Dave Lindorff - 12:56 pm Pacific Time - Aug 22, 2006 - #99 of 132
Several comments here.
First of all, there's a difference between an ordinary House committee and an Impeachment committee. Bush has been stonewalling even Republican-led committees, but there could be no exuse for stonewalling an impeachment hearing. The constitution is clear that Congress has the power to impeach, and even the likes of Alito and Scalia would agree that Congress in an impeachment investigation has full power to investigate the administration.
Second, the matter of the media filter. The beauty of an impeachment hearing is that it is such great theater (remember the Nixon and Clinton hearings?) that the networks--and certainly C-Span--would run them unfiltered. And people will watch because it's great drama. That's why it's such a powerful educational tool about how government really works. And it's why we need to avail ourselves of the process to expose the Bush administration for what it is.
More later. I'm driving back from a week in the Catskills (mostly spent cutting up three fallen trees, not relaxing), but will be able to devote more attention to this discussion starting tomorrow.
In paragraphs...
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Michael Castellano - 01:06 pm Pacific Time - Aug 22, 2006 - #100 of 132
"All you have to do is tell the people they are being attacked and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism." -- Herman Goering
I wish I could be optimistic about getting impeachment hearing going, but my read on the current breed of Congress critters tells me that few have the courage or inclination to take up the challenge.
All that could change in November. Let us hope.
More at:
http://tabletalk.salon.com/webx?13@@.773be853