Sensenbrenner, & Conyers-Raiding of Congress office Hearing Now-cspan

[rodeodance]

[rodeodance]

1. Main contention is that no Congressional person was present during raid.

[rodeodance]

3. said the Executive Branch encroahed on Congress.

[rodeodance]

5. Judiciary Commitee Chairman (Sensenbenner)

[malaise]

2. Matters constitutional

This should be good

[Ivote]

6. Link Here

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS

[rodeodance]

8. yes, it should.

[malaise]

11. Conyers speaking now n/t

[cspanlovr]

4. They stand up for their own rights, but not for ours.

What a shitty congress.

[rodeodance]

7. I agree with what others said--this is a strange case for Congress to sud-

denly get their tights in a twist.

[rodeodance]

10. There was a Prof. talking of this this morning on WJourn. I believe he

will be a witness now also.

[bdamomma]

19. of course and they give themselves

raises also. nothing like thinking about the citizens of US huh?

[babylonsister]

9. Rep. Conyers up! nt

[rodeodance]

12. yes, he said it was very serious.

[rodeodance]

13. says "sloppy at best, reckless at worst"--

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14. Some are asking for Gonzalas to resign! Conyers bringing this up.

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15. Conyers bringing up Torture allowed and laws broken under Gonzalas

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16. also bringing up issue of Domestic spying endorsed by Gonzalas.

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17. Conyers is essense is saying: This is the last straw-and hopes Congress

sees this act for what it is.

[abluelady]

18. What am I Missing Here?

They had a search warrant, didn't they? Are searches only legal nowadays without warrants? I just don't get this. There has been such an abuse of executive privilege and the congress hasn't said a word. Isn't Bush "the decider" anymore?

[bdamomma]

21. they want the congress to be in lock step with them

[rodeodance]

23. many have said that this is an odd case for Congress to suddently get

upset. But it is an constitutional issue.

[napi21]

26. The problem was they did it WRONG!

They have the right to search after obtaining a search warrant, but there is supposed to be others there to oversee the search. Some Capital hill police, and a representative of the House, to make sure what they are taking, looking at, can copying, fit within the warrant.

The FBI search lasted 18 HOURS! They copied the entire hard drive of the Congressman's computer.

It wasn't the search, but the cavelier and arrogant method used to do it!

[rodeodance]

29. yes Turley is saying this now--it was the means that the FBI used that

was wrong.

[napi21]

33. This guy, Bruce Fine, reminds me of a little mouse, but he's very smart!

Did you notice that EVERYONE on that panel stated "this search was blatently illegal"?

I have listened to everyone of these guys in the past, and they are ALL extremely knowlegable men. It's quite unusual that they ALL agree!!!!!

[Joe Chi Minh]

57. Sounds like the kind of brutish intimidatory conduct of the FBI

stooges of Kenneth Starr and the Neocon cabal towards the McDougals, and the attitude of the US troops towards the Iraqis, dragooned willy-nilly into Abu Ghraib and the likes, on the basis that they're guilty, until and in the unlikely event that they were proved innocent.

[abluelady]

38. I find it amazing.

Thanks for your explanation. But imho, this congress MUST go. Where do they get the nerve to pick and choose their interpretation of the Constitution. Maybe this will be Bush's Watergate, finally.

[hiley]

28. Fascism: Power Surge – The Constitutional Record of George W. Bush

From obstructing any hope of Justice or oversight to unconstitutional raids on Congressional offices…

…The America we know, love and have died for is over.

NOTE: For those who don’t understand why a surprise Justice Dept. raid on a Congressional office is a big deal, imagine the Capital Police raiding the White House without the cooperation or knowledge of anyone in the Executive Branch. They’d be shot…or worse.

Even the ultra-conservative CATO Institute is screaming. Their latest report on our slide into Fascism: Power Surge – The Constitutional Record of George W. Bush
http://cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/powersurge_healy_lynch.pdf



Today we connect the dots, for in the recent words of former Nixon White House council John Dean:

“A nation that loses control of its check on its commander in chief, is something other than a democracy.”
MORE @ The Randi Rhodes Show May 24, 2006

Show archved at White Rose Society
http://whiterosesociety.org/ 05-24

The PDF is a must read.
http://cato.org/pubs/wtpapers/powersurge_healy_lynch.pdf

[abluelady]

43. So What You're Saying

is that George Bush is being made to look bad now--that is what all the hubbub is about?

[hiley]

62. 219 years this has never been done

we are in a constitutional crisis, bush is saying fuck you to congress.
bush is saying we are not equal, the executive branch is above you!
There has to be oversight of the executive branch.
The GOP, or some of them have finally woken up & perhaps realize bush wants to be a king.
Edited to add the key word to bush administration is setting a precedent.. that is how they change our world.


Vice President Cheney and The Fight Over "Inherent" Presidential Powers: His Attempt to Swing the Pendulum Back Began Long Before 9/11
By JOHN W. DEAN
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20060210.html


The Conservative Case for President Bush's Exercise of Presidential Powers: Why It Fails to Convince, and Ignores Mainstream View on the Constitution
By JOHN W. DEAN
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20060505.html

The Problem with Presidential Signing Statements: Their Use and Misuse by the Bush Administration
By JOHN W. DEAN
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20060113.html

[rodeodance]

20. Witnesses are snorn in.

[malaise]

22. Turley on now

Bring it on

[rodeodance]

24. He is from George Washington Univ (where Feith is going!!)--

[rodeodance]

25. Two witnesses now have said this is 'constitutional crisis"

[rodeodance]

27. says the search was 'offense'--'gov. had exhausted all other methods"-He

says is in false (written in an affitant)

[rodeodance]

30. Turley reminded them that this is the Peoples House!

[rodeodance]

31. Bruce Fein talking of the abuse of powers by Bush adm. (former Reagan

administration).

[rodeodance]

35. saying even reading the documents is wrong (since one has to read

before they know what they are taking).

[Spazito]

32. Turley has gained a great deal of respect, in my eyes, by his

consistent and powerful presentations on protection of the Constitution and how the bush admin is trashing it.

[napi21]

34. The AG has threatened to resign. LET HIM! That was Fine's statement!

He said "I would have fired him!"

I'm really enjoying this hearing! Smack Shrub around a lot...he deserves it!

[rodeodance]

37. I missed that--(AG threat to resign)--when did this happen?

[napi21]

41. When Shrub issued the 45 day cooling off period and sealed all

the docs that were taken. Gonzo said if the Prez forced the FBI to give everything back, he would resign.

I thought it was quite funny, and I hope he DOEW QUIT!

[rodeodance]

48. thanks. te he. Yes, would be beatiful.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

36. Morning all!

I woke up to Fein's comments. Isn't it a Lovely morning?!! :bounce:

[rodeodance]

46. yes, He is great on this issue.

[rodeodance]

39. FBI searched for about 18 hours.

[rodeodance]

40. Turley saying a legislative official was NOT allowed to be in room at

time of search.

[rodeodance]

42. calling it ''unbriddled authority" (the excercise of power by Bush adm.)

[rodeodance]

44. Charles Fiefer said the FBI seems to be in a hurry and just did it!

[rodeodance]

45. saying the FBI threatened the Capitol police to 'step aside"

[napi21]

47. Yea, I heard that! Threatened to break the doors down if the

Cap police didn't step aside!

WOW, talk about black booted thugs!

[rodeodance]

49. thugs is the right word!

[rodeodance]

50. I have heard several times today -How it seems that the Just. Dept and

Executive offices 'teamed' up to do the raid.

[rodeodance]

51. k

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52. k

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53. k

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54. k

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55. k

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56. k

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58. procedure---request is suspose to be rounted through Clerk of the House

--from the US attorneys manuel.


Guess they oops that one!

[rodeodance]

59. Issa, Rep. CA--saying can IMPEACH Attorney General- umm..

[rodeodance]

61. Sensenbrenner said 'not yet" (to impeachment of AG).

[originalpckelly]

60. HOLY FUCK!!! Rep. ISSA SAID IMPEACH AG GONZALES!!!!!!!!(n/t)

[rodeodance]

64. and said if Chair called for this--he bets members would do so (my

understanding of the discussion.)

[rodeodance]

65. And now Turley says they HAVE the authority to impeach AG!

[mod mom]

66. Woo Hoo-Stand up and impeach the torture AG!!!!!

[rodeodance]

71. they should keep talking

[mod mom]

73. and you, my friend, should keep posting this good news for those of us

unable to watch it!

[rodeodance]

63. Robert Walker saying prob. tha tnew law in not necessay--but Checks

and Balances need enforcement.

[rodeodance]

67. Turley is telling Congress to protect their turf (as it seems it is being

seized and trumped by the Exec branch).

[rodeodance]

68. Van Hollen, Dem giving list of Exec branch abuses. Good for him.

[Sydnie]

70. Turley is dead on too

He knows his stuff. I hope they listen and act with his words in mind.

[napi21]

69. Sensenbrenner going to call the AG & Mueller to testify!

WW, I didn't know THAT! I can't wait to see how hard they are on Gonzo this time!

Could Gonzo br gone...zo?

[rodeodance]

72. He said ealier he wants one or two more hearings.

[napi21]

74. Hmmm, entertainment for the summer! At least I have to say the Pubs

are sure managing to keep me very interested in their daily soap opera political saga! They're beating the TV soaps BIG TIME.

[Independent_Liberal]

75. K&R!

[Keefer]

76. They had a search warrant...

at least. Did the NSA get a warrant? :sarcasm: