I'm sure Murtha has a logical explanation....

[Pale Blue Dot]

and this is NOT another reason to distrust our leaders.

Powerful Democrat agrees to block disclosure of intelligence budget

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Powerful_Democrat_agrees_to_block_disclosure_0807.html

Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense John Murtha (D-PA) has moved to block a provision President Bush signed into law making the national intelligence budget public.

"One day after President Bush signed into law a bill that requires public disclosure of the national intelligence budget, the House of Representatives adopted an amendment to prevent that requirement from taking effect," Steven Aftergood, editor of Secrecy News, wrote Monday.

Passed by Congress last month and signed into law last Friday, "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007," called for the disclosure of the national intelligence budget.

If adopted, it would make the first time the legislative branch has compelled the executive branch to reveal currently classified information, Aftergood say.

Only it now appears that a powerful member of the party challenging Bush Administration secrecy -- the Democrats -- will move to keep the figures under wraps.

***

All right, tell me AGAIN how everything's going to be just fine....

[AndyA]

1. I can hardly wait to hear what it is.

With an administration shrouded in more secrecy than any other before, I can't understand why ANYONE would remove attempts at transparency. There has been so much going on behind the scenes, I find it inexcusable to provide even more shielding for Bushco.

[LynneSin]

4. It's simple - Murtha has been and always will be one of the most conservative dems in congress

You folks at DU have put him up on such a high pedestal because of his anti-war stance that no one bothers to check out his true voting credentials.

We have to all stop being 1-issue democrats. This "They have to vote for me on this one issue or damnit I'll go third party ballistic" is total bullshit. Why would any of us want an uber anti-choice democrats with shady business dealings & job nepotism as the hero of the liberal wing of the democratic party is beyond me

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. Is that what I said, Lynne?

Because I just reread my post, and I don't think I said that at all.

Those who think that we should never criticize our leaders will need more than strawmen to convince me.

[LynneSin]

2. Murtha may be anti-war but he's one of the more conservative democrats in DC

Unfortunately too many folks have those ole anti-war blinders on that prevent them from seeing the true nature of some folks.

I remember when everyone made a big stink here at DU when Murtha didn't get Majority Leader for the dems. I, for one, was damn glad he didn't. I think Murtha will do great things when it comes to getting this war done but he's conservative viewpoints are not something I would consider a good progressive democrat.

Murtha is doing what Murtha would have done even before the war. He's a conservative democrat.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Murtha wants the troops to retreat to the periphery while Iraq is pacified...

by an instigated civil war. Bush wants our troops there as cover while the civil war rages.

I guess if someone you know is in the military, there's a LOT of difference in the positions.

From the Iraqi standpoint, not so much.

[Amonester]

3. Why not 'ask' him?

The question is: who should ask the question and will the answer be truthful?

[jdlh8894]

5. Seems to me, it's a done deal n/t

Passed by Congress last month and signed into law last Friday, "Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007," called for the disclosure of the national intelligence budget.

If adopted, it would make the first time the legislative branch has compelled the executive branch to reveal currently classified information, Aftergood say.

[Minimus]

8. He also has the highest amount for earmarks -$150M in the military spending bill

Murtha nabs $150M pork

snip

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), chairman of the House Appropriations defense panel, has secured the most earmarked dollars in the 2008 military spending bill...

snip

Murtha, the defense industry’s darling, has been known throughout his tenure on the defense panel to shell out a large number of earmarks. His biggest earmark in the bill is $23 million for the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC


http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/murtha-nabs-150m-pork-2007-08-03.html

[Richard Steele]

9. Maybe the REAL (non-neoCon) folks in our intelligence services wanted it kept secret?

As soon as I hear that B*sh is gonna make ANYTHING "less secret",
I have to wonder what legitimate purpose he's trying to undermine. :tinfoilhat: