Politics as usual for the Democrats

xavierx · Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 3306

Well, I waited a week again to see if any liberal here would have the courage to admit that their party is no different from the Republicans, but as usual this is a "conservative attack only" zone I see.

So here's part 1 (source)

Quote:

Pelosi chooses Reyes to run intel panel

WASHINGTON - House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi has chosen a Border Patrol agent-turned-congressman to lead the House Intelligence Committee, ending weeks of Democratic debate about who will oversee the nation's spy agencies.
...
"When tough questions are required - whether they relate to intelligence shortcomings before the 9/11 attacks or the war in Iraq, or to the quality of intelligence on Iran or North Korea - he does not hesitate to ask them," Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement announcing her choice of Reyes.
...
The California Democrat had to navigate a series of candidates - and their supporters - who were vying for the post. In the end, Pelosi bypassed two more senior intelligence committee members - Reps. Jane Harman, D-Calif., and Alcee Hastings, D-Fla. - to select Reyes.

Harman is currently the committee's top Democrat, and her term on the panel expires this year. She could have been reappointed by Pelosi, but the two are said to have political differences.
Harman, speaking to the American Bar Association Friday, said

Pelosi called her early Friday morning to give her the news that Reyes will take over the key post next year.

Hinting that she and Pelosi have had long-standing political differences, Harman she was "humbled" by the attention the choice of chairman of the Intelligence Committee has gained in blogs and editorials and even with her 22-year-old daughter, who told her, "Mom you are a tough cookie."

So, she passed over the current Ranking member, and another more senior member over political differences. Fine, that's business as usual, but, from that article, she picked a qualified person who "isn't afraid to ask the tough questions" right?

Then how does this happen (source):

Quote:

Incoming House intelligence chief botches easy intel quiz

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas, who incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has tapped to head the Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take over in January, failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah, two of the key terrorist organizations the intelligence community has focused on since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

When asked by CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein whether al Qaeda is one or the other of the two major branches of Islam -- Sunni or Shiite -- Reyes answered "they are probably both," then ventured "Predominantly -- probably Shiite."

That is wrong. Al Qaeda was founded by Osama bin Laden as a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics.

Reyes could also not answer questions put by Stein about Hezbollah, a Shiite group on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations that is based in Southern Lebanon.

...

In an interview with CNN, Stein said he was "amazed" by Reyes' lack of what he considers basic information about two of the major terrorists organizations.

...

While Stein said Reyes is "not a stupid guy," his lack of knowledge said it could hamper Reyes' ability to provide effective oversight of the intelligence community, Stein believes.

"If you don't have the basics, how do you effectively question the administration?" he asked. "You don't know who is on first."
...

Hmm. Passed over very qualified, more senior, more experienced people because seh doesn't like them, to appoint someone who doesn't know something as basic as who Hezbollah is, something almost anyone here could probably answer. I'm so glad everything's all better now that the Democrts are here to save us all!

mommabear · Joined: Feb 20, 2003 Posts: 5926

Quote:

Well, I waited a week...

Me too.

Quote:

Americas Bush no whizz on foreign quiz

George W Bush had definitely not been briefed for all the questions a local TV interview fired at him on the campaign trail.

The Republican frontrunner in the United States presidential elections was subjected to a little foreign policy quiz he obviously did not enjoy.

Asked by the reporter of a Boston television station to name four international statesmen recently in the news, Mr Bush got 25% right - if you consider first names a mere luxury. ...

The reactions

In the Bush camp, there was not too much concern about their candidate's performance.

"For the American people, the relevant question is not how many names a candidate has memorised but does he have the strategic vision to lead and can he protect American interests," Mr Bush's communications director Karen Hughes said. ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/506298.stm

xavierx · Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 3306

I'm glad you're so concerned about current events. To paraphrase you (whenever Clinton comes up) why are you focusing on the past? Can't you face up to the facts of the present?

This has nothing to do with Bush, and nothing to do with 1999. How about talking about the subject of the thread instead of continuing the attacks on Bush, mkay? Talk about lame defenses!

Now, do you have any defense for your party? Do you have any defense for why your party leader decided to play politics instead of appointing a qualified candidate? I thought the Democrats were supposed to be different. I though they were going to reform Congress. What happened?

mommabear · Joined: Feb 20, 2003 Posts: 5926

You're just upset because I gotcha! Wink

Edited by seaeagle

xavierx · Joined: Nov 06, 2004 Posts: 3306

So I guess you have no defense for your party, eh? This isn't about who knew what. I never said Bush knew everything. This is about leader being just as evil as every other politician. I'm not surprised that you have no defense for them, they are undefendable.

Edited by seaeagle