Jane Harman: White House “very skillfully played the fear card.”

[madfloridian]

Well, we do agree on that. However the White House has been skillfully playing the fear card since 2001.

It is time you guys stopped getting caught off guard about it. People are noticing. They are getting tired of it. Stand up there and speak up for what is right.

Playing the Fear Card

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 — At a closed-door briefing in mid-July, senior intelligence officials startled lawmakers with some troubling news. American eavesdroppers were collecting just 25 percent of the foreign-based communications they had been receiving a few months earlier. Behind the New Wiretapping Rules Congress needed to act quickly, intelligence officials said, to repair a dangerous situation.

..."The report helped set off a furious legislative rush last week that, improbably, broadened the administration’s authority to wiretap terrorism suspects without court oversight.

It was a surprising victory for the politically weakened White House on an issue that had plodded along in Congress for months without a clear sign of urgency or resolution. A flurry of talk in the last three weeks on intelligence gaps, heightened concern over terrorist attacks, burdensome court rulings and Congress’s recess helped turn the debate from a slow boil to a fever pitch.

The only saving grace is this article is the comment made by Russ Feingold.

There was an intentional manipulation of the facts to get this legislation through,” said Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, a Democrat on the Intelligence Committee who voted against the plan. The White House, Mr. Feingold said Friday in an interview, “has identified the one major remaining weakness in the Democratic Party, and that’s its unwillingness to stand up to the administration when it’s making a power grab regarding terrorism and national security.”

“They have figured out that all they have to do is start talking about an imminent terrorist threat, back it up against a Congressional recess, and they know the Democrats will cave,” he added.

You keep talking, Russ, and we will keep pushing until they at least try to fix it...may be too late.

[shance]

1. Jane Harman has not been much help.

Representative Harman enjoys a run with Secretary Chertoff on Venice Beach.

the photo can be found on Ms. Harman's website.

[FARAFIELD]

3. JAne is skillful

at playing the "LAME" card

[madfloridian]

4. Too cozy.

I don't like that. Much too chummy.

[BeHereNow]

19. I hope the seagulls pooped on both of them...

:evilgrin:
BHN

[shance]

35. me too darlin!

n/t

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Russ Feingold said it exactly right. Others should pay heed

to him. The Dems also need to start saying "We've given them everything they want so if there's another terrorist attack in the U.S., the blame belongs on Bush. He's the one who hasn't gotten his people to do anything about our leaky ports and borders. He's the one who took our troops out of Afghanistan to invade Iraq, ignoring the Al Qaeda still in the mountains."

[rudy23]

29. From your lips to Pelosi and Reid's ears. Unfortunately,

heeding the majority of Democrats who put them in power is off the table.

[DemBones DemBones]

44. Yes, and as soon as we heard Pelosi say

"Impeachment is off the table," we should have done something big, like call for a recall election, have a massive march on Washington, etc. It's hard to organize marches today because people have to take off work; not enough college kids get involved today, as they did in the Viet Nam war protests, because there is no draft.

I learned quickly that Pelosi only accepts e-mail from constituents. I've considered using a friend's city and zip code although I don't like to resort to deception to be able to e-mail a public servant. Many Congress critters say on their web page that they will only reply to e-mail from constituents but they accept it from anyone.

In my opinion, when you're Speaker, Majority Leader, or Minority Leader, you should accept e-mail from anywhere in the US.

Pelosi needs to remember that it was voters across the US who gave Dems the majority that made her Speaker.

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. We DID have a massive march on Jan 27

Our liberal media ignored it.

[DemBones DemBones]

46. True, but did people carry "Put Impeachment Back on the Table" signs?

Of course, I knew they carried anti-war signs and Pelosi and Reid wimped out on that, have given W everything he wants.

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. yes there were several signs like that

I take it you weren't there?

[EST]

5. Do democratic leaders suddenly get a terminal dose of the stupids

upon election for higher office?
Ask any of us-the BA is a den of inveterate liars. They lie about everything, even what time the sun comes up. They ALWAYS lie!

And these poor, overburdened, overworked leaders can't seem to figure out that whatever the BA says, it ain't true.

Come out and say it, dammit! The credibility remaining to this corrupt outfit is so out to lunch that no major legislation can be enacted with their input. They can't be trusted; and if there is another attack, it rests squarely on the shoulders of the "boy who cried 'wolf'" liars that nobody can trust.
You can't deal with them. Please tell the world, and yourselves, congress carrion, that the BA will have you building bulldozers or rocket ships when what you really need is bows and arrows.
Don't mess with them! Ignore them, tell the world what incorrigible crooks they are, but don't mess with them.

[radfringe]

6. and the blue dogs helped

Don't miss a toon - sign up for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION Radical Fringe on Comics Sherpa

[SoCalDem]

7. Like she and the rest have never SEEN that card before?

:silly:..

I am so damned tired of our congress.. they act like scared 10 yr olds left alone for the first time, while Mom runs to the store.. Every sound they hear scares them:puke:

Maybe since they are so fearful, they should just resign and get some "safe" jobs... like folding tee shirts at the mall or something like that:)

[cui bono]

8. Skillfully ?!?!

Way to justify it in your own mind Jane. :eyes:

[Cha]

22. Oh yeah...get down on your

runner's knees, jane, and bow to the bushits.

[creeksneakers2]

30. Jane Harman spoke against the Bush bill on the floor

Harman also voted against it. She was never down on her knees.

[madfloridian]

9. Reyes...still trying to not be partisan. Seems surprised reaching out didn't work.

Have they been living in some alternative universe the last 6 years?

Chairman gets crash course

Chairman gets crash course
in partisan committee politics

For U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, of El Paso, Texas, his first seven months as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee have been an eye-opener. Not because of the global secrets he's learned. Because of the politics.

"I was under the illusion that, by doing the right common-sense things, I could work and I could influence that committee to work in a bipartisan way to do what's best because it's what's best for the country," said the 62-year-old former border patrolman.

"The reality is that politics unfortunately trumps everything else," he said. As a result, he added, "I still am committed to work in a bipartisan condition, but without the rose-colored glasses."

And I do not believe that he really thinks we will find this statement acceptable anymore...Bush has been playing this card for 6 years.

...."For months, Reyes and other top congressional Democrats say they worked quietly with the administration on its request for three urgent updates in the 29-year-old law. But last week, the administration and its GOP allies forced them to accept a more sweeping grant of authority by leveling public accusations that failure to act promptly would undermine national security"

They did not force you to do anything, Reyes. You were afraid of them. Let them make the accusations and stand up to them.

[Zomby Woof]

10. She's my rep

But she plays up too much to the right-wing around here.

Instead of being an advocate for Boeing's aerospace workers, or the numerous oil refinery workers (unionized in both industries), she would rather be an advocate for the executives and the fat cash they can bring to her coffers. She's a tool.

She is marginally a Democrat at best. I would rather Henry Waxman or Maxine Waters be my rep, but so it goes.

[OzarkDem]

14. Anyone who could run against her?

Surely a more moderate Dem could win her district, no?

[Zomby Woof]

16. Her district includes the more tony parts of south L.A. county

Palos Verdes and the like, which lean heavily Republican. So in the eyes of (most of) her constituents, she is the moderate Democrat of choice.

During the primaries last year, she faced a very vocal challenge from some decent progressives, but they just couldn't overcome the money machine Harman has.

I've always said the reason Kucinich will never be president is not because his views are out of the mainstream or the lie that he is 'not electable' - it's because he will never be able to raise the money the Clintons and Obamas do. (I say this as someone who equally supports DK and Edwards, but feels Edwards has more fundraising potential, having been on the national ticket 4 years ago).

[mile18blister]

37. Palos Verdes is no longer in her distrct

It's now part of the 46th in Northern Orange County. I got gerrymandered into the newly drawn 36th district in 2001. The new 36th district is far too blue for someone like Harman. She is not popular with a large part of this district, but she's an incumbent millionaire.

[mile18blister]

40. Marcy Winograd ran against her last year.

With about a 3 month campaign and not much cash, she got almost 40% of the vote. At the last minute, Harman spent a fortune sending out glossy flyers claiming she was endorsed by every Dem in the state. I did notice that Harman became a little less hawkish after the primary - I think she got a pretty good scare. But she's a Blue Dog, and this district is far too blue for her.

[Raine]

49. It's not too blue for her where I am

in the Torrance/Redondo Beach area, this area is pure repug. I'm one of the few Democrats for blocks. Hope Chapel actually started here so that tells you how far right fundie it is. A blue dog like Harman is the only type of Democrat that is going to get elected around here.

[mile18blister]

52. Ok. Perhaps I am ignorant of the central part of the 36CD.

The southern tip (San Pedro) and especially the northern area (west side of LA) does not contain a lot of Harman fans. In my neighborhood I saw maybe one Harman sign stuck on a stoplight vs lawn sign after lawn sign for Winograd.

[Raine]

25. She's my rep too

I guess I'm one of the "tony" ones cause I live in the South Bay area and it is very repug conservative here. x( B1Bob used to represent me so I'm not complaining much about Harman, it's a miracle she got elected in this area.

[leftchick]

11. like this is the only thing they get "played" on??

:nopity:

[madfloridian]

12. Harman's statements left out....sorry. Here they are.

"Representative Jane Harman, Democrat of California, said the White House “very skillfully played the fear card.”

“With the chatter up in August,” Ms. Harman said, “the issue of FISA reform got traction. Then they ran out the clock.”

Don't know how I left them out.

[scarletwoman]

13. How stupid does she think we ARE? Does she honestly believe that we're going to buy this horseshit?

They're not timid innocents, they are COLLABORATORS.

"Surprising" victory? Why the hell would anyone find it surprising? It's a well-established pattern.

Does she seriously expect us to believe, that after 6 years of the bush maladriminstration they've been utterly unable to come up with an effective counter to their tactics? The exact same tactics that the bushies have been deploying consistently and unrelentingly since Sept. 2001? They haven't figured out how not to be "surprised" by it yet?

I ain't buying it. They are willing accessories to the crimes of this administration, blowing smoke to cover their asses.

rec'd
sw

[napi21]

15. i think Pelosi & Reed both should have held out for additional oversight

on the wiretaping issue and simply stayed in session until they got their way, but I've been thinking about all this new authority and what the WH can do with it all. Do you realize just how MANY MANY messages we're talking about? My son lives and works in Sicily, so all OUR phone calls and emails can be monitored. I also have friends in New Zealand & England that I exchange emails with. That's just ME. How many hundreds of thousands of Americans have relatives or friends or business associates located outside the US? Aren't we looking at so damn much data, they simply won't be ABLE to do anything with it? That's at least one of the excuses the FBI used for missing the right info that would have connected the dots prior to 9/11.

[libodem]

17. Oh, great

now they will have excuses to extraordinarily rendition callers at both ends of the line. Don't call grandma in Europe. You'll both end up in a secret dungeon in Poland.

[tnlefty]

18. Rec'd.

Right now I'm just too disgusted to respond very much. I'm not sure what the dems think they're doing, but the repugs around me who voted non-repug and who were ecstatic when the dems took control thinking that they would put a fucking leash on Dimson** have been grumbling to me for a few months now. I wish they'd stayed in session.

[Cha]

20. Cause they've had such willing little

subjects..:scared: :scared: :scared:

Whatever happened to "Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death"? "The Only Thing To FEAR is FEAR itself"?

Maybe the Dems haven't been so skillful at counteracting that? I know Dean has called them on their fucking yellow ass codes..orange barf alerts.

I know there have been others but when the US media is mostly corporatewhore owned then we have 2 1/2 strikes against us already.

[treestar]

21. They were collecting only 25% of what they were receiving?

What does that mean?

So maybe 75% were not suspicious. They are trying to claim they have to listen to it all in the first instance.

[madfloridian]

24. But don't you see? Bush used the word terror...

so all the percentages did not matter. :evilgrin:

[Solly Mack]

23. snort

"Bush bullied me" is a pathetic, cowardly excuse...right up there with "Bush fooled me"

[VP505]

26. Well Jane,

that's little more than an EXCUSE, and a piss poor one at that. I would think someone in Harman's position would be educated and knowledgeable enough to be beyond being susceptible to the "fear card" especially coming from someone as dishonest and predictable as shrub.

[spanone]

27. when will the dems get the message that bu$hco CHEATS. they LIE.

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. If it's determined that the White House bluffed, they should be impeached.

[babylonsister]

31. This says it more eloquently than I ever could:

From digby:

and ht to beachmom:

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/its-for-our-own -...

When it comes to the encroaching police state, the politicians of both parties have shown their true colors and their shirts are a disturbing shade of coffee.

The idea that Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi supposedly "allowed" themselves to be punk'd again on a constitutional atrocity with scare stories and slick legislative strategy is indefensible and at some point you have to assume that it isn't just political malpractice or even spinelessness. When you see this legislation, on the heels of the passage of the Military Commissions atrocity last fall, you cannot escape the conclusion that the Democrats agree with the administration that the government must have unfettered authoritarian power to "keep the country safe."

Sure, a good many of them voted against it. But the Democrats control the agenda now and no legislation passes without the leadership's approval in this congress. They approved it. The pander wasn't to the red staters. It was those who voted against it who were pandering --- to us. If the Dems had wanted to stop Reid and Pelosi from putting this atrocity up for a vote they could have. They didn't.

And not only did they approve it, they refused to pass the bill that everyone agrees was sufficient to update the FISA rules alone and granted the administration its latest power grab instead. What could have been a real debate about who, in fact, is keeping the country safe and free, they turned into a political failure that makes them appear even weaker than before. And in the process of doing this, they were willing to give Alberto Gonzales the power to eavesdrop on his political opponents -- themselves. (Considering what we know about what he and others have done at the DOJ, it's absurd to assume he won't, isn't it?)

The powers that have now been legally invested in the executive branch, the military commissions and this new warrantless wiretapping authority, can be used by anyone. That means that on one level at least, the unitary executive theory has found bipartisan acceptance --- the fourth amendment is as quaint as the Geneva Conventions. Every single vote along these lines that ostensibly are done to "protect" us, is a step toward the authoritarian power that lies at the heart of Dick Cheney's wet dream. This has been done with almost no real debate or discussion, since our representatives have chosen to also codify the ridiculous secretiveness that continues to hold that even though we know what we know about this from the front pages of the New York Times, they still can't discuss it openly. Certainly, they didn't deem to share with us (again) why there was such a rush after years and years of not moving the uncontroversial aspects of this legislation and ramming through yet another constitutional assault in the dead of night.

[creeksneakers2]

32. I can't believe all the Jane Harman bashing

Jane is no liberal but on FISA she spoke against passage of the GOP bill on the floor and voted against it. Harman's words carried great weight because she was fully briefed on everything and said the GOP bill wasn't necessary. Harman isn't defending anybody in this article. She's just telling what happened.

I think Jane's getting bashed here because of knee jerk reactions against Democrats.

[babylonsister]

33. 'THEY' played out the clock? I really don't

fault Harman as I have a soft spot for Rep. Jackson-Lee for what she said, too, but to blame what happened on this admin is disingenuous. See post # 31, and please tell me who we should blame for this travesty.

From the article:

"Representative Jane Harman, Democrat of California, said the White House “very skillfully played the fear card.”

“With the chatter up in August,” Ms. Harman said, “the issue of FISA reform got traction. Then they ran out the clock.”

[creeksneakers2]

36. Why not blame Bush?

And beyond Bush, I blame the Democrats who voted for it. I also blame Pelosi and Reid but hesitatingly because I haven't heard their side of how the bill got to the floors. I probably haven't heard why because there is no excuse, but I still hold out hope.

I don't blame Democratic members who opposed the measure, like Jane Harman. I read this article. Jane is just explaining how Bush was able to get away with it. She's not defending anybody. She's just telling what happened.

[madfloridian]

38. Whoa there.....I quoted her words, compared them with Feingold's words.

They have had 6 years to stand up to the Bully Bush.

It's not bashing her, it's saying they failed to protect us from Bush's spying. They did fail.

[creeksneakers2]

41. Harman didn't fail

There's stuff on this thread about Harman getting down on her knees, etc. It's not even partly her fault.

While you may have only restated what Harman said, many here seem to have mistakenly read it as a defense of what Democrats did with the FISA bill.

[BlooInBloo]

34. Fucking jackass.

[truedelphi]

39. It is too late

The perception of the real truth about Body Politics American style is now out there.

We have a two party system the same way a factory town has a two outlet store.

One outlet appeals to the rich with the notion that as they work so hard they deserve tax breaks rather than leaving themselves open to be sucked dry by the poor.

The other party appeals to the poor with the notion that individual needs should be met for the comman person - be it health care, privacy, sensivle foreign policy. But this party, even when achieving a majority in Congress, will somehow, despite their numbers, never deliver.

THhs both parties can pretend to be marching towards an election. And candidates on both sides have the campaign chests open so that people from both sides can contribute.

But it really really is about the elite staying in control.

<y apolictical friends who have been saying "Don't vote - it only encourages them" have been far more honest about what is going on than I have.

But my eyes are open and I will no longer support any politicians of any party. Should there be a stateman like Kucunich running for office, and even if his name isnot on the ballot, I will write it in.

But politicians are scum.

[DemBones DemBones]

47. What would be wonderful is if

they gave an election and nobody voted, just protested outside polling places with signs saying "There is no difference so why vote?"

But it would be difficult to organize such a large scale protest.

Unless Kucinich miraculously gets the nomination, I plan to write in his name in November 2008.

Forty years of being disappointed by Democrats is too long.

[peacetalksforall]

42. Feingold - one of the few with vision.

Only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act.

[bemildred]

43. And the Democratic leadership very skillfully played the coward card. nt

[ooglymoogly]

50. Gee Jane what are you telling us? That you are just not up to the

game...That you and the rest of your colleagues are just not smart enough...not quick witted enough...not up to the challenge...that we in the blogephere are smarter than you...just what is it you are saying?...that you are lacking a backbone when pitted against such geniuses as * et al...well we out here beyond the beltway are beginning to agree with you and that does not bode well for you in the voting booth....Do you think any of our founding fathers said "oh they are just too clever for us....they are playing the game better than we are...so lets just fold our tents"...if they had done such a thing we would never have had the democracy we had before *...and if you keep doing it and saying it we definetly will not have even a shred of it much longer....nobody backs a loser...If we cannot rely on you to protect the constitution you swore to uphold then we cant depend on you for anything....end rant

[Disturbed]

51. "imminent terrorist threat, back it up against a Congressional

recess." The Rethugs timed this & put forth phony Intell to garner a minority of Dem sell outs. That strategy succeeded because a minority of Dems fell for the ruse. Now the perception is that "Dems caved, again". The majority did not cave but the perception is there & the RWing Pundits spread the lie.

[ooglymoogly]

54. It did not even have to be allowed on the floor

what was so urgent about this bill they had to pass it so casually on the fly except to protect *'s and Gonzo's butts ..* already had all the power he needed to spy on terrorists...Congress knew beforehand it would go down in flames because that is what House leaders are supposed to be very aware of...this was an 'OH DEAR! WHAT HAPPENED,OH WELL GOT TO RUN, WE TRIED OUR BEST, MOST OF US GOOD DEMS VOTED AGAINST IT SO WE'RE ALL OK' kabuki dance.

[ProSense]

53. A Tale of Capitulation

A Tale of Capitulation