Rawstory: "Democrats plan aggressive policy investigations"

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>

Democratic senators to convene aggressive policy committee hearings

Democrats plan aggressive policy investigations

By John Byrne | RAW STORY Editor

Democratic senators plan an array of policy committee hearings in which they plan to resume an aggressive congressional oversight role on Bush policies and decisions, RAW STORY has learned.

The committee – the Senate Democratic Policy Committee – is a longstanding caucus committee of Democrats which was created in the 1940s. It will, Democrats believe, allow them a platform from which to conduct hearings and investigative action despite the fact that Republicans have an edge in both chambers of Congress.

On Friday, Democrats will hold their first policy meeting on Social Security. But this meeting, a top Senate aide told RAW STORY, is only the tip of the iceberg.

The senior Senate aide, who spoke on condition he would not be identified, indicated that hearings might be held on issues such as the paying of journalists to promote the Bush agenda, the awarding of contracts in Iraq and on Iraq reconstruction.

<</SNIP>>

BTW, RAW has another interesting and breaking story:

"Ohio recount volunteers allege electoral tampering, legal violations and possible fraud"

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=7

[progressiveBadger]

1. Getting ready for an impeachment in 06-07?

how sweet that would be....

[sabra]

2. It appears some steps are being made towards that direction...

[NewJeffCT]

3. They can propose articles of impeachment

But, it won't get anywhere - DeLay will just kill it. If Bush had a Democratic Congress, he would have been impeached long ago.

[sabra]

6. So let's say their investigations bring up some major issues...

will it just be swept under the rug?

[NewJeffCT]

8. You got it

Not one peep from CNN, Fox, CBS (fear of being accused of librul bias...) or ABC & NBC. If it makes the NY Times or Washington Post, maybe Aaron Brown on CNN or Keith Olbermann on MSNBC will mention it on the air... but, who watches them?

[progressiveBadger]

10. There is an election in 2006

Bush may very well have a Democratic Congress.

[NewJeffCT]

14. Only in our dreams

Only in our dreams will that happen. Every state that has close races will have gay marriage initiatives stuck onto the ballot to get the Fundies & Freepers out to vote.

I'd be happy if we gained anything in the House & Senate.

[progressiveBadger]

16. Positive thinking

Religious conservatives only comprise 20% or so of the population. And the Dems are going to use Social Security as a defense. Add to that a mess in Iraq and a history of second term presidents loosing their congress majority in their sixth year. I'm trying to remain positive, otherwise what's the point?

[NewJeffCT]

18. If you expect the worse

And something better happens, you're pleasantly surprised.

[Eloriel]

20. Uh, you need to bone up on

election fraud issues -- computerized voting, massive vote suppression, voter registration problems, intentional ballot spoilage, etc., etc., etc.

[progressiveBadger]

24. I have "boned" up on it

I know that this exists, but having a defeatist attitude about it doesn't help anyone but the Republicans. How can you change election fraud problems when deep down you think that in the end, nothing will change anyway? Seems a little pointless to me.

[JerseygirlCT]

19. Which may make the '06 elections very important, indeed.

[flamin lib]

4. Never happen with a Repub congress . . .

[progressiveBadger]

11. Election in 06 n/t

[John_H]

5. Is anyone selse troubled by the fact that Dem press release writers

think the word "plan" is an action verb?

[w4rma]

12. I am. (nt)

[KittyWampus]

15. How Is Plan NOT An Action Verb? To Plan Means To Organize Which

comes before the next step of implementation.

[John_H]

21. In politics "plan" is not an action verb because

inplementation is the only thing that matters. Plan is often used in press releases to get a media hit about you doing something without having to actually do something. I hope that's not what's going on here.

[John_H]

22. In politics "plan" is not an action verb because

inplementation is the only thing that matters. Plan is often used in press releases to get a media hit about you doing something without having to actually do something. I hope that's not what's going on here.

[John_H]

23. In politics "plan" is not an action verb because

inplementation is the only thing that matters. Plan is often used in press releases to get a media hit about you doing something without having to actually do something. I hope that's not what's going on here.

[Cocoa]

7. this is why I think Raw Story is fucked up

I don't think there's any news in that "story".

The DPC announced this publicly over a month ago.

Reid and Dorgan Say Senate DPC Will Launch Series Of Major Oversight And Investigation Hearings in 109th Congress

The Washington Times reports it today as "news."


http://washingtontimes.com/national/20050126-114923-5578r.htm

<snip>

"The session will be the first in an aggressive new series of oversight hearings," said a statement from the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.

Led by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democrats promised testimony from "whistleblowers" who accuse the Social Security Administration of improperly using resources to promote Mr. Bush's reforms.

Some Republicans also have expressed doubts about Mr. Bush's proposal to allow younger workers to invest part of their payroll taxes in private accounts.


Then Raw Story juices up the Times story (why would the aide ask for anonymity?) and posts it to DU.

[KittyWampus]

17. Got A Link You YOUR Blog So We Can Critique That? At Least The

people doing Rawstory are attmempting to get information out and discussed.

[ps1074]

9. Seems Harry Reid has bigger balls than Tom Dashle

eom

[Goddess Nephthis]

13. Are Going to Back Up...

Their rhetoric with a vote? It was disgusting to watch them rail against Rice and then vote for her anyway. I don't really give a fuck about what these assholes say anymore if they are not going to back it up with a vote.