VIDEO: Feinstein supports sending Gitmo prisoners to California

By GottaLaff

Via Raw Story:

This video is from Fox’s Fox News Sunday, broadcast Sept. 27, 2009.

Kit Bond is still doing his fear mongering best to mislead. How many ultra super duper high security supermax prisoners have escaped so far, Kit? And how many Al Qaeda types have palled around with Ramzi Yousef, Zacarias Moussaoui, Ahmed Ressam, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, or Wadih el-Hage? Nope, they haven't had so much as one play date.

As for Feinstein (and I'm not one to gush over her, to say the least), but she deserves this:

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All my previous posts on this subject matter can be found here; That link includes one specific to only Fayiz al-Kandari's story here. Here are audio and video interviews with Lt. Col. Wingard, one by David Shuster, one by Ana Marie Cox, and more. My guest commentary at BuzzFlash is here.

If you are inclined to help rectify these injustices: Twitterers, use the hashtag #FreeFayiz. We have organized a team to get these stories out. If you are interested in helping Fayiz out, e-mail me at The Political Carnival, address in sidebar to the right; or tweet me at @GottaLaff.

If you'd like to see other ways you can take action, go here and scroll down to the end of the article.

Then read Jane Mayer's book The Dark Side. You'll have a much greater understanding of why I post endlessly about this, and why I'm all over the CIA deception issues, too.

More of Fayiz's story here, at Answers.com.

Dianne Feinstein suggests CIA concealment broke law

By GottaLaff

I've been digging for the video on Dianne Feinstein's appearance on today's Fox News Sunday, but can't seem to find it. If someone does, please link me. Meantime:

Regarding the 8-year-old counterterrorism program, the Bush administration's failure to notify Congress "is a big problem, because the law is very clear," said Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Congress should investigate the secrecy because "it could be illegal," Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said.

According to Feinstein, CIA director Leon Panetta told Congress late last month that "he had just learned about the program, described it to us, indicated that he had canceled it and ... did tell us that he was told that the vice president had ordered that the program not be briefed to the Congress."

"We were kept in the dark. That's something that should never, ever happen again," said Feinstein.

Feinstein said that she understands the need for strong countermeasures following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

However, "I think you weaken your case when you go outside of the law," she added.

The Rushpublics are spinning this as an attack on the CIA. Of course they are. Because, see, that's the only reason anyone is discussing subjects like Dick Cheney's orders to conceal information, and the CIA's alleged lies. It has nothing to do with breaking the law, it's all about unfair attacks on our Central Intelligence Agency.

And since we're on the subject, if you want to know how BushCo ignored anybody who disagreed with them on the use of torture "enhanced interrogation techniques", and the CIA's involvement, check out Jane Mayer's book The Dark Side. Then see how all that affected the lives of innocent prisoners like Fayiz al-Kandari.

After you do that, let me know if this is all about the poor, beleaguered CIA and how unAmerican the Democrats are for trying to actually do something about unprecedented government powers and what's left of our legal system.

Health Care Watch: President Obama v. Senator Dianne Feinstein

By GottaLaff

Here's something that puts all that media focus on the Mark Sanford affair into perspective.

"Why would (a public insurance option) drive private insurance out of business? If private insurers say that the marketplace provides the best quality health care; if they tell us that they're offering a good deal, then why is it that the government, which they say can't run anything, suddenly is going to drive them out of business? That's not logical." -- President Barack Obama, June 23

I got an e-mail from the Courage Campaign. Read it please, then take action if possible:

President Obama is right, of course. But, unfortunately, it appears that Senator Dianne Feinstein may not agree with his logic.

Last night, the President went on national television to explain his plan to reform our health care system to the American public.

President Obama's plan includes a "public option" for insurance -- insurance provided by the government that will cover millions of uninsured people. According to the Wall Street Journal, 76% of Americans support a public option while a New York Times poll shows that 72% support it.

But Sen. Feinstein has not committed to supporting a public option and is now undermining President Obama's plan, speculating on CNN that the President may not have "the votes right now" to pass a bill and that "there's a lot of concern in the Democratic caucus" of the Senate.

Understandably, the media interpreted these critical comments -- by one of the most powerful members of Congress -- as a lack of support for President Obama's plan when he most needs it.

With health care reform -- and a public option -- hanging in the balance, now is the time for Sen. Feinstein to stand with President Obama, stand up for Californians, and stand against health insurance corporations.

We need to act immediately. Will you sign our letter within the next 96 hours and ask Sen. Feinstein to take a stand? Sign on before 9 a.m. on Monday and we'll deliver thousands of your signatures to the Senator's office -- and film the delivery so you can see what happens:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StandUpSenator

We're not alone in this fight. For months now, our friends at CREDO Mobile, Democracy for America, MoveOn.org, True Majority, Health Care for America Now and so many others have been pushing hard for a public option.

And now, all eyes are on Sen. Feinstein, as MoveOn.org wrote in an email to their members on Tuesday, announcing a new TV ad that will air in California:

"Her statement is a big deal: Political momentum could make or break health care reform this year. And one of the Republicans' key strategies in stopping reform is to say that it's too complicated, too hard, and will never happen.

So when a senior senator like Dianne Feinstein says on national TV that health care reform might not be possible -- at a time when every other Democratic leader is saying we can't afford NOT to fix health care this year -- it undercuts the whole effort."

We've got 96 hours to show Sen. Feinstein the depth of public support for a public option. We've got 96 hours to collect as many signatures as possible. Please sign on to our letter before 9 a.m. Monday and we'll film the delivery of your signatures -- and send the video to you ASAP:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StandUpSenator

We don't have much time to spread the word. Please sign this letter today and then tell your friends.

Thank you for asking Sen. Feinstein to stand up before it's too late.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign

This is too important to ignore.

Feinstein Launches Probe on NSA Wiretapping

By GottaLaff

Roll Call is subscription only, so this is all I could get:

The Senate Intelligence Committee is launching an investigation into a New York Times report that the National Security Agency overstepped its authority to conduct surveillance of U.S. citizens through the use of domestic wiretaps.

And there's this from the L.A. Times:

Justice curbs NSA over surveillance

The Justice Department has reined in electronic surveillance by the National Security Agency after finding the agency had improperly accessed American phone calls and e-mails. The problems were discovered during a review of intelligence activities, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Now back to our regular wiretapping already in progress.

Feinstein now supports Panetta to head CIA

By GottaLaff

From this to this:

Just two days after she criticized President-elect Obama’s pick to head the sometimes-troubled CIA because he is not an intelligence professional, incoming Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein says she will support Leon Panetta because he will “tell truth to power.”

In an interview with CNN, Feinstein said she believes Panetta, a former congressman and Clinton White House chief of staff, will “surround himself with very qualified intelligence professionals in the top positions.” She praised Panetta, whom she’s known for 20 years, as “smart” and “credible.”

“He will, as has been said, tell truth to power. Not what power wants to hear but should here,” Feinstein said. “That’s probably the most fundamental part of all of this. That what many of think happened with the Iraq NIE (National Intelligence Estimate) never happens again.”

Feinstein denied that the short statement she issued Monday, after news of the Obama’s selection was reported by the New York Times, was designed to send a message to the incoming administration that she was angry at not being consulted about the selection.

Everybody kissed and made up.

Dianne Feinstein slams Obama CIA head pick

By GottaLaff

I'm not a fan of ol' Dianne's, as you can tell by the above Lieberstein portrait that I Photoshopped last year:

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the Senate’s incoming Intelligence committee chair, slammed President-elect Barack Obama’s choice of Leon Panetta as director of the CIA Monday.

“I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA Director. I know nothing about this, other than what I’ve read,” Feinstein said in a statement. “My position has consistently been that I believe the Agency is best-served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time.” [...]

"The President-elect will now have a chance to make his arguments,” the spokesman said. “Her next move is to listen."

Everything I've heard so far about Panetta, both in the media and here in Comments, is that he's a good choice. Let's not forget that Feinstein supported Michael Mukasey as Gonzo's replacement for Attorney General.

Yeah, I trust her judgment.

UPDATE: Jay Rockefeller agrees. They want deputy CIA Director Steve Kappes:

The senators have let the transition team know they believe that the agency has finally settled down under Michael Hayden and needs a real intelligence pro to make key decisions -- and get institutional support to make them stick.

Wiretappin' Michael Hayden. Perfect.

Shallow Thoughts: Secret Meeting Edition

By GottaLaff
Obama, Clinton Meet in D.C.

Obama Meets Secretly with Clinton

Obama Meets With Clinton

Obama and Clinton Meet in Washington

Sen. Feinstein Offers More Details About the Obama-Clinton Personal Meeting Held in Her Home Thursday Night

Shallow Thought:

Until there is something of real worth to report, don't.

Dianne Feinstein Talks About Obama-Clinton Meeting

By Paddy



Just in case you still care.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) -- host of the private meeting last night between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton -- tells CNN the two met at 9 pm for about an hour with no one else in the room and mentioned they were laughing.

Feinstein said Clinton "called her late afternoon to see if she could use her house. Campaign aides were there but waited in the study until they were done speaking."

More details from the New York Times: "The California senator had set up two chairs facing each other. She served them water. Nothing else. Two aides were sent to Mrs. Feinstein's study. And Secret Service agents stayed outside."

Dianne Feinstein: Hillary, it's time to end your campaign

By GottaLaff

Another of Hillary's supporters telling her to admit it's over. ::yawn:: Yeah, another one of those. Add her to the growing list. But it never gets boring, so why did I just yawn:

Major Hillary Clinton supporter Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday the final primaries mark a “moment of truth” for the New York senator, who should end her campaign.

Thank you, Dianne. I don't agree with you on a lot of things, but I'm with you on this.

The California senator also repeated her view that Clinton should be tapped for the vice presidency.

Well, now you had to go and ruin all that warm feelings I had for you.

“I think after the campaigns are wrapped up today, it is in fact a moment of truth,” Feinstein told CNN. “I think a decision has to be made about whether keeping this nomination wide open is in the best interest of winning in November. I do not believe that it is, and I’m a very strong supporter of Hillary being placed on ticket as a vice presidential candidate.”

Just stick with that message, okay? Not the other one.