Official Thread #1 of the Gates confirmation hearing--CSPAN 2 now

[Skidmore]

I'll start this ball, but don't know how long I'll be able to keep it in the air. It's finals time and I've got to get this takehome exam done. Period.

Pitch in everyone.

Warner and Levin are giving opening statements now.

[pberq]

1. Levin - "finds Gates' response to pre-hearing questions

reassuring" - despite the fact that he voted against Gates for CIA director in 91' since he thought that Gates was "less than candid about his role in Iran-Contra"

[Skidmore]

3. Warner looks like someone slugged him in his left eye.

What's up with that?

[Skidmore]

2. Levin mentioned his Iran-Contra involvement concerns and said

that he's willing to give him a fresh new and fair hearing regarding Iraq. Said that in the prehearing questions, Gates had promised that budget requests would be made inside the regular budget process.

[bobthedrummer]

7. Iran/Contra, BNL, BCCI, Kissinger Associates-Bobby is associated

with lots of things BFEE, and Levin shouldn't let this pass without serious questioning. Hopefully this will occur later.

The late Texas Dem. Cong. Henry Gonzalez wanted to impeach 41, and he had this damning indictment read into The Congressional Record, it is pertinent to this hearing.
http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/congress/1991/h910502g.htm

At about the same time that Kissinger Associates was involved with BNL, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Poppy, Eagleburger, Gates, Baker, Casey, Reagan, Meese et al there was BCCI and Kissinger Associates as Senator Kerry and others are fully aware of
http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1992_rpt/bcci/20kiss.htm

L. Paul Bremer, the Coalition Provisional Authority of Iraq's head was Henry Kissinger's chief of staff at one time.

So if a citizen like little old me is aware of stuff like this-why don't the newly elected leaders and old hands like Levin air this stuff out and shut the door on Bobby Gates and all the rest of these BFEE perps???

Gates "promises" are worthless.

edited for clarity

[EFerrari]

31. That's always my question. If somone like me knows this guy

is dirty, what is this hearing about? Is it just CSPAN Theater? Senator Byrd gets to be strict and thump his Constitution but then -- what? This guy is confirmed.

[Solly Mack]

38. You've just described "government in action"

:(

As we know it anyway...

Sad init?

When thugs have a revolving door - they will continue to come right back in

[EFerrari]

45. We have to send the "cspan theater' idea to Jon Stewart.

Because you hafta laugh. :shrug:

[Solly Mack]

48. We should send it. Beats crying, sfexpat2000

We'd be crying 24/7 otherwise if it weren't for the release of laughter...even bitter laughter.

[EFerrari]

56. You're not going to believe this one. Stuff like this can't be made up.

Before he left the UN, Bolton blocked a measure to celebrate THE END OF SLAVERY in this hemisphere.

:shrug:

[Solly Mack]

58. Oh, I believe it. Sadly - it's easy to believe.

[bobthedrummer]

55. Collectively we are what they fear the most-the truth, so they try to isolate US

ignore US, discredit US, even kill US as an "example"-none of this works anymore as the truth is shared about these "elite" traitors and criminals and their "assets and properties" of a corrupt powerful yet failed empire.

[Catchawave]

4. thanks for starting this skidmore...

I have it on...Bob Dole speaking now.

[Skidmore]

5. Bob Dole up now giving the nomination of Gates.

Viagra must have given him the day off.

[malaise]

6. MSNBC also has live coverage n/t

[Sydnie]

8. Why Bob and not Elizabeth?

:puke: They both make me ill!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

15. Perhaps after her wonderful job as 2004 RSCC, they're not letting her do anything.

Senator Liddy is my senator. She's pretty useless.

[Skidmore]

22. Plus that glorious smackdown she got on the Senate floor

just before the election probably reduced her fan club a bit.

[Skidmore]

9. Gates has been asked about Schultz accusation that the CIA

manipulated intelligence and about Gates' work there. Gates is basically blaming all that on bad blood between Casey and Schultz.

[Skidmore]

10. McCain up now.

Be prepared for a campaign speech.

[pberq]

12. Wants to increase size of army

[ncrainbowgrrl]

Oh yeah- he's swinging for the fences like it's campaign time.

:puke:

He makes me angry. :(

[savemefromdumbya]

11. A CIA insider's take on Gates - for the record?

Gates has primarily two things going for him, which hardly suffice to justify confirmation:

• The Anyone-But-Rumsfeld syndrome, which has understandable appeal. Just how much appeal was brought home to me last week, when a former colleague who worked closely with Gates during Iran-Contra said, ``Despite my misgivings, I would support Satan himself in preference to Rumsfeld.''

• The Not-Enough-Evidence-To-Indict bromide offered reluctantly by Lawrence Walsh, the independent counsel who led the investigation of the Iran-Contra affair. Walsh was frustrated by Gates' remarkable inability to recall explosive information that his subordinates swore under oath they had told him ''about Oliver North's illegal activities,'' for example. (Gates' supporters still brag about his ''eidetic memory.'') Walsh wrote
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1204-31.htm

[blm]

86. You nailed it - Dems who want withdrawal are being assured that is what Gates will do

behind the scenes.

What are you going to do, when your greatest goal for now is withdrawal?

Just hope the next Dem administration isn't inclined to coverup for Bush2 the way the past one did for Bush1.

[savemefromdumbya]

90. I wish someone

would just pull the plug on the Bushes

[Skidmore]

13. Gates is open to increasing the "end strength" of the military--

increasing the size of it.

[npincus]

14. he said we're "not winning" in Iraq.

[Skidmore]

16. Kennedy up.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

17. Interestingly warm- but cold as ice at the same time.

He's letting it out...

[Skidmore]

19. He's asking a loyal foot soldier in the BFEE if he'll stand up

against the Emporer if need be.

A lie is being told now.

[pdxmom]

18. McCain certainly didn't ask any questions, but did try to make his

campaign speech. Let's hope the rest of the presidential hopefuls don't do that...I want this guy questioned strongly!

[Skidmore]

20. I agree. This type of grandstanding is why we got into the war to

begin with.

[Sydnie]

21. "an individual tragedy for those that were killed"

Is that what he just said? That it was a tragedy for those who were killed? Like they will be able to overcome it?

I have never heard anyone speak like that of anyone that has died. So now, we are just marking "individual tragedies" and not deaths?

[Skidmore]

24. Little Boots must have written the talking points all by himself with

his superdooper magic crayon.

[pberq]

23. some history on Gates

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
A CIA insider's take on Gates
BY RAY MCGOVERN

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/16158060.htm

<snip>
The Armed Services Committee's ranking member, Carl Levin, D-Mich., who voted against Gates' nomination in 1991 to be director of the CIA, said he wanted to give Gates a ''fresh look; a lot of time has passed.'' Well, highly damaging evidence has come to light since 1991, implicating Gates in some of the most serious national-security scandals of the 1980s. Veteran investigative reporter Robert Parry, for one, has been providing chapter and verse on Consortiumnews.com.

For example, in January 1995, Howard Teicher, who served on President Reagan's National Security Council staff, submitted a sworn affidavit detailing the activities of Gates and his then-boss, CIA Director William Casey, in secretly providing arms to Iraq. This violated the Arms Export Control Act in two ways: ignoring the requirement to notify Congress; and providing arms to a state designated as a sponsor of terrorism.

It gets worse. To grease the skids for this dubious adventure, Gates ordered his more malleable subordinates at the CIA to cook up intelligence reports to provide some comfort to Reagan in acquiescing to these activities. A National Intelligence Estimate of May 1985 predicted Soviet inroads in Iran if the United States did not reach out to ''moderates'' within the Iranian leadership.

In addition, Gates' analysts were pressed to publish several reports beginning in late 1985 -- as HAWK anti-aircraft missiles wended their way to Tehran -- that Iranian-sponsored terrorism had ''dropped off substantially.'' There was no persuasive evidence to support that judgment.

[G_j]

81. yep, that be him

do we really need another liar and crook making policy?

[ncrainbowgrrl]

25. Inhofe: no mass graves going on now.

ummmm- how many people die per day in iraq- civilians, that is.

[Skidmore]

26. But they're not below ground so they don't count.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

28. ohhhhhh. My bad. I forgot that part...

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

27. Has any of these Senators asked how many Iran Contra felons

are left on the bench?

[ncrainbowgrrl]

29. Woohoo! Senator Byrd!

[Skidmore]

30. Asking if Gates supports an attack on Iran.

Gates saying he supports diplomacy and counsels against military action unless as a last resort. Says the same about Syria.

[PRETZEL]

36. that sounds like a very dangerous non-answer

given the current rhetoric by Ahmadinijad (sp). Gates would have no say in diplomatic negotions with either Iran or Syria, that's State's job. He didn't say whether or not he agreed with the administration's policy (or lack thereof).

[ncrainbowgrrl]

39. yeah, he's doing the "slippery eel" routine.

Not good.

[kentuck]

32. cutting to the chase...

He has touched on the "secret agenda", perhaps??

[pberq]

34. Asking about Osama bin Laden - still on the loose

who is responsible for 9/11?

[ncrainbowgrrl]

35. That was great- asking who was more of a threat- saddam or OBL!

[Skidmore]

37. Good questions, Senator Byrd.

Gates thinks it important to "keep him on the run". Curious choice of words, isn't it? Why not just catch him?

[Sydnie]

41. GMTA Skidmore

I just posted about that too!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

42. I'm sure he can "run" far- being injured or ill.

[Solly Mack]

33. I'm listening but I'm doing more snarling than anything

I can't see Gates without snarling

[Sydnie]

40. Osama must be a champion marathoner by now

Gates wants to "keep him on the run". Sounds like keep him in the wings, just in case they need him!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

43. I was thinking "keep him on ice" rather than keeping him "on the run"

[Solly Mack]

44. Want to "get down" to my level? ...try the truth

but the truth first requires knowing telling it is thousands upon thousands of steps up from Gates'level

[pdxmom]

46. Roberts just wants Gates to scare the populace, once again. He's

using the fear factor to make his point. Won't they ever learn?

[Sydnie]

47. What is Robert's "blue card" all about?

Does he hold someone's proxy?

[Kansas Wyatt]

52. 'Caterpillar' Roberts showing everyone his Heavy Equipment

Operators License to bring in the earthmovers, to bury the past.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

49. Oh great, here comes joementum!

[Solly Mack]

50. "How to succeed in Iraq" (Lieberman)

Anyone...anyone...speaking of Iraq in terms of "winning" or "succeeding" is a liar. Just simply a liar.

[Solly Mack]

51. Fuck the so-called "war on terror" - let's have a war on fear mongers

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

57. I said the same thing a few minutes ago out loud here. eom

[Solly Mack]

53. Lieberman grates on my very last nerve

You just know there's a hand up his ass that reaches all the way to the Whitehouse

[kentuck]

63. Holy Joe's appeal to "bi-partisanship"...

is extremely nauseating when he wishes for everyone to "join hands" in a lie and deception and try to make chicken salad out of chicken shit...

[Solly Mack]

68. Well said!!!

[pdxmom]

54. I always love hearing Holy Joe's "Kumbuya" moment in every

"speech" he makes. He's going to be the uniter, not the divider. GAG!!!!

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

59. Sessions...I spoke to those who lost their lives.... Is he a medium? eom

[Skidmore]

61. I was laughing out loud when I heard him say that.

Sessions is dumber than dirt and twice as dirty.

[Solly Mack]

62. LMAO I know!

Delusional ain't he?

[Sydnie]

64. I was on the phone and was thankfully spared hearing that

I don't know why their crap still amazes me, but it does.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

71. I just sprayed diet coke on the monitor when I heard that.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

82. As long as it wasn't your keyboard! Laughing here! eom

[Solly Mack]

60. No- they don't let you in their classrooms because you're a thug

who would teach students to be as corrupt as they need to be...

[pdxmom]

65. Amazing how all these Repukes have suddenly seen the light and

feel so strongly that we now need to have more bipartisanship in order to get things done. They all think they have gotten away from that, and it's time to return.

Gosh, I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning.

[Skidmore]

67. Yup. I was going to post that.

It was nice to see Sessions with his shoulders hunched and looking defensive for a change though instead of doing that annoying little rat terrier yipping he usually does.

[Solly Mack]

66. Don't fucking tell me..a military spouse - what you owe me

Let me tell you what you owe me and my family

You owe us the truth
You owe us an apology
You owe us to withdraw from Iraq - a country you had no business sending troops to to begin with
You owe us to send the war criminal executive to prison
You owe us to never again abuse the military for the profits of the few

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

69. Reality check here..Will anyone ask him about his filthy hands in Iran-Contra?

I can't believe that these criminals become so easily re-invented...

[Solly Mack]

70. "could" become worse? "could" become worse?

Congress needs to suit up and spend a month in Iraq as a soldier. They need to garner a much needed perspective. Better yet, spend a month in Iraq as an Iraqi citizen.

[Sydnie]

72. did he just call Akaka "Senator Caca"?

:rofl: I must be losing it, but I didn't hear the A there at all.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

73. lol! I heard Caca too! I'd rofl but my colon isn't working on my keyboard!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

85. I heard that too

And then thought of all the trouble that similar sounding words have caused in the past year...

[Skidmore]

74. Notice all the "fresh eyes" references that keep going on?

That Heritage Center guy on Washington Journal this morning kept referring to it too and he had been involved with this Iraq Commission too. He referred to the Commission as a "creature of the Congress." These people have seen that report. This hearing is a formaility to allow them to rubberstamp a commission report and make like they've done something bipartisan around this war.

Kumbayah.

[Sydnie]

75. Graham makes me sick

They almost always give him and Sessions the job of stirring the hate, and he relishes in it much too much.

[Gelliebeans]

76. he is playing attorney

:puke:

I hate him

[Solly Mack]

77. Graham spoon feeds Gates

Hit those talking points!

[Skidmore]

78. CSPAN 2 left live coverage so that loses me.

I have dialup and streaming doesn't always work well.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

83. It's on C-SPAN 3- perhaps it'll work for you?

Worth a try, i guess...

[Solly Mack]

79. Gates : "No new ideas on Iraq"

"....putting pieces together from various ideas/groups"

[omega minimo]

80. link to list of recent DU discussions on Gates-- last night there were NONE up top

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2859491

[blm]

84. Thanks Skid - I was out for a couple hours and missed it.

Appreciate the thread for catch up.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

87. are they coming back after lunch?

I know they're wrapping up for now, but is this it?

[flpoljunkie]

88. Yes, around 2:15.

[The Witch]

89. hm, think i will show up for the 2nd round.

Has Ted had a go at them yet? Crap, there's nobody interesting on the Armed Services committee....

[The Witch]

91. Coming back into session! KICK!

:kick:

[ncrainbowgrrl]

92. Locking

Time for thread 2- over here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2862211