Democrats Charge GOP Is Adding Unrelated Measures to Intelligence

[cal04]

Democrats Charge That GOP Is Adding Unrelated Measures to Intelligence Bill

House Republicans are using legislation implementing the Sept. 11 commission's recommendations as a Christmas tree for unrelated partisan proposals, Democrats charged Wednesday as House committees began wading through the GOP bill.

The disputed proposals would increase police powers and implement new anti-immigration measures such as denying immigrants certain court appeals and allowing more people to be arrestgd on accusations of supporting a terrorist group.

"This bill is a brew of extraneous anti-liberty proposals long sought by the attorney general, John Ashcroft," said Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee.

House Republicans argue, however, that passing legislation that strictly deals with just reorganizing the intelligence community would be useless.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBPYCD6QZD.html

[zappaman]

1. uh-oh

here we go!

[donco6]

2. How far is it from recognizing, say, DU as a "terrorist group?"

Talk about domino theory. We're seeing the stack start to fall - what can we do to make sure we're not crushed underneath it?

[smiley_glad_hands]

5. Was thinking the same thing. eom

[cal04]

3. Legalizing Torture: Republican Bill Before Congress

Legalizing Torture: Republican Bill Before Congress

As if there weren't enough problems with the new anti-terror bill Congress is considering under the guise of implementing the 9/11 Commission Report, Obsidian Wings finds another one--and it's chilling. In plain English, Kathryn says, it would legalize torture--and she's asked us to reprint the salient features:

The Republican leadership of Congress is attempting to legalize extraordinary rendition. "Extraordinary rendition" is the euphemism we use for sending terrorism suspects to countries that practice torture for interrogation. As one intelligence official described it in the Washington Post, "We don't kick the sh*t out of them. We send them to other countries so they can kick the sh*t out of them.”



http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2004/09/legalizing_tort.html

[orpupilofnature57]

4. Ass Craft is the Loyd Bennett of opportunists,McCarthy of fear

The man has contempt for our liberty.Liberty is the only thing he protects us from.

[Cocoa]

6. where's the Kean Commission now?

they should be out there right now, fighting this attempt to pervert their report.

They promised they would keep up a high profile, where are they?

[G_j]

7. "Intelligence Bill Has Political Tinge"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4529842,00.html

Intelligence Bill Has Political Tinge

Saturday October 2, 2004 8:31 AM


AP Photo NY110

By JESSE J. HOLLAND

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - After Congress shuffled the federal bureaucracy in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by creating the Homeland Security Department, Democrats lost control of the Senate and four seats in the House.

With a new government reorganization on the table - this time a restructuring of the nation's intelligence network - Democrats fear Republicans will succeed in using a critical national security debate to play to voter fears about terrorism.

``There is anxiety - you will not be surprised to hear - among some of my Democratic colleagues in Congress, based on the 2002 experience with the Department of Homeland Security, that this will happen again,'' said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.

House GOP leaders say they don't know what Democrats are talking about. Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said he doesn't expect the intelligence overhaul recommended by the Sept. 11 investigative commission to be a factor at the voting booths.

..more..

[Judi Lynn]

8. Hope Joe Lieberman was right on this:

Lieberman, who is sponsoring a Senate version of the bill without the police and immigration measures, said the House GOP leaders' tactics are very risky.

``Anyone who chooses to put up poison partisan political pills ... into this bill is going to end up swallowing it themselves,'' he said.
(snip/)

I'd love to see this proven.

[struggle4progress]

9. kick

:kick: :kick: :kick: