Official John Conyers Signing Statement Hearing thread #1

[Sydnie]

Link to watch - http://judiciary.house.gov/schedule.aspx

[hippiechick]

1. thank you, thank you!

... but what is an SMI stream? Windows Media9.whatever can't play it. :(

[Bonobo]

3. No sound yet?

[Sydnie]

5. They are still getting seated

I have heard two little blips of noise, so they must be waiting for Conyers to call it to order before opening the mics.

[Bonobo]

6. Kewl. Thanks.

[Bonobo]

17. Conyers "We're not going to take no for an answer"

We will find out what Bush has done when he claims to be exempt from provision set forth in a law...

[Doremus]

9. Now you can hear it.... n/t

[hippiechick]

10. ok, did a 'save as' and opened from file w/ Real Player

:) :thumbsup:

[Sydnie]

14. Is that how you save real player files?

I've been trying to figure that out. When you have a moment, could you pm the instructions to me (so I can find them later in case I forget? I would really appreciate that.

[hippiechick]

23. I don't know if it will actually 'save' the file TO Real Player ...

... I saved the whole media file to my PC, then right clicked on it & selected 'open with' and chose Real Player because my version of Windows Media wouldn't pull it.

Don't know if it will be able to play again once the hearing is over.
Feingold's (yesterday) played live, but I couldn't replay it - I got an error message that the URL was dead.

I'm more lucky than smart when it comes to computer stuff. :blush:


:hi:

[Bonobo]

2. Past midnight here in Japan, but I'm staying up baby!

I LOVE Conyers. He's not like the rest!

[The Witch]

26. nihon ni yoroshiku!

shinkonryokou de modorundawa, mou tanoshimi ni shitesugite shinisou!!!! :woohoo:

[Bonobo]

46. Eh? Majou-san ha nihngo wo shaberu no?

Shinkonryoukou? Mou boku ippo osakatta ka...!

[The Witch]

54. shaberu shaberu

ippo dake osokatta to omottara oomachigai yo :evilgrin:

nihon no doko? pm o kudasai ne

[sabra]

4. thanks!

[w8liftinglady]

7. I have stinking dial-up..do you mind posting updates?

:hug:

[Sydnie]

11. Not at all

although I'm not as good at it as some are, like LSK or rodeodance. But, I'll do my best. :hug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Thank You! I'm so happy the House and Senate have webcasts!

THIS should be good! Thanks, Sydnie!:hi:

Here we go!

[blogslut]

12. kickers

ooh...Conyers just mentioned how a recently passed Drinin was on Nixon's enemies list.

[helderheid]

13. TUNED IN! 5th rec!

[Sydnie]

15. Out of this hearing they will begin an investigation on each

signing statement and just what he has claimed to be exempt from in each statement.

[helderheid]

16. he's pulling no punches - this is going to be great. I hope C-Span is there

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

18. Thank you!

K & R!

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. 800 signing statements! They have 148 for House members to examine.

They are a challenge to our rule of law.

800?! GEEZUS!

[Bonobo]

20. "We're talking about systematic extra-constitutional behavior"

[Sydnie]

21. He should veto or sign but he doesn't have the right to exempt himself

from the legislation.

[in_cog_ni_to]

24. Signing statements are a red herring.(Repuke) He calls this hearing a SIDE SHOW!

What a dick!

[Sydnie]

27. I was thinking that myself

He should veto the entire bill if he thinks it's unconstitutional.

[The Witch]

22. Tuning in!

:hi: everyone! :grouphug:

[Doremus]

25. The repug chimes in with usual obfuscation and BS. n/t

[Supersedeas]

108. a complete inability to distinguish both the quantity or quality of past Signing Stmts

[babylonsister]

28. Thank you! I can't wait to hear Conyers-"We Can Fire Him!" nt

[helderheid]

29. this guy is SPEWING shit.

[CatWoman]

30. who IS this asshole?

[in_cog_ni_to]

38. The name is Smith...missed the state he represents. What a JERK! n/t

[Doremus]

31. How much time does this hot air bag get? Enough already. n/t

[The Witch]

32. Are there witnesses?

OMG this guy is full of it. Yes, i can tell you when the Prez has violated a law, and "he can be challenged by the courts" and look how well that has worked.

[in_cog_ni_to]

44. Yes. There are witnesses there. n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

33. Mr. repuke dickhead thinks what the psycho has done is perfectly fine. He's done nothing wrong.

:rofl::rofl:

[helderheid]

34. Mr. Smith - this is partisan. BS!!

[Sydnie]

35. Blivet** is not smart enough to write those statements

so we must assume that someone else writes them and he just signs them. This repuke is talking as if blivet** writes them!

[Bonobo]

36. Nadler up and this guy kicks ass!

[in_cog_ni_to]

41. YEP! Nadler kicks ass! He takes no prisoners and knows the law..inside out!

:thumbsup: We're lucky he's on our side.:)

[blogslut]

37. Who is the sychophant

speaking in support of Bush. Did he really call the signing statements - merely the president's opinion?

[helderheid]

39. "Smith" - and yes he did!!

[Bonobo]

40. Nadler: "President's broad and unfounded assertions of presidential authority"

[Bonobo]

42. "(Bush) threatens our democracy."

[Sydnie]

43. Nadler is nailing him

saying that often they don't even hear that he is not going to follow the law until they read about it in the papers!

Bringing up the violation of FISA and that the statute of limitations on breaking that law runs much longer than the length of this administration!

[helderheid]

45. He said the F word... FELONY!

[halobeam]

49. yes... the "F" word...

beautiful

[w8liftinglady]

51. holy shit-regarding what?

[helderheid]

53. FISA!

[The Witch]

47. Oi, this guy has never heard of a VETO.

you fuckTARD! :mad:

[helderheid]

48. OH OKAY - so SIGNING STATEMENTS are defending the constitution?!?

Is that what he's saying?

[blogslut]

50. how adorable!

Another koolaid drinker telling us that the president is "protecting us" from unconstitutional laws!

I feel sooooooooooo much safer!

[Sydnie]

52. "Clinton did it so get over it" is that what this guy is saying?

Clinton's were completely different than blivet's**. I've read them!

[Sydnie]

55. John Elwood (sp) up now n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

56. Must be a repuke bitchin' about not getting to make a statement.

:cry::cry: I hope they enjoy the turned tables. ENJOY ASSHOLES!

[helderheid]

57. my thoughts exactly! And Conyers was POLITE!

[SaveOurDemocracy]

58. Thanks : )

tuned in ... and recommending :kick:

[helderheid]

59. "This is not about Presidential signing statements of the past"

[helderheid]

60. "Question is - is the President above the law"

[Sydnie]

61. why is the Heritage Foundation guy testifying here?

Pukes must have invited him!

[Bonobo]

63. Conservative or not, this guy is kicking much ass.

[Sydnie]

65. Because he fears "Hillary or Obama"

not because he thinks blivet** is really overstepping, he just doesn't want someone else to do what blivet** has done if he doesn't support them.

Whatever it takes to get this to stop ... You're right. He did kick much ass!

[Sydnie]

62. Just summed it up (this Mickey guy) - I agree with the policies of

this president but I might not agree with the next one so we must not allow this to stand as precedent!

[Bonobo]

64. Ms. Matthis Prsident of BAR association up to bat...

[helderheid]

66. and kicking ass

[in_cog_ni_to]

67. Eh, what does she know? She just the President of the ABA.

:eyes:

"Congress should pass legislation which requires the psycho to submit a report when he makes a signing statement."

I hope they do! What's to stop the little dictator from making a signing statement on THAT legislation? Sounds like a vicious circle.

[doublethink]

68. Exactly ...... what she just said ......

these signing statements bypass the ability for Congress to over-ride a presidents 'veto' if the bill is never sent back to them. It's bullshit and un-constitutional. :)

[w8liftinglady]

70. awesome!

[blogslut]

69. Constitutional avoidance

Whoa...there's a hell of a thing to say.

Who is this pencil-neck trying to justify signing statements and comparing Bush to a judge?

[derby378]

71. Sic 'em, Johnny!

Wish I could follow along at work, but the boss is calling...

[Bonobo]

72. Did this pencil-necked geek ACTUALLY say "brouhaha"!?

[Sydnie]

74. Yes he did

Expect to hear it bounced back through the rw echo chamber by the end of the day!

[in_cog_ni_to]

73. OH BROTHER! "The brouhaha over the signing statements is unwarranted."

What a little tool.

[Sydnie]

75. Unusual high number of challenges to the laws

over 1100 provisions challenging the laws!

[Sydnie]

76. Finally bringing up the CONTEXT with does matter

What they say matters even more than the fact that he signed them.

[Sydnie]

77. Bringing up mail too.

Good!

[blogslut]

78. Questions!

Finally!

[blogslut]

79. Singing statements

makes the veto null and void. No record or annoucement of when/how the prez changes the law with a signing statement.

[helderheid]

80. talking about torture!

[blogslut]

81. suggestions as to

what the judiciary should do about signing statements:

1) Prez must annouce he's done it

2) Must be a review board on each statement

[blogslut]

82. Smith (R)

Is this much ado about nothing?

Very few times the statement has been brought up in court.

That's Lamar Smith isn't it? I can smell a corrupt Texan through my monitor.

[helderheid]

83. anyone know how long this will go?

[Sydnie]

84. No clue

don't know who will be able to ask questions. If the whole committee can, it could go a while. If only the three that were allowed to make opening statements, not too long.

[helderheid]

85. Smith is an AASSSSSHOOOLLEEEE

[Sydnie]

86. and smug too! n/t

[helderheid]

87. I had to step away - what has Nadler been saying?

[blogslut]

88. Nadler

"The president is supposed to protect the constitution and if so, how can he let a law he deems unconstitutional pass with a signing statement?"

Dude that answered brings up 9/11

arrggh

[Sydnie]

91. but he said it doesn't justify it

and I agree with that position. The secrecy is the issue, and if he doesn't agree with the law, he should veto it.

[Tatiana]

89. Thanks, everyone for keeping us cuberats updated! n/t

[blogslut]

90. Nadler

is making the point with the witnesses that the prez need to just veto a law if he thinks it's unconstitutional

[blogslut]

92. Nadler

Untrammeled unchecked power...

[doublethink]

94. Damn fricking Sensenbooger !!!!!!!111

arrrrrrrrrgggggg!!!! :eyes: Quick shut off his mic!!! ;)

[Sydnie]

93. Sensenbrener is up

No big deal but they are extra-constitutional. :wtf:

[in_cog_ni_to]

95. PUUUUUUUKE! Sensenbrenner! "I don't think signing statements are any big deal."

:rofl: Of course you don't!

[blogslut]

96. Tex Sensenbrenner

LOL

Signing statements are no big deal. They are unconstitutional but no big deal.

Did he really just say that?

OMIGOD~

[Sydnie]

98. He said "extra-constitutional"

meaning they don't know if it's ok or not, but they like 'em.

[Tatiana]

99. These Repukes from TX are such a joke. n/t

[w8liftinglady]

102. no shit-welcome to my nightmare

[blogslut]

104. Oh, he's not from Texas

That's not why they call Sensenbrenner TEX. ;)

[Tatiana]

106. I know Sensenbrenner is a cheesehead.

I am talking about idiots like Lamar Smith, Pete Sessions and the like. They are true enemies of the Constitution.

[d_b]

97. sensenbrenner

ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

:-p

[in_cog_ni_to]

100. THE NERVE OF THAT ASSHOLE! "The next time the ABA comes before this committee

I would hope it would be more accurate in the sources it uses." :nuke::nuke::grr::grr::nuke::nuke:

[pacalo]

107. And how about his opening statement: "I don't think signing statements are a big deal."

The legal assistant sitting behind him was trying hard not to crack up -- had to lower his head while trying to contain his amusement. :)

I looked at the RP counter & Sensenbrenner begins around 44.

[blogslut]

Smith

Is now condemning the task force. You all disagreed with the president there fore you are partisan.

Smith is a snake

[helderheid]

101. MAYBE THEY ALL AGREED BECAUSE IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL YOU ASSWIPE!

[Sydnie]

103. ~~~~Thread 2 is up~~~~

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=90702&mesg_id=90702

[blogslut]

105. Veto it or let it pass

Deal with it Mr. Smith

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

109. I'm going to lock this.

Thread 2: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=90702&mesg_id=90702

best,
wakemeupwhenitsover
DU Moderator