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Talking Points Memo:

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) fired back today at the assertion yesterday by John Brennan, President Obama's top counterterrorism adviser, that four Republicans didn't object when Brennan told them in December that suspected Flight 253 bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was being held in FBI custody.

Hoekstra didn't dispute Brennan's account that he was one of four Republicans who was briefed by Brennan shortly after Abdulmutallab's arrest. But Hoekstra maintained that they were only told that Abdulmutallab was in FBI custody.

Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo

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Comments

[Luv2Purple]

Let's actually examine the FACTS (damn, this already looks bad for rethuglicans if we're talking FACTS): Ok - the WTC was bombed under CLinton, who CAUGHT the terrorists, TRIED & CONVICTED them and they've been in jail ever since! Bush JR on the other hand gave his "we're on a crusade" speech followed by his "dead or alive" boldness and Bin Laden is STILL ON THE LOOSE. Obama is actually going after the guys who attacked us, rather than the Iraqi's who went after his daddy. Obama also GOT the PIRATES didn't he? So we have the ALL HAT NO CATTLE Texan who did nothing to keep us safe...but the Dems seem to actually want to go after the bad/evil doers. All the rethuglicans (including Ms. Speak to the Hand Comrade Palin) want to spread fear....and loathing too. Shame on them! God Bless America - God damn these lying hypocrites!!!

[ReedYoung]

Note to the headline author: calling Abdulmutallab "Christmas Day Bomber" serves al Qaida's interests. Calling him "Captain Underpants" or "Fruit of the Boom" serves Americans' interest: not being terrified of lunatics.

[CANYOUTELLME]

Uhm.. Hoekstra... Sir... if you have any brains in your head.... you would know this....

1) When arrested, you have the RIGHT to remain silent; you also have the right to an Attorney and if you cannot afford one, then one will be appointed for you by the gov't. These rights are rules of LAW that pertain to everyone

2) Mirandizing someone doesn't GIVE a person those rights. All it does is INFORMS them of the rights that they have as exist under US LAW which is governed by our US CONSTITUTION.

So, whether he was read his rights or not means absolutely nothing... the rights exists... period... whether you like it or not.

I bet no one likes that completely obviously guilty murd.ere.rs and th.ug.s who are cought in the act of crimes are also afforded those same rights. Those rights exist for a REASON.... it's CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED.

As said earlier... Reading someones Rights (Mirandizing) is just informing the accused of what is constitutionally theirs until convicted of such crimes.

Like it or not, the US Constitution is what our gov't and society in the US is based on. Don't like it? CHANGE The Constitution. Until then, S. T. F. U.

Have a nice day

[bilmardre]

The GOP is either playing politics with our National Security now, when they criticize this administration for doing the same thing the Bush administration did, or they were playing politics with our National Security then, when they disagreed with Bush but said nothing.
Either way what is clear is they have played politics with our National Security, and that is something that is inexcusable.

[ReedYoung]

Congress has some right to be *informed* of major law enforcement & intel operations, but not to micro-manage as Hoekstra presumes to do. The *execution* of both law enforcement and national defense is the domain of the Executive Branch. What Hoekstra is attempting is treasonous, and smells of a coup attempt. If he has any "ideas" he thinks the President or counter-terrorism professionals would benefit from knowing, Hoekstra ought to observe this simple guideline for working with people who are on the same side:

"Praise publicly; criticize privately."

[Terry Santiago]

Because, Pete Hoekstra soooo reliable. Right! I'm sure this like everything is a typical Republican spin. The spin they are able to do with closed door meetings claiming they weren't told something. When I all reality they were. It's almost shameful of these figure head morons in the Republican party to not realize that their divisive tactics do in fact aide those who want to cause us harm. When they see those at the highest offices in government debating actually debating and withholding crucial nominations in offices that have everything to do with National Security and no room for politics. It emboldens our enemies. Shows them our weaknesses and in the face of adversity our only action is to point fingers instead of getting the job accomplished.

[jde]

Hmm. Hoekstra has a tough choice to make:

Come off as not even remotely qualified to keep his job...
Or come off as a Iiar...

He went for the former. Great job.

[urojen]

This is what happens when you elect a guy who failed his"civic" test! Tom Tancredo, the tea party chief is right!! He was warning us against all republicans who have no clue as to what is in the constitution! Tancredo is coming out of the closet!!

[jon86]

So, he is essentially saying I make law, but I know nothing about it.

[jsgaetano]

Why do conservatives hate America and our freedoms?

[Helanren]

Hoekstra is a fraud.

[cityspeak]

Oh wait ...he says he was informed but didn't realize that being in custody included being "read your rights".

So note to the FBI when debriefing Republicans please use visual aides, simple cartoons and bright colors and simple one syllable words, something like this: Bomb, boom, bad man, now in jail, good, freedom wins, invade Iran.

[TremoluxMan]

This guy's a lying, self-aggrandizing sack of canine feces.

[unhipcat]

"He's in FBI custody."
"Oh, thanks."
The guy asks no followup question and claims to be credible intel, counterterrorism expert?
How Palinesque.

[Gaylord P Farqua]

Pete needs develop to some answers to the residents of Michigan whom he hopes to lead as their Governor as to why he stood by and let the nation's economy tank rather than worry about how the "Mr. Bean" of terrorism was handled.