Rarely Have I Seen Senator Orrin Hatch So Shrill

[CorpGovActivist]

Yikes.

With Senator Specter likely to throw the White House "company line" overboard and speak his mind, they had to go to the #2 minority member to defend Gonzales this morning: http://judiciary.senate.gov/members.cfm

Hatch usually has a sense of smug self-composure that rivals that of McConnell or Lott.

Today, he blew a fuse.

Investigate, Leahy, investigate.

- Dave

[antonialee839]

1. Did you miss the hearing this past week?

:rofl:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. Wouldn't you say he was a tempest in a coffee cup??? lol!

Lots of whirling around and getting him self-dizzy with his need to protect his beloved Gonzo. What's up with working with Gonzo almost every day, any way?

And when he played the Hispanic card! Yikes! I cursed at him through my tv set!

[CorpGovActivist]

4. It's a Tempest in a Samovar! No, a French Coffee Press!

:rofl:

- Dave

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

6. Dave...........

Thanks goodness I didn't sip my coffee before reading!

French Coffee Press!!!!! Personally I think that man (term loosely used) is a total Drip!

:rofl:

[librechik]

18. In a D cup! Clinton did it! Clinton did it! He nominated Gonzales! He..

oops, I think I'm going to :puke:

[WinkyDink]

19. We've got Richardson, if the Republicans want to play poker.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

22. This could be the beginning of a Lenny Bruce routine!

You have Gonzales. We have Richardson and I'll raise with Menendez!

:rofl:

[crikkett]

3. hi, who's 'they'?

and didn't Specter insert the language into the Patriot Act that set the stage for the purging?

[CorpGovActivist]

7. When Guests Are Scheduled...

... it is not uncommon for the producers to seek input from multiple sources to determine who is going to be the most ardent champion of a particular viewpoint.

All things being equal, MTP's producers would've probably preferred to have had the Chairman and the Ranking Member. If I were a betting man, though, the concensus emerged that Specter wouldn't be a vocal defender of the White House position.

So, Hatch became the "get" for that viewpoint, IMHO.

- Dave

P.S. The insertion of the language in the Patriot Act is still an issue I'm researching, so I'm not that informed yet regarding the role Specter played.

[DemReadingDU]

25. It wasn't Specter, but Hatch!

"A fourth adviser -- Sampson -- had an even more influential position. He was in charge of U.S. attorney selections in the White House counsel's office and later at Justice, where he eventually became Gonzales's chief of staff. Sampson also coordinated the firings, and last month he resigned as the controversy swelled.

Sampson sought to be a U.S. attorney, too, and he was the administration's preferred choice last year to be chief prosecutor in his native Utah. But he was nudged aside for another GOP lawyer, Brett L. Tolman, who was favored by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). Tolman was counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee in late 2005 when, at Justice's request, he had language inserted into USA Patriot Act legislation that allowed Gonzales to circumvent Senate confirmation by appointing interim U.S. attorneys indefinitely. Congress is in the process of repealing the provision."
http://www.atlargely.com/2007/04/constitutional_.html

here is a discussion thread...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x557590


edit to add another discussion thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x553754

[EST]

13. Specter was in it up to his elbows.

I think he's quietly hoping nobody will ask him, under oath, just how it was that it was in his office and under his aegis that particularly foul clause was illegally inserted (typical repub licker con modus-remember all the bills that the cons waited until after pieces of legislation were approved and then amended them quietly in committee and sent them--illegally to the president's desk for signature?)

[AnnInLa]

5. I think he was consciously taking up Leahy's time

He interrupted, and then talked and talked and talked....using up valuable time for Leahy to explain.

[CorpGovActivist]

10. Filibustering Comes Naturally...

... to most Senators.

Remember Liddy in the lead-up to the mid-terms?

- Dave

[Cha]

15. Dems, even quiet polite Dems have

to figure out how to talk louder and longer when it's their turn. Our message has to get out when we have the chance on corporatewhoretv.

I think Dean has learned this..and I've just seen clips of him on DU, I don't watch the repuke yell fests on tv.

[Blackhatjack]

8. I would not be surprised to see the corruption investigations lead to Hatch's doorstep...

He is an Administration apologist for sure, but he has gone beyond all reason in trying to defend the indefensible. Why?

Because Washington Politics runs on money, and money greases the rails for those who seek power. Look at where Hatch is, what he has done, and you wonder how did he get there? It is understandable that a mormon state would stand behind conservative politicians, but Hatch has had his fingers in lots of pies while on the Hill --and you can bet there have been many favors he called in, and arms twisted by him, to both acquire and hang onto his plum positions.

I do not trust anything he says. Show me how he legitimately arrived at his present status, and I will show you a fairy tale.

[Mister Ed]

12. Hatch declared in the 9/11 Commission Report that Valerie Plame had not been undercover

Now she has contradicted that claim in sworn testimony. Waxman is seeking the documents that will show who's lying. And it ain't Plame.

[Saturday]

9. He wants to be AG when Gonzo steps down.

[ejbr]

11. My favorite line was when Leahy

told Tim "I'm sorry that he (Hatch) has to be so upset this early in the morning.":spray:

[EST]

14. That was cool, as was the little exchange, earlier,

when he-using very tactful language-called nuthatch a liar. I don't remember the exact words he used, but my wife heard my roar of "ALRIGHT!" clear down in the basement.
 Leahy was definitely on a roll. I have every intention of watching it all again on the five o'clock or nine o'clock reruns.
  Even mikey the psychy turned in a credible performance, today, and I am going to let msnbc know about it.

How dare they break with tradition and turn a performance with a bit of integrity?

[Justice]

21. and Leahy said it with that smiling face, it was priceless. At the end he

thanked Hatch for the nice birthday note Hatch sent him. Funny.

[Lusted4]

16. Thou protest to much Orrin. Are they getting a little to close for comfort. nt

[BlooInBloo]

17. Rarely have you seen Hatch not chairman.

[Old and In the Way]

20. Best defense is a good offense.

Hatch was offensive as hell. What a flaming hypocrite.

[butterfly77]

23. I've been watching this evil bastard for years...

he has been getting away with this shit so long that he really believes that the republiCONS can't or shouldn't be questioned they think that they own those halls of congress and the senate and another one is the asshole Mc Connell these two are the monsters behind a lot of the garbage that is going on.

Mc Connell is being challenged for his seat in Kentucky and he said he won't lose because they have it sewn up and they are different down there, I hope he is in for the surprise of his life and the same goes for Orrin Hatch these are some arrogant bastards...

[dazzlerazzle]

24. orin upset

hope he didn't go home and beat up one of his wives!!!