Stories by AmandaBCarpenter
Posted at 10:31am on May 1, 2007 'Slam Dunk' So What, What About Everything Else Tenet Said?
By AmandaBCarpenter
Former Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet now says he didn’t mean “slam dunk” when he told President Bush there was a “slam dunk” case that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction while the President was contemplating going to war. But how can Tenet say that when he testified under oath to Congress in 2003 that, “I think we will find caches of weapons of mass destruction [in Iraq], absolutely”?
Read on please
Posted in National Security — Comments (7)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:56am on Apr. 25, 2007 Reid Dismisses VP's Criticism, Calls Names
By AmandaBCarpenter
What did Sen. Harry Reid (D.-Nev.) say when asked about Vice President Dick Cheney's charges that Reid's position on Iraq had been inconsistent over the last six months?
"I’m not going to get into a name-calling match with someone who has a 9% approval ratings," Reid said. He then called Cheney the "Administration's chief attack dog."
Read on below for my piece on Human Events about President Bush's expected veto of the war supplemental.
Posted in Archived — Comments (9)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 4:08pm on Apr. 19, 2007 Coburn Tells Gonzo to Go
By AmandaBCarpenter
During Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Tom Coburn (R.-Okla.) called for the AG's resignation.
Coburn asked Gonzales, "Why should you not be judged by the same standards that you judged these U.S. Attorneys?"
Gonzales told Coburn that "We all make mistakes," but Coburn said that wasn't good enough.
"I believe there are consequences" Coburn said. "And I believe this has been handled in a very incompetent manner."
He characterized Gonzales performance as "atrocious."
"I believe you ought to suffer the consequences that these others have suffered," Coburn said. "And I believe the best way to put this behind us is with your resignation."
Posted in Archived — Comments (93)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:27am on Apr. 19, 2007 Specter Slams Gonzales
By AmandaBCarpenter
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ mishandling of the 18-minute March 13 press conference he held at the Department of Justice to discuss his role in the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys was the subject of harsh criticism from Republicans at his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning.
In his opening statement Sen. Jeff Sessions, (R.-Ala.), who served as a U.S. Attorney for twelve years told Gonzales that he had “incorrectly minimized your involvement in this matter” in the conference.
“It has hurt the Department and raised questions I wish had not been raised,” Sessions said.
Gonzales admitted that he “should have been more precise when discussing this matter.” He said the resignations were “flawed” but “nothing improper occurred.”
“There is nothing improper in making a change for poor management, policy difference, or questionable judgment, or simply to have another qualified individual serve” he explained.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R.-Pa.) didn’t buy it. In his first question and answer session Specter prodded, “I know you’re familiar with the record because you’ve been preparing for this hearing.” This led to a testy exchange.
Gonzales smiled and replied, “I prepare for every hearing, senator.”
“Did you prepare for your press conferences?” Specter retorted. “I’m asking you if you were prepared.”
“Were you prepared when you said you weren’t involved in any deliberations?” Specter reiterated.
Gonzales said, “I’ve already conceded I misspoke at the press conference.”
More to come…
Posted in Breaking News — Comments (9)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:22am on Apr. 18, 2007 Romney's Mormon Money Paradox
By AmandaBCarpenter
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R.) can’t break double-digits in the polls in his campaign for the 2008 Republican nomination for President, but has somehow set the pace for GOP fundraising. What gives?
Today, Romney pulls only 9.7% on the Real Clear Politics poll average. Yet, he leads the pack in Republican fundraising, posting a cool $23.4 million in the first quarter of the 2008 presidential election. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who leads the RCP poll with 31.5% only raised $16.6 million. Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.), who polls 19% raised a little over $13 million.
So, where is Romney’s money coming from and how come it doesn’t translate in a poll boost?
A partial answer to the first question is Utah.
Read on please
Posted in 2008 | Romney — Comments (16)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:31am on Apr. 17, 2007 Reid Gathers Generals to Blast Bush's Troops Surge
One General Calls Active Duty Officers 'Props'
By AmandaBCarpenter
Flanked by two former Army retired generals Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid (D.-Nev.) blasted President Bush for “clinging to a failed escalation strategy” in Iraq and “failing our troops and our country.”
One general went so far as to say that active duty military officers were being used as “props” by the Bush Administration.
Read on please...
Posted in Anti-war liberals | Democrats | Reid — Comments (37)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:55am on Apr. 16, 2007 Hillary Didn't Read Intel Report Before Voting for War
By AmandaBCarpenter
In November 2005 I interviewed a number of U.S. senators to see if they had read the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate, a document put together by the intelligence community that President Bush used to justify the war in Iraq.
The Washington Post had reported earlier that only six senators had read the document before voting to authorize the President to use force in Iraq in October 2002. Among those who I found had not read the NIE were then-Minority Leader Sen. Harry Reid. (D.-Nev.).
Now, we find out that Hillary Clinton didn't read it either. At a campaign stop in Hampton, New Hamphsire Clinton was asked by if she had read the report.
Hillary did not say she did. Instead, she said she was "briefed." This is similar to what Sen. John Kerry (D.-Mass.) told me. He had not read the report either, but told me he was briefed by Pentagon officials.
The news report about this from ABC news said the woman who asked Clinton if she had read it repeated her question, "Did you read it?" about three times. Each time, Hillary would only saw she had been briefed.
On the campaign trail for the Democrat nomination for president Hillary has said that President Bush has "misused her vote" and that if she had been president in 2002 she would not have gone to war.
Terry Jeffrey has a great story explaining the importance of the 2002 NIE here.
Posted in Democrats — Comments (34)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 12:06pm on Apr. 10, 2007 A Green Gingrich is on the Run
And Endorses John Kerry's Enviro Book
By AmandaBCarpenter
In a heavily hyped debate that environmentalist Democrats hoped would be a “smack down,” on Republicans, Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich disappointed them and conservatives alike when he declared that human activity was causing the Earth to warm.
Read on . . .
Posted in 2008 — Comments (29)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 6:58am on Apr. 9, 2007 Immigration Debate Willl Heat Up Come Summer
By AmandaBCarpenter
President Bush will renew his calls for comprehensive immigration reform in a major speech today. Get the details of the White House immigration plan and the House bill below.
Posted in Archived — Comments (1)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:37pm on Apr. 5, 2007 Gingrich and Kerry to Debate Global Warming
By AmandaBCarpenter
From a Kerry email today:
"Newt Gingrich and I are meeting up this coming Tuesday, April 10 to debate and discuss climate change, the environment -- and what we need to do to solve these challenges. Please join us. The debate is hosted by the New York University's John Brademas Center and will take place at the Russell Senate Office Building Room 325, at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday."
See below for complete text.