John Boehner Thinks Nancy Pelosi Should Apologize, But Doesn't Want An Inquiry
By Heather Monday May 18, 2009 7:45am
On John King's State of the Union John Boehner feels that Nancy Pelosi should apologize for accusing the CIA of lying to Congress, but he doesn't support having a Truth Commission to get to the bottom of it. He suggests that she should take whatever evidence she has that the CIA lied to her to the Justice Department and let them handle it. Just what evidence is he talking about here? He knows full well those meetings were top secret, they weren't allowed to take notes and that there is no evidence for her to bring them.
I was waiting for him to start crying again when he was going on about how wonderful our CIA is. Boehner seems to have a bad case of do as I say, but not as I do syndrome with his defense on why it was alright for him to question the integrity of the NIE report he didn't like. That's just completely different from what Nancy Pelosi did don't you know. Now the CIA is beyond reproach.
If any of these Republicans actually want to get to the truth, they'd be supporting an investigation to get to the bottom of what happened. I don't think the Congress is capable of investigating itself so in all honesty a special prosecutor as opposed to a Truth Commission would be preferable, but the Republicans will be screaming bloody murder if that happens as well, mark my words. And they would not be gathering all of their evidence from Nancy Pelosi. Since they're not in favor of bringing all the facts to light it appears they're just using Pelosi for a political punching bag.
KING: I want to turn your attention to the big controversy in town, especially in the capital building this week. And that is what did Speaker Pelosi know and when did she know it, about the enhanced interrogation tactics, water-boarding, slamming people against walls and things like that in the days after 9/11.
And if you turn over your right shoulder, we have a timeline I want to show you here. We now know that, in 2002 in September, Speaker Pelosi, not the speaker at the time -- she was briefed by the CIA. There was a dispute. She says she was not told there was water- boarding going on. The CIA says she was.
Last month, in April, at a news conference, she insisted she had not been told. Let's listen.
PELOSI: We were not -- I repeat -- not told that water-boarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation methods were used.
KING: But then, last week, she did concede on Thursday that one of her aides was briefed a few months after that September 2002 briefing and that the aide was told and it was relayed to her these tactics were being used. But, at that same event, she lashed out at the CIA, accusing them, accusing them of misleading the Congress.
PELOSI: Those briefing me in September 2002 gave me inaccurate and incomplete information.
KING: Where's this going? There are some who say the speaker has been dishonest. The speaker is accusing the CIA, now, of lying to the Congress. It's interesting theater here in Washington, but does it serve any policy purpose? And what's next?
BOEHNER: Lying to the Congress of the United States is a crime. And if the speaker is accusing the CIA and other intelligence officials of lying or misleading the Congress, then she should come forward with evidence and turn that over to the Justice Department so they can be prosecuted.
And if that's not the case, I think she ought to apologize to our intelligence professionals around the world.
You have to understand, John, we treat prisoners, detainees, prisoners of war better than any country in the world. And our intelligence professionals have done a marvelous job in doing their job, keeping Americans safe.
And when you think about the fact that we lost 3,000 of our citizens on September 11; we've lost nearly 5,000 of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting for our safety and security here in America, all of -- all of this information that helps our soldiers, that helps our border security people, all comes from our intelligence professionals around the world.
And instead of criticizing them; instead of accusing them of lying, we ought to be patting them on the back and telling them, "Job well done."
KING: Well, you have, in the past, questioned some information you have received from the CIA, including on this network, in the past. I want you to listen.
BLITZER: Are you suggesting, as I think you are, that you don't necessarily have confidence in this new NIE?
BOEHNER: Well, either I don't have confidence in what they told me several months ago or I don't have confidence in what they're telling me today.
BOEHNER: John, we're comparing apples and oranges here. What was referred to as a national intelligence estimate with regard to Iran, which was very contradictory from a lot of other information I was presented with -- and, frankly, raising questions about that was the right thing to do.
But we're talking about the speaker of the House accusing our intelligence professionals of lying and misleading Congress. I've dealt with these people for 3 1/2 years, on almost a daily basis, and I can tell you that I have never felt that I was misled. I've never felt that I've been lied to.
Frankly, when they come in and present their information, it's thorough; it's complete. They want to answer questions. And there's always, always an opportunity to -- to object.
And if there was something that was happening, called for by the president, that I objected to, the opportunity is there to do so. And Speaker Pelosi has, at times, objected to activities that were approved by the president. Those activities were changed, as a result of her objection.
KING: In the intelligence environment?
BOEHNER: In the intelligence environment.
KING: I want you to listen to something your friend and the former House speaker, Newt Gingrich, said about this controversy and what he thinks should happen.
GINGRICH: I think she has lied to the House. And I think that the House has an absolute obligation to open an -- an inquiry. And I hope there will be a resolution to investigate her. And I think this is a big deal. I don't think the speaker of the House can lie to the country on national security matters.
KING: Has he lied to the House? Has she lied to the country? And should there be an inquiry?
BOEHNER: I think I've outlined what I would describe as a different approach, that if, in fact, she believes she was lied to, that is against the law. She ought to make that information public and turn it over to the Justice Department so they can prosecute these people.
KING: But do you think she...
(CROSSTALK)
BOEHNER: But if she did -- but if she does not produce this and she changes her mind, well, then she ought to apologize. That would be the appropriate course of action.
KING: Just apologize? You don't see an inquiry happening? You don't have the votes, but you wouldn't push for one?
BOEHNER: I -- I think that she ought to either present the evidence or apologize, one or the other.
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...then she needs to be thrown to the dogs just like everyone else. Political party can't dictate whether an elected representative gets into trouble for doing something illegal and/or immoral.
Toy poodles?
Teacup poodles.
afraid of who else might get caught in the inquiry trap!!!!
The CIA specializes in lying,It's part of their job.They have to lie to overthrow goverments.Even murder and torture people
You need to reread what they said,they said "It was against their policy to lie or mislead" That doesn't mean they did not violate their policy.If you believe ANYTHING the CIAeda says then you haven't been payinng attention.
Start by reading some history of the CIA,Lies annd deceptions are the main tools of their trade
regularly committed by most of its membership on a regular basis.
I love how the CIA becomes either the good guys or the bad guys depending on the situation. Repubs loves them some CIA when they torture and dems are the bad people, but the CIA is bad m'kay when they release info saying Iran has no nukes.
Can we please set limits to how long these spooks can "serve" and some serious restrictions on any contact with the gov after they're gone? Otherwise we just continue with douche bags who are actively working to undermine democracy and our laws as they think they're somehow "better" than the transient politicians.
And boner needs several thousand swift kicks in the nuts a day, Pelosi needs to be smacked on the backside of her head as well.
And why does boner remind me of Governor Croque crying for Mr. Nipples in Jack of All Trades?
Never thought of him as Gov. Croque, but it does make sense.
Pelosi should be held accountabble.
As soon as the perpetrators of these criminal acts are incarcerated.
Let's prioritize:
Torture first, lying to the press later.
"Pelosi should be held accountabble". (I personaly believe she was just framed by DICK).
But the ISSUE is not Pelosi BUT wether or not the CIA by order of CHENEY THE MONSTER tortured people for Political Reazons.
It is not just torture,Hundreds of innoncent people have been tortured to DEATH that is MURDER.
They should be debating SERIAL MURDER by TORTURE not just torture,And there is no statue of limitaions on murder.,
What Leon Panetta did not say:
" I was not part of the CIA in 2002 and 2003 and all I can offer is hear-say and documents that 'hopefully' are accurate, but I would not certify that. I will say that 'MY CIA' has, and will continue to answer truthfully.
When Pelosi accused the CIA of lying, she did not impugn every single employee of the CIA, she accused the spokesperson, and who was that?
..that irritating grinding cog noise and greasy smoke coming from Boehners ears should not be termed "thinking"!
..Hoekstra was on CBS and going on over what Sen. Pelosi did or didn't do, and while he held the same post, he's not qualified to discuss what was actually told to Sen. Pelosi because quite frankly HE WASN'T IN THE ROOM when it was said. But that didn't stop him from castigating her. And Boehner, can just bite me! All this noise about Sen. Pelosi was a well-orchestrated maneuver by the W crime family to put a well-placed Democrat in a tenuous position when time came to pay the piper. And how so easily can the Repugs deny that? Apparently as easily as any "He said, She said" argument. Well now, what do we do? Hmm, my brain hurts I have to think this much, What to do, what to do, (wringing of hands), (brow sweating), I guess....we'll just have to have a Special Prosecutor investigate the whole damn thing. Unless of course, Special Prosecutors and Investigations are OFF THE TABLE! Now, wouldn't that be ironic!
Sorry, meant this to be an Original Post.
that irritating grinding cog noise and greasy smoke coming from Boehners ears
I think he's sending smoke signals to Mitch McConnell.
Shocked! I tell you.........to find out there's lying going on in the CIA!! Isn't that what the Administration pays them to do? To get valuable intel? Hello............clandistine operation?
This is a perfect opportunity to employ reverse psychology. Add two or three more Democrats to the mix, accusing the CIA of lying, and the uncontrollable Republic base will be clamoring for an investigation.
BoneHead boner the alledges spineless leader of the Gooofy Opposition Party (GOP), I do remember that Congress was locked out not allowed to read anything but redacted reports. Now the BONE HEAD who party was RESPOPNISBLE for the attack on the Towers yes the Gutless Spineless Cowards who FAILED to read and ACT upon the Intelligence reports.
This member of the American Racist Nazi Party (RNC), ytes these TRAITORS Liars and Hypocrites can NOT influence my out look of them.
Proof the CIA lied?
Ex-Senator Bob Graham of Florida stated that the CIA's recent report "detailing" the times and members of Congress the CIA had briefed on "enhanced interrogation techniques" was wrong.
The CIA's report stated that he (Graham) had been briefed four times, on four different dates.
His famously detailed notes of what he did EVERY DAY during his tenure shows he WAS NOT BRIEFED on three of those days.
There's THREE CIA LIES TO CONGRESS right there.
How many more you want to hear about?
federal court order. The CIA has as much respect for the law as does Congress, the Executive (past and present) and the GOP Supreme Court.
destroying evidence perhaps?
could one day, come back and bite their behinds..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7919579.stm
woof..
Pelosi Pelosi Pelosi Hey Boner what about Graham who said the same thing about the CIA they lied. They told Him they had four meetings with Him and because He has better records then they do He proved they had one and told Him nothing about water boarding.
The Republicans and the media really, really want to change the subject. And Pelosi gave them the tiniest opportunity to start bellowing. Let's spend several days takling about that damn liberal Nancy. Because otherwise they're playing defense, with a piss-poor position. And Karl has taught them well, when you're losing, blow smoke.
Why is this even an issue? All that matters is that torture *occurred*, and we need an independent investigation. Everyone who was complicit in these crimes needs to be prosecuted. I couldn't care less what their party affiliation is.
The corporate media seems incapable of viewing anything outside of their "Dems say/Republicans say" framework, and it's MEANINGLESS here. The law is the law.
I bet he doesn't want an inquiry.
He became repug leader in 2006, replacing tom delay, and probably had to cut sleazy deals to secure the position, and probably was briefed on torture too.
He suggested a tanning bed.
Let's see....is this the same CIA who (er) Bush hung out to dry when the Iraq thing didn't work out so well....like, no WMDs...not to mention, 'lack of imagination/information' pre-9/11....
and now because the CIA (or elements within which is more likely)..lied??..more like, 'just didn't mention' waterboarding to those who would dissent.....until they knew those hearing that couldn't say anything anyway....
but now it's the CIA that 'doesn't lie'????!!!
Gotta love these 'rule of law' Repubs (as long as it's THEIR RULE and LAW....)
The Republicans really do want it both ways.
Oh yeah, I'm QUITE sure Boehner doesn't want an inquiry! duh
..that the CIA did in fact tell Sen. Pelosi something about torture only they called it something else. Its all semantics.
And how about Boehner, talking about:
"And when you think about the fact that we lost 3,000 of our citizens on September 11; we've lost nearly 5,000 of our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting for our safety and security here in America, all of -- all of this information that helps our soldiers, that helps our border security people, all comes from our intelligence professionals around the world." knowing that the illegal invasion of Iraq that got our sons and daughters killed, wounded and electrocuted was due to torture used to create an Iraq-al Qaeda link. Boehner deserves to be run out of the Senate if not the country for that statement alone.
Does that orange stuff run when Boner cries?
Actually Boehner needs to apologise and it is the CIA which need to put up some evidence or shut up. It is generally impossible to prove a negative with evidence, so Pelosi cannot provide any unless she recorded the whole briefing, which is, of course, classified so that she cannot provide it publicly.
The Republican Party should apologize for their lousy governance over the past 30 years and take responsibility for selling this nation out to communists.
Yeah, but there is so much money to be made exploiting those commies.
We must fight them to the death, inless we can get them to work for $.45 an hour with no benefits. Then, they ain't so bad. Especially when they don't make us clean up our messes.
Where was all this concern from republicans for the CIA when Valerie Plame was outted?
AMEN, sister!
EXACTLY !!!! Great point!
Did those words really come out of The Boner's mouth? Does he understand that the Re=Thug Party doesn't have credibility on this issue?
Noise, noise, noise . . . .
*
health care, political system, justice system, infant mortality rates, longevity, and of course the bravest soldiers and inanimate objects than any country in the Universe.
John King is a disgrace and total Republican puppet. Softball after softball to J-boner. So you frame this debate as a "controversy" about Pelosi instead of the fact THAT WE TORTURED, and we did so to create a false link.
Hmmmm, do you think the Repubs are trying to cover for something? So King's token fastball is about previous critical remarks about the NIE? Gee, Mr King, that's a tough one to waver on, and waver J-Boner did. Do you think J-Boner ever talks out of both sides of his mouth.
John King is a disgrace. The MSM is a disgrace.
Torturing people is a crime.
Torturing people to death is a crime.
Torturing people to extract false confessions for political ends is a crime.
Commiting the act of torture is a crime.
Authorizing torture is a crime.
Ordering torture is a crime.
Writing legal opinions to give cover for torture is a crime.
Pelosi tortured no-one, and didn't consent to anyone's torture. At worst, she and other democrats failed in their responsibility to exercise oversight: we knew this was going on. We complained then, we should let them know we are complaining now, and we want them to do what they should have been doing all along: bringing the BushCo criminal conspiracy to justice.
What John Boehner wants is totally irrelevant. He has made himself a laughingstock with his parrot-like pronouncements each time his masters yank on his chain. I expect him to finish each comment with a loud awwwwk!
For King to give Boehner a platform three or four times a month makes King almost as suspect as his colleagues over at Faux Gnus.
Priceless! And spot on.
Call John at this number 1-800-582-1001 and ask where it would be better to send him crying towels,to his Ohio office or his office DC.
Did Nancy Pelosi torture anyone? Was she the sole member of the Congressional leadership that knew about waterboarding? Did she force the Bush administration, against their principles to waterboard anyone? If not, then why is she the focus of this story? If all the Congressional leadership was briefed and did nothing, then why aren't all those persons being villified? If Bush and Cheney and their henchmen actually ok'd the torture, and she had no way of stopping it and couldn't tell about it for national security reasons, then why is she the focus here? Aren't the torturers and authors of the torture memos the real culprits? Just asking because so far, this makes utterly no sense, unless the Republicans are trying to re-direct attention from the Bush Administration.
I believe it's the 93rd ammendment that says "Congress can infringe on the freedom of the press wherein Republicans shall be the sole and only political party with exclusive power via Murdoch media ownership to always get to frame the debate. Neener, neener, neener" Yes, that's it.
That is the question I've been asking for a week. Surely, she wasn't the only member of Congress who was briefed.
republicanism is a mental illness.
These people are batshit crazy!
And here's how?
Seeing, Rush, Hannity, Kit Bond, John Boehner, King and so many Conservative Republicans, believe Nancy should apologize and or resign, ask them all this question:
Do you believe Nancy should be able to defend her self from your attacks and demands and criticisms?
Then ask them after they answer:
Nancy has picked having a complete investigation of Torture (Enhanced Interrogation Technique’s) you agree with her right to defense and defend in the best way she knows will bring out the truth, right?
Everyone’s knows where it will go from there.
I remember it was Boehner who had all the little-Republicans throw a temper tantrum and walk off the House floor, to a microphone conveniently waiting on the House steps, to protest something. Does anyone remember what is was they were so upset about?
Now they want Nancy to say "saw-wee." Come on Nancy, play nice. You called so-and-so a liar. Bad Nancy. Bad Nancy.
Republicans are so sennnnnnnsative...
What would happen,
if the Queen..
the real Queen, found out,
that her grandchild was sent to a war zone,
based on the U.S. lies..?
Remember..
the Prince was there for awhile also..
somebody would hang....
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