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Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist

By Jeralyn, Section War on Terror
Posted on Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 09:29:05 PM EST
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The Conservative publication Insight on the News reoprts that Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist Judiciary Committee Senators if they oppose Bush on the NSA warrantless surveillance issue:

The White House has been twisting arms to ensure that no Republican member votes against President Bush in the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation of the administration's unauthorized wiretapping. Congressional sources said Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist any Republican who votes against the president. The sources said the blacklist would mean a halt in any White House political or financial support of senators running for re-election in November. "It's hardball all the way," a senior GOP congressional aide said.

More from the article's sources:

They said the defection of even a handful of Republican committee members could result in a determination that the president violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Such a determination could lead to impeachment proceedings.

Over the last few weeks, Mr. Rove has been calling in virtually every Republican on the Senate committee as well as the leadership in Congress. The sources said Mr. Rove's message has been that a vote against Mr. Bush would destroy GOP prospects in congressional elections. "He's [Rove] lining them up one by one," another congressional source said.

Rove reportedly also is offering incentives to those who remain loyal to his President:

The sources said the White House has offered to help loyalists with money and free publicity, such as appearances and photo-ops with the president.

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    Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist | 62 comments (62 topical)
    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#1)
    by Linkmeister on Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 10:01:22 PM EST
    One hopes Roll Call, WaPo and the NYT all get copies of the article. They might even investigate its veracity. That would be a welcome change.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 10:39:17 PM EST
    Hardball? Hardball!? Doesn't "a senior GOP congressional aide" mean that Rove is talking about extortion for men of conscience offset by bribery for those without? Just wondering. tlk

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#3)
    by profmarcus on Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 10:48:45 PM EST
    how totally typical of the dark lord, the one-who-must-not-be-named, satan's doppelganger, karl... Visit my blog: And, yes, I DO take it personally

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Feb 06, 2006 at 10:56:57 PM EST
    We complain a lot about the some elected Democrats not standing up when they should, but compared to pretty much every Republican in the legislative branch, the Dems are like walking Viagra ads.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#5)
    by Edger on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 12:09:26 AM EST
    This comes about the same time that DoJ tells a Senate Intelligence Committee that Bush can order killings inside the country of AQ suspects? "Now we're not trying to intimidate anyone here, of course, you well know that the president takes the position that 'You're either with us or you're against us'. Let me be very clear: play ball with us or we'll have to reconsider support for your reelection campaign, and if you still don't get in line, well... we have other options. Do we need to have someone 'more persuasive' drop by for a visit?"

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 03:57:11 AM EST
    Bush is unpopular enough that 1) it would probably help their campaigns to lose Bush's support and 2) they could come public with this and and their outrage and probably even score more points for themselves. I'm not in the habit of giving advice to any Republicans, but come on, stick up for yourselves. This is a president with a 39% approval rating. Americans will only put up with so much from a president who's already so low in the polls.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#7)
    by ltgesq on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 04:37:43 AM EST
    Why hasn't that jerk been charged yet? It would be the perfect time for him to go.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#8)
    by Edger on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 04:54:20 AM EST
    January 24, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - US Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito won a Senate Judiciary Committee vote today by a margin of 10 to 8, divided strictly along party lines. The vote sends Alito's nomination to the Senate floor where, with a Republican majority, a final confirmation is seen as likely... And we know how that ended... So how do you feel guys? Proud? You approve this murdering little sh*t giving Alito a lifetime seat, for fu*k's sake, and what do you get in return? Blacklisted! By a slime dripping gollum who lives under a rotting log in a swamp somewhere. By the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Karl Friggin' Rove, got you by the family jewels with his vise grips and you're still forcing out that Sieg Heil from between your clenched tooth grimaces. Jeezus... Go ahead, tell us you never saw it coming... Christ, you must be just blown away at "dear leader's" wonderful expression of gratitude to you. Bet you can barely contain yourselves. Way to go guys... see you in November. And next year you can tell all your drinking buddies down at the corner that till 2006 you were once at the top of your game, you made the pinnacle, but your were so busy congratulating youselves that you never saw that cliff you stepped off. You were United States F***ing Senators, for gawds sake, and maybe they'll be sympathetic and cover the next round for you? Hey... everybody has to have a dream, right? Excuse me while I puke... and don't let the door hit you in the a** on the way out.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#9)
    by demohypocrates on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 05:05:33 AM EST
    Like it or not, these actions are what's known as p-o-l-i-t-i-c-s and are fairly commonplace in Washington. Trotting out tired, old McCarthy era terms to describe it does not change that fact.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#10)
    by Edger on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 05:11:54 AM EST
    Like it or not, these actions are what's known as Bush League p-o-l-i-t-i-c-s and are fairly commonplace in Washington since 2001. Sieg Heil.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 05:41:53 AM EST
    But Bush is such a great communicator, he'll pull his numbers up, you just wait and see! Oh, sorry, I was channeling PPJ there for a minute.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#12)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 05:47:42 AM EST
    Hmmmm. I think the fact that the program is supported by a large majority of the American people will have a bit to say in this... edger - Congratulations! You have hit the bullseye on Goodwin's Law! And only after what, 9 comments!

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#13)
    by Darryl Pearce on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 06:12:22 AM EST
    I guess Ralphie was right: You're either a bully, a toady, or one of the hapless rabble of victims.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#14)
    by Sailor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 06:32:09 AM EST
    Now ya see here folks, this is just a prime example of trolling. ppj's deliberate misuse of 'goodwin' no matter how many times the actual fact of Godwin's law has been pointed out, linked to, including a link to Mike Godwin himself, he insists on deliberately getting the facts wrong. If he does so on such a well founded fact, just imagine the lengths he'll go to to distort important things. Prime example:Wall St Urinal Poll
    ...shows Bush's approval rating at 39 percent [...] On the politically charged subject of domestic wiretapping, 51 percent approve of the administration's use of these wiretaps -- without a court order -- to monitor the conversations between al-Qaida suspects and those living in the United States, compared with 46 percent who disapprove. However, 56 percent say they're concerned that such wiretaps could be misused and could violate a person's privacy.
    So no matter how vicious karl rove is, he fails to take into account that bush not showing up to campaign is probably a blessing for those candidates.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 06:37:09 AM EST
    JimakaPPJ Hmmmm. I think the fact that the program is supported by a large majority of the American people will have a bit to say in this... Why do you even bother repeating lies like this? A large majority of the American people do not support the idea that the President can tap their phone calls without a warrant...

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#16)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 06:56:08 AM EST
    Jesurgislac writes:
    Why do you even bother repeating lies like this? A large majority of the American people do not support the idea that the President can tap their phone calls without a warrant...
    And why do you keep making a false claim? The issue is warrantless surveillance of calls from/to terrorits in international locations from/to people in the US. sailor - I have linked to Goodwin's Law several times. Now, if you disagree with my source, fine. But your disagreement doesn't make it wrong. And the link edger used, "sieg heil," calls Bush a Nazi in unmistakable terms. And note how you attack me, which is a clever way of getting off topic, and blaming me. Good grief.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#17)
    by Lora on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 06:57:33 AM EST
    Okay, this is a perfect example of what I've been talking about, only now applying to the Republicans. This is not just political hardball, this is white phosphorus. Rove, a.k.a. the Repressive Right Smear Machine, is armed and ready to not only take out any Dem who dares to stand up for him/herself, he is ready to take out any Repub who doesn't follow the party line. And you can bet he won't just withdrsw support. He will smear utterly, politically and personally, that individual and his/her family if possible. He will take no prisoners. We have seen it happen. He has a lock on the Mouthpiece Media that will do his dirty work for him. Our (actually) elected officials of both parties are afraid, and with good reason. We have to expose Rove and support those who wish to act according to their conscience, and we have to provide cover for them so their political careers and personal lives will not be utterly damaged if they do so.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 08:06:28 AM EST
    If this is true than wouldn't it be fair to say Rove is now willing to work for a Democratic Majority in the Senate and House if he doesn't get his way? In other words. He's will gladly to cut off his own Penis to spite his face. Oh well, no big deal.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 08:11:59 AM EST
    Looks like we now know Rover was the one wielding the Hammer in the house. Don't we.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#23)
    by oldtree on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 08:47:45 AM EST
    extortion? sure, no doubt at all. giving them an option to be destroyed by his orders, or by their constituents finding out their man is bought and paid for. except for the elections being rigged, should be a lot of fun. Maybe there will be such a high percentage of voters that they can't even try to make up the results like last time,s. love watching you babies that don't understand truth, except as you create it. Always fun to see low life dig deeper. You can't stand reality, so you create it to fit. must be fun trying to understand how life keeps whacking you in the pie hole

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#22)
    by Sailor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 09:56:00 AM EST
    jim, it doesn't matter how many times you link to a lie, it is still al lie. [deleted] Once again, you repeated a lie in your response to Jesurgislac saying you are wrong about "I think the fact that the program is supported by a large majority of the American people" You replied: "And why do you keep making a false claim?" But polls have been shown, (from conservative sources I might add) that only 51% agree with you in the most limited question. 51% is not a 'large majority', therefore you have just deliberately lied again. [deleted]

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 09:57:40 AM EST
    Thank God, it's about time they started playing hardball. The first headline grabbing loser that ought to go is good ole Senator Spector. I can't wait for the day they shelf this turn coat.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#18)
    by Edger on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:04:37 AM EST
    And the link edger used, "sieg heil," calls Bush a Nazi in unmistakable terms. Glad to see that occassionally your reading and comprehension skills can handle processing 2 words: Sieg Heil, and actually get it right, and understand the writer's meaning. Very, very good! Maybe we're seeing some sign of improvement here however small? [remainder deleted, please drop the personal attacks]

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#24)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:06:12 AM EST
    sailor - I am curious as to your meaning of:
    51% agree with you in the most limited question.
    How about linking us to the actual poll and the actual questions? As for your untoward comments calling me a liar, I find that typical of you. You might also read edger's reply:
    Glad to see that occassionally your reading and comprehension skills can handle processing 2 words: Sieg Heil, and actually get it right, and understand the writer's meaning.
    Now who understood what he meant? You or edger? edger - Thanks for helping me correct sailor's misunderstanding. As for the rest of comments, doesn't all the bile in your stomach cause indigestion? I find your comments mildly amusing and ill written, which demonstrates why in the past you went directly to more objectional expressions. Couldn't you find a song to quote? No........?? (Think of raised eyebrows and a puzzled expression.) et al - Really, how can you complain about hardball politics? Heck, Rove probably learned his techniques by studying at one of acknowledged best. Lyndon Johnson, a fairly well known Democrat President?

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#25)
    by soccerdad on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:32:57 AM EST
    as usual PPJ feels that the members of the Judicary Committee should put politics above the law. Hardball politics is one thing, breaking the law is something else. Of course Bush is the law according to rethugs

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:36:50 AM EST
    The issue is warrantless surveillance of calls from/to terrorits in international locations from/to people in the US. No. The issue is warrantless surveillance of phone calls made by US citizens. Why do you keep lying about this, Jim?

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:38:52 AM EST
    Professor Godwin (of Godwin's Law) has a blog, which I hadn't realized. And there's a post on President Bush and Warrantless Wiretaps! How appropriate.

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#28)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 10:42:16 AM EST
    Considering how well support from Bush worked out for Kilgore in the Virginia governor's race, shouldn't the threat be that if they don't play along then Mr. Unpopular will show up to campaign for them?

    Re: Report: Rove Threatens Senators With Blacklist (none / 0) (#29)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Feb 07, 2006 at 11:31:33 AM EST
    Jesurgislac Why do you keep using the word "lying?" It is an attack word and really says that you don't want to debate. The issue is this. The NSA, according to all information I have seen, says that what they are doing is surveillance on communications between known/suspected terrorists and persons within the US. Some of these persons may be "citizens." The calls may orginated by the known/suspected terrorist outside the US to insi