Pelosi: Republicans Once Again Abuse Power

[deminks]

WASHINGTON, June 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on Republicans' shameful attempt today to silence Democrats at hearing this morning on the impact of the Patriot Act, when Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin inappropriately adjourned the hearing.

"The Republicans' abuse of power reached a new low this morning when they tried to silence Democrats at a hearing on the Patriot Act by cutting the microphones.

"This is part of Republican abuses of power: to silence Democrats and the voice of the minority, to deny millions of Americans a voice in Congress. Republican leaders dictate the party line and ram bills through committees, and permit few if any amendments on the floor. Republicans are unwilling and unable to compete in the marketplace of ideas, so they have chosen to arbitrarily and capriciously abuse their power simply because they can.

"Democrats will not be silenced when we uphold our oath of office to protect and defend our Constitution and civil liberties as we protect and defend the American people. I commend Judiciary Committee Democrats for continuing to question witnesses after the Republicans' shameful behavior, and for standing up for the institution of the House.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnw/20050610/pl_usnw/pelosi__republicans_once_again_abuse_power__attempt_to_silence_democrats_in_hearing_on_the_patriot_act125_xml

:applause:

[skooooo]

1. KICK

[Douglas Carpenter]

2. Here is James Sensenbrenner's Contact Info

:bounce: Wisconsin district 5 (R)

Web:

http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner /

Email:

[e-mail]


Phone:

[phone]


Address:
Congressman James Sensenbrenner
United States House of Representatives
2449 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
:kick:

[southernleftylady]

3. I am horrible at putting my thoughts down into words.. but i would love to

write him a letter of some sort but i don't want to come across as an idiot either ;)

[libnnc]

9. just send him some Pampers, a pacifier and a short note...

telling him to go to Time Out. :hi:

[southernleftylady]

11. LOL i have those on hand already too ;) lol nt

[kristndem]

16. my e--mail...simple but ...

Dear Sir,

Your conduct today in the hearings on the abuses of the Patriot Act was shameful. You are aware of that I am sure. It was a poorly disguised attempt to silence the voice of the minority in power. We saw you though, on C-span. Your shameful behavior was on display for the world to see. Those witnesses deserve to be heard, and I believe in the end they will.
For Shame, Sir, For Shame,

[bunny planet]

17. Here is the letter I just sent the shameful c*cksucker.

I have simply had it with these people.

Dear Congressman Sensenbrenner,

I am writing to you with shock, and dismay at your behavior today in shutting down a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee in reference to the Patriot Act.

Just in case you are not aware, we still live in a Democratic Republic where Congressmen and women are paid and given the solemn responsibility to represent the people of this proud country, the United States of America. The minority party that you showed such little respect for today represents just under half of the citizens of the US who voted in the last election, some 49 million people, as well as the millions of Americans who did not cast their votes but who still will be affected by the laws passed by Congress. It is unconscionable and most likely illegal for you to have done what you did today.

To simply decide to end the hearing on the subject and shut off the microphones of Democratic reprentatives trying to express the will of the people they represent is reprehensible. We do not have a one-party system in this country although it seems as if many of you in power would be quite content to have it that way.

Is it only the majority in this country that deserves to be heard Congressman Sensenbrenner? The last I heard, this government was created of, by and for the people and should not be subject to the shameful abuse of power you so clearly demonstrated today. You owe the American people an apology and the hearings should be reconvened as soon as possible with no further illegal maneuverings on your part. Perhaps you should step down as the House Majority leader of the Judiciary Committee. You don't seem to be honorable enough to hold such an important position.

Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxxx


Dear G_d I am so pissed.



:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[deminks]

18. Great letters, kristndem and bunny planet!

The measure of a majority is how it treats its minorities. These repugs just don't measure up. :mad:

[longship]

4. Kicked.

.

[thecrow]

5. Kick and nominated

[southernleftylady]

6. Woo freaking hoo!! nt

[LightningFlash]

7. This was shameful of you sensenbrenner....

You need to wake up to how they've twisted you, into someone who no longer is a decent human being. They don't care about you either sensenbrenner, come back out of your hypnotized state for the good of the country.

:banghead:

[Gabi Hayes]

8. and....did this get on the news tonight? not on any channel I saw

and I was very busily flipping back and forth among ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, PBS, CNN, TRYING to catch any mention of it

quel surprise, not once did it turn up, even on Olbermann, when he had former FBI jerk as a guest, discussing the renewal of PATRIOT.

you won't hear much about this, unless the Dems raise holy Hell from now until they FORCE the media to cover this disgraceful event--one of the most egregious examples of the Fascist Party's attempts to stifle any and all dissent, even amongst their own 'colleagues'

they are brazen beyond belief

they think they can say or do ANYthing now, and get away with it

Lord knows, the media are doing all they can to drive the democracy bus over the cliff

[Rose Siding]

19. Nancy'd have to set her hair on fire outside the Santa Maria courthouse

to get TV coverage. The media shuts down House Dems almost as radically as the GOP.

I remember after the DC evac (because of the plane)...The next day, I was pleasantly surprised to see cameras at her regular presser. You know what they covered before they cut out? Some yahoo repub on one knee, delivering the shoe she'd been lifted out of the day before.

No wonder so few Americans know what's happening in our govt. Disgusting!

[RetroLounge]

10. But she has a problem with Dean calling them out?

You can't have it both ways. Attack the Repukes in public, talk to Dean in private.

RL

[getmeouttahere]

13. Yes, the Dems need to scream it....

and call it what it is....fascism!!!

[LightningFlash]

15. We need Harry Reid to counter this propaganda....

Continue the hearings elsewhere.....Away from their chamber!!!! :wow:

[Carolab]

12. RATE IT UP!!!!!! n/t

[kimchi]

14. I rated it but it keeps resetting to an average of zero votes.

Of course. It seems the software doesn't want the news to get out.

[Tim4319]

20. Republicans are a bunch of cry babies!

Throw temper tantrums, cutting off Microphone's, storming out of rooms. You can really tell the truth hurts!

[KharmaTrain]

21. There's Never Been Much Love On The Judiciary Committee

The nerves never healed from the Clinton inquisition. These people really don't like one another. With Hyde gone as Chairman and Assensenbrenner in charge...along with Pence and a few other DeLay hatchetmen, this committee has to be the most brutal of them all.

The good news is we have fighters like John Conyers, Jerry Nadler, Shiela Jackson-Lee and others on our side. I'm not sure if Maxine Waters is still on the committee or Wexler.

The good thing this moron did was to create a soundbite we and others can rally around...if we play it right. The look of anger and arrogance on his face was priceless...symbolizing Repugnicans as being the party of mean, ugly white men.

[Catfight]

22. Right on! nt