no longer off the record

[Kevin Spidel]

June 14, 2005

Judiciary GOP pulls the plug on Conyers 'forums'
By Albert Eisele and Jeff Dufour
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/UndertheDome/061405.html

<snip>

If the Financial Services Committee is the best in the House when it comes to bipartisan comity, then the Judiciary Committee may well be the worst.

In December, ranking Democrat John Conyers (Mich.) began holding “forums” — gatherings with all the trappings of official hearings — after Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) refused to hold hearings on topics Conyers requested. The forums have been held in smaller committee rooms, often with C-SPAN coverage and formal witness lists.

In a sign of how far relationships on the committee have soured, majority staff recently announced a new policy to deny any request from a committee Democrat for the use of a committee hearing room.

Majority spokesman Jeff Lungren said the Republicans have given Democrats three opportunities to make clear that the forums are not official committee business. Nevertheless, Lungren said, in at least one case, members were addressing Conyers as “Mr. Chairman.”

“They were unwilling or unable to make those changes,” Lungren said. “At this point, if they want to hold these forums, they’ll have to find some other place to do it.”

Sean McLaughlin, deputy chief of staff for Sensenbrenner, recently wrote to a minority staffer in more pointed language.

“I’m sitting here watching your ‘forum’ on C-SPAN,” McLaughlin wrote. “Just to let you know, it was your last. Don’t bother asking again.”

A committee source said committee Democrats are still planning to hold the forums when they find other available space.

<snip>

[Dora]

1. WTF?

Of course, it doesn't take a room to make a meeting a meeting. It takes people.

Maybe they could meet at the Starbucks down the street? :+

[goclark]

3. Or at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial

[Alizaryn]

23. Great Idea!

The DSM forum could be held next to Arlington National Cemetary.

[MsTryska]

25. heh.

that would be brilliant.

[jimshoes]

2. What was that little thing

in some dusty old document about "redress of grievances?" Fuck you repugs, we will be heard loud and clear, one way or another, got it. Now get out of our way.

[Moochy]

4. McLaughlin eh?

I’m sitting here watching your ‘forum’ on C-SPAN,” McLaughlin wrote. “Just to let you know, it was your last. Don’t bother asking again.”

What an autocratic prick.

[Just Me]

5. Who the FUCK do they think they are?!?!?!?!!

:argh:

This action, alone, calls for a hell-raising protest!!! :grr:

The Democratic leadership should be slapping the crap out of these little dictators!!!

Damnit!!! I knew we should have called for his resignation!!!

[lala_rawraw]

17. Are these not tax funded rooms...

???????

[RBHam]

6. I wonder if Carville and McCain discussed Pat Tillman...

while they were doing their shuck and jive routine on TV.

[Democracy White]

7. Arrogant little pricks

I am so pissed off right now that I feel like screaming however I can't cause I am at the library.

I hope that Conyers doesn't cave in and that the Dems holler.

Dee

EDIT: Changed to "I am at the library."

[RBHam]

8. Ford's going to send in the NAACP????

:wtf:

I wonder what the NAACP thinks of this brainstorm!

Are they going to ask the Iraqis to only kill the white G.I.'s????

:argh:

Harold Ford is a moron.

[LightningFlash]

9. Watch.......This has just begun.

Sensenbrenner will either wake up and stop enabling evil, or he shall go down with it like the great wave.

[lala_rawraw]

18. DEMAND THAT WE HAVE A ROOM

BY EMAILING ALL OF THEM... EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM

[shance]

38. ABSOLUTELY. Rosa Parks didn't get up from her seat. Why are they??

n/t

[Coexist]

45. hit the Sentor list and the media blaster

we'll see what happens.

[uppityperson]

13. Ford: Iraq could use an NAACP chapter (snort, laugh, right)

(next paragraph on webpage)

After spending the Memorial Day weekend in Iraq, Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) thinks he may have a strategy to end the war in that country: Send in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Ford, who is running for the Senate seat of retiring Majority Leader Bill Frist (R), told an NAACP dinner in Knoxville on Friday night that “Iraq could use an NAACP chapter.”

Ford explained that the NAACP’s ability to work together for a common goal could be the missing link in bringing the two-year-old conflict to an end, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

“Even with our military sacrificing their lives over there, they cannot solve this problem alone,” he said.

[FreedomAngel82]

19. Harold Ford is no democrat

I told ya and others have that Ford is no democrat. Fucking ass.

[tnlefty]

29. I think that he should ask the young republicans to go first!

I received this in my e-mail this morning and just about wet myself laughing! I wonder how long that volunteer list will be?

[alfredo]

10. Why don't the Republicans drop all pretense and declare America

a one party dictatorship.

[Coexist]

11. how dare they

what facsist little buggers they are.

[uppityperson]

12. This made me whistle, wow

just wow. I like holding meetings at Lincoln's monument. wow

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. We must make them RUE this decision by making it NOTORIOUS!

And holding the forums in a public place that no one can overlook!

Recommended if there is still time for it.

[lala_rawraw]

20. MAKE NOISE

THEY DENY TAX FUNDED ROOMS?

[Nothing Without Hope]

51. EXACTLY!!!! WE NEED TO SCREAM BLOODY MURDER ABOUT THIS!!!!

The public will comprehend what it means if it is presented to them clearly

PLUS contact congresspeople
Media blast
Contact citizen groups

THIS IS AN OUTRAGE AND IT CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO STAND!!!!

GOING TO A PARTISAN ROOM IS NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT THE SAME AS HAVING AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT BIPARTISAN MEETING. IT WILL BE DISMISSED AND IGNORED.

[meganmonkey]

15. So what about Thursday DSM hearing?

Is that getting cancelled?

What a disgusting diplay of power-hungry partisanship.

It isn't enough that they don't allow official hearings to take place on issues that the Democrats find important - they are trying to stop them from having any public airing of these issues.

:puke: :puke: and :puke: some more...

[LightningFlash]

16. No it hasn't been cancelled....Moved to new location. NT

[Griffy]

22. DNC HQ has a conference room..thats were I think it is now!

at 1pm, then at 5 we walk to the rally! I plan to go to both :)

[lala_rawraw]

24. Right, making it a partisan "DNC" thing and not a legal

Citizen led, factual hearing. That is what they want. We have a right to a room, period.

[LightningFlash]

27. Then pressure and bog down congress...

Until they gain a spine or some of them go against this unlawful decision!

http://www.usalone.com/warlies.htm Addresses, names, and cities.

[katinmn]

43. Its been suggested that a hotel room would be better than the DNC

I agree. It makes it look like a political "stunt" to have it at the DNC.

It really pisses me off that we have to move.:grr:

[Griffy]

46. I agree lala.. next forum we must demand a room..

I dont think theres time to bring pressure to bear and get a room.. and I hear from Conyers himself that he hears media coverage will be good.. I plan to be there, so I'll see for myself!

Conyers pointed out on Ed Schultz that it makes people say.. "what are they hiding" ... and if the media points out Conyers was DENIED access to a public space for a forum of MASSIVE public interest. ..well.. I can hope! :)

[jwirr]

55. I agree, if we are going to continue

holding the meetings at an obviously Dem site is a bad idea. I like the public spots better, especially the Lincoln Memorial. It issues a statement regarding the ownership of the buildings and the quest for justice.

[meganmonkey]

26. Good for you! I wish I could go too!

But it is too far away and I must work.

Thank you for being present at this important event!

:patriot:

[tnlefty]

28. May I ask a HUGE favor? Would you consider a small sign that

says something like: I'm walking for tnlefty, too?

[Griffy]

44. Perhaps more like.. I am backed by thousands at DU!

or somethng more for all those cant make it!

[tnlefty]

54. I really wish that you would consider doing something like this for

those of us who can't make it. IIRC, when Bush** went to visit the Queen Britains who were going to protest his visit did this for those of us in the states who couldn't be there except in spirit. I think they had a website and all one had to do was give a first name and state and someone would make a small sign and carry it.

Mentioning thousands of fellow DUers is a good idea.

[redqueen]

21. Great... even more reasons to call DC and complain. :)

Did Democrats behave this way when they were the majority?

This is disgusting behavior... I hope they won't start saying Dems did it too...

[undeterred]

30. This makes them look bad. For the moment it makes the Dems

look powerless, but ultimately it makes the Reps look like arrogant bullies. People don't re-elect arrogant bullies.

[Oreo]

33. Problem is...

not many people outside of DU and a few other sites will ever know about it

[Dr Fate]

48. It "could" make them look bad "if" Top Dems with media access talk of it.

Folks like Dean, Kerry, Hillary, Obama, etc.

Dont hold your breath.

[ProfessorGAC]

31. They Do Know That's Not Their Building, Right?

That's OUR building, not Sensenbrenner's. What an arrogant ass.
The Professor

[Jose Diablo]

32. I would call this a denial of representation on the part of Republicans

Conyers has evidence of fabrication of intelligence reports in the lead-up to testimony to congress asking for congress's authority to invade a nation. A formal Declaration of War should never be a political decision. Lying to congress to obtain authority to wage war is a high crime, fully impeachable. It is 'the people' that actually have to wage war, thus it requires representatives of 'the people' to authorize war. and using lies to obtain this authority is illegal and immoral. The people would be fully justified in forcably removing those responsible, if justice is subverted once again.

The Republicans denying access to the capitol to a representative of the people to present evidence of criminal activity on the part of the executive, means these Republicans are also guilty of high crimes by subverting a criminal investigation. This means the Republican congress is illegally sitting as representatives of the people.

The governors of each of the many states would be fully justified in recalling each of these 'representatives', conducting a full investigation and quite possibly sanctioning each by removal and 'special' elections replacing each and every one of them. Followed by fines and possibly incarceration.

[in_cog_ni_to]

34. FASCIST FUCKS!!!

:grr::nuke::grr::nuke:

[katinmn]

41. You got that right!

I wrote a nasty letter to S and copied a half dozen news editors, I also called my Dem rep and senator. Both were very concerned and they hadn't known about it yet.

I'm wondering what to do next.

[JNelson6563]

35. Set it up in the streets

open to all to watch. Out in public.

Julie

[Norquist Nemesis]

39. DING DING DING! Make it a true media event!

...I have a dream...

I would be so proud of the Democrats if on Thursday, at a pre-arranged time, all Democrats AND Democratic staffers from both houses tied a red bandana in such a way as to look like they're being gagged. Then, they pick up a protest sign listing amendments and bills they've tried to get on the floor or had shut down otherwise and just walk out of the Capitol Building.

They would march toward the Mall where thousands of supporters are cheering them--silently, because they too are also wearing the red gags--with signs of their own.

A stand is set up in the middle with two long tables and chairs set up so participants are facing each other. And microphones too. Then, Senator Conyers takes a seat, pounds a gavel and proclaims, "I call this Forum on the Downing Street Memos to order."

[Stinky The Clown]

52. That, my friend, is simply brilliant.

Stunningly brilliant.

An event like that will conjure up images of protesters in decades past. Protesters initially ignored, but ultimately successful. Get a permit from the Park Service to set up a stark white tent in the very center of the National Mall. Clear walls. A portable generator running an air conditioner against the DC heat. Red gagged silent sentinels forming a ring around the hearings. Listening to the proceedings on loudspeakers. A flag emblazoned with "Government in Exile" waving slowly in the languid, shimmering heat of the midday sun.

A stunningly brilliant idea.

[berni_mccoy]

36. Let's Ask For a Tax Refund

And take away ALL THE ROOMS for Congress to USE. If Democrats can't use the rooms, then NO ONE CAN!

M***** F****** REPUBLICANS!!!!!!!!!!

[Jose Diablo]

37. Lock it all down with roll call votes and

reading each and every bill. There is nothing for the people going on anyway.

[katinmn]

40. related thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3855982&mesg_id=3855982

[Stirk]

42. They should use the rooms anyway, and force the Republicans to

have them removed. That'd make a nice, easily-digestible spectacle for the cameras.

[Dr Fate]

47. What are the top Democrats leaders saying on TV about this injustice????

What is the offical Democratic reponse to this????

Where is Dean with a "contorversial" statement? Kerry? Hillary?Someone with media access???

[Coexist]

49. .........sound of crickets chirping..................

Senate is still in session - maybe after.

But one point that always bothers me. They (our leaders) either issue statements or get asked questions. The questions are never asked, so we don't get the "sound bite" (or is it byte)?

[Dr Fate]

50. "That question reminds me of a closely related topic, Wolf..."

"...since you brought up Foreign Policy, I'd like to take 45 seconds to discuss the Downing Street Memo, please feel free to ask follow up questions when I'm done..."

See how easy that was? Dr Fate & every High School debate club knows how to steer the discussion- surely seasoned Democrats could figure this out.

[Moderator]

53. kevin_pdamerica

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