What are Republicans Afraid of Here?(Hastert Demands FBI Return Documents)

[berni_mccoy]

"Hastert Demands FBI Return Documents"

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1998862&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

Does Jefferson have Dirt on them? Is Jefferson working with them?

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmm.

[Dunvegan]

1. Defenders of rights, or are they afraid of having their offices raided?

Stay tuned for "As the Aspens Turn"....

[Scout1071]

2. Because in 2 years, they will be begging to turn back the clock.

They know they are so much dirtier than the dirtiest Dem and they are scared shitless.

[democrat_patriot]

3. NOTHING> They just want to keep Dem corruption

on the front page.


I'm already hearing it in the office - "Dem got busted"

[kentuck]

7. Bingo !

They're playing chess. We're playing checkers.

[AndyA]

4. They can all see it happening to them, and that terrifies them.

They know what secrets lurk within the confines of their offices, and they do not want the FBI doing the same to them.

I say let the chips fall where they may. I don't care if it's a Dem or a Repug, if they're doing something illegal, unethical, or against the good of the American people, throw the book at the bums!

[DBoon]

5. after eliminating the opposition, tyrants turn on their supporters

Bush just wants "his" congress to understand who is the boss

[wryter2000]

6. There has to be something going on, all right

They've never taken any kind of principled stand on maintaining Congressional power before.

[Zen Democrat]

8. Ever heard of separation of powers?

What if, during the Watergate investigations in 1973 and the Iran-Contra investigations in 1986, the president had directed the FBI to sweep the offices of Sam Ervin, or Lee Hamilton, or John Kerry, ostensibly on the grounds that they had breached national security, had classified information, or had taken bribes to investigate members of the Executive Branch, etc. etc.

This is a basic Constitutional issue of the Bush Administration using Gestapo tactics on the Congress to force a precedent that the Executive Branch has this power. Perhaps the Bush folks were too clever by half in assuming that the Republican Congress would allow this precedent to stand because a DEMOCRAT was the target. Hopefully some eyes are opening on Capitol Hill.

Republicans are now in a spot with their continued control of Congress is great jeopardy. Certainly they don't want a Democratic president to have precedented authority to traipse through their offices confiscating files. It's the whole goose and gander thing that the Republicans are now facing.

[Semblance]

9. Let 'em

Look, when Republicans are fighting Republicans, just get out of the way and let them do it. Perhaps stand on the sidelines and throw them some anvils. :)

[Rose Siding]

10. One of the best reasons for keeping federal police agencies off of

Capitol Hill is all the political suspicion it raises, which will (long term, if the practice continues) naturally bleed into policy decisions in the legislature.

I'm suspicious too. Hastert's republican form of idolatry has trashed the Constitution dozens of times, so why chose *this* occasion to make a stand. Still, this time he's right.

[pdxmom]

11. Why aren't they saying "it's not a big deal, if you don't have anything

to hide"? That's what they've all told us about their flagrant violations of the Constitution. At least the search of Jefferson's office was done with oversight - a judge actually signed a search warrant. This is a lot more oversight than the general public has been given.

It needs to be pointed out loudly and often how hypocritical they are. And let them know that they've now seen the slippery slope up close and personal.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. It's called...COVER YOUR ASS TIME. They're next unless, of course,

their RW SC rules the search illegal. IMO, that's the plan.

[kestrel91316]

13. I guess KKKarl forgot to send the Reps the memo that this is a special

"program" just for the Dems on the Hill, and that Reps need not worry................

[underpants]

14. Well you see back in the day there was this thing called the Constitution

it was written by the founders of this country's system of governance, actually the second founders but that is another story, and we had used it for years and years as a protection of the individuals' rights against government. This "Constitution" has pretty much been relegated to the dust bin since our minimum wage security personnel allowed 19 people to steal four planes and crash them. It's a long story but basically this is just a conservative reminiscing about the "good old days" as they are wont to do.

[EC]

15. sets a precedent

they don't want to be used on them...

[grasswire]

16. Paul McNulty ordered the raid. He's a Bush FIXER.

Remember Paul McNulty? He was front and center in the Florida recounts. He coached Ashcroft through confirmation. He was given the position of U.S. Attorney in the rocket docket that serves the WH's wishes. He's a Bush FIXER. Beware.

[newspeak]

17. EXACTLY

this administration is shooting across the bow of Congress. You can't have a dictatorship with three branches, can you? Some on Capitol Hill, not many, still have a conscience, including some Repugs. This administration has been purging the FBI and CIA of any who don't show loyalty to corrupt neo-cons. Remember the witch hunt of the Clintons? The neo-cons had the media, the law behind them--I mean they imprisoned a woman who refused to lie for them, without due process. The media ran Clinton's little indiscretion 24/7, but this administration can raid the treasury, start a war based upon lies and give sweet deals to their loyal friends, and nary a peep from the media. I never watched the hearings on Clinton, as I thought it was so absurd, that it was a family matter--as long as it didn't effect us or national security. What we have now is so much blatant corruption and nepotism, it makes me want to puke!!!!!

[berni_mccoy]

18. HERE IT IS ==>>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1276652

Looks like Hastert doesn't want HIS office searched!

I knew there was a selfish reason. Repukes don't do anything without some self-centered motivation.