I recently had the pleasure of participating with several bloggers on a conference call with Missouri Senator Kit Bond.
http://bond.senate.gov/public/
Senator Bond is very serious about national security, yet what I did not know about him before the conference is what a great sense of humor he has. He effortlessly moved back and forth between vital matters and lighthearted moments depending on the question being asked.
With that, I present some remarks from Senator Kit Bond.
“Our national security policy is in disarray. Everything being done is about politics. The other side closed Gitmo. They released the CIA memos. They released photos of detainee abuse. Yet the one thing they won’t release is what they actually plan to do to protect us. The question should be, what exactly is this administration’s policy?”
“As for the memos they released, this is not cherry-picking season in Washington. They should release the memos honestly, showing that what we did worked.”
“President Obama has so demoralized the CIA that they are now known as the CYA.”
“The CIA wants to know, does President Obama have their back, or does he want to stab them in the back?”
“Our agents don’t know what they can do. The detainees know that we can’t use harsh techniques.”
“How many of you actually believe that Nancy Pelosi and the other top Democrats had no idea what was going on? The Gang of Four on the Intelligence Committee include the majority and minority leadership.”
“Jay Rockefeller and Nancy Pelosi were briefed by the CIA. We gave the CIA funding. The 2006 authorization bill required that more information about what methods were being used be given.”
“By a vote of 15-0, Jay Rockefeller and Carl Levin supported the high value program.”
“Speaker Pelosi could have altered the CIA budget. She could have ordered a closed session of Congress. She could have written a letter. She did none of those things.”
“What is the administration going to do to protect us?”
“All they want to do is prosecute the last administration. This is not the time for looking backward.”
“The Democrats’ plan can be summed up in a couple of words…’beats me.'”
“Their strategy is ready, fire, aim. They closed Gitmo, but have no idea what to do with the combatants there.”
“They are reversing the progress made under President George W. Bush. He kept us safe for 7 1/2 years after 9/11. He took action after years of doing nothing. Nothing was done after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Nothing was done after the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Nothing was done after the U.S.S. Cole bombing. Finally, President Bush did something. Now we have no policy at all.”
“The Democrats won the election. They have the ball. What will they do?”
“I hope and pray that there is not another attack.”
“These are not white collar criminals we are fighting. They are deadly combatants.”
“I talked to Attorney General Eric Holder. I told him it was very bad policy to release the memos.”
“Carl Levin said that Washington authorized the Abu Gharaib behavior. This nonsense has to stop. Senator Levin said that the issue was bipartisan. That is not the case.”
Senator Bond was asked about what he thought of Al Gore’s recent speech on environmental issues. Senator Bond, very quick with a quip, responded, “When Al Gore spoke, I was busy sorting my sock drawer.”
With regards to Gitmo detainees, Senator Bond did not hold back, stating that “The ACLU was the driving force behind their release.”
While I completely agree with Senator Bond on issues of politics and policy, nobody is perfect. When the conversation switched to sports, I came close to recommending his impeachment. He would probably be a fun guy to watch a ballgame with, but on football issues I am right and he is wrong.
“The St. Louis Cardinals had a tough day yesterday. I was having dinner with George Will when Albert Pujols hit a grand slam. George is the country’s number one Cubs fan. It was tough.”
Various bloggers asked various questions, but some real lighthearted banter occurred when one of the bloggers mentioned that they were reporting from the East Bay in California. The blogger had a concern.
I opened up my mouth and said, “Your problem should be worrying about the Raiders and their draft picks.”
I expressed my fandom of the Raiders as well before telling the Senator that “I live in the People’s Republican of California.”
The Senator was not empathetic, nor should he be. I continued.
“I live here for the weather, which is the only thing that left hasn’t taxed yet…”
Senator Bond is lightning quick, and he interjected.
“Actually they have, it’s called cap and trade. It is coming soon. Cap and trade is coming, and that is a huge tax increase. By the way, I just realized that I cut you off. I need to let you ask your question.”
Everybody on the call laughed, and Senator Bond was just getting warmed up. The guy is genuinely funny. I continued.
“Can we just release the Gitmo detainees into Nancy Pelosi’s district in San Francisco? Also, how soon do you think it will be before the government there insists on giving the Gitmo detainees the right to gay marriages?”
The Senator laughed, and fired back with the one line that should never be crossed with me.
“We should send them to Alcatraz. Speaking of Alcatraz, you brought up the Raiders. Being from Missouri, I am a Chiefs fan. I can tell you about Raider fans.”
There was laughter all around with his remark and my retort.
“I will show deference only because you are a sitting Senator, but we disagree.”
The Senator had the last word.
“Well then later on today, call my office about the issue, and I will have you directed to a staff member that actually gives a d@mn.”
Senators are not supposed to be so sharp toungued, but when the conversation turns to football, there is no middle ground. There is good and evil, and evil must be destroyed. The problem is the Senator thinks that the Raiders are the problem, whereas obviously it is the Chiefs at fault in that rivalry.
Senator Bond and I do not agree on football, but in terms of what is right for our country, Senator Bond gets it. America and the Republican Party is lucky to have his distinguished service. It was a pleasure to speak with him.
eric