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Is Rep. Darrel Issa the new Joe McCarty?

Is Rep. Darrel Issa the new Joe McCarty?

  • Is Darrel Issa a great American?

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    8

jpevans

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Is Darrel Issa the new Joe McCarthy?
Is Darrel Issa just doing his job?
Is Darrel Issa a stain on the image & history of the U.S. A.?
Is Darrel Issa a great American?

Pick one

The above would have been my poll if I could figure out how to make it a poll.

California Rep. Darrel Issa has threatened to have a hearing a day, while congress is in session until President Obama is gone. He was brought to the attention of the general public with His famous all male Birth Control panel. To his credit he did add a couple of dryed up old Republican coochies for the second session of the hearing. But infamosly, he refused to allow anyone on the pro side to speak. Sandra Fluke ring a bell, anyone???
He has now focused on AG Holder by trying to tie him to a program where ATF had to stand by & watch while guns were purchused by kids on foodstamps & were not allowed to arrest him even after he transfered the weapons to another.
From fortune Mag.

Eban writes:


As political pressure has mounted, ATF and Justice Department officials have reversed themselves. After initially supporting Group VII agents and denying the allegations, they have since agreed that the ATF purposefully chose not to interdict guns it lawfully could have seized. Holder testified in December that "the use of this misguided tactic is inexcusable, and it must never happen again."
There's the rub.

Quite simply, there's a fundamental misconception at the heart of the Fast and Furious scandal. Nobody disputes that suspected straw purchasers under surveillance by the ATF repeatedly bought guns that eventually fell into criminal hands. Issa and others charge that the ATF intentionally allowed guns to walk as an operational tactic. But five law-enforcement agents directly involved in Fast and Furious tell Fortune that the ATF had no such tactic. They insist they never purposefully allowed guns to be illegally trafficked. Just the opposite: They say they seized weapons whenever they could but were hamstrung by prosecutors and weak laws, which stymied them at every turn.

Indeed, a six-month Fortune investigation reveals that the public case alleging that Voth and his colleagues walked guns is replete with distortions, errors, partial truths, and even some outright lies. Fortune reviewed more than 2,000 pages of confidential ATF documents and interviewed 39 people, including seven law-enforcement agents with direct knowledge of the case. [...]

"Republican senators are whipping up the country into a psychotic frenzy with these reports that are patently false," says Linda Wallace, a special agent with the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation unit who was assigned to the Fast and Furious team (and recently retired from the IRS). A self-described gun-rights supporter, Wallace has not been criticized by Issa's committee.


Issa has based his crusade on the primise that the government is selling guns to Mexican Gangs so that they will kill & kill & kill until the American puplic demands repeal of the second amendment. He actually said as much. Meanwhile he didn't call any ATF agents who would set the record straight. It is my Opinion that Issa should be forced to resign from his position as inquesitor & perhaps his seat in the House.

Daily Kos: Fortune: Much of what you think you know about 'Fast and Furious' may not be the case at all

Fortune: Much of what you think you know about 'Fast and Furious' may not be the case at all
A day before the House of Representatives votes on a contempt resolution against Attorney General Eric Holder over the release of documents in the "Fast and Furious" operation, Katherine Eban at Fortune has called into question some of the most basic beliefs about what happened in this gun sales operation. Whether you've followed the case closely or never paid attention until now, it's worth a read.
"Fast and Furious" grew out of frustration at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Agents had a devil of a time getting prosecutions against straw purchasers who bought large numbers of guns they then passed along to others. The program was initiated in Arizona, which is a freaking free-for-all for gun buyers. Any 18-year-old without a criminal record can buy as many firearms in Arizona as he wants and the same afternoon transfer them to whomever. That whomever may very well be the person who put up the money for the purchase. After the transfer, the guns can wind up anywhere, but thousands of guns go to Mexico. Many of those wind up in the hands of gangsters in the drug cartels whose war among themselves and on the Mexican people have taken an estimated 50,000 lives in six years.

Straw-purchase cases are difficult to prosecute anywhere, but Eban writes that it was made more difficult by the reluctance of Arizona-based U.S. prosecutors to take on any case that wasn't ironclad. And their definition of that was extreme:


After examining one suspect's garbage, agents learned he was on food stamps yet had plunked down more than $300,000 for 476 firearms in six months. [Dave Voth, supervisor of Fast and Furious] asked if the ATF could arrest him for fraudulently accepting public assistance when he was spending such huge sums. Prosecutor [Emory] Hurley said no. In another instance, a young jobless suspect paid more than $10,000 for a .50-caliber tripod-mounted sniper rifle. According to Voth, Hurley told the agents they lacked proof that he hadn't bought the gun for himself. [...]
Even if a suspect bought 10 guns that were recovered days later at a Mexican crime scene, this didn't mean the initial purchase had been illegal. To these prosecutors, the pattern proved little. Instead, agents needed to link specific evidence of intent to commit a crime to each gun they wanted to seize.
And if getting single-defendant prosecutions in cases like that was hard, obtaining prosecutions of multiple defendants, including bigwigs, in straw-purchasing and trafficking schemes was nigh on impossible. Southwest border units, including Group VII in Phoenix, became ATF's solution for putting together big cases and making them stick. Fast and Furious was an attempt to get the ironclad evidence needed. The idea was to manually dig through the sales reports of holders of Federal Firearms Licenses, select some likely straw purchasers, track the weapons they bought and then bring strong cases against them and their recruiters.
(Continue reading below the fold)
.



But the program had multiple strikes against it from the get-go: a seven-member team assembled from different parts of the country; inadequate resources for the job at hand; personality clashes; some agents who thumbed their noses at the operational rules and at the team leader; management weakness; the aforementioned attitudes of the U.S. attorneys and the volume of guns.

Soon after Brian Terry, the ATF U.S. Border Control agent , was murdered and guns connected to Fast and Furious were found at the scene of the crime, an agent in Group VII went public with attacks on Voth and the program, sparking right-wing bloggers, and then members of Congress, to get involved. Hence, a 17-month investigative battle between the Department of Justice and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chaired by Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, who made his disdain for the Obama administration evident long before he took on that post.

Eban writes:


As political pressure has mounted, ATF and Justice Department officials have reversed themselves. After initially supporting Group VII agents and denying the allegations, they have since agreed that the ATF purposefully chose not to interdict guns it lawfully could have seized. Holder testified in December that "the use of this misguided tactic is inexcusable, and it must never happen again."
There's the rub.

Quite simply, there's a fundamental misconception at the heart of the Fast and Furious scandal. Nobody disputes that suspected straw purchasers under surveillance by the ATF repeatedly bought guns that eventually fell into criminal hands. Issa and others charge that the ATF intentionally allowed guns to walk as an operational tactic. But five law-enforcement agents directly involved in Fast and Furious tell Fortune that the ATF had no such tactic. They insist they never purposefully allowed guns to be illegally trafficked. Just the opposite: They say they seized weapons whenever they could but were hamstrung by prosecutors and weak laws, which stymied them at every turn.

Indeed, a six-month Fortune investigation reveals that the public case alleging that Voth and his colleagues walked guns is replete with distortions, errors, partial truths, and even some outright lies. Fortune reviewed more than 2,000 pages of confidential ATF documents and interviewed 39 people, including seven law-enforcement agents with direct knowledge of the case. [...]

"Republican senators are whipping up the country into a psychotic frenzy with these reports that are patently false," says Linda Wallace, a special agent with the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation unit who was assigned to the Fast and Furious team (and recently retired from the IRS). A self-described gun-rights supporter, Wallace has not been criticized by Issa's committee.
With the contempt resolution gathering several likely Democratic votes in its favor, the House will almost certainly approve it. Chances of its being prosecuted before it expires at the end of the congressional session are nil. Republicans know that. It's all about making noise against Obama.
Meanwhile, as Eban writes, new information keeps emerging about Fast and Furious.


Among the discoveries: Fast and Furious' top suspects—Sinaloa Cartel operatives and Mexican nationals who were providing the money, ordering the guns, and directing the recruitment of the straw purchasers—turned out to be FBI informants who were receiving money from the bureau. That came as news to the ATF agents in Group VII.
A real investigation is what's needed, not one run for partisan purposes. And it needs to go waaaaay beyond Fast and Furious. :( :peace
 
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Come on you guys/gals, if you don't have an opinion (?) at least somebody help me make it a poll.
In the 1st place, every one has an opinion + or you wouldn't be here. :confused:
2nd verse, same as the 1st. :2wave: :peace
 
my opinion is Holder is withholding info under the guise of national security to save face.

I say release all the documents and stop hiding behind big government secrecy.
 
my opinion is Holder is withholding info under the guise of national security to save face.

I say release all the documents and stop hiding behind big government secrecy.

Wouldn't that be nice...

I say release all documents of any secrecy in government....secrecy contradicts a free and open society
 
my opinion is Holder is withholding info under the guise of national security to save face.

I say release all the documents and stop hiding behind big government secrecy.

There is nothing to hide. No guns were sold by the ATF, they were bought legally from legitimate dealers and THAT is the problem. No State should allow a person to buy 20 guns at a time It is an invitation to strawman purchasers. The whole thing is a partisan sham to discredit our President. Kudos to him for standing up to them. Romney cannot even stand up to that buffoon Donalld Trump.
 
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There is nothing to hide. No guns were sold by the ATF, they were bought legally and THAT is the problem. No State should allow a person to buy 20 guns at a time. The whole thing is a partisan sham to disrcedit our President. Kudos to him for standing up to them. Romney cannot even stand up to that buffoon Donalld Trump.

great, so there is no reason to withhold thousands of documents as is currently being done. We agree. stop hiding it, there is no reason to.
 
great, so there is no reason to withhold thousands of documents as is currently being done. We agree. stop hiding it, there is no reason to.

It means there is NO excuse for a fishing expedition that infringes on the Presidents powers. Releasin gthose documents would break Federal law too..
Where are the documents for Cheneys secret meetings with the "Energy task Force"? We never even found out who attended.
 
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Hey... I got an idea... shrink that down to like.... 1 concise paragraph (of 10 sentences) with a few links to extra information and I'll speak on it. I ain't reading all that on an iPhone.
 
There is nothing to hide. No guns were sold by the ATF, they were bought legally from legitimate dealers and THAT is the problem. No State should allow a person to buy 20 guns at a time It is an invitation to strawman purchasers. The whole thing is a partisan sham to discredit our President. Kudos to him for standing up to them. Romney cannot even stand up to that buffoon Donalld Trump.

No country should have wide open borders allowing the uncontrolled traffic flow of humans, drugs, cash or guns, yet WE DO. Hmm...
 
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Darrell Issa is an idiot. For those people who don't know....he was also the man behind the recall effort in California that got Gray Davis recalled (Which is good, Gray Davis was also a putz)....but what is funny is that Issa expected that he could then run for Governor and win...until Shwarzaneggar entered the race.....Issa withdrew and was on TV crying like a little baby...I'll never forget that image...the guy is a grade A idiot.
 
I saw the hearings. I was happy they were not just going through the motions and seemed intent on following through. Its obvious some of them are playing to the crowd but some really seemed to have a desire to get to the bottom of the issue. One of them even offered to take it offline away from the cameras behind closed doors with Holder so he would have an opportunity to explain his viewpoints on the current evidence and Holder pretty much told him and the rest to stick it.
Then another commented that that Holder was using the John Mitchell strategy and Holder jumped like someone poked him with a stick from behind. It was quite entertaining.
The value of the hearings is doubtful though unless something comes of it. I.E. No more gun walking, Holder goes to jail, a revamp of procedures....something.

Issa is obviously somewhat self serving. If you want to see idiots watch the green energy hearings on the oversight committee website. Very entertaining and sad at the same time.
 
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It means there is NO excuse for a fishing expedition that infringes on the Presidents powers. Releasin gthose documents would break Federal law too..
Where are the documents for Cheneys secret meetings with the "Energy task Force"? We never even found out who attended.

I was on record for Cheney to release those.
 
There is no question thathe's holding back documents, because the Law prohibits releasing them. I mean what did you think of the fact's disclosed in the Forbes investigation piece quoted in the OP?
Where ATF agents say that it was Prosocuters who refused to let them make arrests, that ATF sold no (0) zero guns they were just trying to follow them.
Also what about the poll questions, they concern Issa not Holder or Fluke or anybody else you might desire to put in place.
How do I make it a poll? Anyone.... :peace
my opinion is Holder is withholding info under the guise of national security to save face.

I say release all the documents and stop hiding behind big government secrecy.
 
Issa isnt doing anything others havent done before him...its his job to be hatchet man...in the end it will amount to nothing like the all do
 

Some things should be secret, or are you of a mind that President Obama should have anounced that he was sending in Seal Team 6?
About the sorry assed poll I don't know how to creat (in post #1), any vote or comment? :peace

Wouldn't that be nice...

I say release all documents of any secrecy in government....secrecy contradicts a free and open society
 
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No country should have wide open borders allowing the uncontrolled traffic flow of humans, drugs, cash or guns, yet WE DO. Hmm...

Why aren't you out there now patrolling your border then? Easier said then done huh.
 

Is 3 paragraphs Okay?

Quite simply, there's a fundamental misconception at the heart of the Fast and Furious scandal. Nobody disputes that suspected straw purchasers under surveillance by the ATF repeatedly bought guns that eventually fell into criminal hands. Issa and others charge that the ATF intentionally allowed guns to walk as an operational tactic. But five law-enforcement agents directly involved in Fast and Furious tell Fortune that the ATF had no such tactic. They insist they never purposefully allowed guns to be illegally trafficked. Just the opposite: They say they seized weapons whenever they could but were hamstrung by prosecutors and weak laws, which stymied them at every turn.

Indeed, a six-month Fortune investigation reveals that the public case alleging that Voth and his colleagues walked guns is replete with distortions, errors, partial truths, and even some outright lies. Fortune reviewed more than 2,000 pages of confidential ATF documents and interviewed 39 people, including seven law-enforcement agents with direct knowledge of the case. [...]

"Republican senators are whipping up the country into a psychotic frenzy with these reports that are patently false," says Linda Wallace, a special agent with the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation unit who was assigned to the Fast and Furious team (and recently retired from the IRS). A self-described gun-rights supporter, Wallace has not been criticized by Issa's committee :peace
Hey... I got an idea... shrink that down to like.... 1 concise paragraph (of 10 sentences) with a few links to extra information and I'll speak on it. I ain't reading all that on an iPhone.
 
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I was on record for Cheney to release those.

BUt he NEVER did. From Wikipedia......

Most of the activities of the Energy Task Force have not been disclosed to the public, even though Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests (since 19 April 2001) have sought to gain access to its materials. The organisations Judicial Watch and Sierra Club launched a law suit (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia: Judicial Watch Inc. v. Department of Energy, et al., Civil Action No. 01-0981) under the FOIA to gain access to the task force's materials. After several years of legal wrangling, in May, 2005 an appeals court permitted the Energy Task Force's records to remain secret
.
 
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I thought it was the suspicion of arson, that kept him out. What ever happened with that? :peace

Darrell Issa is an idiot. For those people who don't know....he was also the man behind the recall effort in California that got Gray Davis recalled (Which is good, Gray Davis was also a putz)....but what is funny is that Issa expected that he could then run for Governor and win...until Shwarzaneggar entered the race.....Issa withdrew and was on TV crying like a little baby...I'll never forget that image...the guy is a grade A idiot.
 
So if you want all documents released because we are a democracy then VP Cheney shouldn't have hid behind Executive Privilege, or AG Gonzales, or any terrorist related intel?

Spec Manning shouldn't be charged for his alleged role in the Wikileaks deal?

Issa can grandstand all he wants, he is just preaching to the choir and annoying everyone else.
 
I think that's a bit dramatic, personally.
 
The Government had a duty by law to stop the gunwalking across the border. They did NOT, as a result there are 21 Dead Mexican citizens and 2 Dead American Law Enforcement Agents. How anyone can marginalize that is beyond me. They must be held accountable.
 

Who exactly is they? The prosicuters who refused to allow ATF to make arrests? :confused: Or the Black cats in office? :confused: :peace

The Government had a duty by law to stop the gunwalking across the border. They did NOT, as a result there are 21 Dead Mexican citizens and 2 Dead American Law Enforcement Agents. How anyone can marginalize that is beyond me. They must be held accountable.
 
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