Here's why I don't support an independent Katrina commission

[ClevelandSportsCurse]

First, I don't see it being all that "independent." The 9/11 commission's work was very incomplete and failed to answer many key questions. In my opinion, it was a whitewash. The commission didn't want to assign "blame" to anyone, thus it spun and spun, enabling * to avoid being held accountable. A Katrina commission will only do the same.

Second, why can't the Senators investigate this thing themselves? Is it not what we elect them to do? To me, hiring an independent commission is simply passing the buck so that when the cover up occurs, nobody is held accountable at the voting booth. Sure, I know the Republicans in the Senate will cover it up, but let that be plainly self-evident to the American people! The Democrats can easily then use it as a campaign issue to kick out the Republicans in 2006. The American people are demanding answers right now and if they don't get it from their elected representatives, then they will be motivated to elect someone else (assuming the Democrats put up good candidates).

All this talk about an independent commission is simply political posturing. I think there are better ways for the Democrats to force the Republicans into a corner.

[Inland]

1. A truly independent com'n possible: indep. Sen investigation impossible

Any sort of political pressure that could make the republican senate come clean would be able to create a truly independent commisssion with full jurisidiction.

[me b zola]

2. What do you suggest, then?

[ClevelandSportsCurse]

3. Well, I did pose the question of Senate doing it themselves n/t

[me b zola]

8. You mean the US Senate that is controlled by the repukes?

The Dems will not have the same subpoena power, or any other kind of power. It will be a complete cover-up.

The Dems have been railing on the floor of the House all morning saying the same thing that I am saying. A recent gallop poll indicates that overwhelmingly the American public--both Dem & repub--wants an independent investigation.

The only ones advocating that this be handled in the Congress are hard-core repukes.

[shrdlu]

4. Subpoena Power

Can't avoid political posturing but an independent commission with subpoena power has a much better chance at developing a factual account of events than a congressional show with Republicans in total control of who appears and how they are questioned.

BTW, I don't think it will happen

[ClevelandSportsCurse]

5. But doesn't the Senate have subpoena power too?

If the Senate Democrats fight hard enough, then they can force the Republicans to back down and find factual answers because the American people are demanding them too.

[shrdlu]

6. Hope over experience, eh?

Good Luck.

[ClevelandSportsCurse]

7. Well, if Senate Democrats drag their feet like the Republicans,

then they deserve to be knocked out in 2006 as well. I was not sad to see Tom Daschle lose in 2004 because he was as spineless as they came.

However, I think the Senate Dems would be motivated to fight hard on it because of the great potential political gain/loss, especially since the Senators would be held accountable in the voting booth over their job performance. The American people are paying more attention then they have previously. I never saw so many die-hard * suppporters do a 180 on him before the hurricane hit.

If the commission performs poorly, then who holds them accountable?