CNN

Jack, NO! This issue is not worth Pelosi's resignation or relinquishment of any power.
In 2002 and 2003, all Democrats were bullied repeatedly by the Bush administration to shut up and let the war happen...anyone who disagreed was publicly villified! And since Pelosi herself never authorized the waterboarding (that was Cheney!), whatever knowledge she had was peripheral, and less than top GOP'ers knew at that time I am sure!

I would MUCH rather Pelosi be third in line to the Oval office than Dick Cheney OR Newt Gingrich! This is a small and insignificant issue....and it happened 7 years ago!

How about this..... if the GOP wants to persue this line of inquiry....then the Dems get to pursue Bush, Cheney, Gonzalez, etc, etc etc.......Watch what you wish for, GOP.

Why does it matter if she knew about the torture? Nobody would have questioned the Bush regime because that would have been seen as unpatriotic at that time.

Yes. It's way past time. She is a horrible leader.

I don't care a wit about Pelosi. Like most in congress-she lies. Yet, as bad as that may be, I sorely doubt that the CIA was honest and candid with her about anything. Doubtless, they fed her lies, CIA thats what they do.

Any reason for her to step aside is a good one. She is a polarizing influence and Obama's program would benefit from someone that is more of team player.

Chatham, VA

Jack,
Yes. From day one the Iraq war has smell fishy and we the people need to get a full understanding of it we have lost over 5 thousand of our best man and woman trillion of dollars yes we the peopld need to know.

Republicans going after Pelosi about misleading the Congress on what she knew about the torture. If she is found guilty then the Congress needs to find the president and vice president guilty too for misleading the them and misleading our country and the rest of the world.

no jack I don't think nancy pelosi should step down. She is doing a great job and she is one beautiful woman.

A Rasmussen poll out today indicates that more Americans believe Pelosi than believe the CIA. The media is out of touch on this matter. I have not seen any media person point out that the Democrats were out of power and Pelosi was not leader at the time of the alleged meetings. Even if she had been told everything about the waterboarding–which is not established–imagine what the republicans would have said at the time had she made it public, contrary to law. Pelosi did not authorize waterboarding and had no control over it. But the media have obliged the Republicans by focusing on this bogus controversy and ignoring the bombshells in last week's congressional hearings.

Jack,

Republicans not only rubber-stamped these techniques, they also propagandized the run up to the war in Iraq and the war itself in order to paint nay-sayers as unpatriotic and in some cases traitorous. Ironically, they are playing the same game when they say Pelosi is being unsupportive of the intelligence community. This from the same folks that decried the CIA for giving them 'false information' on WMDs that lead to the war in Iraq–even though we all know they went out of their way to manufacture the case for war DESPITE the intelligence. Meanwhile, there are only two possibilities. Either the CIA misled the Congress, as Pelosi states, or everyone, including Democrats knew about torture. Either way, the uproar over whether Pelosi knew or not does not change the fact that it is clearly illegal, isn't proven to work, and was seemingly ordered directly by the VPOTUS. Besides, the very nature of Republicans' arguments implies that if she did know, as they want to claim, that they would have expected her to shout from the rooftops that waterboarding was, indeed torture. It's like insisting that robbing a bank isn't a crime, and then when you get caught, blaming the teller for not taking the robbery seriously enough to have taken a bullet to stop you. Pathetic.

Absolutely not! This is such an obvious partisan attack. Republicans have been trying to demonize Pelosi for years. Where is their outrage over their leader who not only lied to us–"We do not torture."– but also authorized torture? Puhlease give me a break.

Does anyone else find this entire arguement as ridiculous as I do? We wouldn't be having this discussion if the American people weren't lied to in order to start this war in the first place!!

Perhaps this negative attention which is OBVIOUSLY being stired up by the bitter right wing should be directed at the VERY person who started this mess. Mr BUSH himself!!

Nancy Pelosi has done nothing but polarize Congress with her ineptitude, ignorance, and lying to the American public.
She like every other politician in Washington doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut when ignorant of the facts or trying to cover-up her past mis-steps. Her rationale of not doing something about torture techniques whenever she later supposedly found out about them due to "lack of standing" is preposterous. This damn women at that time was the 3rd highest elected official in this country and Speaker of theHouse - what more standing do you need!!!!
If she wasn't paying attention to these briefings shame on her!!!
She has seriously undermined her role as Speaker of the House in trying to cover-up and change her story, particularly about last week's accusations againest the CIA when confronted directly by Panetta.
Her, BONER, McConnell and all others in leadership positions and on the the Intelligence Cmtes properly were briefed by Bush officials just so they could say or do anything.
Nevertheless, its time they all shut and resigned and lets get this mess investigated, people charged and prosecuted, disbarred, or whatever to ensure no future repeats by anyone!!!!!
Congress– heal thy self!!!!!

Absolutely. I live in Ca. Most people here think she's an idiot, and she must think we are all idiots to believe her story. It's the same old Dem. story say what you think people want to here, "I voted yes for the war on Iraq, wait a minute I'm being told that I didn'y vote yes, I voted MAYBE!!"

I think you mean Pelosi not Pelsoi and yes it is and has been for a long time. Step down Nancy and leave that job to someone who knows how to do it.

Tino, NYC

Jack it is not ready for Pelsoi to step down as Speaker of the House. The republicans just want to see a democrat fail, and just use it in the election. To me Pelsoi isn't at fault its just the Bush Admin. fault. So just blame the Bush Admin.

I don't think Pelosi should step down. Why doesn't someone explain why Newt Gingrich stepped down?

I believe every word she says! The Bush adminstration, under Dick Cheney, lied about everything- the outing of a CIA agent, the build up to the war, intimating that there were atomic weapons there, the ingnoring of the information about 9/11, the illegal wire tapping, the torture, and so on and so on. They are telling lies now and it is beyond me how any of them can even show their faces after what their policies have done to to world. Pelosi will prove her truth.
Why news outlets have such headlines because a couple of lying right wing poiticians aare calling for this is beyond journalism

For how many years have we heard of the waterboarding going on at GitMo? Why doesn't Sen. Polosi know about this? Is she that uninformed or is she just not telling the truth? Which is it Nancy?

No, not yet. If it can be proven that she lied then she gets the boot.
The thing that bothers me is I can't remember what happened yesterday. Given all of the intel and info that was flying around D.C. then, I'm not so sure I would be able to recall exactly what was said at any one briefing.
I'm no big fan of Pelosi, but I do think there is a rush to judgement.

It would be more fitting to have an internal investigation of the CIA as their history indicates they aren't beacons of of justice and the American way.

House Minority Leader John Boehner made similar accusations against the CIA but he conveniently forgot about this before spouting off against Pelosi.

Jack No this is nothing but a republican ploy to take the eye Off Bush Cheney, Rumsfeld ,And the Rest Of the war criminals .
It seems almost like Black Mail Ms Speaker Do not investigate Our Holy Leaders Or we will embarrass you and make life untenable for you .And do our Damned set to force you out of your seat I mean an Eye for an eye OK in your case A Perls for a newt. Newt

Hi Jack

Now is not the time for the speaker to down, instead she needs to stand up for her self, Now I'm not sure what she was told or knew, I 'm sure that she got a lot of half truth's for Dick and his GOP mates on what they were going to do or more likely what they have done already. I do live in the real world and she may have had a ideal of what was going on just as a lot of congress Rep and Dem's knew. If she wants to turn the table's on the GOP I would tell everything that I knew that is not classfied intell and make the CIA tell what they told her because after all they have to keep records of everything that they do , The American People just want to TRUTH. Now jack wouldn't that be nice.

Thank Jack

The country is weary of the sharp edged partisanship exhibited by Pelosi. The country does need it and the President certainly doesn't. The President is clearly trying to reach out to Republicans and Pelosi is undercuting his efforts. Further, having an extreme left winger as a voice for the Democrats is like Pelosi is like waving a red flag at a bull to Republicans/conservatives and makes any cooperation more difficult. It is time we started thinking about what is good for the country, not the political parties.

This again shows that the Republicans are sore losers. America made our choice–they should catch on the facts we are sick of this, if they dont I see the end of their party right around the corner. They are literally distroying themselves.

Personnally, I don't think she has the leadership skills to be Speaker of the House. People have to understand that tenure does not necessarily make you a good leader. It just means you've been there the longer than most people. That said, Pelosi is STILL the Speaker of the House.

But Jack, don't you like how the GOP has spun this into a Pelosi issue about what she knew and when she knew it. The bottom line is: Cheney, Bush, Rummy and Rove allowed waterboarding. They made it happen, not Pelosi.

Pelosi needs to quit being so defensive about something that had nothing to do with CIA conducting enhanced interrogation under the orders of Bush. Knowledge after the fact doesn't make you an accessory.

Yes she should not only step down , she should go home!

This is a tempest in a teapot. Gingrich is a kneejerk right-wing blowhard who lied to the country and congress about much more critical matters than what the CIA told him. He even told the lies about the very behavior, and beyond, that he had W. Clinton impeached for.

As for Panetta, he wasn't in the meetings in questions. Just because it isn't CIA policy to lie doesn't mean it doesn't happen. He also said he didn't see any contemporaneous documents stating, "We lied to Speaker Pelosi about torturing prisoners". That too doesn't mean it didn't happen. While I don't particularly trust "change her story" Pelosi, I trust the "slam dunk" CIA even less. So unless these knee-jerk right-wing Repubs can come with anything more convincing than he said - she said evidence, I do not think it is appropriate for them to stage yet another purely political impeachment.

I've never liked Pelosi. She exemplifies what is wrong with the leadership in Washington, whether it be Democrat or Republican: mealy-mouthed, vain, and egotistical to the extreme.

Whether Nancy Pelosi lied about knowing what was being done by Bush and Cheney is not of much important to me. What is important is that the Republicans are trying to get the attention on her and off of themselves. They should be agreeing with most of the Country and get to the end of this debachle and let the awful truth of what the Bush administration did to our reputation and prisoners and then move on. How can anyone call themselves deeply religious and allow the cruel and illegal treatment of prisoners to happen?

holy jesus jack this lady should have never got the job in the first place she was hired because shes a woman not because she was the best choice our country is screwing up big time listhening to activist.

She has no business being in any office, let alone, Speaker of the House. She needs to go back to California and stay there, quietly. Every single time she opens her mouth, both feet get stuck in it!

Divisive people do more harm than good in politics. Goodbye, Nancy.

Yes

Absolutely. Without a doubt. She has lost all credibility with her changing stories. Her speeches speak more of desparation than truth.

Has everyone suddenly got amnesia, does no one remember the IranContra debacle and how the CIA and Whitehouse lied like dogs about it. Give me a break, the CIA never lies, what planet are you on.

I'm wondering why doesn't someone talk to Former Sen of Fl Bob Graham who for over 30 yrs kept records each and every day from the time he got up till he went to bed.He himself stated on MSNBC to Rachel that the CIA said they met with him 4 times when he had it on his spiral notebooks it was one time.Mr Graham was even photograph with one of his popular sprial notebooks.Hillary herself had spoke about the CIA.Didn't Barry Goldwater go through the same thing Nancy Pelosi is going through now.The Party of No want to divert their attention off of Bush/Cheney along with Rove,Libby and Rumsfeld.

As much as we would like it to be, lying to the American people is not a crime. If it were most elected officials would have to step down from office. The Speaker is playing to her base, and this is just politics as usual. And you can't ask a politician to step down for playing politics

Niall
Los Angeles, CA

It is the season for, "Change," in Washington. So, why not she step down for a,"Change."

I will start by stating that I am not particularly fond of Nancy Pelosi. I think she is a hypocritical, liar, and she has become a cancer to the American people. However, this behavior has been accepted, if not encouraged, by the current administration and Majority leaders.

Pelosi is arguing that she was not briefed by the Bush administration, the CIA or her committee members regarding the methods used in interrogations. As Speaker of the House, Pelosi's job includes administering the oath of office to House Members and leading the appointment process for chairs of various committees.

This argument contains numerous flaws. Nancy Pelosi has opposed the Bush administration from the beginning, and therefore, her moral duty requires her to question anything they claimed as truth. She has repeatedly stated the CIA has a history of lying or misleading, which should have prompted her to investigate their statements. Furthermore, she is the person that appoints the committee members. Therefore, it is her fault if she appointed deceptive or incompetent people. More importantly, it is obvious that she is lying about what she knew and when she knew it, which makes me believe she is not qualified to administer any oath to anyone.

Pelosi should not only resign for failure to adequately perform her duties as Speaker of the House; she should resign because she is a disgrace to her appointed position, the American people, and the state of Maryland.

-Baltimore, Maryland

Jack,

The far left started an tsunami that has engulfed Pelosi. Let's see who gets caught up in it next. By the way, if water boarding is unacceptable torture, then what about simple incarceration? That would be considered torture too by some. The left can't have it both ways. We should give the prisoners a home next to all those who wish that they would be set free.

Mark in Saint Louis

For God's sake, YES! I can't even imagine why she is the Speaker in the first place. She is devisive, not well spoken and just seems to be out of touch, even with her own party, and get this I'm pretty much a Democrat.

Didn't this come up in the election? Didn't all the Congress persons acknowledge they knew? Wasn't ending waterboarding campaign promises from McCain and Obama?

I just don't know how she can sit there and say she didn't know. When you combine this with the other stupid things she's done in the recent past,ie "political junkets (family in tow) to accept an Honarary Degree in Rome" on the tax payers nickle. It's clear the only interests she is interested in promoting is her own.

She just needs to resign and then retire...perhaps even try to get a job in this economy, oh yeah that's right the taxpayers have to provide her with a salary for the rest of her life, BROTHER!

Jack,
While the repubs kept using "the rule of law" thruout the Bush admin,
obviously they were unaware of the part of the constitution that calls for the separation of church and state. We all are aware that "enhanced interrogation techs" were used. Let that sleeping dog lay or there'll no one left in congress or intelligence agencies.

Yes, in fact all of the congressmen & senators that had jobs during the Bush Administration need to all be replaced with younger, newer people. We cant just blame Bush for this crappy economy that is forcing millions to struggle. Congress created this mess. I am a registered democrat but I still say get rid of them all, especially Pelosi whose latest coverup just adds to the unnecessary political soap opra going on in Washington when this country still has people starving, stupid, and scared. Lets get back to the real issues please.

If Pelosi is lying about being misled and falsely accusing the CIA to cover her political backside then yes, she should probably step down as Speaker.

If, however, what she says is true then the officials be they CIA and/or Bush administration officials should be held accountable.

Put the proof out there and let the chips fall where they may.

Yes, in fact all of the congressmen & senators that had jobs during the Bush Administration need to all be replaced with younger, newer people. We cant just blame Bush for this crappy economy that is forcing millions to struggle. Congress created this mess. I am a registered democrat but I still say get rid of them all, especially Pelosi whose latest coverup just adds to the unnecessary political soap opra going on in Washington when this country still has people starving, stupid, and scared. Lets get back to the real issues please.

Latoya – Charlotte, NC

I hope she stands her ground. If she stepped down it would be playing right into the hands of the Republicant's. We must no longer abide by the type of thinking that is commonplace in the GOP. If I would give Nancy any advise it would be, don't think you can ever win by arguing with the insane. The conservatives are insane and they are unable to see it.

Whom to believe? Whom to believe, Jack?! Let's see Bush & Dick lied about many things, including the real reason to attack Iraq!

The GOP is the party of NO, of hate, lies, fear and division!

They have created the Nancy Pelosi "drama" to distract from the REAL issue...... that Bush & Dick sanctioned ........ torture!

Hell no Jack. The GOP have been gunning for her for a long time now. Why? She's effective at rallying the dems. Neither Gringrich or Baynor know what happened during that breifing – they weren't there. Panetta only has access to 'contemporeneous notes'. Notes written after a meeting aren't all that likely to be complete and it is conceivable as well that the person who wrote the notes was lying. It seems that there was a basic pattern of supression of information during the Bush/ Cheney years. This is all just hype on the GOPs part to detract from the real issues.
Tim in Texas

It's seems to me that either she has to go or CIA Director, Leon Panetta. One of these parties is lying to the American People. Whoever that is, don't let the door hit ya....

Steve in Virginia

Time has come and gone for her to step down or get kicked out. Never did like her “Holier Than Thou” attitude. She is a prime example of the type of person that should never be trusted with power.

The really sad thing is that I am a Democrat saying all of this. Just imagine what Republicans are saying

Jack,

Nancy Pelosi has been from the day she came in as Speaker to present day, a huge disappointment. From promising to Impeach then president Bush, to many other promises that were never fulfilled. Now she is trying to save whatever is left of her career and herself from being the next pariah of the house by lying and dodging questions she easily could have answered and been truthful about. By stating the truth, one can truly apologize and move on, but all she is doing is digging a bigger grave by lying and not being direct to the people. If she doesn't step down and admit her faults, the people in her district might not want her as their representation anymore. Nancy Pelosi, tear down this wall of lies!

Jack,

She should either acknowledge she lied or admit she does not comprehend the information she receives (confirming that she has achieved her highest point of her incompetence) or that she is merely pandering to far left ranting so she can maintain her base.

Lets get real, she wants a smoke screen so we won’t ask how she and Reid could back and get a bill passed with a thousand pages that no one reads. Give me a break, this congress needs to get to work and get focused. Enough of the misdirection tactics by the Democrats, what they fear is we are all starting to realize that they are not doing their job.

She needs to go.

Jack,
NO! Who cares?! The GOP! Get this economy back on track, so my husband can build more cabinents for the aerospace industry. This is why I swiched parties. The GOP has lost all focus & respect!
God Bless,
Sandy, wichita,Kansas

It is time for her to tell all of her critics to shut up and continue on with her job. She should quit trying to explain and just stonewall. Nothing will be gained by talking to a group of enemies who will stop at nothing trying to nail her to the wall.

Jack,
She has to go. Anyone who can be honest does not deserve to be that close to being president

It's way past time for Pelosi to step down. She's an embarrassment to this country.

If we don't have an investigation of Bush and all that happened during that era I say Nancy Pelsoi shouldn't step down as Speaker of the House. Newt Gingrich needs to crawl back under the rock he came from.

nancy pelosi was not my choice for speaker of the house,congressman stoyer was because i felt he had better qualifications.i am not aganist pelosi because she is a woman,there are plenty of women qualified for the job.maybe the bush administration did not inform her as to what was going on but i believe the cia did,she is in too powerful position not to have been informed.she should resign asap and have someone else take up this important position

Its time for her to step down, only if she's been found to have done something illegal. But, then again, everyone knows Bush and cronies committed illegal acts and they were never forced out of office. Double Standard? Sexism? Which is it?

She shouldn't step down–what if she's right??? It's not like the CIA hasn't lied before!

Yes!

First person in line to assume the Office of President is the Vice President. The second person in line to assume the Office of President is The Speaker of the House.

This is not about Pelosi stepping down. It's the Republicans making sure that if some of them go to trial for recommending and initiating tortune, then the Speaker will go down with them.

The news reports I've heard from other lawmakers back Pelosi's version that C.I.A. breifings given Congress in the fall of 2002 did not reveal that waterboarding was in use. Have any Republicans stepped forward to say "yes, I was told in September 2002 that the C.I.A. was waterboarding" ?

Jack,it is way past time for Ms.Pelosi to go,I really don't trust the CIA that much,but "The Wicked Witch of the West" scares the hell out of me!!

It amazes me how fast the American media can turn a legitimate issue like torture into a partisan blame-fest. Last time I checked, Pelosi didn't order and demand clearance to waterboard people irregardless of the law. The Bush administration did, so why aren't we focusing on them?!

It is time for both political parties to stop acting like children bickering about politics and start to honestly tackle the problems the country continues to face.

this woman should be simply fired from her position.

Jack,
Let's use the same ruler to measure ALL indiscretions by Congress (OK, all of Government) and then use the same standards of "punishment."
Sure she should go, but who should stay???

Yes I really do !!!!!!!

If the CIA managed to bamboozle Colin Powell, why on Earth should we believe that they wouldn't lie to Pelosi (who wasn't Speaker at the time.)?

The whole arguement is an attempt to misdirect the outrage away from the people who ORDERED AND COMMITTED the torture.

Yes, she has taken the Carrie Prejean defense, blaming everyone but herself.

Jack, its simple. Neither Bush stepped down so why should she. Simply put NO! The GOP will have to find another way to get in play.

She should be dumped–NOW!

Jack, it is far past time for Pelosi to move aside. She has become the most divisive speaker of the house in my memory. She has had and always will have the convenience of her manufactured memories. She says that the CIA did not go into details as to the interrogation methods being used. It is her responsibility to ask questions during those briefings. Although I'm sure the details were provided, even if they weren't, shame on her for not asking probing questions during the briefings.

Pelosi represents everything that is wrong with Washington, where is our change?

I don't believe Pelosi at all. She has got to go.

Nancy Pelosi should either step down or be forced to step down. She is acting more like Princess Pelosi than an elected official. I do not want her in line for the presidency any more than I wanted a moose killing Palin.

Hi Jack,

Complete investigation of Bush admin and Iraq war inevitable?
i believe that it is up to the American people to decide if it is inevitable and I believe that State making decision based on a specific Religion is the worst combo to justify anything!

Pelosi should agree to be investigated and then have the Democrats expand the investigation to include all actions of the Bush Administration with regard to illegal interrogation techniques. If she does that, you'll see Republican hypocrisy moving faster than a space shuttle can fly. How can Gingrich be insisting on Pelosi being investigated while saying those who wrote the torture memos should not? Come on!

It makes perfect sense. Republicans have had this war hanging around their necks for years, and they'll do whatever it takes to deflect some of the attention. Whatever Nancy Pelosi's involvement may have been, it pales in comparison to that of the Republicans who were running the country at the time.

Good heavens no. For almost 8 years the media let Bush and Cheney get away with lies that led to our invasion of Iraq. They have picked up on Cheney's recent p.r. offensive as if it were absolute truth. This flap over Pelosi is all about deflecting attention from any possible investigation of the war crimes and illegal techniques of torture of the Bush administration. You in the media are complicit in enabling this deflection.

Eugene Kerns

jack are you joking!? every body knows that pelosi is right when she said what she said. she should not.

Absolutely. This woman is out of control and her "own house" is filled with sneaky activity. Not a person who should be third in line to govern the US or to make important decisions for the American people.

Frankly, I am quite disgusted and disappointed with the entire legislative body!

Ginann

Hey Jack she is a distraction maybe she should step down. Before she get herself in to deep, apparently she don,t know when to shut up
Maybe we need to help her go home, get yourself together and retire.

David
Martinsburg, WV

Ms. Pelosi should step down. Not only did she fail to stop Bush by denying him the funds he requested to continue the war, but now it appears that she knew torture was being used on detainees and failed to object. Her claim that the CIA lied to her is baseless and a feeble attempt ot avoid blame.

No I do not think Nancy Pelosi should step down. Gingrich, Boehner and all the rest have lived their lives lying. THE GOP IS SO DESPERATE IT IS SICKENING.

As the saying goes he who has not sinned cast the first stone.

No. The vitriolic opposition to Speaker Pelosi's recent comments only reinforces for me the thruth of her remarks. I can't help but rember the Nixon administration's attacks on Woodward and Bernstein.

I say, censures all around! Both sides have called for proof or apologies. The ind. council should be seated to investigate and get everything out on the table.

No way–the GOP is grasping at straws and trying to shift the public's attention on the torture sanctioned by the Bush Administration (against the laws of this country and against our international treaties) any way they can. We need to do what we should do with the war criminals who lied to us–and that's not Nancy Peolsi–try them and punish them appropriately if they are found guilty. The Republican position on this issue is untenable.

This is nothing but a Republican attemp to change the subject and throw roadblocks in Obama's way to try to delay or prevent his platform on health care and so on from being enacted!
It is childish and the media is following along as if it were real news. She could have done nothing about without breaking her congressional oath to begin with-

No, she should not step down. Why? Nothing she could have said or did would have persuaded the Bush Administration to stop the war, waterboarding and who knows what else. Heck, the Bush Administration probably would have put a hint out on her if she screamed too loudly.

I can do without Nancy. Most of all, I want to know who approved torturing. Someone needs to answer for the war crimes. Lets keep our priorities on where the problem started. BTW..did we find the WMD in Iraq yet. I am tired of the GOP smoke screens. Why would the last Administration not testify under oath??

Yes, she should go. Nancy Pelosi offers nothing to the nation. She is a puny, insignificant caricature at a time when we need true leaders. Enough of putting up with the by-product of a mindless seniority system. It's time for Pelosi to go, and make room for a more capable Speaker. -Rob in St. John

It is time for her to step down, wipe the supercilious smirk off her face, get rid of the cool and condescending manner she uses to "explain" reality to those of us poor fools not wise enough to understand politics buy herself a hearing aid, since she can't seem to hear what is said to her in a group, and volunteer to be prosecuted with all the government officials she wants investigated and prosecuted. If anyone is guilty, she is guilty as well.

Speaker Pelosi should get over her hatred for the Bush administration. There are enough issues that need to be addressed without needlessly rehashing the last 8 years.

NO it is not time for Pelosi to step down!!

The CIA told everyone that WMD were a certainty.
The Bush Administration lied about almost everything else.

How many Republican members of Congress did NOTHING?

She should resign only if Bush and Chaney is put on trail. Everyone is looking for a scape goat.
I'll take her over the CIA during the Bush Adminstration any day.The Republicans are only trying to get the heat off of them. That's not working for the public.

To investigate Pelosi's comments is a true waste of tax payers money.. Should she step down over this, plain and simple, No. Much of the CIA briefings that we are being told about are still classified so we don't know the details of what she did not know.

Nancy Pelosi is in way over her head. These are very difficult times. She is too busy trying to save her behind and make herself look good to do what is right for the country. This means: she won't step down unless she is voted out!

Strange how the Gop is screaming about Nancy. Let just say if... if she did know, President Bush had the final say in the process. She should only step down, when Bush and the rest of the GOP is sent to jail.

I will not go into a long winded tirade as would be used in congress. after all... I'm not good at lying as most politicians are. It seems Nancy isn't very good at it either. yes she should step down.

Of course not–the rabid Republican conservatives have been waiting to knock her out because she's from San Francisco, and want to distract us from the real crimes of Bush and Cheney. It's hilarious to hear that great former (former for good reason) Speaker Gingrich calling for her resignation.
Carole Bayer
Boulder CO 80301

No, Nancy should not step down. The attacks on Nancy are attempts to divert attention from Bush and Cheney. Newt is irrelevant.

I DO NOT like Nancy Pelosi....HOWEVER.... I do not believe Nancy Pelosi is lying about the CIA breifings. I distinctly remember Rockefeller (AND Feingold) complaining YEARS AGO of not being adequately briefed by the CIA on ANYTHING. In addition Bob Graham reitterated today, that HE WAS NOT informed about torture in 2002. He ALSO pointed out that ANY CIA briefing that Pelosi's staff would have attended WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN a classified briefing.

In this case, the Repigs are trying to hang Pelosi while covering their OWN tracks, PERIOD!

First of all, if a government official can't tell the american people the truth they should be brought up on charges. Pelosi falls under that category by playing these word games thinking the american people aren't smart enough to see through th BS!!!

Gingrich and friends are like vampires hungry for blood on this one. Please refer them to the remarks made by fellow Republican Phil Graham, who agrees with Pelosi and is know for taking detailed notes of all that is happening in his life. How come we don't hear the Republicans pouncing on him?

My recollection is that George Bush stated that he was the :decider" in all matters such as this. Nancy Pelosi was nothing more than a listener of whatever information the Bush administration deemed she needed to hear. Do you really believe they were forthcoming to her? I say not.

This is an attempt by Republicans to attention away from the people who really need to be investigated.

Does anyone else find this insulting? We wouldn't be having this ridiculous conversation had we not been LIED to in the first place! Perhaps this TRANSPARENT attempt to bring justice to those who violated international laws should start from the TOP all the way down starting with BUSH himself!!!

Nancy Pelosi never should have been Speaker of the House.
She is very dippy and not intelligent enough to handle the job.
I don't beleive a woman should be in that position, because women are too fickle, shaky, have menstrual periods, hot flashes and older women problems.
She can't do the job, she lied and that is the bottom line.
GET RID OF HER –IT IS TOO SCARY FOR HER TO BE THAT CLOSE TO BEING PRESIDENT! THANK HEAVENS HILLARY'S OUT!!

Why ask speaker Nancy to step down because Bush and Cheney ordered torture? I did not know she was personally doing this act, torture, nor odered torture. Let her step down (where she already is located in my opinion)
because she was a coward, she did not start impeachment proceedings against Bus and Cheney. She could have had her time to glory, if that is what one could call it.

It is not up to John Boehner to decide OUR majority leader. He's a Republican, a member of the War Crimes Party. He is trying very hard to distract us from the COMMISSION AND AUTHORIZATION OF WAR CRIMES to the mere possible knowing about them. Guess what? WE ALL KNEW. We screamed and marched and wrote and complained and WE WERE LIED TO by the Republican-led government.

But everything we thought was happening HAPPENED. Tell Mr. Boehner that Mrs. Pelosi will step down one minute after the war crimes trial of the Bush administration.

No, No, No, No. Why should Pelosi step down if we cannot prosecute Bush or Cheney for breaking the law on torture?

Who is Newt anyway?

This is a man who was censured by Congress for lack of ethics, cheated on his wife with his own staffer and went on to shut down the government on purely partisan terms...

Newt is a hypocrite and a has been M.s. Pelosi may have lied but she did not commit any crime. She has no reason to resign. She is doing a good job for the country.

Jack, it`s called shifting the blame to a scapegoat to cover your own butt. Nancy is becoming the scapegoat for the republican party.

Jack – - Why does not everyone in Washington just stop trying to find fault with each other and get down to the business of getting our country back into some semblance of sanity??

Ed Watertown CT

No, she shouldn't step down Jack. This whole thing is ridiculous, she wants to release the notes from the meeting in question, but is unlikely to get approval to declassify them. The republicans are trying to make the most of this. They do this because they don't have any policies to put forward, so they try to tear down a democrat instead. Its just the same old republican attack machine that Americans rejected in the last election. Its just same old, same old from the republicans.

The evidence is with Bob Graham and his compulsive note taking!!! Why do CNN pundits fail to report that a fellow intelligence committee member who is an obsessive compulsive note taker (everything he does, everything he eats and probably a few things we would never want to know) concurred with Pelosi. Come on guys Cheney politicized the military and not the CIA?

Palosi is one cocky politician and this position has gone directly to her head. This woman is a muli-multi millionaire and she feels she does not have to answer to anyone. NOT EVEN THE PRES! Watch and see.
See is a dangerous person to have in that position and needs to step down. But she won't. Don't hold your breathe. If she does, she has something big in her closet she it wants to stay there.

Nancy Pelosi may or may not be qualified to be Speaker of the House. However, this incident is a non-issue when we discuss this. What the Republicans have done, as they always have done, is to shift the discussion away from them. Waterboarding is an illegal torture. Under Bush and Cheney, there was force applied to change this and approval came from the top to do it. When Nancy Pelosi knew and when she knew it doesn't change the fact that the renegade lunatics we had running this country chose to torture people outside of our stated policy. Since they have been snagged, they have tried every excuse possible to deflect the blame. They say the ends justify the means. They say they saved us from attacks. They say Nancy Pelosi knew about it. What was she supposed to do after the fact?

The truth of the matter is Bush and Cheney are war criminals who used illegal torture to justify the war they started by lying to the American People. Nothing Nancy Pelosi knew is going to change that. So Nancy Pelosi seems to have a screw loose. Maybe she should resign as speaker. But none of that changes the fact that Bush and Cheney should be tried as war criminals. The republican's philosophy of the best defense is a good offense is not going to work this time.

Its time to put George Bush and Dick Chainy on trial for treson. Why should we beleive the CIA over anyone. They lied about there being wepons of mass destruction in Irac. Why is it so hard to fathom that they would lie to the congrass about this issue?

No it is not time for Ms. Pelosi to step down. It is time for an independent investigation of who knew what and when. I can imagine that it would be impossible to remember what exactly was said at every briefing 4 to 5 years ago- especially since , as I understand, they don't take notes at most of these meeting due to security issues..

It is time to investigate the CIA and tghe Bush Administration. We have all known they have all been lying to us for the 8 full years of their administration. The CIA is best known community that defects the truth for their own best operations. Lease pelosy alone and go after the real enemy, the Bush Administration and get it over with

Why should she resign. Bill Clinton lied about his affair and did not resign, Bush lied about Iraq and tortures, Hillary Clinton lied about Bosnia experience, Gingrich had his own problems when he was the speaker. The senators lie about their affairs all the time (mostly republicans). The morality of public figures is down to Palin accepting her teenage daughter to get pregnant but opposing abortion seems to make it right. WOW!

What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. Nancy Pelosi is caught in her own web and should step down as speaker of the house and third in line fior the presidency.
Dave, Boise, ID

Pelosi was the one who had to do everything to destroy all she could about the Bush administration years. That's not hard when we're several years down the road and we're a nation that forgets warning of pandemic flu virus 72 hours later. The thing about Pelosi is, she has an inclination for revenge and a get even attitude. Our President should put a muzzle on her like he needs to do with Biden. But my main fear is that Pelosi is THIRD IN THE CHAIN OF COMMAND lineup. Now that's the scariest thought I can have . It even outdoes what would happen if Joe Biden should become President. If I were President Obama I would get rid of her for no other reason than her being stupid!

No, she should not! If you want to say that Nancy Pelosi, and many others, were guilty of looking the other way instead of standing up to the Bush Administration, you'll get no argument from me. But that Nancy Pelosi is now somehow more culpable than the Bush Administration, who put these policies in place, is outright laughable. It's about the policy of torture, not what Nancy Pelosi knew and when she knew it.

Michele,
Millbrae, CA

It is time for her to step aside, she is so typical of what is wrong with the leadership of the USA. She is one of many who think she has unlimited power to do as she pleases at the exspense of the American people, this is what happens when one group is in complete control, we saw it in the last administration and we are seeing in this one also, even thought Obama won the election with promises of an open government, that ideal has went out the window and this administration is as corrupt as all the rest. Throw all the politicians out and elect common people to these post and we will have a good government for a little while anyway.

Nancy Pelosi demonstrates an opportunistic behaviour characteristic of a nincompoop. Most of Obama's initial missteps can be placed right on her door steps. She still carry the attitude that she is fighting George Bush who is long gone. America needs Obama as a leader and not as a George Bush anatgonist. I'm surprised thta the no-nonsense Obama has not kicked her butt out.

Being from S.F. and a voter as well as a supporter of Ms. Pelosi, I am beginning to wonder what she is going to deny next. Or if and when she is going to shut up......I hope it's sooner rather than later, or she may end up delegated to the 'foot in mouth' bins of history...Got it Nancy?

Hey Jack,

I am a democrat and I would like to see Pelosi step down. Every time I hear her talk about the issue, It literally looks like she is peddling the bicycle backwards. Not only do I think she is lying about what she knew concerning water boarding, I don't believe she possess the qualities the democratic party needs to work in a bipartisan manner. Nancy, do the party a favor and a service and step down.

Jack-

You guys have got to get off this silly witch hunt and stop helping the Republicans deflect owernership of this issue. It doesn't matter if Nancy Pelosi exaggerated the truth or not. What matters is if the Bush Administration tortured innocent detainees on behalf of the American people. That's what matters, get it right!

I think Pelosi made a big mistake...she told the TRUTH about the CIA! When will we wake up? The book Blowback explains what the CIA does and how it affects us!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!
Leave her alone. The CIA and the bush administration lied to this country about Iraq. I don't care did she know or not. Republicans are cooking the books and turning around. It is disgusting how they are switching the points. She didn't torture and she didn't order. Leave her alone. Republicans – Look at your skeletons in your basement.

No, she should not step down. She may have made a big mistake and been caught, but the infraction isn't serious enough to warrant her removal. I have more patience and forgiveness for stupidity than that.

Jack: When did we start listening to Republican's? Their job is to divert and divide, what else can they do? Anything to keep from addressing the real issue. We are no longer talking about the "waterboarding" act itself, right?....with the help of the news media.....who is again making news....who cares what Pelosi knew or when? Did anyone listen to Sen. John Graham? I noticed his comments are left out of your list of senators, who had comments. I know you will never read my entry because you never read those which blast cnn.....let's be innovative, let's get back to those who ordered the act.....shall we?

Absolutely NOT! How can anyone (except Republicans) believe that the CIA was not capable of lying in their briefing histories? The whole Bush.Cheney team was bent of lying to the American public, why not to Nancy Pelosi? Come on, WMD, Torture, outing the CIA agent, Energy policy, BLackwater... all lies to the American people hidden and or developed by our CIA officials. Indict and prosecute the bastards .... not Pelosi!!

Oh Jack, the GOP is well aware that the news media can be distracted from the scent easily by tossing a juicy bone. The Bush/Cheney administration is as guilty as heck, but all the GOPPERS have to do is whine about Nancy and you fools are off the trail and baying at the bait. Of course Nancy Pelosi should not resign for what she said. (After all it isn't like the previous administration didn't lie about a LOT of other things too.) Bush/Cheney et al should be in jail.

Time for Pelosi to step down? No. It's time for this red herring to step down. This is nothing more than a distraction from the big elephant in the room: the U.S. tortured. Was Pelosi Speaker of the House at the time? She wasn't The Decider, nor speaker, committee chair, nor able to even share the informaiton with anyone. It was as classified then as it was today and nothing she could have done would have made a difference. As soon as the Democrats got into power, she and the Democrats actually did something: they passed a law explicitly defining waterboarding as torture and torture explicitly against the law – above and beyond our Geneva Convention treaty requirements. So should she step down? No. She did what she could when she could and kept her mouth shut when she absolutely had to and had no power to protest. This, thanks to the news media, including CNN, has been a lovely distraction; now how about news media get back into the business of pressing our government to do the right thing?

Yes. I felt this way when she "took impeachment off the table". That in itself was irresponsible and shocking considering the conditions. It's time we have someone more competent and responsible in this position as the person that is second in line for the president of the United States of America.

Canada
Yes she should resign, along with 90% of the members of both houses
Half are senile the other half doesn't know what they are voting on or are corrupt
It's high time the american voter cleaned house!!

yes Jack,if the republicans are willing to admit that the Bush adm authorized torture in a war that they started,because Sadam insulted Bush's father..........otherwise she is on home ground Washington is full of liars...............SC

This whole thing is smoke and mirrors. While I have little love lost for Nancy Pelosi the thought that she should resign over this is baffling. How did we even get to this point. This is merely the GOP fanning the flames hoping something, anything will erase the negatives they have in the polls right now. C'mon, people are smarrter than that, aren't they?

I think it is time that people wake up and realize that the C.I.A. lies for a living. Add G.W. Bush to the equation and you get dangerously close to something like the Stalins' KGB.

Was it time for Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld to step down after dozens of lies? Repulblicans didnt mind those lies! This is the first time we have really heard from Repulicans in awhile. They have nothing to say about the myriad of serious problems this country faces, but they get involved only when it comes to politics and a chance to "get even" . Clearly Nancy would never advocate and support torture, but the Repulicans are STILL defending the process! Even if Ms. Palosi knew of the torture, she certainly never gave the directive. Arent these the people we need to look at? I dont think this is what interests most Americans now. They want jobs and a roof over their heads.. The only one that this concerns are disgruntled Republicans.. Lets move on shall we??

TOM Bate Ft Lauderdale

It seems nice to criticize Pelosi on TV these days. It's unbelievable how people can have short memory! It seems to me that now some Americans think that it's impossible for CIA to mislead the elected people and the public. Come on America! Who told you that there was WMD in Irak prior to the war?

It's Ok to criticize Pelosi for her politics and all of that but please don't make us believe that the CIA can not mislead people. It happened before and will happen again. Come on America!

Pelosi should stay, absolutely. The CIA has been less than candid to Congress before this. Pelosi wants and I want a thorough investigation of all of the facts about torture, extraordinary rendition and everthing else about how the Bush administration got us into the Iraq war.

Yes, it's past time for her to step down. Her views do not represent those of most Americans, and feigning ignorance does not serve the Congress or the country in this situation. She has proved in the past to be a divisive, poor leader, and now it appears that she is a liar as well.

What a farce!!! After all the things that happened under their watch, they want to make an issue out of THIS!! They know full well that you can't produce evidence of meetings where you're not even allowed to take notes! I think almost all of the Republicans who were in control during the Bush years should have to resign for dereliction of duty!! The truth is coming out and they want to distract us. It's apparently working with the media!!

she should resign in favor of the country until this matter is brought to a close. if she has slandered this country's foremost intelligence agency, as many assume, she should be brought to trial.

Jack,
If we had every politician step down for every time they said they "NO NOTHING".There would be nobody left to run our government.

You have got to be kidding. Maybe we should just roll her into a special prosecutors jurisdiction to get to the bottom of the misleading and illegal interrogation practices of the Bush administration.

I believe Pelosi

Speaker Pelosi should absolutely not step down. The slathering Republicans think they can distract Americans with their hypocritical hand-wringing, and they are dead wrong. The people aren't stupid, and it insults our intelligence for the likes of Gingrich and Boner to cluck their mock-shock at us like so many hens. They should be ashamed. So what if she's in a dust-up with the CIA? How did that agency become sacrosanct? Jeez!

Indeed, Nancy Pelosi should step down.

Yes, its time for her to step down shes clearly involved of some form with the torture technique of water boarding. As a democrat she has been a disappointing speaker, she couldn't stop the war in Iraq in 2006 and couldn't stop torture and she more than likely knew of it. Step aside let someone with a back bone be speaker of the house so we can get our agenda through.

Absolutely Nancy Pelosi should step down. This lady's love affair with power is frightening. It trumps everything else for her & that's dangerous!

Jack,

you think the last eight years of republican B.S. is over...think again! Just look at the game of amendments played by the republicans about energy policies with more than 400 amendments from them! How can people even believe that they actually want to deal with healthcare! I do not beleive a word they say now!

After having given president Bush contrived and erronious information about WMD's in Iraq, Everyone should doubt anything the CIA says.

I do believe Nancy Pelosi when she said that she was NOT briefed until AFTER the fact.

Thank you...

Larry

Give me a break. The intelligence game is based on lies and deception. So I don't know why everyone is all up in arms about the possibilty of the CIA telling a lie. Do these people think that the CIA has always been truthful about things happening in WW2? Vietnam? The CIA is an orginazation of spies. Did we forget this somewhere along the way. I agree with most of the democrats when they say that this is a distraction for the republicans. Right now my family is struggling to pay bills and maintain our vehicle so that we can get to work. The stress I experience day to day is in no way related to Nancy Pelosi and what she knew and when. Can we please focus on the issues that effect me an American citizen and voter. Not the republicans who are fishing for anything to take the spotlight off of their lack of participation in trying to move this country to a new place. Get out of the 1950's GOP we are a new generation of people who want new things.

Absolutely not.We all know that the CIA has lied in the past-think Iran/contra.It not up to her to prove they lied.Its up to the CIA to prove she is lying.Newt's claim would be like the pot calling the kettle black.This whole thing is about nothing!Her latest statement says this is about the bush admin. and we all know how they lied to us.

I am an independent voter and feel she was in a position of enormous power with the Intelligence Committee. It's scary to think she has trouble remembering what she was doing and heard while on the job. Did she get a stipend for serving on that committee? Yes, get rid of her and LET'S MOVE ON-STOP LOOKING BACk!
Colorado

Speaker Pelosi stepping down? No, but it's time for the news media
to not be deflected with smoke and mirrors. Tortue is a crime that
can be traced to the former vice-president, Richard Cheney's office
and thus needs to be prosecuted. I quit my newspaper because
of foolish journalism, and am close to cancelling cable. Most of
us do not like to be treated like fools.

Jack the GOP will try anything at this point to try and look better to the American Public. Ms. Pelosi, has a lot on her. Bush and his gang are the concern, thank God they are gone. They should be the ones to face what ever will come out of the issue. How many GOP were for the torture? Any and all that is for that then, they are no better than the people who tied the man to the back of the truck and drug him until he died. Life or Death? Americans need to stop......

No way. She needs to exercise her power and launch an investigation into the actions of the Bush administration, the CIA reports, the torture techniques and time line to not only support her position but to substantiate criminal prosecution of Bush and Cheney. This should be considered an opportunity by Pelosi and her supporters to finally dig in to the steps taken to justify the war in Iraq.

I could careless about Pelsoi,lets get to the problem.Who gave the order to torture and what CIA agents followed these orders.Then hang all who were responsible .O yes the CIA lies and so do presidents thats there job.

It's time for everyone to leave Nancy Pelosi alone. She did not write the legal opinions that justified enhanced interrogation tactics, nor did she execute the procedures to the hapless individuals who lived through them (and they all lived through them). Regardless of what she may or may not have been told and when, she was not in a position to stop the Cheney juggernaut. Even George W. was a puppet to Cheney, and since we know that America does not have the stomach for putting either of these men in jail, they need to let it go.

Seems like a lot of the comments here are along the lines of "I don't like her" or "She's partisan". Folks, who cares if you don't like her? Or if you do? If every elected official who is disliked by some people or who is "partisan" resigned we wouldn't have a government. Fact is, she hasn't done anything illegal or even improper.

Yes, Yes and Yes

Absolutely. I'm a democrat, but I've been so disappointed with the Pelosi led congress, I wish she would've stepped down a long time ago. I don't think it's a coincidence that the first time she breaks from her usual routine of repeating party talking points, she trips over herself and now has been called out on it. And we get the obligatory political response "Oh, that's not what I really meant to say." Congress? She couldn't run a PTA meeting.

Absolutely not. Assuming Pelosi did know about the Bush administration's torture tactics, what could she have done anyway? Do you honestly think if Nancy Pelosi stood up and told George Bush, Dick Cheney and the rest of that crew to stop the torture, they would have actually listened to her? Come on, all this is just another piece of nasty Republican slimeball politics. The republicans are in such a sorry state that they will attack anything and anybody to get the focus off of their miserable state of affairs. We've already fired the guys who are responsible. I say let's forget about what Nancy Pelosi did or didn't know and prosecute those who not only knew, but promoted the use of torture.

Surely you jest in your question should Nancy Pelosi step down? When there is only a dispute about whether she was briefed once or twice?

How naive to fall into the Republican's attack on her, when all they are trying to do is divert attention from the real waterboarding culprits:
Bush and Cheney.

Marti Bombyk

No.

The Republican House leadership is gleefully trying to distract us, by highlighting this non-issue, from the facts of the Bush administration's criminal behavior in the use of torture.

Pelosi was not allowed to take notes in her briefing. How can she prove anything? But whether or not she was told or remembers being told about the use of water boarding, the real issue here is the need to make certain by whatever methods necessary, that it never, ever happens again in the United States of America.

Alicia in Lincoln, Nebraska

After all the lies the Bush administration told us about why we went to war in Iraq why should we think they would not lie to Nancy Pelosi? And during 2002 and 2003 weren't the Republicans in charge of Congress? John Boehner should be asking why they lied to him and all his Republican colleagues as well as Pelosi. I have no idea what was said to Speaker Pelosi but I find it hard to believe she would deliberately lie about what she was told in briefings by the Bush/Cheney administration. So far, it seems it is her word against a known group of fabricators. We now know the CIA, FBI and all the other intelligence groups were bending over backwards to give Bush and Cheney their cover for the unnecessary war waged under false pretenses. Pelosi should not step down as speaker.

Only the Republicans could change the debate from is "enhance interogation technigues" equivalent to "torture", to when then Nancy Pelosi know that these technigues were being used. It is time for the Republicans to insist a truth commission to expose the whole truth. If Pelosi is forced to resign, then everyone in Congress who "knew" should follow.

She is not fit to be speaker, too liberal, too partisan. It's frightening to think that she is third in line for the presidency. God help the USA should that ever happen.

Jack, don't you think its funny that Republicans already want to investigate Nancy Pelosi after one blunder that she made while Cheney is already saying that they outright tortured people. Who should be punished? The person who ordered the torture or the person that was supposedly briefed on it but had less power than the person who ordered it. Who was in charge of the congress at the time anyway? Who had power in congress in 2002? Why didn't they do anything as they're saying they were also informed about the torture.

So...
Even though Bob Graham's detailed diaries agree that the CIA records are suspect, the GOP whines that she should quit for saying it out loud? They are pathetic.

Where were they when Bush blamed the SAME CIA for misleading him on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?!!? That's when blaming the CIA made me gag.

Dick Cheney told Tim Russert that he knew where the wmd's were located. That's the kind of information you get when you torture people to get it - wrong information

Pelsoi wants a Truth Comission; Cheney doesn't.
So I say, "Bring it on!"

But in answer to your question:
Nancy Pelsoi resigning as Speaker of the House because John Boner and Newt Gingrich demand it?
ROTFLMFAO!

I think that the controversy over this issue has provided some the opportunity to deflect the debate away from the real issue, which is that this torture occurred in the first place. If it turns out that Speaker Pelosi did know what was going on, then she should apologize for not standing up at the time. However, the question of whether she knew should not distract our focus from investigating the torture in the first place. The real guilt and problem lies with the people who facilitated these acts to begin with.

No Pelosi should not resign. She is correct to call the CIA out for misleading Congress. This whole fabricated controversy is another attempt by the GOP to deflect the attention of the American public from real issues. So what if Pelosi had a terrible press conference. She is still a better speaker than we have had in recent history. This issue is a joke considering what we are facing as a nation with two wars, an economic downturn, a failed education and health care system, environmental crisis etc. Why can't the GOP step up to the plate and demonstrate some leadership? This is why they are out of power and can now only spit in the wind.

no the republicans and the media need the drop the issue of her stepping down immediately its ridiculous i can't wait for the truth commission to prove she's telling the truth this is NOTHING but a smokescreen by the GOP shame on the media for talking about repeatedly day after day

lets prosecute the people guilty ordering and committing of war crimes and one speaker who may or may not have known its makes me mad the media is talking about this in instead the more important issues of health care and unemployment and credit card fraud

It is ludicrous for the Right to ask Pelosie to step down since she was not able to discuss the memo with anyone. If they want to pursue, why not make it a twosome. Bring Cheney and Pelosi before the American people, under oath. Maybe Mr. Cheney might then understand what "torture" is and he can add to his "to do" list of torture techniques.

Jack for G-d's sake get off your (and Wolfe's) continuously lashing out at Nancy Polosi! That is all you two talk about day after day after day! Nancy is not the culprit...she is being tried by the media and victimized as if she were a criminal.

Go after the "bad' guys...you know who they are..we had 8 years of them...and start talking about issues that affect all of us...I am close (in fact I have already) turned off CNN and switched over to MSNBC because of your and Wolfe's almost daily negatve voice against Nancy!....Remember where we are today and who put us there! Go after them! Thanks! Isabel

Jack,
It is so obvious that this is a witch hunt, it is laughable. how many members of congress and the senate got the same briefing. Pelosi was not a majority leader at the time, so many others were also briefed. Why aren't they also in the spotlight. If you want the real guilty party, go after the ones who orchestrated the policy. This is all just a big diversion to take attention off the Bush administration where the blame really belongs. Also, it is wrong for Pres Obama to ignore these events. Just ask any Jew if they want to ignore the holocaust. What's the difference?

Hello, Jack Cafferty,
I think that Nancy Pelosi should stand her ground and not waver about being the Speaker of the United States of America. This would send a bad message about women in leadership positions. I don't recall Former Speaker Dennis Hastert resigned over the Foley Scandal at all, which is much worse than this tiny flap. If the Bush lied the US into war what's to think he would not have lied to congress about interrogration techniques. This is sad and needs immediate investigation by President Obama's Justice Department to assign a special prosecutor. Oh, I am thinking of Patrick Fitzgerald because he already has a heads start on the rest, and would not have to be brought up to speed!
Have a Nice Day,
Bradley S.
Knoxville TN

What I am wondering about is why didn't any of the Republicans on the Intelligence Committee, who all testify they WERE briefed, raise any objections and raise hell the way they are telling the world Pelosi should have?

Now that you mention it, which administration's policies policies was Pelosi supposed to object to?

Step down? No, the Repubs should STEP UP and take responsibility for the torture and all the rest of the mess that they stood by silently and condoned.

No Jack, she hasn't done anything to warrant her resignation. And the Republicans who were so strongly defending Bush and Company for the use of these methods of interrogation need to shut up and find a worthy issue to get all hot and bothered about. There are plent of them to choose from.

Jack,
How can anyone be sure of what they remember from a meeting that was held seven years ago? Even if the CIA does not have a policy of misleading the administration, it is very possible that they did not present their "torture" methods in a very discriptive way to either Pelosi or Graham. It is easy to present information in a way that does not make it memorable. Whatever happened, we will never be sure. But the whole thing does make a nice distraction for the GOP while they sweep all the dirt under the rug that George W. Bush and his administration were responsible for. Nancy Pelosi is being used as a scapegoat, and she simply does not deserve it. Democrats need to rally 'round her. She's two steps from the Presidency, and she's an extremely capable woman. Take the target off her back.
Maggie Berwald, Bristolville, OH

Are you serious? Why are we even talking of Pelosi when the people that committed the crimes or ordered the crimes are free from pressure and still giving TV interviews? I am tired of people talking about Pelosi. Let us just stop the noise making and go DIRECTLY to the TRUTH COMMISSION THAT LEADS TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION!!! Given that the US has gone to Japan and Germany to execute people who committed or ordered torture, why are we making noise about a lady that was only briefed.

No! It's time to focus on the actual deeds of torture/waterboarding; those who established the policy and those who ordered it executed. Allowing the discussion to be dragged off topic to focus on those on the periphery who may or may not have suspected or known about the actions of the main culprits, does not serve the nation.

Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) also says that waterboarding was not mentioned in his briefing. The CIA also incorrectly reported briefings on three out of four dates. I think Pelosi and Graham are telling the truth. How can you trust a CIA that convinced General Powell to present that collection of garbage to the UN? How can you trust a CIA when their chief (Tenant) calls it a "slam dunk" that Iraq had WMD? How can you trust the CIA at all?

Time for democrats to get tough.The republicans have no case.It doesn't matter what Pelosi knew because she didn't have her finger on the button.Can we censure the former president Bush? He should never be allowed to function in the way that former presidents do. He doesn't represent me.

Travis
Atlanta, Ga

Yes, this is only one of the outrageous comments she has made, thinking that she will not be challenged. Good for Leon Panetta to stand up for the Agency to someone he knows all too well from his own party because he served with her in the House!

You know what it's time for, Jack? It's time for either a special prosecutor or this 'Truth Commission' we keep hearing about. We as a nation, need to get to the bottom of who ORDERED the torture. That is the real issue here. I don't really care if Pelosi knew about what was being done or not... the important thing is that it was done.

Get real! Who and what got us into this mess in the first place? Lies from the CIA to the American people, UN, and the world.

Chas

NO! Pelosi's original comment was made simply to defend herself. Perhaps she could have worded it better. But this backlash is obviously coming from the Republicans. Can't you tell when they all get on a roll together? Why does the media use precious time fanning the flames of partisanship? This is simply not newsworthy.

Absolutely not. This is just another way for the republicans to take attention off the growing evidence that the last administration tortured people to fabricate an excuse to invade Iraq.

And calling it an insult to the intelligence community? I suppose we should also be thanking them for their great work on Saddam's WMD's and the link between Iraq and Al-qaeda. Heaven forbid we question what the central lack of intelligence agency is up to lately.

Heck, no, Speaker Pelosi shouldn't step down! She's being attacked by the same liars that got us into the economic and military messes that we're in today! Additionally, Panetta has me laughing out loud by stating that the CIA doesn't lie to the American people. What a joke! One more point, Jack...since you believe that the current H1N1 flu is a joke, try putting on your glasses and reading "The Great Influenza" by John Barry. You'll discover the 1918 pandemic started mild in the Spring of 1918 and came roaring back in the Fall to kill about 50 million people. Jack, I'm beginning to worry about you....you're not going senile on us are you?

No I don't tthink should step down. George didn't step down. I think we have too many pressing issues @ this time. We still other positions to be filled.

It is time for Nancy Pelosi to stop responding to the Republicans alligations. Give them one final answer and move on. She has plenty to do as Speaker of the House. To keep going back and forth only makes her look like she is lying. She is allowing the Republicans to distract the public's attention from other important issues. Why don't they put their heads togeher to try to help Americans get back to work. I guess the Republicans are happy that they are helping to keep the class system alive and well. They don't want all Americans to realize their dreams of having a good job and a home because it might take a few dollars out of their rich buddies pockets.

What is it with Paneta defending the CIA? They were under the command of the Bush admin. for 8 years. Who does he think Cheney had carrying out his orders? Their hands aren't clean.

Absolutely Not! The whole world including the U.S., and yes both houses of congress, were misled by exaggerated intelligence to lead us into the Iraq war.Soit is not a leap that everyone was also misled
about the torture being used. Which we now know was being done.

Geojo
New York

Newt's word is about as good as his trust when he was openly having an affair while he wife was being treated for cancer. Boehner, just give him another drink and he will keep spinning the facts..

How can the speaker of the house deffend herself, when you are not allowed to take notes in these briefings. I believe that the CIA did lie to the congress .If BUSH can do it ,why cant the CIA do that. Get
real ,JACK , the CIA lies all the time. If you go against them, they destroy you. ....... it happens all the time JACK....wake up.

NO Jack Nacy should not step down!!!!!! Dick Channey change CIA reort on WMD & torture. Both Bush Channey & Rice lied about Torture. They are the ones should be in prison for treason & war crime.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

From Vctoria in Berkeley, CA:

It's time for Democrats to stand up for their leader, and not allow
Republicans to dominate the news cycle with the politics of distraction. What Pelosi knew or did not know is far less important than who ordered torture and who carried it out.

Media people are playing their role too by continually recycling this "story."

Since the CIA has been lying to us prapctically since the day it came into existence, no Nancy Pelosi should not resign. The Republicans are merely using this as a distraction to try and deflect attention away from the real issues of the war crimes committed by the Bush Administration. Did you know that torture is still going on to this day at Guantanamo? See the article by Jeremy Scahill it is a detailed, stomach churning description of what is happening right now, as you read this. Is our military, with no civilian control, doing whatever it pleases in its "mission from God" effort to rid the world of terrorists? And, how is this any different from Hitler and the Nazis trying to rid the world of anyone not Aryan?

Clever of the last administration, wasn't it. They gave certain leaders, like Pelosi, just enough information–and no opportunity for control–to hold them culpable at a later date if things heated up. Most of us are tired of this approach to politics. We need leaders who sincerely want to be part of the solution. Let's leave Pelosi alone so she can work on the important problems.

No. I think she should insist on the Truth Commission now to tell the "whole" story. Give the Republicans what they deserve, countering their comments that are purely political.
She cannot prove or disprove her claims without classified documents,and the Republicans know it.
Paneta's comments were carefully worded, saying "it is not the policy of the CIA" to mislead congress. That was not a statement on what happened in 2002 and 2003.
Its time for her to play hardball and insist on a truth commisson to call the Bush administration to account. From the facts so far, Dick Cheney has a lot more to worry about.

The question is not who does the lying- witness Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin) and Iraq (WMD, uh-huh). The question is why we still have a CIA. I believe in transparency, all the way.
Mark in Petaluma, CA

Sometimes I think things can be best stated by a song. So it goes a little something like this..... Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey, Goodbye

No she should not step down. I am sick of people picking on Nancy Pelosi. She is a very intelligent hard working woman who speaks her mind and some people cannot take it. I am also aware that the last administration made people feel if they criticized the administration that they were anti American. So if torture was mentiioned in a coded form as to mislead the congress, I can really believe it. It was probably done like that on on purpose so that they could cover themselves just like they are doing right now now.

No, of course Speaker Pelosi should not step down! Boehner and Gingrich are trying to steer attention from the mess the Republican Party (spelled Bush) has put this country in. Of course the CIA lies, How about the assurances they made to Bush that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and could attack the U S in weeks?
I rember CNN covering this assertion and why is no one bringing this up now? Have you forgotten?
John

If Nancy Pelosi is lying then let all prove it. We should have a investigation of the CIA and let them prove how wonderful they are...lol
EVERYBODY IS LYING. FORGET ABOUT IT.

Absolutely not !! the only one who are complaining about her are the republicants . The republican party should thank her for she has found something they all agree with" torture is OKAY"

Typical Republican tactics. Let's not investigate the people that broke the law since they were Republican. Let's investigate the Democrat because she may have known about it.

Jack, I thought that the CIA was caught in a lie when they provided 100% sure intelligence for the WMD that were in Iraq.
Of course they lie once and a while that is why tey are in the Intel.
And if they informed congress all the time they might as well write it in the Washington post.
Mr. Panetta only wanted to express that they don't do it all the time.
I don't think that the speaker should step down, she might be right on this.
Doesn't anyone keep proper notes anymore in these meetings?
They all have bad memories so they should
Pete

I don't think so. The CIA has lied to us before ( see the Church commission, the Iran-Contra Affair, Chile in 1970, etc.) Everyone should be investigated and if necessary, prosecuted. The CIA should be dropped. We don't need 16 intelligence agencies. That's just rediculous. The CIA has become too powerful and cannot be trusted. I'd believe Pelosi over the CIA on anything, anywhere, anytime.

First Cheney crusades to promote waterboarding as "not torture" then the RW pressures Pelosi to admit what she knew and when she knew it, and when she answers, you ask for her resignation and accuse her of lying about being implicated in knowledge of torture??!! The GOP is officially NUTS!

It's definitely time for Pelosi to step down. Her personal vendetta against Bush is interfering with her day-to-day operations as well as her memory.

It is long over do Jack, she should of been out of there a long time ago. I never trusted her and I'm a democrat.

Absolutely not! Least of all because a bunch of Republicans find someone they can go after at the moment!

If this isn't the last straw for Speaker Pelosi then what is? I thought the President needed to in someway step in when, during the critical stimulus debates, she said, "If there is somebody who is disgruntled, so be it. But we will have an overwhelming vote," and undermined the whole idea of busting partisanship in Washington. I cannot find any reason why Nancy Pelosi should be trusted in such an important role in the affairs of our governemt.

Michael from New Jersey

Nancy Pelosi should step down from office because she lied to Congress. In the Bush Administration,when the dems took control, they went absolutely crazy about how the bush administration ran itself and when Alberto Gonzales got caught in a lie, he reseigned and now when the democrats lied, Pelosi should have to step down.It is hypocritical to think that Pelosi can ask for the resignation of Gonzales, but not expect the same of herself because she is a member of the "favoured party". This is also a good time for Republicans to show that they are in control and to unify against the party that had beaten them. The Democrats are finally with their backs against the wall, so I really hope Pelosi will not mention anything about being "righteous" or "just". Not only Pelosi, but Harry Reid should be looked into because he would have had the same intel that Pelosi had. Democrats: watch out.

Jack,

I do not like Pelosi, as I see her as a pompous political opportunist; however, she seems to suffer from dementia from the times I see her on TV, but then again so many news reporters and politicians do not seem to remember the accurate story. Keep Pelosi in office, as she is no worse, than the rest.

Oh yes, by the way, how is it that Dana Bush is the one who proposed this question. I see her as a reporter who sugar coated the John McCain campaign ... could it be that she arrived at this question with a large amount of influence from the Republican Party?

We must remember that most news reporters already have an agenda when their questions are proposed ...

Let's get over this trivial Republican talking point and try to tackle the real crimes they are trying to cover-up ... oops, I forgot ... these Bush Administration crimes continue to be covered-up ... with CNN's help. If you think I have forgotten the easy questions given to Rice and others in the Bush administration, then you are wrong.

Please remember the media is responsible, too, for their reporting.

Joe Travis, Binghamton , NY

Let me get this right. The CIA was working for the Bush Administration, the Bush Administration has lied about everything for years, and Speaker Pelosi should resign because she says they lied to her. I don't think we can just take the CIA's word for it, I think we should investigate the allegations. The CIA is not Rush Limbaugh and those who disagree aren't automatically wrong.

Mountain Home ID

If the Democrats call for her to step down, yes. The Republicans are making much to do about nothing. Their roll is to keep things stirred up so nothing gets done while the Democrats are in power. She is not the only one who said the CIA miss led with information.

Oregon

In December 2007 Speaker Pelosi issued a statement about being briefed in 2002 and told methods were legally cleared but not being used. The same thing she is saying now. Mr Goss who was in the 2002 meeting mentions being told about waterboarding but doesn't say he was told it had been used. CIA Director Panetta says it's not their policy to lie a classic non-denial denial. And best of all Minority Leader Boehner who in the past was critical of a CIA National Intelligence Estimate about Irans nuclear program now finds it shocking that the CIA is being criticized. BOO HOO

Let her twist in the wind and for awhile. I'm tired of hearing Jack lay it on the Republicans. Can he do the same for Nancy?

Jack, this is an inside the beltway story. I don't know a single person out here in the real world who gives a damn. Most of us just see it as another distraction the Right uses because they don't have any new ideas or solutions. We might have a chance for meaningful change if our lawmakers could stop investigating each other long enough to do the jobs they were elected to do. I look forward to 2010 and an opportunity for the voting public to get rid of some of the deadwood cluttering up the halls of Congress.

Jack,
We all know these guys (Repbulicans) have no credibility left whatsoever. They are now trashing Pelosi because they have no new idea left for the real issues like the economy and healthcare. Nancy criticized CIA so what? They have lied to the American people in past about Iraq that have cost millions of lives, These same Republications that now trashing pelosi have critized the CIA in the past. My advice to them , SHUP UP!

No. You finally go me out of the kitchen to answer one of your polls, Jack. My dinner mght burn, but I have to speak up for Nancy Pelosi. She has so much more credibility than the CIA how could anyone not believe her? The CIA that misled us in Iraq and many more times than I care to say. I may be just a housewife, but I can smell a rat when I see one. Pelosi stays, CIA apologizes.

I think Newt Gingrich has proven to the american public that he is known to tow the party line nomatter what...he did it when he wanted Clinton impeached & it turned out he had to step down himself for being a hipocrite...pay attention America, the Republican Party is showing it's face again..it's a political ploy because Gingrich wants to run in 2012..might as well start muddying up the water now

Nancy is making herself look inadequate, as the speaker of the house it is her responsibility to "be informed" especially on such controversial and inhuman topics. How much money and power does she have? God help us, really as I look at these bureaucrats running my country it sends chills down my back.

It amazes me how republicans are still the masters of manipulation even after lying to start an unjust war how do they manage to still manipulate pubilc opinion ? Didnt the CIA lie about weapons of mass destruction ? Why are americans so easily led around like sheep by the republican party. Short term memory loss is a side effect from smoking pot. Legalize it , something republicans might consider. It seems to work in their favor.

No, she should not.
If the republicans were as clever about governing as they are about shifting blame and getting the media to focus on the wrong issue, they would still be in power. Shame on the media for letting them get away with it!

It is so time for this wild-eyed, hyper-liberal speaker of the house to go. The thought of Pelosi in line for the presidency is unimaginable!

Why should the "Maddam Speaker" step down, she should release a video on youtube or cnn ireport and tell her critics that she is innocent. My point is this issue is a total waste of time and the CIA and the GOP should focus on the ECONOMY and not childish politics.

On other important news, I can hear the humming noise of the Air Condition in the situation room , please tell your producer Mr jack.

Yes I believe its time for her to step down, but if she doesnt she should be forced to. We cant have someone 3rd in line to be the president with morals she displays. And if she is forced to step down she needs to be charged and prosicuted, and as a felon, striped of her passport and drivers license, and not be allowed to run for any office again.

Dear Jack,

No, Nancy Pelosi should not step down simply because she stepped in it. The Bush Administration had everything in such a confusing web of distortions and mistruths, that she probably honestly doesn't remember hearing the words, waterboarding, and torture. If Cheney can shoot someone in the face and say 'OOPS, sorry' then Nancy Pelosi is allowed a missed memory. I find it very believable that certain information was withheld at the behest of someone from the Whitehouse, and as for Panetta's comment..., everyone can unfortunately remember when a so-called friend buckled to cover their own butt instead of standing up for the truth..,
bev, in Kentucky

Step Down?
How on earth did she make to speaker in the first place. She is the kind that gives bad a bad name. Not a few months ago wasn't she that after grilling the CEOs of the big three for flying, flew to Italy with a government jet together with her entourage for God knows what. And now it's the CIAs fault for misleading her, her and nobody else.must be a "conspiracy" against her. Even the most diehard democrats must be embarrassed of her. Lady leave before someone else goes ahead with the "conspiracy" and "misleads" you on something else.

Tucson, AZ – This whole story is a pile of nonsense. The Speaker was a ranking member of a committee when the actual events in question took place. Under the law, she had no power, no authority, and no right to tell anybody what she found out from the CIA. The Executive runs the CIA, pretty much as it sees fit, and while the intelligence committees are "kept informed", they are not asked for "approval", and any ""disapproval" they express has no significance – that is the way it is. According to Mr. Cheney, the torture policy came directly from the President – that makes Mrs. Pelosi irrelevant to the primary question, namely, did the Bush Administration commit war crimes? Had she known, the only person whom she could have objected to was the President himself, anyway, because the briefing was classified. Mr. Panetta's current position notwithstanding, we know that the CIA used to lie to Congress all the time – and that is not a "crime" either. If there was any wrongdoing at all, it was Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney, and their subordinates who are wholly and fully responsible – not Congress, not Mrs. Pelosi, not anybody else! Why don't you ask a real expert – a professor of international law about torture, who also knows how the US government setup?

Jack the CIA secrecy breeds supicion

Clearly, t he impeachment of George W Bush and Dick Cheney and the forced resignation of Tenet, and Karl Rove's subpoena'd testimony under oath demonstrate that lying to the American people make one unfit from office.

Oh, they don't? Never mind.

The flap over Nancy Pelosi is a smoke screen, the GOP's attempt to distract from the real issue over who in the Bush Administration may be criminally liable for war crimes. The CIA's stock in trade is deception and disinformation. It's not the Speaker's burden to prove or disprove anything here - the CIA has the pertinent documents (unless they destroyed them, like they did the torture videos...), not that I will necessarily believe them even if such documents are produced.

Of course the right wing wants her to step down, but if she's lying she should apologize. The GOP is trying to flip this story on Ms. Pelosi, to get President Bush, and Cheny cleared! Just another failed attempt to bring a good Dem. down! These people should be ashamed of themselves. You know when a joke goes bad, and no one laughs?! You kind of feel bad for the comedian? Thats how I feel about the republicans.

No Jack. I like Leon Panetta, but after the Bay of Pigs, Iran Contra, and no weapons of mass destruction, I find it hard to belive the CIA does not mislead Congress. I also wonder if the CIA personnel would tell the truth to a new CIA Director.

Sure, the Pelosi questions need answering. What concerns me is the seeming inability for critics or the media to mention that the Justice Department only months ago stated that the CIA had illegally destroyed nearly 100 interrogation videos. I don't believe anyone should resign for asserting the CIA could be less than truthful.
And, what are the Republican loud mouths going to do about the actual people who ordered torture? Lets get to the main show already.

Nancy Pelosi shouldn't step down at the request of Newt Gingrich or John Boehner. Newt Gingrich has never succeeded in bringing anybody down but himself and he will be forced to step down before Nancy Pelosi.

yes its time for her to step asside. we cannot afford to have her third in line for the head of our great country. she lives in the past and cannot see ahead. She lied and does not belong in our government.

No. I am less concerned about what Nancy Pelosi knew and when she knew it than about what Bush and colleagues did. That, to me, is the bottom line. This "controversy" is smoke and mirrors.

Not really, I think the whole thing's just being blown out of proportion. The republicans know that eventually theres going to be reprimands for breaking and bending the laws over torture and they're trying to take as many others as they can down with them.

As far as the CIA VS Pelosi issue, don't forget about sen, Bob Graham that CIA claimed they talked to him 4 times and when he checked over his schedules he found that they only spoke with him once, after that was brought forth the claim was retracted, so that says the CIA does makes mistakes.

I think Republicans want Nancy Pelosi out no matter what. And looking to distract the President from his agenda to fix the country, which he is doing well so the do nothing Republicans need some big distraction about nothing, It was Bush's war and Torture policies not Nancy Pelosi's
go after him and Cheney and there lawyers.

John S

Am I missing something here? Nancy Pelosi was the ranking MINORITY member of the committee when she received that briefing. Why the focus on her? This is just another attempt to deflect attention away from those who created this mess, and unfortunately, you geniuses in the press are getting led around by the nose by the very people you should be investigating. What Nancy Pelosi was, or was not, told by the C.I.A. is a tangential issue. Try focusing on the real issues for a change, like how the Bush administration cherry picked intelligence to make a case for war, then tried to scapegoat the C.I.A. for providing faulty intelligence.

David

New York

If the use of waterboarding was useful in obtaining the truth from any of the detainees at Gitmo, maybe it would work on members of government. Doubt if the members of government would agree.

No it is not time for her to step down,if she do that mean Boehner and Gingrich have get what they was trying to accomplished, I for one believe Ms Pelosi, and she shouldn't give up either.let all this flip-flop run it's course, and the truth will come to light.

Pelosi should go tout suite!! Lies, lies, and more lies. Love to see her shift from one foot to the other and stumble over her answers. She could also take little Harry Reid with her!

Pelosi opened the can of worms and now wants to close it to everything except her agenda, which is to destroy all the good the Bush administration did do when confronted with terrorists on our homeland grounds. I say she lied rather than believe the CIA lied.
I think President Obama could do so much better without someone who operates on a stimulus response basis, rather than rational thinking. Ditch her and get someone who thinks country first, personal revenge last.

Why would anyone believe the CIA in September, 2002? They were undergoing a MASSIVE program of lying to not only the Congress and the people of the United States... but to the whole world! Doesn't anyone remember the "SLAM DUNK" by George Tenant about WMD in Iraq? They had been politicized by the Bush administration just like the Justice Department... Besides... Leon wasn't even in the picture! I believe Pelosi

Absolutely not !!the only ones who are complaining are the republicants. At least we finally have found something the republicants can agree on "TORTURE IS OKAY"

Absolutely not!

The CIA and The Bush administration misled the American people about the Iraq War. Where's the yellow cake from Africa, where's the connection between Sadam and Al queda, better yet WHERE ARE THE WMD's. So now the media and the Republicans want to make Pelosi the scapegoat on torture. I guess we should believe The CIA when they said they tortured prisoners and briefed Pelosi and Congress on the torture method they used. Nancy Pelosi didn't authorize the torture, so why should she be punished for what she may or may not have heard, while the real criminals get away. Politics as usual.

Boehner is asking Pelosi to prove that something didn't happen. Somebody needs to point out to him that proving that somebody didn't say a particular thing is almost impossible to do. If you notes say that I said "hello" to you does that prove I didn't ask "how are you?" How often do your notes say what didn't happen - especially when you weren't thinking of the thing that didn't happen. Get your logic straight. Boehner is asking for the impossible - and expecting that the media and the public are so stupid as to not see the flaw in his logic.

Definitely not. She's not my favorite person but she is not the story here. She didn't come up with these ideas, she didn't approve them, she didn't carry them out. She may or may not have known the whole story but she would have been powerless either way. This is Republican manufactured manure. They're hoping if they spread it thick enough, something will grow.

Pelosi should have spoke up and objected to this torture when she was originally briefed. There is no record of that. Therefore she silently went along with the plan. Now she wants to put the blame on the CIA and try to deny even being briefed. She needs to be held accountable for her actions and be made to step aside as Speaker of the House.

Jack (and Wolf), please, stop talking with the already proven liars, criminals and the morally bankrupt. You know the "former campaign managers for losers" clubmembers will say anything to stay on TV. Tom Delay is the only person in America who doesn't know he's a convicted criminal (you called it first, Jack, with "Isn't he indicted yet", remember???). And Newt... please... the cheater and liar and morally bankrupt former GOP leader, and former husband of... doesn't anyone care to get the truth from truth-tellers anymore?

Like we should believe the CIA. Please give me a break. The CIA couldn't tell the truth from a hole in the ground. I believe Pelosi and support her to stay on as speaker. And the repubs should stop their attacks on anyone and anything that they can just to divert attention away from how inept and useless they have become. Or maybe they have lied and attacked so long they really don't know how to do otherwise.

America is great for many reasons not the least of which is our firm commitment to the rule of law. The strength of our character shines its brightest when we stand firm in our beliefs when it would be expedient not to.

The question is whether the law was broken when torture was committed, and if so, who is responsible. Then we, as a people, must decide if we really believe in the rule of law and that no one, not even the president, vice president and speaker of the house is above the law.

If Nancy Pelosi broke the law then she should be held accountable. If she did not, then forcing her to step down would be the equivalent of jailing a witness who failed to report their knowledge of an assault while exonerating the people who committed the assault. That is not logical and it is against the values and principals we (I hope) hold so dear.

Absolutely she should step down. This woman is an embarrasment to this country. If the Democrats were to have any credibility, they should be asking her for her resignation. The truth of the matter is that if it was a republican doing what she is doing, the media would crucify that person. Everything is ok with the media as long as is a Democrat doing it.

If Nancy Pelosi is lying let all her accusers prove it. Let's have a investigation of the CIA and let them prove how wonderful they are..lol..
EVERYONE IS LYING SO FORGET ABOUT IT....However, if I must choose, Pelosi is the better person and I don't even like her.

First, The CIA doesn't lie?? What about WMDs, Saddam link to Al Qaida, the uranium from Niger Saddam wanted to build a nuke. All CIA. What about we don't torture? CIA again. Of course they lied, just like they are now. Sen. Bob Graham has proven they lied when they said they met with thim. Second, what Pelosi was told was CLASSIFIED & couldn't be told to anyone outside inteligence committees. Third, why is the media once again going for the distraction & deflection of the Republicans. Torture by Bush & Cheney is the issue. Not what a Congressman or woman knew who couldn't do anything about against the Bush Administration or the Republican majority without revealing classified data. When are media & journalists like CNN going to focus on the BIG picture & stop going for the same old Republican tactics. Pelosi is not the villain. Cheney & Bush sanctioned torture. Pelosi had no hand in setting or carrying out that policy!! Start talking about the real story again you Peabody Award winners. :- ))

Heck no! Hold your ground Nancy. You have more credability than the CIA.

The Speaker showed how egotistical she really is when President Obama got elbowed aside for the almighty microphone and a chance to get on camera for the last word. She loves to talk and talking is what got her into trouble. Doesn't matter if you are Republican or Democrat, demeaning the CIA agents and employees is unpatriotic. Protecting the country is what's important, not the Speaker's ego. Resign Nancy.

Pelosi has done nothing worse than the republicans. Seems to me she likes to play both sides. If Obama wants her gone then she will be gone.She's a politician, i mean really, what does everyone expect. Some are just dumber than others.

And who cares what newt gingrich has to say. Like he's the most upstanding and honest citizen in our society.

No way Jose'. To drag the Speaker into this is appalling. These were
top secret meetings where no questions can be asked and public comment is illegal. It is obvious that those guilty of war crimes are trying to divert attention away from themselves. It is time for a special
prosecutor to get to work and jail those who have dishonored our country.
Chuck Turvey
Crystal Falls, Michigan

Oh, no she shouldn't; she stays and fights. And I'm from Philly!

Jack, This is shocking! A major politician (Pelosi) accusing everyone under the sun of lying! We, the US voting public, are the real liars. We are lying to ourselves that the people we elect from our districts and states are the best and brightest and it's all the others that are incompetent, untrustworthy or just bad. Why should she resign? We the people voted her and the others in and deserve what we get. If you want to get rid of her and the others, vote someone else in. And it can be a write in vote. Just go down to the nearest prison, draw a name out of the hat and write that person in. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't notice a dramatic change in DC.

John,
Colorado Springs, CO

It is Long past time for Nancy Pelosi to resign her post as Speaker and her seat in Congress. If the Bush Administration is to be investigated then Pelosi needs to be investigated. If waterboarding is a crime, she is guilty of it for having endorsed it.

We do NOT need her smoke-screens and distractions.

This is the Speaker of the entire House not some low level administrator trying to fudge facts a little in the interest of helping a cause. Pelosi has lied consistently about her oversight and approval of funding for no less than indisputable torture. She has now shamelessly made unfounded accusations against the CIA of felony deceptions. If she does not produce proof forthwith, she has to go.

No way Jack. She is doing a Great Job and the GOP – Greedy Offensive Politicians, need to back off. Rachel Maddows show has shown that the CIA lied and Bob Grahams 30 years of daily notes proved that! Why does the Media of CNN not follow up with Grahams notes, so all can see the Truth!

We really should swiftboat Nancy. Then the totally corrupt, lying, deceitful, Bush administration can dodge the real crime of starting the Iraq war, torture, and all the other crimes they committed. Hell, they could even say that Nancy started the war. Newt could blame his unfaithfulness to his previous wife on Nancy. He is such a pillar of honesty. If she did know, so what, they all knew. The Bushies thought up the "enhanced" crap, they planned it, sold it to many of the citizens of this country, they tortured in Gods' name no doubt. But don't punish them, and for gosh sakes the media should push Newts' agenda concerning Nancy, she is dangerous. She could call down the rath of God on all of us. She really couldn't though because only "The Father (Chaney), The son (Rove), or the Holy Spirit (Bush) could do that. Sorry CNN, but is this really news?

No I don't think Pelosi should step down. I think the republican would do about anything at this point to get the attention away from them and their nothing ideas. Isn't it amazing how quickly they have forgotten they brought our nation to a disaster. President Obama is trying put our nation back on the right track and all they are offering is more of the same tactics.

Jack,
Oh please. Give me a break. I think Ray Charles could see that the Republicans are just creating a distraction from the real issue (Water Boarding.) It Is Torture. It is illegal. Dick Cheny and other top Republicans in the Bush Administration authorized it and may be guilty of War Crimes. How can anyone seriously look at what Nancy knew or when she knew it and not look at those who actually committed the crime? This is smoke and mirrors.

nancy pelosi might be a stammering fool, but a man who suffered 84 ethics charges against him during his tenure as speaker of the house is the last person i want to hear leading the witch hunt. Newt Gingrich needs to shut up, this is all a republican strategy to attack the democrats and you people are biting right into it. Nobody could figure out why cheney was out telling everyone all this stuff. this is why, because he knew that i would end up making his opponents look bad and him look like a saint. it's funny how quickly we forget who the real criminals were. bush and cheney lied and manipulated their way into a completely unfounded war. maybe you should spend more time looking into some real issues instead of the brow beating being brought on by the people who just got the boot. i didn't see you giving this kind of air time to anyone in the clinton administration when they were out of office, and after sept. 11 anything anyone said in opposition of the administration was attacked as un-patriotic, or FRENCH, well it turns out that the french were right, and that politicians will do anything to save their careers. nancy pelosi isn't guilty of anything that everyone on capitol hill has done. which is lie, they are all liars. should she step down, no, but let he who is without sin cast the first stone. or let her party take care of it, because she is bringing them down with her.

Yes, yes, yes... Nancy Pelosi is doing the two-step shuffle. She should be asked or forced to step down. She keeps changing her story to try to keep what she knew and her actions under cover. She is a disgrace to the USA.

Who among us does not remember the twin towers ablaze, people on the top floors, no way to escape, knowing they were going to die. What a horrible experience for them, their families, and the nation. And we now want to crucify the Bush administration for trying to locate the animals who planned and carried out this horrific event. Everyone in this nation, well maybe with the exception of other terriorists who infiltrated the US, wanted to find out where BinLaden and his group were – and we wanted to prevent a repeat of 9/11.

Kick Nancy Pelosi out – way out so we never have to hear her name again.

If we as a people are asking Speaker Peolsi to step down as speaker of the House for "supposedly lying", then why not ask every single politician that serves in any form of government to step down for "supposedly lying" to their constituents as well. Every one deserves a chance to prove their innocence in this life,so why shouldn't Speaker Pelosi be afforded the right to defend themselves the same as you or Wolf or anyone who works for CNN for that matter?

No, Jack...what it's time for is for people to be disgusted with Republicans and their usual tactics of lies and hypocrisy!! Newt Gingrich had Clinton impeached for having an affair and lying about it, and all the while Gingrich himself was having an affair and lying about it!!!
So many in the Republican party like Bush, Cheney, Rove and Gingrich have just about sold their souls for the sake of petty power games and nonsense. It just never stops!!

YES, YES, GOD YES! Please step down and go directly to jail, and do not pass go! I think the time for her to step down is long over do, how long has She been in that position? What ever it is thats how long over do it is! Next to bush & cheney, She's the biggest embarrassment that has ever held public office. We can't win our place back again as a world leader with fools like her in office

Dave from NH.

Witch hunt! Hoe may others were at the briefing; interrogate them all. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that a lot of GOP were briefed. Stop stupid reports that only deal with sensational news. Lets talk about the healthcare insurance companies like United healthcare and Aetna who market plans that do not provide meaningful coverage for people with serious illness like Diabetes..

this is just more diversionary tactics by the republicans... the fact of water boarding lies directly upon the people who authorized and commited these deeds ....not who knew about it and could not say or do anything about it at that time.......

No , after all the lying from the Bush administration you want to go back and believe them now . I dont think so . She wants this stuff released , so release it . Im getting tired of these republicans that protected Bush and Cheney all these years coming out now and trying to blame the dems . Why dont you guys in the press go out and start getting on these people to release this stuff . Do your job too , dont set back like you did with the Bush administration or we might be fighting another war we dont need .

I believe Pelosi. And, also Bob Graham, who says the same thing.

I also think we should not investigate the torture thing further - not because it will hurt Pelosi or the Democrats, but because the more that becomes public about how Bush and Cheney approved torture, the harder it will be for the American people to be trusted by the rest of the World. The reputation of the U.S. has sunk to a new low. Every new disclosure sinks it further and further endangers the lives of our soldiers serving abroad.

Hey Jack,
It's time for Nancy to go. Another politician thats been in office way too long, can't tell the truth, When will we learn. This isn't a Democrat problem or a Republican problem. It's a Washington problem. Congrats Henny

But Pelosi's and Porter Goss' statements do agree, you just have to remember that Goss is a product of Bushspeak. Goss' statement is quite damning – he said the agency disclosed their "intent " to use harsh interrogation methods. When you read between the Bushspeak word parsing, Goss is admitting that the CIA disclosed intent to use harsh interrogation methods (which agrees with Rep Pelosi's account), which was in fact ying by omission because they had in fact already used these techniques.

Now that Goss has admitted that the agency lied about "intent" when they had already used waterboarding, and now that we can see that they lied about briefings with former Sen Graham, why is the onus suddenly on Pelosi?

Jack:

Like your previous question, it will just be a waste of time and money if she is investigated. Like the previous regime should have done, step down, I believe Pelosi and Reid should both step down because of incompetence, and a total lack of leadership, not for lying. Otherwise, we would have an "empty" Senate, House and a whole host of other government agencies, if truth were the fundamental requirement for a government position. They all lack the fundamental characteristic of telling the truth, is that not one of the basic requirements of becoming an elected official...promising one thing and doing another?

Gary
Lexington,KY

No.........GOP is using this issue as a smoke screen and a personal vendetta against Pelosi. Let's talk about who authorized toture, and let's investigate the violation of American and international laws.

YES. We must remember ethics & the ability to without fail be truthful to the American populace. If one of my children or grandchildren had lied "5" times in a row about the same thing; the punishment would be dire. They understood this at a very young age. Apparently, Ms. Pelosi's parents never taught her that she would have to answer for intentionally lying. What sort of example does this woman give to our children. By removing her, the rest of Congress may learn by the example.

Jack doesn’t this sound just like the Democratic Primary when Hillary Clinton was on the hot seat for not speaking up about George Bush, sending us to War. I seat through countless meetings at my company, when the owner shared some disturbing information. We the Police finally came, guess who got slammed? You got it, the owner! So please stop allowing the Republican Party to use the media in these crazy mind games, or do they really think that we are that vulnerable? On second thought, don’t answer it!