LEAHY: "The Republicans Have Objected To This Meeting Continuing" (Huge Strategic Blunder)

[Hissyspit]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/29/conservatives-shut-...

Conservatives shut down Sampson hearing?

Moments ago, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) interrupted Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA):

LEAHY: If the senator would yield, and I apologize. I apologize to Mr. Sampson. We’ve just received word that the Republicans have objected, under the Senate rules, to this meeting continuing. I think that’s unfortunate, but I will follow the rules of the Senate –

GRASSLEY: Does it apply to a Republican too?

LEAHY: Uh, the Republicans are the ones who don’t want to have the hearing, so the Republicans have the right under the rules to do that. We will stand — we will not adjourn, we will stay in recess until the Senate recesses. We will come back, and Sen. Grassley, if he wishes to be heard further, will be the first one to be heard.

UPDATE FROM THINKPROGESS:

UPDATE: A Senate Judiciary Committee source tells ThinkProgress conservatives objected to the hearing lasting beyond two hours, but then backed down after realizing it was a huge strategic blunder.

Leahy explains: “Just so people can understand what’s going on here. The lack of permission going forward has now been changed. I had raised questions and the — whatever objection there was on the Republican side has been withdrawn, so that we can continue. When Mr. Sampson comes back, we will start with Sen. Durbin. Somebody here just asked me if this all could have just been all an accident, that we had this lack of concurrence by the Republicans to go forward. I grew up in a faith that believes in miracles, and it’s conceivable as an accident, I’ve been here 33 years and I’ve never seen it happen before. So maybe it was, but I suspect it was not.”

The committee is back in session now.

MSNBC UPDATE:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17852146

Ex-aide: Gonzales signed off on attorney firings
Democratic panel chair Leahy says Justice Dept. motivation was improper

- snip -

Under questioning by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Sampson said Gonzales also was wrong when he said other senior Justice Department aides gave Congress inaccurate information because they hadn't been fully briefed about the firings.

"I shared information with anyone who wanted it," Sampson said. Asked by Schumer if Gonzales' statement was false, Sampson replied, "I don't think it's accurate if the statement implies that I intended to mislead the Congress."

The hearing was briefly halted by Republicans using a rarely invoked Senate procedure, but reconvened shortly afterward.

In earlier testimony Sampson said the prosecutors were fired last year because they did not sufficiently support President Bush's priorities, defending a standard that Democrats called "highly improper."

MORE AT LINK

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. playing damn manouvers to try to stem the bleeding

[The Backlash Cometh]

38. But it's having the opposite effect.

Because they suspended the hearings, the news keeps recycling on the same Sampson testimony. By the end of the day, what he said might even seep into the minds of even the most stubborn Repubs.

[19jet54]

47. More of the same...

... Republicans again trying to interfere with legal investigations; the whole point of the testimony and at the 'heart' of the problems being investigated!

Rove plan: Stop investigations of Republicans by any means - legal or not.

[shadowknows69]

2. So, the morans just made their day longer esseintially

n/t

[The Magistrate]

13. Exactly, Sir: This Is Cover-Up, And Attempts To Delay Charges Against Gonzales

The hearings have already demonstrated he lied to the Congress.

[CTyankee]

58. Could you elaborate? Are you saying the unusual move to shut

down the hearings was a delay tactic? Why would they want it delayed? What do you think they were thinking when they sought the delay?

I've never heard of this maneuver so I find it fascinating that the conservatives have made this move. I'd love to hear your further thought on it, though...

[rodeodance]

3. just heard on Ed Shultz show. whow

[youngdem]

4. I hope average Americans are beginning to understand that the Republican Party is the Mafia

[Mme. Defarge]

25. Excusez-moi, mais ...

The Republican Party of today makes the Mafia look like the local PTA.

[The Backlash Cometh]

29. They are the mafia, except, what will trip us all up is that what they're

doing on a national level, is what goes on as business as usual on a local level.

Wow. If someone could just get that point across, it might go the distance in changing what is wrong in our society.

[Yavin4]

35. Don't Insult The Mafia

Yes, they did some bad things, but they also gave us Las Vegas, some cool nightclubs, and provided the inspiration to some of our greatest movies of all time.

What the hell have the Republicans done for us?

[youngdem]

48. touche'

[ChairmanAgnostic]

49. lowered taxes on the mafia?

sorry, I could not resist.

Let's see. They increased employment in arms makers, ammo makers and emergency medical supplies. that has to count for something.

[Yavin4]

52. Doesn't Beat Vegas

Would you rather live in Baghdad or Vegas?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

60. let me ask McCain and lieberman. They know best.

shall we take a stroll outside the greenzone? Up for a quick shot and a beer?

[Richard Steele]

54. "Organized Crime is one of the few enterprises which are both cost effective AND self-regulating".

I don't recall who said that, but it stuck with me.

Comparing this current batch of clumsy, ham-handed
Repub criminals to the Mafia really is an insult...to the Mafia.

The Mafia will still be with us long after the Republican
Party has joined the Whigs and the Know-Nothings in
the dustbin of history.

[warren pease]

62. Republicans make organized crime...

...look like a bunch of petty thieves and street punks. Somebody wrote the other day that investigations might have happened a bit sooner if Prescott Bush had been named Prosciutto Buschi.

Personally, I'd settle for cement shoes in the East River for the whole revolting mob, no exceptions, with Cheney first to go. What a glorious day of reawakening and restoration in the republic.


wp

[krkaufman]

45. Yes. I keep hoping that RICO charges are eventually filed against them. n/t

[deadmessengers]

66. I've known a few "connected" guys.

And for the most part, I liked 'em better than I like this bunch of thugs. At least they had the good sense not to shit in their own backyard, unlike the morons on the Right.

[AndyA]

5. The Republicans have picked up their toys and want to go home.

We need to take up a collection to send all the GOPers in the House and Senate pacifiers and rattles.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. again?

I have in the past

[drm604]

27. How about sending them prison uniforms. n/t

[AndyA]

53. Prison uniforms are even better! And more appropriate! n/m

[Lint Head]

6. It's a slow strangulation.

[BuyingThyme]

7. So, a quorum call can be used to interrupt a hearing?

Never seen that one before, but it makes sense (if that's how it is).

[rodeodance]

14. ? meant to disrupt??

[ShortnFiery]

17. And the Republicans, now in the minority, are constantly whining how MEAN us

Democrats behave. Well this is nothing less than immature posturing on the part of the Senate Republicans.

[krkaufman]

50. "Waaaaah.... and they make us work too much, too...." n/t

I love listening to talking heads like Lou Dobbs gripe about this Congress being the same as the last, and not focusing on "what the people care about."

For one... the Dems were put in control of Congress, *by the people*, primarily as a reaction to rampant Republican corruption, and the Republican Congress' abdication of their responsibilities in regards to oversight and accountability. Investigation Republican manipulation of the Justice Department for political purposes is EXACTLY what Congress should be looking into, since no legislation will make a damn bit of difference if the rule of law has been shelved.

And secondly... the Dems have only a slim majority *AND HAVE ONLY BEEN IN CHARGE FOR TWO MONTHS*!!!! What?, they're supposed to somehow instantaneously correct six+ years' worth of negligence and incompetence?

Heck, I wish the Dems would increase Congress' work hours, what with all the investigations sprouting-up.

[Sugarcoated]

8. Wow!

This must be a scandal and a half, they're panicking!

[hippiechick]

34. mmmmm ... nice sig line photo

[dflprincess]

57. I'm thinking they're worried that a lot more info than just US Attorney firings

might come out of this hearing. All it takes is for one witness to make a slip and it will give the committee a whole new area to start exploring.

[rodeodance]

9. which Repugs? anyone hear?

[The Count]

59. Mitch McConnel

[ray of light]

10. Jesselyn Radacks diaries, a whistleblower from DOJ,

new diary here

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/3/9/53924/45275

[rodeodance]

21. k

[peacetalksforall]

32. I think this should get a lot of light -

Contrast Sampson with this person - a whistleblower.

I only copied part of the list of things she has gone through. I recommend reading it all on DailyKos.

I think this person's story should be kicked up - to show the other side - the side that involves political hell (political torment and torture, but unlike Abu Graib in relation to confinement and representation).

I think it calls for an investigation 'the retirement package' Sampson got.

[NewJeffCT]

55. Thanks for the link - a great story

As I posted over there - there are so many scandals and so much corruption that one needs a scorecard the size of "War & Peace" to keep track of it all.

[rodeodance]

11. REC

[saltpoint]

12. ...and what a treat it will be to listen to Senator Grassley.

He's easily one of the thickest dolts who ever got up and walked.

[Critters2]

20. He is such an embarassment. nt

[The Magistrate]

22. Indeed He Is, Sir

"The man's like a goose: each day he wakes up to a whole new world."

[saltpoint]

41. Yes. Those poor Iowans. I hope the Democrats can find someone

to run against Grassley next time.

I wouldn't miss him one iota.

[Tekla West]

69. had to work with Chuck in Iowa

he is the guy who fought the metric system saying it was a commie plot. what a clown. At least there is the Senate, after all the guy ain't qualified to mow lawns or shovel snow.

[saltpoint]

71. Tekla West, you must have incredible patience to have survived a

stint with Grassley.

I can barely stand to listen to the man.

He reminds me just a bit of Paul Ford's Mayor of River City in THE MUSIC MAN.

[Critters2]

16. I object to the illegal war in Iraq. Time to recess! nt

[rodeodance]

18. anybody hear anything interesting on the talk shows?

[Robbien]

19. I don't understand Grassley's question

Is he asking if the GOPers can shut down other GOPers? What, does he think GOPers only have the right to shut down Dems?

[snappyturtle]

28. I thought the same thing....couldn't believe the dumbs words

coming out of Grassley's mouth......well, second thought, I can believe it!


edit--spelling

[Hobarticus]

36. Spend some time in Iowa....nothing Grassley says surprises us anymore.

He actually can be one of the good guys, but he loves his little partisan games too much to be really helpful.

[Critters2]

40. Grassley makes one grateful for Harkin

That's his purpose in life.

[flobee1]

23. It will be interesting to see if Sampson

completely changes his tune after the repugs have a chance to talk to him.




I never knew there were timeouts in hearings

[watrwefitinfor]

31. I am reminded of the day Rumsfield was testifying about Abu Ghraib .

He was coming apart under withering questioning. They recessed for lunch, and when he came back he was his old self. Blustering, smart-assed, don't give a damn you can't do nothing to me Rumsfield. Then the whole torture issue just died.

Something's gonna blow. Hope it ain't Iran.

Wat

[Marr]

24. Haha- they're only bleeding themselves out more slowly. Fine by me.

What do they think they're going to accomplish with this? Think everyone's just going to forget about it? Do they think they can keep it on pause for 2 years?

Or... maybe they think they only need to delay for a matter of days, before we're all distracted by some enormous news from Iran...? I wonder.

[watrwefitinfor]

26. Marr asked: "What do they think they're going to accomplish with this?"

See Post #23.

[July]

63. I tend to think the way you do, and I hope we're right.

"Keep it on pause" is a good way to put it. They seem not to understand that they can't just ride this out. Too many of us are paying attention to what they're saying and doing.

And I REALLY hope we don't have any big news from Iran.

[donco6]

30. I predict: Gonzales is GONE.

I think that's what this forced recess is about. Get Gonzales out and then come back to claim there's no need for the hearing.

[Straight Shooter]

37. That sounds like a reasonable interpretation of the events.

Then the Dems can begin another hearing with the information they have collected thus far. The cat is not only out of the bag, it's big, it's bad, and it's got a very nasty 'tude.

[MoonRiver]

42. Except for the fact that Leahy and Shumer have both stated his resignation

won't stop the investigation.

[donco6]

44. That won't stop the Republicans from trying.

They may see it as their only recourse. I think the testimony is really going south for them.

[MissWaverly]

67. Funny you should say that

Judy Woodruff mentioned that the NewsHour called Republicans in both the Senate and
the House about Gonzales & Kyle Sampson's testimony and NO ONE would return their calls,
you know when those gas bags don't bloviate they are in deep cover.

[donco6]

68. Tick Tock Clarice.

I still think it's coming. Very very soon. Wait . . . just wait for it . . .

[xxqqqzme]

33. there are rethug staffers madly flipping through rules - looking

for a way to shut sampson's trap.

[lyonn]

64. shut Sampson down for some schooling

And the dumbass, arrogant repubs in the hearing can be school on too since they were not doing so swell themselves.

By the way, why nothing about this on the news?

[Hissyspit]

39. kick with UPDATED OP

[HowHasItComeToThis]

43. PATHETIC REPUBLICANS AS USUAL

WHO VOTES FOR THESE NUMBSKULLS?

[corkhead]

51. A coalition of rich Colonel Sanders types and the few chickens that are stupid enough to salute them

[paparush]

46. Somebody better take Sampson into Protective Custody before he gets Roved...

[demo dutch]

56. kick

[onehandle]

61. Wimp GOP. nt

[Disturbed]

65. "prosecutors were fired last year because

they did not sufficiently support President Bush's priorities."

What priorities?

[IWantAChange]

70. Repugs object to mtg continuing or the lifting of the (Incompetence) curtain?