Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lurqer who wrote (34390)	1/7/2004 7:24:36 AM
From: Rick Faurot	Respond to of 89467

Editors Note \| As the probe into who leaked the name of CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame gathers steam the FBI will ask all White House staff members to sign waiver forms granting their permission to those reporters involved to name the source of the information. George W. Bush's press secretary Scott McClellan is saying all the right things publicly but refuses to commit to the waiver forms. Privately some of the reporters have told British reporter Julian Borger of the Guardian that the source was in fact top Bush confidant Karl Rove. Go to Original Senator Urges White House on Leak Probe The Associated Press Tuesday 06 January 2004 WASHINGTON - A Democratic senator called on the White House Tuesday to require staffers to cancel reporter confidentiality agreements so the journalists might tell investigators whether a Bush administration official leaked a CIA operative's name. White House press secretary Scott McClellan responded to the request, saying, ``It would be unfortunate if people are seeking to politicize a serious matter like leaking classified information for partisan gain.'' In a letter sent to White House chief of staff Andrew Card, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., argued that the White House staff has only ``partially cooperated'' with Justice Department investigators by turning over phone and e-mail records. Signing confidentiality waiver forms could persuade reporters to disclose their confidential sources, possibly helping investigators find out if an administration official leaked the name of Valerie Plame, an undercover CIA officer, to syndicated columnist Robert Novak in July. Plame is married to former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, who has said he thinks his wife's identity was disclosed to discredit his assertions that the administration exaggerated Iraq's nuclear capabilities to build a case for war. ``Professional prosecutors handling the investigation into this national security breach have determined that they would be aided by these waivers of confidentiality,'' Schumer said. ``Full cooperation requires that these staffers comply with this reasonable request from law enforcement.'' McClellan declined to say whether the White House, or he personally, had been asked to release reporters from confidentiality agreements. ``If there are specific requests being made of individuals, we would not necessarily know what those requests are,'' McClellan said. As he has done for days, McClellan referred specific questions to the Justice Department. ``The White House has done everything it has been asked to do,'' McClellan said. ``The president made it very clear that he wants the White House to cooperate fully in this investigation. If anyone has information relating to the investigation, they should provide that information to the officials in charge.'' Schumer said ``full cooperation'' requires freeing journalists from their obligations to protect their sources. ``I hope you will do so as soon as possible,'' Schumer said in his letter to Card. Schumer said that in the late 1990s when Republican congressional leaders were looking into whether White House officials were leaking information about members of Congress, then White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles informed news organizations that the White House was waiving all confidentiality rights regarding such leaks. The senator said that while this would be a positive move, he thinks it would be better if White House staffers signed individual waivers. ``The only way that will happen is if you order it of your employees,'' Schumer said. ``I encourage you to do so in the strongest possible way.'' The FBI has interviewed more than three dozen Bush administration officials. A leaker could be charged with a felony. Attorney General John Ashcroft removed himself last week from the inquiry to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. Democrats, including Schumer, had called on Ashcroft to step aside from the investigation. U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald of Chicago, a career prosecutor, is leading the probe. truthout.org

To: lurqer who wrote (34390)	1/7/2004 8:05:33 AM
From: lurqer	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 89467

The RW is striking back. One of the most egregious aspects of corporatism is war profiteering. In a flurry of articles, there is now a denial there has been any such abuse. They vary from the scoffing of the very idea The fantasy of 'profiteering' in Iraq canada.com to the questioning Army Official Backs Halliburton on Fuel Price nytimes.com But none disprove the suspicions. Rather when you get through a lot of blather to the "nitty-gritty", they say the audit isn't in. IMO, another case of an obfuscation campaign. For a more accurate look at how corporatism works, consider: Western business executives, lawmakers mix policy talks with fund raising Western business executives will get to wine, dine and golf with members of Congress and top Bush administration environmental officials at Arizona gatherings this week that start with a fund-raiser for the lawmakers. Companies whose employees or political action committees donate $3,000 can send two people to the "Mulligans & Margaritas" fund-raiser Wednesday for the Western GOP Majority Committee, with $1,000 charged for each additional company representative who attends. Donors can schmooze members of Congress at a golf tournament at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Course in Phoenix and a private dinner at a local restaurant. Their contributions will be divided among 20 Republican congressional candidates from Western states. The fund-raiser was organized by Jim Sims, executive director of the Western Business Roundtable. It is the first event listed on the agenda of this week's "Roundtable Summit of the West," a conference sponsored by the Colorado-based organization and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the Arizona Biltmore Resort. The conference registration form offers participants the chance to "strategize in a casual setting with members of Congress, White House officials, federal agency leaders, Western governors, CEOs, senior business executives and policy-makers from across the West." The goal is to make sure the West's interests are factored in when Washington writes energy and environmental policies, Sims said. "We prefer to think we are the nation's energy breadbasket, and we are," Sims said. Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles, a former energy industry lobbyist, was to give the keynote address at a Thursday luncheon after sessions on the Clean Air Act and federal energy policy. The prospectus for one conference promised participants could help write a "Top Ten `To Do' List for the Congress." They also can get training on dealing with the media and attend two more golf tournaments before the event ends Saturday. In addition to Griles, speakers include Jeff Holmstead, the Environmental Protection Agency's assistant administrator in charge of air quality and the administration's point man on changes to the Clean Air Act; and Republican lawmakers including New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Montana Gov. Judy Martz. Also scheduled to attend are several House members whose campaigns are taking part in the Western GOP Majority Committee. They include Utah Reps. Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop; New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce; Arizona Reps. John Shadegg, J.D. Hayworth, Rick Renzi and Jim Kolbe; Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg; Wyoming Rep. Barbara Cubin; California Rep. Darrell Issa; Colorado Reps. Joel Hefley and Tom Tancredo; Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry; Idaho Rep. Butch Otter; and Nevada Rep. Jon Porter. Sims said the fund-raiser was not a part of the conference and was not sponsored by the Western Business Roundtable or the U.S. Chamber. "There is no connection between the two events, other than the fact that it is convenient for me to hold a fund-raising event for members of Congress I support who will be in Phoenix this week," Sims said. Sims said he set up the Western GOP Majority Committee to hold the fund-raiser and may use it to raise money for others in the future. He expected Wednesday's event to raise less than $100,000. The committee was paying for room and board for members of Congress. Conference participants were covering their own airfare, Sims said. The Western Business Roundtable is nonpartisan and has held similar conferences in past years featuring federal officials, including members of the Clinton administration, Sims said. sfgate.com JMO lurqer