Report: Rove Threatens Republican Senators With Blacklist

[RedEarth]

The Conservative publication Insight on the News reoprts that Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist Judiciary Committee Senators if they oppose Bush on the NSA warrantless surveillance issue:.....

The White House has been twisting arms to ensure that no Republican member votes against President Bush in the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation of the administration's unauthorized wiretapping. Congressional sources said Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist any Republican who votes against the president. The sources said the blacklist would mean a halt in any White House political or financial support of senators running for re-election in November. "It's hardball all the way," a senior GOP congressional aide said.

More from the article's sources:...

They said the defection of even a handful of Republican committee members could result in a determination that the president violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Such a determination could lead to impeachment proceedings.

Over the last few weeks, Mr. Rove has been calling in virtually every Republican on the Senate committee as well as the leadership in Congress. The sources said Mr. Rove's message has been that a vote against Mr. Bush would destroy GOP prospects in congressional elections. "He's lining them up one by one," another congressional source said.

Rove reportedly also is offering incentives to those who remain loyal to his President:....

The sources said the White House has offered to help loyalists with money and free publicity, such as appearances and photo-ops with the president.

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/013957.html

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. So what is the "blacklist" consequence? They don't get Abramoff $$?

They aren't invited to the best parties? They get summarily executed or shipped to Gitmo?

[DBoon]

10. their NSA intercepts are "leaked" to the press

visits to porn websites, etc suddenly appear "mysteriously"

[thefloyd]

2. Is the Rove blacklist story legit?

Insight Magazine is the original source and owned by Moonie

[wtbymark]

3. isn't blackmail illegal? n/t

[BOSSHOG]

4. So sad to think that

in our country there exists congressional districts where a photo-op with the alcoholic military deserter would be an asset. Wonder how invaluable those threats will be for bush after rove is indicted on various and asundry charges all revolving around his unamerican and unpatriotic actions. Republican Senators should look in the mirror and vote their conscience.

[FSogol]

5. Ha-ha. Do they really think any of them WANT Bush showing up?

Ask Jerry Kilgore how that worked.

[MuseRider]

7. Yeah, I was going to say

that is the kiss of death these days. LOL!

[Clark2008]

12. Was going to say that THAT is not much of a threat.

Most don't want him showing up, anywho.

:rofl:

[liberal N proud]

6. Sounds like obstruction of Justice

But even if that is true, it wouldn't stop these slugs.

Law means absolutely nothing to them

[Supersedeas]

13. Justice is not a priority to these people

[LynneSin]

8. I think Karl Rove is talking about going after Mike DeWine in Ohio

There are three judiciary senators that are Class I (They have re-elections this year).

Orrin Hatch, Jon Kyl and Mike DeWine

I'm guessing if any of these senators were to do something that might cause an impeachment of Bush then ROve is going to make sure that said candidate has an opponent in the primaries - one that would support Bush 110%

Now I doubt that Hatch would oppose anything Bush did and I suspect that Kyl is in line too.

So I'm thinking the threat is for DeWine who not only has questioned the spying BUT lives in a state where the ballots are controlled by Diebold & Repuke scum Blackwell. It could be real easy to put an uber-conservative nutjob (and in Ohio there are plenty of those) to run against DeWine in the primary. Then they'll have Diebold & Blackwell set it up so their preferred candidate wins

[Justice Is Comin]

9. If this migrates to the WAPO for credibility

it should be on every newscast for a week straight. With the caption, The hell with the truth--look at these crisp new bills !

[zbdent]

11. Would be great if it were real . . . the Repukes might actually wake up

and realize that they might just not wake up one morning . . . their throats having been slashed in their sleep . . . of course, evidence would be planted framing a lib . . .

[MichiganVote]

14. Where is a Hoover type when we need one. Hoover would have had

a file on Rove so thick by now, that Rove would be grateful to wipe his own ass in private.