The coming Rice-Waxman showdown

[Bucky]

Via Think Progress, it's looking like a third major front is breaking out in the investigation into Bush's mismanagement of the government. And this one is all about back to bascics.

This was out on ThinkProgress two days ago, but I haven't seen anything about it on DU. It could be the next big thing.

Waxman To Rice: Your Days Of Blowing Off My Letters Are Over

At the heart of the CIA leak scandal was a false claim, made by President Bush in the infamous 16 words from his State of the Union address, that Iraq had sought uranium from Niger for a nuclear device.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) has been trying for years to investigate how this fraudulent claim became part of the basis for sending our country to war, beginning with a letter to the White House two days before the war began.

The Bush administration has consistently refused his requests for information. Since the war began, Waxman has written 11 letters to Condoleezza Rice alone — she hasn’t responded to a single one.

On March 12, 2007, he wrote his first letter to Rice as committee chairman, asking that she respond by March 23. She didn’t, and Waxman has had enough:

Dear Madam Secretary:

On March 12, 2007, I sent you a letter renewing, as formal requests of the Committee, prior letter requests that I sent to you between 2003 and 2006. These requests sought information on the claim that Iraq sought uranium from Niger, White House treatment of classified information, the appointment of Ambassador Jones as “special coordinator” for Iraq, and other subjects. My March 12 letter is attached.

The March 12 letter requested a response by March 23 to several of the inquiries, but the Committee received no response from you.

I now request your appearance before the Committee at a hearing on Wednesday, April 18, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 2154, Rayburn House Office Building. At this hearing, you will be asked to provide testimony and respond to questions on the subjects outlined in the March 12 letter and the original request letters. …

Sincerely,
Henry A. Waxman
Chairman

Since Waxman wrote his March 12 letter, Rice has done more than a dozen press events, including interviews with Sean Hannity and Fox & Friends. Now it’s time she spend a few hours with Congress.

[dennis4868]

1. Checks and balances

what a great concept :-)

[Heathen57]

2. With Waxman riled up over

Condiment's refusal to even acknowledge his letters of inquiry, I wonder what he will do when she blows him off again?

I would love to see her brought into the senate chambers by armed guards and charged with contempt of Congressional subpoena.

I think Waxman is just pissed off enough to do it too.

:spank::spank::spank:

[newyawker99]

5. Hi Heathen57!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Peace Patriot]

3. Wow, that is one pissed off letter!

The arrogance of these BushCons is unbelievable. They just can't seem to get used to the idea that we have a democracy here, that they are OUR employees, and that they OWE US accountability.

I guess it's not so unbelievable, since I think I understand where this obliviousness to our interest in their affairs comes from. They owe their power to Diebold and ES&S, and not to us. So why should they have to answer to us? It makes no sense to them, in their screwball Bushite world. They are so Marie Antoinette. ("Let them eat cake!")

I agree, it's going to be pretty interesting to see how the Queen Of All She Surveys responds to a summons.

I feel like I'm watching one of those reverse action movies--where a demolished building (our democracy) is reconstructed before your very eyes, in slow motion, falling brick by falling brick going into reverse and following its path back up to its place in the structure that was once there--and now is, again.

We've got the ground floor in place now. But there are a lot of floors still to be put back up.

My thanks to Congressman Waxman for this letter (and to Bucky for posting it)! Very gratifying.

[hang a left]

4. It was discussed last week,

We don't miss much around here.

Yeah, they will go to the mat.

We will once and for all see what a stacked USSC can do for ya.

[bdamomma]

6. and watch how snotty Condi will be with Waxman.

I hope Waxman cuts her down. Condi and Gonzo are such liars.