Sen. Biden: This is a Nixon administration without the competence

[gateley]

David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Monday December 10, 2007

The CIA and the Department of Justice have both announced they will investigate the CIA's destruction in 2005 of al Qaeda interrogation tapes.

However, presidential candidate Joe Biden indicated on Sunday that this sort of self-examination would be unacceptable.

"Let me put it this way," Biden told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "Rhetorical question -- anything this Attorney Generals' offices have done since this guy's become president that you're going to take on face value? Not me. (Laughs) Not me." Biden emphasized that current Attorney General Michael Mukasey "is the same guy who couldn't decide whether waterboarding was torture."

Biden also stated that CIA Director Michael Hayden appears to be wrong in stating that both the interrogations themselves and the destruction of the tapes were fully lawful, pointing out that both White House counsel Harriet Miers and the Justice Department told the CIA not to destroy them.

"Hayden is not to be the judge of whether or not his condoning the destroying of the tapes was lawful," said Biden. "It appears as though there may be an obstruction of justice charge here, tampering with evidence."

"It really does call for a special counsel," Biden continued. "The easiest, straightest thing to do is just take it out of the political realm. Appoint a special prosecutor, and let them decide, call it where it is."

Senator Russ Feingold has written to the Attorney General, asking him to clarify his views on the CIA's "alternative interrogation techniques" and to urge President Bush not to veto legislation which would outlaw them. Biden believes that there might be enough votes in the Senate to override even a president veto. "Our credibility internationally has been absolutely devastated," he said, adding that "this administration is out of control."

Biden referred as well to the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, quoting Defense Secretary Gates as saying that US policy on Iran "has annoyed our friends and caused confusion for our allies." Biden's summary of US foreign policy was that "this is a Nixon administration without the competence."

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Biden_wants_special_prosecutor_for_missing_1210.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Go JOE!

Glad to see someone speaking out on this!

[1corona4u]

2. Joe's right!

[wtmusic]

3. If Tricky Dick hadn't created the EPA

there would be one less worthwhile government agency for W to gut.

[Skidmore]

4. I'm underhwelmed.

Nothing like stating something that was abundantly obvious years ago. I'm sick of this Johnny-come-lately outrage at the head of the party. From its inception, DU has dealt with the blatant dissembling and incompetence of the * administration, with virtually most of its subscribers culling information from standard media sources and not having access to classified informatin of any kind. So, everytime we get this type of pronouncement from someone who should have known better--at least on the basis of common sense--and was in the position to do something about it, it makes me angry.

[Steely_Dan]

8. Well...

at least someone is saying something. I prefer that over continuing down a path of no accountability. I too, wish people had come forward sooner...including Biden. The fact is, he is coming forward NOW. All in all, I'm glad that it is finally happening. Let's not look a gift-horse in the mouth. Biden deserves some credit for coming forward.

-Paige

[PatSeg]

5. That phrase just jumped out at me!

He said so much with only one line.

[inthebrain]

6. He just figured that out?

One would think that his IWR and Patriot Act vote would have been influenced by this profound thinking at the time.

[wtmusic]

7. I will vote for Joe just because Cheney told him to fuck off

A stupid reason...but it's MY reason ;-)

[gateley]

9. Cheney told Biden to fuck off? I LOVE that! I didn't know... a badge of honor! nt

[gateley]

10. Plus, Biden thinks VERY highly of your guy, said that's who he'd be supporting if

he himself wasn't in the race. I agree.

[KittyWampus]

13. Wasn't that Leahy?

[PatSeg]

14. Yeah, it was Leahy

but I'm sure he said that about Biden in private, especially after Biden told him he would fire him too if he wasn't a constitutionally elected official.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. Wasn't that Patrick Leahy?

Maybe he told Joe to fuck off, too. :shrug:

[wtmusic]

17. Yep my bad

I'm sure Cheney has done it, if not to his face

[Blue_In_AK]

18. I didn't mean to pile on...

I didn't see the other responses when I started typing. But I'm sure you're correct that there is no love lost between Cheney and Biden.

[wtmusic]

19. hurts so good

:spank:

[bdamomma]

11. this regime has been out of control for a long time now

and they have no respect for the American people or for anyone in that matter.

[Donnachaidh]

12. should be edited to be Nixon Admin with NO oversight and no SPINE in Congress.

Biden doesn't get a pass on doing NOTHING to get these assholes out of office. Yeah, tell us some more about those *good ole days* Joe. You know the ones - when our reps did something even when they weren't running for president. :puke:

[Blue_In_AK]

15. Joe's got a way with words. n/t

[MaineDem]

20. Brilliant! n/t

[inthebrain]

21. Who would ever describe the Nixon administration as "competent"?

They got caught!!!!

[jillan]

22. I busted out laughing when I heard him say that on Snuffy's show yesterday!

He sure does have a way with words!

I love this guy :)

[PatSeg]

25. And his words mirrored my thoughts as well

I've often thought that these guys don't have a clue what they're doing. They thought they could accomplish everything with rhetoric and PR. Successful dictators are far more organized and efficient.

[Joe Chi Minh]

23. I thought he was going to say, "... without the moral compass."

[youthere]

24. LOLOL!!

[Joe Chi Minh]

26. Oddy enough, apparently, there's some truth in it! "No matter how cynical you get,

it's impossible to keep up", as Lily Tomlin commented.