Jan 09 2006

Rocky Road For Sen Rockie

Published by at 12:30 pm under All General Discussions,FISA-NSA

As we noted a when we started on the FISA-NSA issue, it was clear from the NY Times article written by James Risen that Sen Rockefeller, and ‘a FISA Judge’ believed to be Judge James Robertson, who resigned his post in the FISA Court, were suspected in the leak since they were quoted in the story. Mac Ranger had the first call on Rockefeller, and Mac is now hearing the suddenly quiet Sen. Rockie is probably in some serious trouble with Johnny Law

I’m trying to confirm this information, but several sources are telling me today that some investigators working on the NSA leak probe believe that Senator Jay Rockefeller may have been a little more than “concerned” about NSA. In fact, he may just be the leaker of the program to the NY Times, and is now being considered a “significant person of interest” in the probe.

This is incredibly bad for a Senator who is the Senate Leadership. It is not like Rockie has no other avenues to air his concerns and effect policy! A US Senator is very powerful, but a ranking member on key committees has tons of clout to effect policy. So there is no excuse for running to the press – especially when there is a memo circulating from said Senator about a plan to take down the President using misinformation and the press.

I agree with Mac that if Rockie is in trouble, dominoes will start falling and Robertson will be next.

Both of these men do not pass the laugh test for a Whistle Blower. They both have power and influence in the Senate and the FISA Court to make their cases and garner support. The fact vast majorities of these bodies did not bite is a sign of democracy working, and therefore cannot be used as an excuse of illegal wrong doing.

Last time I checked, following the determinations of the majorities on judicial benches and in the Senate is not illegal. Nor is the President’s and NSA’s authority to monitor overseas terrorists and ALL who contact them. This will explode all over the democrats – especially if we finally get a successful terrorist attack because the ‘tip’ allowed terrorist agents in the US to slip their surveillance.

13 responses so far

13 Responses to “Rocky Road For Sen Rockie”

  1. BIGDOG says:

    Did judge Robertson submit a letter of retirement before the NYT ‘s leaking the story?

    Let the axe fall where it may.

  2. axiom says:

    Drinks are on me if a Rockefeller is the fall guy. There’s little chance the media is going to bludgeon the family.

  3. MerryJ1 says:

    Negative, Big Dog, his letter of resignation was out the day of or the day after the NY Times story. And, ditto, let the ax fall where it may.

    I really hope this one pans out.

  4. Snapple says:

    AJ–

    I posted about this under Cunningham, but you might not see it down there. Cunningham was reportedly also used to gather information about targets in the Abramoff investigation.
    http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2006/1/6/194223.shtml?s=et

  5. LuckyBogey says:

    As I have posted before, this is about leaking technology! I still believe the “black ops” satellite program and the NSA program using “TIA” technology are same leaked program by Rockie and friends. As noted on the Hannity radio program today, during the first Kerry-Bush debate in Coral Gables, Fla, Kerry said the following:

    ”The president just said the FBI had changed its culture. We just read on the front pages of America’s papers that there are over 100,000 hours of tapes, unlistened to.”

    Put two and two together folks….

  6. Larwyn says:

    Mac also has post this afternoon on Goss cracking down.

    Very interesting in light of the LATimes story that Cunningham wire
    could be against MZM,Inc, supposed CIA front. These CIA part
    of the”rogue weasles” out to tempt the ethically challenged, REPUBLICAN Cunningham!

    Not sure that Clancey’s or LeCarre’s best (long passed) had this
    many twists, turns and connections.

  7. MerryJ1 says:

    OR (re: Larwyn comment), in the ‘wishful thinking’ vein, perhaps Cunningham served as a variation on LeCarre’s “Perfect Spy?”

    Instead of the perfect spy, ie, “one who does not know he is a spy,” it is at least theoretically feasible that Cunningham began wearing a wire before “accepting” the first bribe? That would make MZM, et al, “Perfect Patsy” candidates.

    Like I said, wishful thinking. But Cunningham’s history suggests the capacity for that kind of self-sacrificing heroism.

  8. LuckyBogey says:

    Update: It seems that Mr. Kerry was quoting an article from the NYT by ERIC LICHTBLAU (Plame Reporter and Risen’s Buddy – Why am I surprised?) which ran all over the country under different headlines such as:
    FBI drops ball on terror-related tapes

    …. “What good is taping thousands of hours of conversations of intelligence targets in foreign languages if we cannot translate promptly, securely, accurately and efficiently?” said Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the ranking Democrat on the judiciary committee… The report offered the most comprehensive assessment to date of the FBI’s ongoing problems in deciphering hundreds of thousands of intercepted phone calls, conversations, e-mails, documents and other material that could include information about terrorist plots and foreign intelligence matters…. In counterterrorism cases, more than 123,000 hours of audio recordings in languages commonly used by terrorists or suspects have not been translated since the Sept. 11 attacks, amounting to 20 percent of the total material, the report found. For all languages, nearly half a million hours of audio tapes, or 30 percent of the material collected, was not reviewed, the report said. The data reflected material gathered under foreign intelligence surveillance warrants in operations within the United States….

    Other Articles by Eric:
    Richard W. Stevenson and Eric Lichtblau, White House Looks to Manage Fallout Over C.I.A. Leak Inquiry October 2, 2003.
    “Tens of Thousands March Against Iraq War,” 03/17/03
    “President Asked Aide To Explore Iraq Link To 9/11,” March 29, 2004

  9. BIGDOG says:

    This question and answer was pulled by NBC. Andrea Mitchell interviewing Risen.

    Transcript here:
    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10697484/

    Pulled question by NBC.

    Mitchell: You don’t have any information, for instance, that a very prominent journalist, Christiane Amanpour, might have been eavesdropped upon?

    Risen: No, no I hadn’t heard that.

    http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/nbc-changes-official-transcript-of.html

    Now this is the same Andrea Mitchell that said on MSNBC that it was common knowledge, before the Novak column, that Valerie Plame worked at the CIA. So she may know something we dont yet.

    OR

    She is being very naughty.

  10. Larwyn says:

    merryj1:
    “OR (re: Larwyn comment), in the ‘wishful thinking’ vein, perhaps Cunningham served as a variation on LeCarre’s “Perfect Spy?””

    Machiavelli will be in rolling laughter if this is the case!

    Thank you for the happiest of thoughts.

    And we could probably construct a plotline using the 911 Omission
    and ABLE DANGER and Tenet’s “Slam Dunk” .
    Your plot twist would explain the “Medal of Freedom” for Tenet as
    a way to convince the rogue CIA that the admin was as dumb as
    the LSM has protrayed GW.

    Take up the pen, MerryJ1, LeCarre needs replacing!

  11. MerryJ1 says:

    Thanks, Larwyn 🙂

    Tice is claiming to be “THE” NY Times source:

    http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/Investigation/story?id=1491889

    (He “thinks” some of the NSA efforts were illegal). And, he “thinks” he can hide under a whistleblower rock.

  12. Doug says:

    MerryJ,
    Hewitt figures Tice should go to jail.
    …as should many others.

  13. Doug says:

    Either folks start paying a price, or it’s gonna be a free fire leak zone at this rate.