FDL!

Tres for Sen. Clinton

OK, dos treses para Sen. Clinton

I hope this goes someplace. This is disturbing.

uno is enough, ET.

Sarbanes slapped her down and she claimes a “leap in logic, this is a leap in logic” throwing up her hands.

Wax calls for 10 minute break at which she is quite thankful.

when does it become contempt of congress, this cutesy bs game she’s being allowed to play?

Love to know what is being parsed by Watson and Davis!

Sen. Stevens on why he voted “present” on cloture for the AG no confidence vote:

“I did so because I have a conflict of interest in terms of the investigation that is on going.”

Are there no Sam Ervins on the Democratic aisle of Congress? Waxman, Leahy, and Conyers are a mere shadow of that old country lawyer.

EPU’d from last thread:

Biodun @ 201

Languages. Logic. Tenses. We’re most certainly in grammar school today.

She reminds me of a nasty little Yorkshire terrier with a lip curl. Grrrrr.

I think the GOP was worried that Lurita passed for a white lady at the first round of hearings. Davis’ several mentions (which I haven’t seen but read about here) that she’s an African-American woman seem designed to ensure that the news programs refer to that aspect of her heritage, which is of course very important to the GOP.

They want to show how racist the Democrats are, especially after we beat up on that nice Latino AbuG. It’s all about the outrages Democrats perpetrate on individual pet GOP minorities, not about letting an entire city drown or anything.

I’d like to whap Issa upside the head and tell him, “No — Everybody DOESN’T violate the Hatch Act, and as a Federal employee I resent your impugning my honor and that of my co-workers.”

I wish I had a $1,000 US Savings bond for every time I’ve taken the required Ethics course for the last 29 years.

james @ 7

when does it become contempt of congress, this cutesy bs game she’s being allowed to play?

She is being allowed to dominate the hearing with her blather. Hard to counter that kind of noisy bs with polite adherence to rules.

Brisingamen 14

The word “ethics” is not in Issa’s vocabulary.

Brisingamen @ 12

I’d like to whap Issa upside the head and tell him, “No — Everybody DOESN’T violate the Hatch Act, and as a Federal employee I resent your impugning my honor and that of my co-workers.”

I wish I had a $1,000 US Savings bond for every time I’ve taken the required Ethics course for the last 29 years.

I was only a direct fed for about 2 1/2 years after 5 yrs, 9 months in AF. I also had to receive Hatch Act training as a contrator scum for a dozen years so I don’t remember anything other than straightforward Don’t Do That…

TeddySanFran @ 13:

Don’t leave Condi Rice out of the mix…*g*

Doan is a little bit too pleased with her own ability to deflect all questions.

I loved Sarbane’s comment that (paraphrased) “you don’t strike me as the kind of person who would be just a wallflower in any kind of meeting.” (re: the PowerPoint presentation.

TeddySanFran @ 11

I think the GOP was worried that Lurita passed for a white lady at the first round of hearings. Davis’ several mentions (which I haven’t seen but read about here) that she’s an African-American woman seem designed to ensure that the news programs refer to that aspect of her heritage, which is of course very important to the GOP.

They want to show how racist the Democrats are, especially after we beat up on that nice Latino AbuG. It’s all about the outrages Democrats perpetrate on individual pet GOP minorities, not about letting an entire city drown or anything.

That’s why Watson slapped em down for it and called BS on Davis since she’s black woman. When Davis tried to say it was Dems that brought it up both she and Waxman slapped him down quickly.

Shays gets on my last nerve.

Wax back

I have a special loathing for Issa, who engineered the Gray Davis recall, blaming him for the rape of
California’s power by Enron, and then shoving the Repub’s pet Schwarzenegger into the Governor’s seat.

Slime.

So she said she was using the “hortatory subjunctive” when she said those emplyees would not be getting bonuses without significant rehabilitation. Sarbanes says hortatory subjuntive was operative when she said “what can we do to help our candidates?” If that was exhortation (threat or implied intention) why not allow that she had correctly
characterized her statement re disloyal whistleblowing employees?

They are coming back. It looks like Davis has some papers in hand. Are they what Watson was lecturing him about? I wa wa wa wonder.

dakine01 @ 17

Brisingamen @ 12

I’d like to whap Issa upside the head and tell him, “No — Everybody DOESN’T violate the Hatch Act, and as a Federal employee I resent your impugning my honor and that of my co-workers.”

I wish I had a $1,000 US Savings bond for every time I’ve taken the required Ethics course for the last 29 years.

I was only a direct fed for about 2 1/2 years after 5 yrs, 9 months in AF. I also had to receive Hatch Act training as a contrator scum for a dozen years so I don’t remember anything other than straightforward Don’t Do That…

My only acquaintance with Hatch Act was when the Marine Corps tried to prevent me from organizing on Quantico for McGovern during 72 campaign.

Emanuel Celler wrote a letter in my behalf telling them to back off.

Slothrop @ 17

Doan is a little bit too pleased with her own ability to deflect all questions.

Can you imagine working for such a person?

Alicia @ 22

I have a special loathing for Issa, who engineered the Gray Davis recall, blaming him for the rape of
California’s power by Enron, and then shoving the Repub’s pet Schwarzenegger into the Governor’s seat.

Slime.

After he discovered that there was no way that HE could get elected which is why he pushed it from the first.

Slothrop @ 19

Doan is a little bit too pleased with her own ability to deflect all questions.

Yeah, that little smirk and wriggle when she thinks she got off a good one is kinda disgusting.

dakine01 @ 4

Sarbanes slapped her down and she claimes a “leap in logic, this is a leap in logic” throwing up her hands.

Wax calls for 10 minute break at which she is quite thankful.

leap, hands thrown out to the side, mouth open in shock, just shock, i tell you.

= poster child for the whole administration!

i’ll take my copy in a gilded frame, please.

do you accept credit cards? ;->

Hugh @ 26

Slothrop @ 17

Can you imagine working for such a person?

How unusual to think some employees might not care for her…

Fern @ 28

Slothrop @ 19

Doan is a little bit too pleased with her own ability to deflect all questions.

Yeah, that little smirk and wriggle when she thinks she got off a good one is kinda disgusting.

How professional.
Now..the’re back

dakine01 @ 27

After he discovered that there was no way that HE could get elected which is why he pushed it from the first.

Exactly.

Lol…White House lowering expectations for fundraising.

Norton up.

Brisingamen @ 14

I’d like to whap Issa upside the head and tell him, “No — Everybody DOESN’T violate the Hatch Act, and as a Federal employee I resent your impugning my honor and that of my co-workers.”

I wish I had a $1,000 US Savings bond for every time I’ve taken the required Ethics course for the last 29 years.

Well, it just kills me that here I am in a low-level job, but having been exposed to the world of law, I always confirm with a higher authority, if I ever have a shadow of a doubt, that something I may have been asked to do or something I may be considering doing as part of my job, is ethical.

I always check with the attorney if there’s a doubt in my mind. You’d think these government employees would have some inkling of what might be legally questionable behavior or at least know when it is appropriate to find out if what you are doing is legal or illegal.

This is the their frikkin argument for everything. “I didn’t know what I was doing was wrong.” — Well, didja check? Do you think perhaps you have an obligation to your employers, the taxpayers, to check??

This lame argument pisses me off and is an insult to taxpayers and legal minds.

If Davis senses a problem with what Watson was showing him he will use his position as ranking to attack.

Alicia @ 32

Hugh @ 26

Slothrop @ 17

Can you imagine working for such a person?

How unusual to think some employees might not care for her…

She would be the boss from hell. Always right.

Doan “leap in logic” Davis early on in the hearing talking about a “short hop, skip and a jump to the office of Karl Rove”

I keep hoping were headed for a frogmarch!

dakine01 @16:

The Hatch Act is fairly simple. It’s a list of what you can and cannot do WRT political campaigning. So Doan’s cutesy act, i.e. “speculating about the Hatch Act” is pure B***S**T.

My rule of thumb boils down to “if you think it might be unethical, don’t do it.”

TeddySanFran @ 13

They want to show how racist the Democrats are, especially after we beat up on that nice Latino AbuG. It’s all about the outrages Democrats perpetrate on individual pet GOP minorities, not about letting an entire city drown or anything.

The repubs have become very good at finding useful tools with a claim to membership in some minority group so that when dems attack their actions they can play the race card. Cynical b*stards.

Eleanor Holmes Norton up.

Praising Doan personally for their dealings. “If I didn’t know how sophisticated you were and that the admin has done this with up to twenty agencies, I would have called you a babe in the woods”

Norton: I know how sophisticated you are…

ya know – I’ve kinda lost track of what Henry was trying to get done here. As much as I admire Waxman, he doesn’t even seem to have his own Rep’s on the same page.

Alicia @ 32

dakine01 @ 27

After he discovered that there was no way that HE could get elected which is why he pushed it from the first.

Exactly.

Not just “discovered”. He cried publically, after financing a substantial portion of the recall when he realized that the Republicans weren’t going to just reward him with the governorship.

It was pathetic, he was totally used and is a tool.

Hugh @ 26

Slothrop @ 17

Doan is a little bit too pleased with her own ability to deflect all questions.

Can you imagine working for such a person?

Yea, the director of the Office of Adult Literacy in Georgia was this horrible AA woman who would just hammer her underlings in public, belittle the people who came to literacy programs and was genrally a horrible bitch. She ended up losing her job for putting her sister’s boyfriend, a security guard, in charge of technology for the state literacy program. She screamed racism when she got popped.

james @ 5

when does it become contempt of congress, this cutesy bs game she’s being allowed to play?

And will our wayward Republican enablers be considered co-conspirators in this game?

Contempt of Congress is a way of life for this administration during the past 6 years. And one can only surmise that people like Davis and Issa are, essentially, in contempt of their own legislative body, when they defer this investigation away from its true course.

dakine01 @ 29

Alicia @ 22

I have a special loathing for Issa, who engineered the Gray Davis recall, blaming him for the rape of
California’s power by Enron, and then shoving the Repub’s pet Schwarzenegger into the Governor’s seat.

Slime.

After he discovered that there was no way that HE could get elected which is why he pushed it from the first.

This is SO true! Most of us who live in California understand Issa’s motive in his political views; which was and has under estamated his roll in California and Washington DC. He is and will always be a slime back jerk with personal motives that only serve him and his party and NOT the people of his district and the state of California! End.

Brisingamen @ 38

dakine01 @16:

The Hatch Act is fairly simple. It’s a list of what you can and cannot do WRT political campaigning. So Doan’s cutesy act, i.e. “speculating about the Hatch Act” is pure B***S**T.

My rule of thumb boils down to “if you think it might be unethical, don’t do it.”

When I started as a QA specialist, my QAR told me up front, if it’s an appearance of a conflict or ethical problem. It IS a conflict.

No questions from Democrats must be answered — Doan’s handlers.

Norton: I’d like to think that you are a babe in the woods, but it’s hard to think that the White House would put you up to this.

Norton: Do you accept the special counsel’s office decision as unbiased? Are you willing to live with the counsel’s report as you said you would earlier?

Doan: No, the report is flawed.

Shorter Doan: I serve at the president’s pleasure.

Oh-oh…now she’s pissed off E.H. Norton!

Doan: The report is flawed, but I will live with whatever the President decides.

Bluetoe @ 10

Are there no Sam Ervins on the Democratic aisle of Congress? Waxman, Leahy, and Conyers are a mere shadow of that old country lawyer.

Leahy is still good. Have you watched Whitehouse, Feingold and Schumer?

Norton is slapping her down based on her previous testimony where she deflected questions because of the OSC investigation and now is questioning the findings of that “impartial body.” Doan started going to BS and Norton called her and said “Let me ask my question before you answer the question>”

Fern @ 36

Alicia @ 32

How unusual to think some employees might not care for her…

She would be the boss from hell. Always right.

Absolutely no respect for anyone else unless you are singing her praises!

Joe Klein’s conscience @ 51

Bluetoe @ 10

Are there no Sam Ervins on the Democratic aisle of Congress? Waxman, Leahy, and Conyers are a mere shadow of that old country lawyer.

They are good, but none of them are on this committee.

Leahy is still good. Have you watched Whitehouse, Feingold and Schumer?

She understands only Bush’s laws, not what Congress acts with the laws!

She needs to go!

Doan: Leaps in logic again.

She seems pissed.

Norton: the special counsel said that it “could imagine no greater violation of the Hatch Act.” Your attorney called it ‘overblown, reckless’…Do you feel the same way?

Doan: Yes…Factual errors, biased, and I’d like to know why.

Tom Davis up.

I would really like to see Doan before Leahy!

Davis is going to talk about wasting time, shit.

Is Davis Doan’s designated lawyer in the House?

jayt @ 44

ya know – I’ve kinda lost track of what Henry was trying to get done here. As much as I admire Waxman, he doesn’t even seem to have his own Rep’s on the same page.

Ostensibly, this is a hearing to make sure that Doan won’t retaliate against her employees for busting her on her Hatch Act violation.

But the other thing it’ll do is pressure Bush to fire her–the decision is in Bush’s hands.

Also, it’s worthwhile to force him to fire her, because it’ll set the precedent for Rove and Jennings, who are being investigated for Hatch Act violations.

Let’s see Davis attack the OSC again…

Wordsmith @ 49

Oh-oh…now she’s pissed off E.H. Norton!

And all Norton could do was blubber and look foolish….game, set, match as far as I’m concerned.

I’m going for a walk by the river. This is a sham.

Davis: Doan isn’t the only one questioning the report.

Waxman: The report is concluded. Their recommendation is that you (Doan) be given the max penalty, which is to be fired…

She violated the Hatch Act. She should have been fired by now.
Why is she on my teevee?

Are any violations of the Hatch Act felonies?

Waxman: “You remembered there were cookies…”

Ah hahaha!

grape_crush @ 64

Davis: Doan isn’t the only one questioning the report.

Waxman: The report is concluded. Their recommendation is that you (Doan) be given the max penalty, which is to be fired…

Fired or fined?

kathleen @ 60

I would really like to see Doan before Leahy!

Too bad she doesn’t fall under his jurisdiction. Tragedy is, she falls under that of Liebercreep’s committee.

OMG. Waxman calling her on her conflicting testimony…

Biodun @ 58

Doan: Leaps in logic again.

She seems pissed.

She is disrespectful. Totally inappropriate.

Uh Oh! Wax has her NOT providing full and complete (re: lying) to the committee previously.. She testified that she didn’t remember but told the OSC investigator that she did remember but didn’t think it should go to committee first. She’s f*ck’d.

Doan is the most arrogant of all the Republicans that have recently testified before Congress. She is smug beyond belief!

how come davis has unlimited time to read his lil’ cheat-sheet of gar-b-a-g-e?!?!
Puleeze, Waxman, just lean over, grab that list & go whoopsie with it. so simple…

oops, nevermind. more fun when Waxman slips into gear & starts movin’ fwd….

Is Waxman suggesting — perjury?

raven @ 68

grape_crush @ 64

Davis: Doan isn’t the only one questioning the report.

Waxman: The report is concluded. Their recommendation is that you (Doan) be given the max penalty, which is to be fired…

Fired or fined?

Fired. Sh*t canned. etc.

Alicia @ 24

I have a special loathing for Issa, who engineered the Gray Davis recall, blaming him for the rape of
California’s power by Enron, and then shoving the Repub’s pet Schwarzenegger into the Governor’s seat.

Slime.

Yes, Issa did finance and engineer the recall because he thought he would become the governor. Funny that!

Waxman:
You told us you could not recall the powerpoint meeting.

Then, you told the OSC she was “saving” the information for his investigation.

ouch!!

Also, it’s worthwhile to force him to fire her, because it’ll set the precedent for Rove and Jennings, who are being investigated for Hatch Act violations.
Thanks, Marcy, for your insights. You really help put this in context.
Doan’s being more polite with Mr. Waxman. Short and direct answers.

I do not have C-SPAN3, could her arrogance just be defensiveness? Bluff and Bluster?

Or is she just clueless that there could be problems for her in the future?

dakine01 @ 78

raven @ 68

Fired or fined?

Fired. Sh*t canned. etc.

Charged with perjury and contempt of congress.

dakine01 @ 76

raven @ 68

Fired or fined?

Fired. Sh*t canned. etc.

K, I got miserable hearing!

Here comes Bloch’s watered-down recommendation…

“They” coerced Bloch into removing the language calling for firing Doan.

Now Henry’s getting somewhere…

Just watch all the Republican SugarDaddys squirm until they can take no more…

Both Italia Federici and Stephen Griles have pled guilty to obstructing a Congressional investigation. I wonder if we will see Lurita Doan in a similar position down the road.

AnnieW @ 82

I do not have C-SPAN3, could her arrogance just be defensiveness? Bluff and Bluster?

Or is she just clueless that there could be problems for her in the future?

No,it is simply who and what she is. Flat out arrogant. And a bully to boot.

AZ Matt @ 75

Is Waxman suggesting — perjury?

-uh- yeah???!! *pant pant*

AnnieW @ 83

I do not have C-SPAN3, could her arrogance just be defensiveness? Bluff and Bluster?

Or is she just clueless that there could be problems for her in the future?

I’m thinking that SHE thinks she is bulletproof for some reason…

emptywheel @ 61

jayt @ 44

ya know – I’ve kinda lost track of what Henry was trying to get done here. As much as I admire Waxman, he doesn’t even seem to have his own Rep’s on the same page.

Ostensibly, this is a hearing to make sure that Doan won’t retaliate against her employees for busting her on her Hatch Act violation.

But the other thing it’ll do is pressure Bush to fire her–the decision is in Bush’s hands.

Also, it’s worthwhile to force him to fire her, because it’ll set the precedent for Rove and Jennings, who are being investigated for Hatch Act violations.

Taking a leap in logic I hope that this is true!

Hugh @ 87

Both Italia Federici and Stephen Griles have pled guilty to obstructing a Congressional investigation. I wonder if we will see Lurita Doan in a similar position down the road.

That would be justice.

now she’s showing a whole lot of knowledge about the bonus system which she testified that she didn’t know about.

AnnieW @ 80

I do not have C-SPAN3, could her arrogance just be defensiveness? Bluff and Bluster?

Or is she just clueless that there could be problems for her in the future?

It sounds like “unitary executive” arrogance, i.e., Bush has my back….serve at the pleasure of the president, etc….unless Bush fires me, I stay. Also, she clearly seems personally defensive, because she’s a believer, and she doesn’t thing anything wrong happened. JMHO

She sure softened up, must have been some coaching at break!

is anyone else experiencing that the video is freezing with it?

Davis trying to give her an out again. Mr DAvis, I think you’re career should be ended 11/08, one way or another…

dakine01 @ 90

I’m thinking that SHE thinks she is bulletproof for some reason…

Nobody’s pointed out to her yet that the Scooter Libby Cloaking Device still has some engineering flaws which haven’t been worked out.

jayt @ 92

now she’s showing a whole lot of knowledge about the bonus system which she testified that she didn’t know about.

Say what you want to say about her, but this is one very bright woman–a lot brighter than many committee members. And I would venture to guess that she has a near to photographic memory. She can quote all kinds of obscure things as though they were right at her fingertips, when it suits her.

“Why are we here?”

Davis is a clown again.

I didn’t realize we were here because Ms Doan failed to hand out bonuses to the undeserving traitors in her department.

Davis looks like an older Kevin Bacon…sorry Kevin

You didn’t disparage all employees who testified did you? No. So you didn’t disparage all the testifiers. (so haow many DID you disparage? Is there a pass on how many you can disparage before it gets you in trouble?)

I realize that Republicans are corrupt and that Doan’s corruption is therefore no surprise.

What I can’t understand is how someone with such poor political and rhetorical judgement ever got considered for appointment to such a high government position in the first place.

Just kind of flabbergasting, really.

dakine01 @ 96

Davis trying to give her an out again. Mr DAvis, I think you’re career should be ended 11/08, one way or another…

Republicans always will cover their own. Even at the expense of national security. They are traitors to the Republic and are desrving of a traitors fate.

Davis is reading fromn Doan’s notes.

Davis gets “yes” and “no” answers…amazing.

She is going to say that the color red is not red, it is green and who ever try to say different is plan wrong!

Davis is making a speech. He just told her that she doesn’t have to say anything in response to his speech

AnnieW @ 80

I do not have C-SPAN3, could her arrogance just be defensiveness? Bluff and Bluster?

Or is she just clueless that there could be problems for her in the future?

the way i read her, fwiw, she’s far from clueless. she’s the arrogant bossfromheQQ as mentioned above…

Leaping the Logic: probably, from what she’d been told to do in her job, emptying her e-mail box during an important info meeting would be perfectly acceptable behaviour. imho *g*

proving my point, davis now dives back in his garbage list of extraneous #%&! to cover for her. He’s her firewall today…

The OSC is run by a Bush appointee. So how is tarring them productive? They’re own people think that Doan did wrong. An example of a circular firing squad?

Woodhall Hollow @ 99

jayt @ 92

now she’s showing a whole lot of knowledge about the bonus system which she testified that she didn’t know about.

Say what you want to say about her, but this is one very bright woman–a lot brighter than many committee members. And I would venture to guess that she has a near to photographic memory. She can quote all kinds of obscure things as though they were right at her fingertips, when it suits her.

Whoop-te-doo, the bitch is smart, so is Darth.

Woodhall Hollow @ 96

jayt @ 92

now she’s showing a whole lot of knowledge about the bonus system which she testified that she didn’t know about.

Say what you want to say about her, but this is one very bright woman–a lot brighter than many committee members. And I would venture to guess that she has a near to photographic memory. She can quote all kinds of obscure things as though they were right at her fingertips, when it suits her.

Sharp as a tack, and willing to allow race and gender cards to be played. Pitiful

boy do I feel sorry for anyone who has to work for Mrs. Doan. Rarely have I ever seen such a high BQ publicly displayed.

*BQ = B***h Quotient.

Tom Davis:

You’re wrong–it was the copy leaked by Doan that had the GSA employee names in it.

Jane upstairs on the bad idea of a scooter pardon

You can’t say that the sun comes up in the morning because first you would have to understand the context and, anyway, that’s from the testimony where I was asked to speculate and since I was asked to speculate, it’s not the testimony that could be considered the appropriate context for the testimony that I made later when the context was understood, despite anything else that I may have said in another tense.

JGabriel @ 104

What I can’t understand is how someone with such poor political and rhetorical judgement ever got considered for appointment to such a high government position in the first place.

Just kind of flabbergasting, really.

Bushwacko did a King Richard and sold political appointments to those who contributed the most money to his campaign. That’s why so many of these folk are blithering incompetants.

Shays: We’re not known for showing contrition…

Woodhall Hollow @ 99

jayt @ 92

now she’s showing a whole lot of knowledge about the bonus system which she testified that she didn’t know about.

Say what you want to say about her, but this is one very bright woman–a lot brighter than many committee members. And I would venture to guess that she has a near to photographic memory. She can quote all kinds of obscure things as though they were right at her fingertips, when it suits her.

I don’t care how bright she is; I mean, I’m f*cking genius BTW. And? When you use your intelligence to lie, to be dishonest, deflect, etc., you lose your edge. You’re hacked back down to street level.

Shays: We play by totlally different rules…

pitiful schmitiful

whenever davis starts reciting from his secret list, doan just melts, settling back in her chair & sighing like a rescued heroine.

eewwwww

Slothrop @ 117

You can’t say that the sun comes up in the morning because first you would have to understand the context and, anyway, that’s from the testimony where I was asked to speculate and since I was asked to speculate, it’s not the testimony that could be considered the appropriate context for the testimony that I made later when the context was understood, despite anything else that I may have said in another tense.

Wonderful summary. LOL

Shays has no chest to beat on…

Her tone changed completely after the break, more humble, not interrupting, not as aggressive. Someone had some words with her!

Christopher Shays is considered a moderate? He’s a Republican Party loyalist. Calling Shay’s a moderate is the same as saying Rudolph Hess was a moderate.

Shays: Sarbanes wrong to say you’re not contrite before Congress. Congress never does what required for other folks. And why is that Chris, Weren’t you in charge for the previous 12 years? Now because it happened in 1/07, this shouldn’t be a problem?

Hugh @ 111

The OSC is run by a Bush appointee. So how is tarring them productive? They’re own people think that Doan did wrong. An example of a circular firing squad?

One giant reason: Scott Bloch is also in charge of the investigation on Rove and Scott Jennings and Monica Goodling and (presumably) Brad Schlozman.

So by turning on him, they discredit not only the process of holding people to account for Hatch Act violations, and they discredit Bloch specifically.

Wow, this is fucked up. Shays is saying “we should just dismiss Hatch Act violations.”

Those Republicans have plum thrown out the rule of law.

Anyone from CT here? Go after him hard. Please.

Slothrop @ 117

You can’t say that the sun comes up in the morning because first you would have to understand the context and, anyway, that’s from the testimony where I was asked to speculate and since I was asked to speculate, it’s not the testimony that could be considered the appropriate context for the testimony that I made later when the context was understood, despite anything else that I may have said in another tense.

LOL!

Wordsmith @ 120

Woodhall Hollow @ 99

Say what you want to say about her, but this is one very bright woman–a lot brighter than many committee members. And I would venture to guess that she has a near to photographic memory. She can quote all kinds of obscure things as though they were right at her fingertips, when it suits her.

I don’t care how bright she is; I mean, I’m f*cking genius BTW. And? When you use your intelligence to lie, to be dishonest, deflect, etc., you lose your edge. You’re hacked back down to street level.

Would that be the street level that most of our public officials and selected and elected leaders spend their time at?

Does it matter whether any retaliation happened or not?

Hey Chris! She hasn’t helped any Rethugs for ‘08 BECAUSE SHE GOT CAUGHT you stupid arrogant bast*rd.

WHAT IN THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH SHAYS???!!!!

{{{{{{EW}}}}}}

So glad you are here. ;->

Republican philosophy:

When we bend the rules or violate the statutes or break the law it’s ok. We really didn’t mean it. It was just a mistake. We’ll never do it again. Promise.

emptywheel @ 128

One giant reason: Scott Bloch is also in charge of the investigation on Rove and Scott Jennings and Monica Goodling and (presumably) Brad Schlozman.

So by turning on him, they discredit not only the process of holding people to account for Hatch Act violations, and they discredit Bloch specifically.

Let me get this straight — Bush is willing to sell some of his appointees down the river to try to save his personal buddies?

If that’s the case, might we see some of those on the auction block turn and savage the seller?

Oh no he dit-unt! Race again?

What the f___k is wrong with the people of Connecticut to elect people like Lieberman and Shays?

This is total bullshit just like all these other fucking hearings.

emptywheel @ 129

Wow, this is fucked up. Shays is saying “we should just dismiss Hatch Act violations.”

Those Republicans have plum thrown out the rule of law.

Anyone from CT here? Go after him hard. Please.

The longer the “moderate” Rethugs persist in enabling the radical takeover of their party, the bigger their losses in ‘08.

Shay “Rip your clothes” that was out of line.

an african american woman and a Republican

all in several sentences.

Dr. Freud please take the stand

Shroter Shays: “Rip your clothes and scream, “I HAVE SINNED, I HAVE SINNED, I HAVE SINNED!”

Damn, Shays has some strange fantasies.

emptywheel @ 129

Wow, this is fucked up. Shays is saying “we should just dismiss Hatch Act violations.”

Those Republicans have plum thrown out the rule of law.

Anyone from CT here? Go after him hard. Please.

re: bold text…
Isn’t the term for that “lawlessness?”

The Republicans make these investigations meaningless. It’s there strategy.

Shays – “I hope that this doesn’t discourage other people just like you from seeking (to
serve)”

I do.

Bluetoe @ 139

What the f___k is wrong with the people of Connecticut to elect people like Lieberman and Shays?

I blame it on the insurance industry…

hey, lurita – this is GREAT! you’re getting christopher shays to say that violations of the hatch act aren’t such a big deal! just say, “sorry!” and we’ll move on.

yay!

we’ll make sure to remember this most excellent speech next time a democrat is pulled up on allegations of similar action.

OK, ’nuff snark.

what I want to hear is waxman quoting shays when he so vehemently took clinton to task for his actions.

repugnicans, f**ing hypocrites.

special zone in hell for these men.

kathleen @ 131

Wordsmith @ 120

I don’t care how bright she is; I mean, I’m f*cking genius BTW. And? When you use your intelligence to lie, to be dishonest, deflect, etc., you lose your edge. You’re hacked back down to street level.

Would that be the street level that most of our public officials and selected and elected leaders spend their time at?

She’s thinks she’s cute and clever. Someone lied to her.

Thanks CT for giving us Shays!

This is so close to contempt of congress.

Unbeleivable, I will hand it to Doan’s lawyers, the stonewall strategy is working. And now we find out Davis help coordinate the defense.

Per Shays’ closing comment – Is Doan an African-American? If so, I missed it–she must have snuck in under the “single drop of blood” rule.

GO, BRALEY!! I heart you.

dakine01 @ 55

Norton is slapping her down based on her previous testimony where she deflected questions because of the OSC investigation and now is questioning the findings of that “impartial body.” Doan started going to BS and Norton called her and said “Let me ask my question before you answer the question>”

Good on Elizabeth! I remember when she ran meetings at Antioch College. No crap!

Do you find this hearing amusing?

I’m sorry did you say abusing?

She actually said that!!

emptywheel @ 129

Wow, this is fucked up. Shays is saying “we should just dismiss Hatch Act violations.”

Those Republicans have plum thrown out the rule of law.

Anyone from CT here? Go after him hard. Please.

Your comment @ 128 explains her change in demeanor and Shays ludicrious suggestion.

Did the Republicans coach you Lurita?

Isn’t that tantamount to a conspiracy.

Here’s Braley again, he’s no enabler.

Excellent direction he’s taking.

“BROKE THE LAW!!!”

Yeah Baby…

IOWA ROCKS!!!

Brisingamen @ 137

emptywheel @ 128

One giant reason: Scott Bloch is also in charge of the investigation on Rove and Scott Jennings and Monica Goodling and (presumably) Brad Schlozman.

So by turning on him, they discredit not only the process of holding people to account for Hatch Act violations, and they discredit Bloch specifically.

Let me get this straight — Bush is willing to sell some of his appointees down the river to try to save his personal buddies?

If that’s the case, might we see some of those on the auction block turn and savage the seller?

Yes on both counts.

Bloch appears to have been appointed in the first place to spike any investigation into Hatch Act violations and whistleblower complaints. But when he came under pressure for doing so, he appears to have started fighting back–and taking his job seriously.

But now that he’s got a big old Karl Rove investigation, I guarantee you Bush would rather sacrifice Bloch than lose his Turdblossom.

jayt @ 146

Shays – “I hope that this doesn’t discourage other people just like you from seeking (to
serve)”

Or tear your clothes, you beautiful African-American woman.

Bloch might not appreciate being tarred and feathered this way…especially while he is still in charge of the investigation of some big players.

This might backfire.

Braley really brings out the arrogant office bitch, and the nervous Nellie, all in one…

She surely switches ‘roles’ and she has a few.

Slothrop @ 117

You can’t say that the sun comes up in the morning because first you would have to understand the context and, anyway, that’s from the testimony where I was asked to speculate and since I was asked to speculate, it’s not the testimony that could be considered the appropriate context for the testimony that I made later when the context was understood, despite anything else that I may have said in another tense.

707!

He must have meant Democratic candidates

She didn’t know that JENNINGS, ROVE’s right claw, would be promoting the Party???

She knew it was a violation of the Hatch Act, but did not anticipate Dems taking control.

Braely was Great…right to the end.
She just just just lied her a** off.
Let’s say what comes.
Some great sound bites, if nothing else.

Waxman: Your own conduct is why you are here today.

She should be dust dust dust..history.

MS. Doan please make a “leap of logic” to the door ASAP!

Waxman the Inquisitor!!!

You go, Henry!!

Light her ass up Henry!

{{{{{{Henry Waxman}}}}}}

I wish the cameras were on her

I just love Waxman’s p*ker face and also his ability to give a nice smack down.

kathleen @ 172

I wish the cameras were on her

I think I heard her sniggering.

Davis, “I draw a different occlusion”!

Waxman should have let his remarks be the last ones heard rather than Davis having the last word.

Davis kisses Doan butt…

What a horrid woman. What a hero we have in Henry.
I am happy and pissed at the same time.

Bluetoe @ 174

Waxman should have let his remarks be the last ones heard rather than Davis having the last word.

Yea, especially if anyone watched this or gave a shit.

To Davis, she’s a Party loyalist deserving of Party support. Long may the Republican Party rein. Heil Bush.

Bluetoe @ 176

Waxman should have let his remarks be the last ones heard rather than Davis having the last word.

Agreed.

during the break i gather tom davis was given repig points to make to assist doan and bolster her confidence…..

Go Henry. “You’ve held up well” – Rep. Davis. Classic.

Republicans in any of the committees sway toward the White House, so the question is WHY?

Why, because Republicans on any committee are being intimidated by the WH. I can hear the voices say, If I do down, so will you!!!

So, what are they all covering? and why?

awww davis pets

done curtsies in her cute pinafore & big hairbow.

Mandrake @ 158

jayt @ 146

Shays – “I hope that this doesn’t discourage other people just like you from seeking (to
serve)”

Or tear your clothes, you beautiful African-American woman.

Dr. Freud to the hearing please… Dr. Jung your up next. Can you explain Senator Shays comments?

She conflicted self, and made statements contrary to previous record, and blatantly violated Hatch, and her background and direct statements constitute bias and affirmative wrongs of career civil servants.

so far none of these appointees have been fired…. will she be the first??

JEP @ 164

She didn’t know that JENNINGS, ROVE’s right claw, would be promoting the Party???

But it was a motivational speech! Doan thought Jennings would be channeling Oprah. It happens all the time.

Because Senator Davis the Republicans did not deal with these issues when they had the power!

OK. I’m confused (and frustrated).

Apparently, she broke the law.

Is there an alternative besides Waxman simply giving his “opinion” that she resign?

Shouldn’t she be brought up on charges?
Can she be charged?
Can the Republicans somehow “block” charges being brought?
Shouldn’t an Special Prosecutor be assigned?

Why? Because she broke the fucking law!
That’s why.

ANDDDDDDDDDD????

Davis: foster care, gas prices, adoption, security, first responders, military pay – so many other issues we could be looking at

Well, why the f**k didn’t you look into it when you were in the majority??!!

gee, Davis, threatening to retaliate is, well, threatening.

mod: edit noted. not understood, but noted.

Senator Davis did you say this hearing was ‘amusing or abusing”?

mandrake – D’UHHHHHHHHHHHH

juslin @ 187

so far none of these appointees have been fired…. will she be the first??

Bush never takes any type of directive from anyone. He does the opposite. He is a child. A maladjusted child.

How many republicans are under investigation? There is not a number that is high enough!

But if it was a number in dollars it would be around $25000.00.

kathleen @ 171

I wish the cameras were on her

When Waxman said he thought she should resign, did I hear her giggle?

juslin @ 185

so far none of these appointees have been fired…. will she be the first??

Unlikely. If push comes to shove, and Bush or Rove think it’s more expedient for Doan to be gone, they’ll just quietly ask for her resignation.

Who did she just run back to shake hands with?

Why is it that these people can just get out there and blatantly lie to Congress? They’ve all been doing it, and its making a mockery of the entire system. It’s Iran/Contra all over again. “I don’t recall…” Yeah, and I don’t recall hearing that I’m not supposed to rob jewelry stores with a shotgun. Sorry, Judge, now I know. Won’t do it again, and you’re persecuting me cause I’m a good Christian jewel thief. Sickmaking, all of it!

demi aka dmoore @ 194

mod: edit noted. not understood, but noted.

s p a m filters

These guys are really too much. It would be like you come upon a dead body with the murderer standing over it, weapon in hand, covered in blood. The murderer says, “What dead body”, “What blood?”, and then everyone has a long extended intellectual discussion about the meaning of the word “dead”, “body”, “blood”,….Meanwhile, the murderers family is carting off the body and burying it. When the discussers go back to examine the body, it is gone.

JGabriel @ 187

JEP @ 164

She didn’t know that JENNINGS, ROVE’s right claw, would be promoting the Party???

But it was a motivational speech! Doan thought Jennings would be channeling Oprah. It happens all the time.

Isn’t a partisan motivational speech just as pernicious, according to Hatch act standards, as a powerpoint presentation?

When she admitted to enabling what she thought was a motivational speech, she was confessing to violating the Hatch Act.

But I get your snark, it is interesting she so smartly defends herself with a dumb confession..

spurious @ 201

kathleen @ 171

I wish the cameras were on her

When Waxman said he thought she should resign, did I hear her giggle?

I heard something that sounded like her sniggering, snickering, snorting……snnnn….

LS @ 205

These guys are really too much. It would be like you come upon a dead body with the murderer standing over it, weapon in hand, covered in blood. The murderer says, “What dead body”, “What blood?”, and then everyone has a long extended intellectual discussion about the meaning of the word “dead”, “body”, “blood”,….Meanwhile, the murderers family is carting off the body and burying it. When the discussers go back to examine the body, it is gone.

It goes back to a elementary term…Hand in the cookie jar, what jar???

Elliot: is that word seen as a weapon?

spurious @ 200

kathleen @ 171

I wish the cameras were on her

When Waxman said he thought she should resign, did I hear her giggle?

I heard “a” giggle, not sure it was her, but it would make sense, eh?

LS @ 154

Do you find this hearing amusing?

I’m sorry did you say abusing?

She actually said that!!

This was the most over the top arrogant and dismissive comment by Doan!

The GOP mantra:
“Responsibility with no Consequences…”

cc in nc @ 203

Who did she just run back to shake hands with?

Davis – the ranking minority member.

Wordsmith @ 211

cc in nc @ 203

Who did she just run back to shake hands with?

Davis – the ranking minority member.

her personal firewall for the day.

if you discount sashays’ pruriencities…

sooooo – is this just another exercise in futility??? doan i know feels she’s escaped to carry on as before i bet….

Reading back through the comments is good for a chuckle!

if you discount sashays’ pruriencities
Adie, your words were my thoughts.
Thanks all fdlrs for watching this with me.
(I’ve got to get out to my garden before it get soooo hot!)

LS @ 204

These guys are really too much. It would be like you come upon a dead body with the murderer standing over it, weapon in hand, covered in blood. The murderer says, “What dead body”, “What blood?”, and then everyone has a long extended intellectual discussion about the meaning of the word “dead”, “body”, “blood”,….Meanwhile, the murderers family is carting off the body and burying it. When the discussers go back to examine the body, it is gone.

Didn’t Monty Python do a bit along these same lines?

Well, they should have.

Wordsmith @ 212

cc in nc @ 203

Who did she just run back to shake hands with?

Davis – the ranking minority member.

I should’ve known but wasn’t watching most of the hearing — listening only.

juslin @ 214

sooooo – is this just another exercise in futility??? doan i know feels she’s escaped to carry on as before i bet….

Maybe not. She kept twisting her mouth all around. She was not feeling comfortable about her wanning power.

demi aka dmoore @ 215

if you discount sashays’ pruriencities
Adie, your words were my thoughts.
Thanks all fdlrs for watching this with me.
(I’ve got to get out to my garden before it get soooo hot!)

tee hee – and Yours were Mine!?!

Oh to get out into REAL, clean garden dirt.
Those people make me feel like scrubbing my eyes and hands. *g*

1oldlady @ 207

LS @ 205

These guys are really too much. It would be like you come upon a dead body with the murderer standing over it, weapon in hand, covered in blood. The murderer says, “What dead body”, “What blood?”, and then everyone has a long extended intellectual discussion about the meaning of the word “dead”, “body”, “blood”,….Meanwhile, the murderers family is carting off the body and burying it. When the discussers go back to examine the body, it is gone.

It goes back to a elementary term…Hand in the cookie jar, what jar???

That argument would apply to WMD’s in Iraq also!

Except there are hundreds of thousands of dead bodies to ponder and discuss . But no Americans do not even need to ponder, they need to get to the mall! So So sick

Mary McCurnin @ 218

juslin @ 214

sooooo – is this just another exercise in futility??? doan i know feels she’s escaped to carry on as before i bet….

Maybe not. She kept twisting her mouth all around. She was not feeling comfortable about her wanning power.

she should’a flossed after the break.
seriously, acted as if there were an errant cookie crumb upper right canine. not pretty…

Particular keys that caught my eye today…

The Blackberry lie issue; Waxman got her to indirectly admit she misled investigortors…

The “motivational speech” confession; her admitting to this as if it were a lesser form of subterfuge than overt politicization doesn’t make it any less a violation of the Hatch Act…

The pre-meeting with Davis: this made me very angry, and I’m still trying to figure how this could be acceptable under these circumstances, isn’t this tantamount to conspiracy? Is Davbis her designated lawyer in the House? And if so, whether subtle or overt, isn’t that a clear ethical violation of his duties to his constituents to act with oversight?

I know there are other gems, but it will take Marcy or Christy or Scarecrow to spot them ‘midst the legal wrangling and jargon.

What I observed was obvious to any layman. I can only imagine what all is hiding under those legal skirts…

EW, Christy?

Any chance Leahy & friends might pick up wit doh’n where this left off?

one big point came out – Henry’s got her testifying under oath to the OIC that she didn’t tell all she knew to Henry’s committee, because she thought that the OIC should have “first dibs” on the info.

any “I don’t recall”s that she gave at the first hearing that she in fact *did* recall with OIC – well, that’s pretty clear perjury.

at the very least, she’s on record as having giving the prior hearing a lot less than she knew, which, if not outright perjury, is damned close to obstruction.

She’s toast.

(sigh) or not.

JEP 222

Check the tape again, or a transcript?

I could swear she couldn’t even find it in herself to make that admission up-front and honestly. After she said she met with DAVIS (implying him alone), requestioned, she admitted there were others…

These people are compulsive liars, admitting NOTHING unless absolutely skewered, even under oath.

Please, Sen. Leahy, can’t you invite the lady in for a chat with yer committee???

i cant get the image of bushco just laughing and laughing as the dems try to hold them accountable for something/anything…..

Bloch may become Bush’s Archie Cox…

The American government would seem to be broken beyond “repair.” When the Republicans were in the majority they insured that they were above the law through bullying and intimidation. Now that they are in the minority they provide cover for lawbreakers to insure they will suffer no consequences. I’m beginning to get the feeling that something more than tweaking of the system will be necessary to undue the harm the conservative agenda has brought the nation.

Issa is certainly slime, and the recall a travesty.

But if California Democrats can’t come up with a better candidate than Gray Davis, we deserve to lose.

jayt @ 224

one big point came out – Henry’s got her testifying under oath to the OIC that she didn’t tell all she knew to Henry’s committee, because she thought that the OIC should have “first dibs” on the info.

any “I don’t recall”s that she gave at the first hearing that she in fact *did* recall with OIC – well, that’s pretty clear perjury.

at the very least, she’s on record as having giving the prior hearing a lot less than she knew, which, if not outright perjury, is damned close to obstruction.

She’s toast.

(sigh) or not.

It depends on whether or not Waxman has any follow through. Up to this point the Dems still seem to be intimidated by the Republicans. They continue playing this charade that those across the aisle are their esteemed colleagues. They are a cancer on the nation that needs to be excised for the health of the body politic.

Adie @ 226

JEP 222

Check the tape again, or a transcript?

I could swear she couldn’t even find it in herself to make that admission up-front and honestly. After she said she met with DAVIS (implying him alone), requestioned, she admitted there were others…

These people are compulsive liars, admitting NOTHING unless absolutely skewered, even under oath.

Please, Sen. Leahy, can’t you invite the lady in for a chat with yer committee???

My bold from your comment exposes the problem with “half-truths” and “partial truths” and why “the whole truth and nothing but the truth” means so much in the swearing-in process.

The “partial truth” she provided to Waxman’s committee was tantamount to outright lying, because she withheld the “other part” with full knowledge.

And I agree, a partial truth intended to obfuscate from the whole truth constitutes deliberately misleading Congress.

Davis should be indicted and investigated for conspiring with Doan and her handlers to cover up Hatch Act felonies.

> What the f___k is wrong with the people of Connecticut to elect people like Lieberman and Shays?

Many of them are rich. This warps the mind of the susceptible — gradually they come to be convinced that they deserve to be rich, and to be convinced of the corollary that those who aren’t rich, don’t deserve to be rich.

Liebermanism is the penultimate stage of this disease (right before Republicanism)

JEP @ 231

Adie @ 226

JEP 222

Check the tape again, or a transcript?

I could swear she couldn’t even find it in herself to make that admission up-front and honestly. After she said she met with DAVIS (implying him alone), requestioned, she admitted there were others…

These people are compulsive liars, admitting NOTHING unless absolutely skewered, even under oath.

Please, Sen. Leahy, can’t you invite the lady in for a chat with yer committee???

My bold from your comment exposes the problem with “half-truths” and “partial truths” and why “the whole truth and nothing but the truth” means so much in the swearing-in process.

The “partial truth” she provided to Waxman’s committee was tantamount to outright lying, because she withheld the “other part” with full knowledge.

And I agree, a partial truth intended to obfuscate from the whole truth constitutes deliberately misleading Congress.

Davis should be indicted and investigated for conspiring with Doan and her handlers to cover up Hatch Act felonies.

Agreed!
AND, I still wish Leahy would pick up the baton from Waxman… ;->

joel hanes @ 230

Issa is certainly slime, and the recall a travesty.

But if California Democrats can’t come up with a better candidate than Gray Davis, we deserve to lose.

Gray Davis didn’t cause the California blackouts, Enron and their buddies did.

That is, without dispute, the factor that led to Davis’ unceremonious removal. You can argue all day that he was not very popular with Sacramento special interest groups, but it was the $35 Billion blackout larceny that turned Californians against him.

Davis was much more a victim than many Californians want to admit.

I know, I lived ther then, and I watched elderly folks suffer in the sweltering heat of the blackouts.

It is a shame so many people fell for the recall deception, and clearly, that big lie stilllives.

spurious @ 198

kathleen @ 171

I wish the cameras were on her

When Waxman said he thought she should resign, did I hear her giggle?

Funny you should say – thought I heard a giggle, too. How utterly inappropriate her behavior has been.

Mandrake @ 237

spurious @ 198

When Waxman said he thought she should resign, did I hear her giggle?

Funny you should say – thought I heard a giggle, too. How utterly inappropriate her behavior has been.

Yes, she did. I will grant that she’s very intelligent, but she’s missed her calling. She really should be working in PR. Hm, except that most of the people I know who work in PR are very neat people.

I take that back and return to my original statement: she needs to drink from the firehose.

WAIT!! I just heard Tony Blair say that it wasn’t misconduct that creates cynicism, it’s allegations of misconduct.

It sounds like he’s complaining about Muroch… nah…

What is this thing about her being so “smart?”

Before this is over, some of those decisions she made during the Republican hey-deys won’t seem smart at all.

I grew up with 4 sisters whose IQ’s average somewhere over 140.

So, sorry, but I don’t perceive Doan as such a smart cookie; if she couldn’t see the possibility of this coming when she made all these “smart moves” she’s not the whiz-kid some think she is.

Smart and sneaky always seems “smarter” to some folks… but I disagree.

Rove’s got the same delusionary image, that his deceptions somehow represent strategic genius.

Rove (or Doan, or most Republican operatives like Gillespie and Mehlman depend much more on the cheating than on the brilliance of their work.

Tony Blair just hates being mocked by bloggers. Okay, I’m done.

Can we google her giggle yet?

And just what did Prop 13 accomplish?

JEP @ 236

joel hanes @ 230

Issa is certainly slime, and the recall a travesty.

But if California Democrats can’t come up with a better candidate than Gray Davis, we deserve to lose.

Gray Davis didn’t cause the California blackouts, Enron and their buddies did.

That is, without dispute, the factor that led to Davis’ unceremonious removal. You can argue all day that he was not very popular with Sacramento special interest groups, but it was the $35 Billion blackout larceny that turned Californians against him.

Davis was much more a victim than many Californians want to admit.

I know, I lived ther then, and I watched elderly folks suffer in the sweltering heat of the blackouts.

It is a shame so many people fell for the recall deception, and clearly, that big lie stilllives.

Gray Davis lost because in a long political career, he never gave California Democrats any reason to like him. He didn’t piss anyone off, particularly — he just didn’t ever take a stand on anything.

Yes, the Enron-engineered blackout was a crime. Yes, Issa exploited it to drive the recall vote.

But if Davis had been any good to anyone, ever, as a functioning Democrat, the recall would have failed. He simply had no friends — only non-enemies.

I voted for him because he was a Democrat, not because he had ever won my support.

I voted against the recall for a host of reasons.

Nevertheless. Davis was a weak candidate, and his weakness left him vulnerable.

> And just what did Prop 13 accomplish?

Not sure just how this is germane to a discussion of the Gray Davis recall, but here goes:

– destroyed the property tax system that had made California’s public education system the best in the world.

– Prevented many retired persons from being forced to sell their houses because they could not afford property taxes in the wake of a decade of the California real-estate price escalator. The retirees viewed this as a good thing; those newcomers who afterwards bought the house next door and have to pay three or five times as much property tax on a similar property do not. Had the unintended consequence of eventually locking many elderly retirees into a house too big for their needs, because they would not be able to afford the property taxes on the smaller house they would otherwise have traded down for. The lady across the street from me is in this boat: lives alone in a four-bedroom three-bath house with a huge yard that she and her late husband have owned since the early 60’s.

– Energized the Viguerie tax-revolt wave that swept Reagan into the Presidency.

Adie @ 226

After she said she met with DAVIS (implying him alone), requestioned, she admitted there were others…

Basically, the witness was coached by (all?) the repug members of the committee prior to the hearing. Is this ethical?

TeddySanFran @ 13

I think the GOP was worried that Lurita passed for a white lady at the first round of hearings. Davis’ several mentions (which I haven’t seen but read about here) that she’s an African-American woman seem designed to ensure that the news programs refer to that aspect of her heritage, which is of course very important to the GOP.

They want to show how racist the Democrats are, especially after we beat up on that nice Latino AbuG. It’s all about the outrages Democrats perpetrate on individual pet GOP minorities, not about letting an entire city drown or anything.

Yeah, she’s a black person now. I’ll bet she was a hell of a lot more Creole before she got into trouble. Paper bag party, anyone? As far as all of the racist outrages visited upon blacks by liberals, what are they? I always see converstaives on these blogs say that, but I have yet to see any of them cite a concrete example of what they are talking about. It’s just a rhetorical trick they are fond of turning.

joel hanes @ 231

Issa is certainly slime, and the recall a travesty.

But if California Democrats can’t come up with a better candidate than Gray Davis, we deserve to lose.

Gray Davis was everything vile in public life, as bad as any Republican and it was delightful for me, a lifetime Dem, to vote in favor of throwing him on the streets.

It was a matter of public interest over party–supporting Gray Davis because he was a Dem is the same shit the Republicans run to keep their corrupt leaders in place just because of party loyalty.

Bluetoe @ 230

The American government would seem to be broken beyond “repair.” When the Republicans were in the majority they insured that they were above the law through bullying and intimidation. Now that they are in the minority they provide cover for lawbreakers to insure they will suffer no consequences. I’m beginning to get the feeling that something more than tweaking of the system will be necessary to undue the harm the conservative agenda has brought the nation.

I have felt this for too long now. I see the crimes being committed and remember when the GOP and the holier-than-thou hypocrites went after Clinton because, well, what will we say to the children if there is no rule of law?

Then the kids see all this blatant unconstitutional behavior, the ones who actually learned about the constitution in school or paid attention in their overcrowded classrooms cramming for all the standardized NCLB tests that prove nothing and do nothing but line the pockets of people like Neil Bush.

Why am I still seething like I did when Nixon won in 1968 shortly before I left for Vietnam? Why are American kids dying again and being forced to kill people so that this charade here called America can continue running in a theater near you?

THis is just so much bullshit. Lying under oath, straight party fealty with no regard for the damage that has been wrought on our system of government, on the moral systems of the students in school of all ages who have no idea that there really was an America that respected doing the right thing prior to 1981.

The Bush family…geezzz where do I start? I distrusted this guy’s father when he was head of the RNC and before. It was that creepy smile and knowing that somehow this guy was involved up to his eyeballs in every crime that led to and issued from Dealy Plaza in that long ago coup that turned me into a cynic at the age of 13.

Where does it stop?? I’m not sure. I know that the people who benefit from it have learned very well how to manipulate public perceptions; I know that the answer doesn’t lie in the Democratic Party or its current crop of leaders.

I’ve gone back to Trotsky, reading all his thoughts and writings about the 1905 revolution and the subsequent one in 1917 and the purges that followed as Stalin bastardized the Bolshevik program and lied through his teeth to the people with the help of the press and the Western powers that were content to allow him to kill his own people as long as they could hold him up to their people as a bogeyman….kind of like Saddam was used, and Osama, and Ho Chi Minh, and Fidel, and Che, and Chavez.

We’ve been used for so long nothing short of root and branch reform will change things.

But it sure is nice to have these useless entertainments in Washington isn’t it? So we can talk to each other and call our representatives and watch them vote however they want to vote.

And watch as the prisons here are filled with young black men and women for violating arcane drug laws while the real thieves loot the Treasury and laugh.

Our very own Potemkin country.

Do svidanya, America.

I was a Contracting Officer with an unlimited warrant for 10 years and this woman got where she is because she got rich being a
socio-economic figurehead. Hired for or starting a company with that woman owned minority status gets you a leg-up on government contracts.

If Bush doesn’t fire her then they need to start digging and digging in GSA for any and all contracting abuses. Waste, fraud, and abuse is rampant and I’m sure Ms. Doan has her finger in quite a few contracts being thrown to either Republican loyalists or personal friends of hers.

Frankly she doesn’t know enough about government contracting or the FAR to hide her tracks successfully. Might not get Bush to fire her on the Hatch Act violations but rampant fraud might get someones attention.

The way I understand it once a Hatch Act violation is found they figured either the President or the AG would realize it was time for that person to go. Unfortunately no one ever realized an administration where Hatch Act violations would be rewarded and not as a reason for dismissal.