Democrats

She's changed her mind after 3.5 hours with Cheney and Gonzalez? Hard to believe that she would trust that they would present the entire "unvarnished" truth. If she is approving of this program without warrants, her position is stunning.

We need new leadership.

[LeftNYC]

5. Agreed. Her attack on whistleblowers

left me disheartened. Even Gwen Ifill seemed surprised saying, "Lindsay, without the whistleblowers, would we know about this program and be having a debate?" This is a question that should be posed to the Democratic politician not Lindsay Graham. The Democrats cant seem to do anything right.

[blm]

3. Sounding tough is her schtick, imo.

I think schtick has no place in governance.

[0007]

4. That sums it up fairly well, according to the way I'm watching

the program.

[LeftNYC]

6. I cant believe Harmon...I am so pissed...nt

[MissWaverly]

7. One thing in her defense

She said the meetings were all closed sessions in the WH, I believe she said that they
could not take notes, they were only allowed to talk about it and ask questions during
the meetings of those on hand, so if you had a question on the legality (which I believe
that she said never came up), you could not ask it unless you were in a session, they
were not allowed to have any aides involved in the meeting or to discuss it outside
the meeting, this does not seem like an intelligent oversight to me.

[LeftNYC]

9. She seemed happy as a clam

about today's briefing with Cheney and the Torture King. What she was referencing above were the meetings that prompted Rockefeller to write the letter to Cheney.

[MissWaverly]

10. I must admit I was doing an imitation of a cheerleader while

I was listening to her, but even admitting these 8 individuals into briefing, looks
more like a carefully choerographed PR stunt, it does not seem like any attempt to
have an intelligent review of the situation. As someone pointed out there this administration has briefed hundreds of NSA and FBI to carry out this program yet
they are uncomforable with presenting this to the Congress. I am sorry, I find
this unbelievable as well.

[0007]

13. That's exactly what she said!

[acmejack]

8. And this is one of those who was informed.

People like her & Rockefeller safeguarding our rights, how can we not feel that they are well protected?

[MissWaverly]

11. It reminds me of a play

When I go to a play, something happens, I put my critical judgment on the back burner
and get hooked into the emotions of what I am seeing. Say Gonzales or Cheney is talking
terra, terra; how is it possible to critically evaluate or fact check anything say over
a seafood plate or while sitting in the Rose Garden. Also going into the White House
you get sucked into that power aura, they would have had a better chance to provide
oversight meeting in the Senate itself. They would have been on home court so to speak.

[acmejack]

12. I know exactly what you mean.

I was watching Cspan today and thinking how it would feel to step into the well of the House and speak, even if the House Stenographer and Mary Kevin Niland were the only ones listening. It would be simply overwhelming. I was wondering if the awe really ever went away.

[MissWaverly]

16. also the whole idea that the WH is inviting them over

to discuss the issue, that to me is not oversight, it's an important psychological ploy,
you are my guest, I am sharing this info with you not I am reporting to you on
this program you oversee.

[LeftNYC]

14. So she was just happy that Cheney deemed her suitable to grace

with his oily, green-skinned presence...Somehow, I buy that.

[MissWaverly]

15. it's sad, there is a mantle of sanctity around our leaders

I heard of a congressman who was completely tongue tied when he went to meet with
Pres. Ford although he had been completely at ease with him when Ford was on "the hill."