I had to laugh as confident Cheney hatchet man David Addington dropped Nancy Pelosi's name during torture hearings last week. It was right out of the Senate hearings in The Godfather II - where the Corleones have systematically corrupted key legislators, and are sending tough, coded messages even in their own public testimony.
Addington's message: 'Chairman Conyers, if these hearings go any further than today, I'll publicly ask why your precious Speaker - who my staff secretly briefed about these interrogation methods starting in 2002 - hasn't been called as a witness. You've earned enough political capital; we know I won't be charged. Don't push it.'
This perfectly fits an observation in yesterday's diary We Can End FISA Obstruction Next Week:
The Bush administration has done what the best con artists and criminals love to do: get The Mark involved in something illegal so they never go to the police - or even better, get police and prosecutors themselves involved.
Continuing to refer to that diary:
I agree with Law Professor John Turley of GWU, shown on Countdown, that there is nothing mysterious about the Democratic majority "caving" on Iraq war funding, FISA, impeachment, and most of their Constitutional duties: that the Gang of Eight, including Pelosi, Reid, and Rockefeller, is guilty of collusion, obstruction of justice, and failing to acknowledge blatant conflicts of interest.
I also agree with BonzoDogBand and 95% of Kossacks who, impressively, consider those key Democrats likely criminals; and I support current efforts to bring these conflicts of interest up on the Senate and House floor so this corrupt, damaging process can be exposed, the FISA railroad can be averted, and the Constitution can be protected despite bipartisan Gang of Eight accessories determined to evade the law.
David L.'s diary aims for a "Mr Smith" moment where these facts actually get raised by legislators in Congress, on the floor. He spoke with Conyers, who I don't think we can pin many hopes on. Otherwise, there's every reason to believe his proposal is achievable. For starters, millions of people have already seen Turley on Countdown.
I suggest we raise it with the staffs of people better known for protecting the Constitution and defying "leaders" by speaking the truth:
Russ Feingold 202-224-5323
Robert Wexler 202-225-3001
Dennis Kucinich 202-225-5871