Friday, August 13, 2004
...that's what friends are for.....
Inspiration
The Star Tribune has an outstanding editorial piece on Republicans using Congressional investigative powers to demonize Democrats and to shelter their friends (registration required).
The piece cites the scandal du jour for Halliburton. The SEC is reporting that Halliburton changed it's accounting practices in 1998 to make it appear that they were making a lot more money than they actually were. Who was CEO of Halliburton in 1998? Cheney, of course. Congressional interest in the matter? None.
Another example is the revelation last week about Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala)leaking classified information to the media while he was on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Justice investigated the matter for the last two years and concluded that Shelby was indeed the leaker. Congressional interest in going after Shelby? Zero.
Then consider the case of Sandy Berger. Berger was Clinton's National Security Advisor and accused of illegally taking photocopies of classified documents from the National Archives. According to the editorial:
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay declared a national security "crisis," and operatives for the Bush campaign accused Berger of everything short of treason. The notorious House Government Reform Committee promptly launched an investigation of Berger's conduct, even though an investigation by the Justice Department has not been concluded, and the 9/11 commission reported it had lost no original documents nor suffered damage to its work.
The piece wraps up:
We are most definitely not suggesting that Shelby and Cheney get the same noxious treatment that Bill Clinton and Berger received. But the American people would surely be better served if Congress ended its highly selective use of investigative power to protect friends and demonize enemies. Whitewater may have needed a quick look-see from Congress -- but if so, then Cheney's role at Halliburton certainly requires at least the same. Berger's bumbled handling of classified photocopies arguably was less worrisome for national security than Shelby's deliberate leak to the media, but has stirred much more congressional scrutiny and outrage. The double standard is obvious, obnoxious and feeds the American people's cynicism about what they can expect from their federal government. It should stop.
This is the result of the Republicans having full control of the legislature and the White House. While most certainly the Democrats have (until recently...thanks, Howard) been spineless when it comes to going after the Republicans..it's magnified when the Dems have the minority in both chambers.
Outlets like Air America as well as bloggers in search of the truth can really make a difference here. We can get the word out. We can vote and encourage everyone we know to vote. We can contact our legislators (both GOP and Democrat) and push them hard to go after guys like Shelby and DeLay. In my opinion it's crucial. The Republic depends upon it.
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The Star Tribune has an outstanding editorial piece on Republicans using Congressional investigative powers to demonize Democrats and to shelter their friends (registration required).
The piece cites the scandal du jour for Halliburton. The SEC is reporting that Halliburton changed it's accounting practices in 1998 to make it appear that they were making a lot more money than they actually were. Who was CEO of Halliburton in 1998? Cheney, of course. Congressional interest in the matter? None.
Another example is the revelation last week about Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala)leaking classified information to the media while he was on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Justice investigated the matter for the last two years and concluded that Shelby was indeed the leaker. Congressional interest in going after Shelby? Zero.
Then consider the case of Sandy Berger. Berger was Clinton's National Security Advisor and accused of illegally taking photocopies of classified documents from the National Archives. According to the editorial:
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay declared a national security "crisis," and operatives for the Bush campaign accused Berger of everything short of treason. The notorious House Government Reform Committee promptly launched an investigation of Berger's conduct, even though an investigation by the Justice Department has not been concluded, and the 9/11 commission reported it had lost no original documents nor suffered damage to its work.
The piece wraps up:
We are most definitely not suggesting that Shelby and Cheney get the same noxious treatment that Bill Clinton and Berger received. But the American people would surely be better served if Congress ended its highly selective use of investigative power to protect friends and demonize enemies. Whitewater may have needed a quick look-see from Congress -- but if so, then Cheney's role at Halliburton certainly requires at least the same. Berger's bumbled handling of classified photocopies arguably was less worrisome for national security than Shelby's deliberate leak to the media, but has stirred much more congressional scrutiny and outrage. The double standard is obvious, obnoxious and feeds the American people's cynicism about what they can expect from their federal government. It should stop.
This is the result of the Republicans having full control of the legislature and the White House. While most certainly the Democrats have (until recently...thanks, Howard) been spineless when it comes to going after the Republicans..it's magnified when the Dems have the minority in both chambers.
Outlets like Air America as well as bloggers in search of the truth can really make a difference here. We can get the word out. We can vote and encourage everyone we know to vote. We can contact our legislators (both GOP and Democrat) and push them hard to go after guys like Shelby and DeLay. In my opinion it's crucial. The Republic depends upon it.
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