What will be the result of the hearings?

[Solly Mack]

Resignations? (like Rumsfelds...he's writing a book and starting his own grant foundation)
Charges?(like...like...like...like...uh...hmmm...maybe Libby?..I mean, he was charged after all)
Impeachment?


I'd say one result would be the truth getting out (premise being the truth will change people's thinking and make a difference)... but well, the same thing was said during Iran-Contra so....

I'm not attacking the hearings (I watch them whenever I can and that's often) - merely asking what they will achieve.

[mikelgb]

1. and the truth will be

that nothing was done about it

[Solly Mack]

4. I like the truth - which is why I never call Bush's crimes "mistakes"

or worse, "failed policy"

[Mme. Defarge]

2. One thing they have already achieved

is to aggravate me to the point total exasperation with their lockstep position on impeachment. This, apparently, is the Democratic version of "shock and awe." I'm not impressed.

[Solly Mack]

3. I got awfully aggravated today watching

Primarily at the Torture Czar

[MissWaverly]

6. Torture Czar that's a good one

Did you see the Tom Tomorrow cartoon on him and Ms. Goodling and Kyle Sampson, like what is my name, Oh, this says Master Card, my name must be Master Card.

[Solly Mack]

8. Yes! lol

[MissWaverly]

10. Here's the link to Tom Tomorrow's cartoon on Gonzo

http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=22406

He summarizes the situation better than I can.

:-)

[Solly Mack]

12. Love it!!!

[spanone]

5. Their kind do not resign.....pompous fucks that they are.

i pray for a sudden 'God' moment and our great nation collectively shits them out their asses, aside from that, i'll take the truth.

[Solly Mack]

7. Well, they do when they want to...Rumsfeld did and I believe only because

he was willing to and ready to...it might make some feel good to think he was forced out but I don't buy it....Rumsfeld left on his own accord and for his own reasons that we don't know about ...yet.

I like and want the truth...but it doesn't necessarily change anything...especically without consequences...actual consequences. (like say..prison for war criminals)

[hatrack]

9. I'm eagerly awaiting a "strongly worded" letter.

Better yet, perhaps a really unusually hard-hitting press release will do the trick!

:puke:

[Solly Mack]

11. I admit to having no faith...

I know that anything is possible...probability is another matter

[MissWaverly]

18. I think they forgot the big picture

the rest of country is full of hardworking professionals hard at work dispensing justice, I think they have little tolerance
for foolish knaves. Also, before you lose faith, remember, many of the rats have jumped ship at the DOJ. People will not
be so eager to see campaign talking points or suggestions on firings to make room for loyal Bushies.

[Bigleaf]

37. Exactly. We've seen many strongly worded letters recently

followed by ..... yep, absolutely nothing. Get back to me when these committee hearings actually result in our elected officials doing something, anything. I'm tired of reading posts in which we should "get the popcorn ready", as if the shoe is going to drop at any moment. Bush, Cheney and their mob continue to get away with all these criminal activities while snubbing their noses at Congress and the rest of us and I am pissed! Wake the Phuck up America! Wake the Phuck up Congress!


{Cue the Twilight Zone music}

[Lone_Star_Dem]

13. I don't expect resignations, charges or impeachment.

I am interested in seeing where the memo Whitehouse brought up will lead, but other than that I don't expect much out of todays hearing.

I don't think AGAG is ready to resign, he's still willing to hold on to it with a death grip, and also don't feel that there was any indication of charges or impeachment being neigh.

[Solly Mack]

14. wait and see then? would that be fair to say?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

15. Yes, that's where I am

I wish I were in a warmer and fuzzier place, but I just can't get there and be honest with myself in regards to my expectations.

[Solly Mack]

16. I understand...I really do

[MissWaverly]

27. what is the result of Gonzo's memo giving sneak/peak Cheney

Gonzo giving the Office of Vice President (Cheney) access to ongoing investigations conducted by DOJ, I take this as they
had an inside window on everything Fitzgerald was doing on Libby and the Plame investigation. Now that that has been
presented, what do you think the result will be?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

28. I feel that Cheney's office knew everything that was taking place in the Libby trial as well.

I expect they'll deny that any information was ever accessed by Cheney's office. Then they'll once again try and keep any documents that may prove otherwise out of the hearings.

As to if they'll get away with it, it depends on how well they've covered their tracks.

[MissWaverly]

29. they may have covered their tracks but Gonzo?

methinks there is a paper trail.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

30. I'm hoping so

If there is then this could get interesting.

[MissWaverly]

32. also from today's hearing, Gonzo is close to losing it

Maybe he will start telling the truth for a change.

[wiggs]

17. Good important question. What has been the result from hearings

held so far? Not so much, I think.

I wouldn't say that getting the truth out is necessarily one result. These things are on cspan. 99% of the nation does not watch. Some people may see the one headline on page A10 that summarizes one sound-bite of the hearings. The questions themselves are carefully crafted not so much to maximize information flow as to get to a point, help this witness while setting up another another, stepping carefully around classified info, stepping carefully around issues your leadership wants to avoid, etc...

I think hearings do unfortunately relieve pressure to do something...they have been pressure relief valves at a time when pressure is necessary, for us anyway...not for politicians.

Even if the result is a resignation here or there, or a contempt charge....that's not really what we're after. We're after information...good, accurate, provable information that helps representatives and the public what has happened. Once we have information, then we can decide what to do about it.

So, are hearings leading to good public information that can lead to understanding and consequences or are they leading to the mere appearance of achievement along with some collateral damage done to underlings?

John Wooden quote: "Don't mistake activity for achievement"

[Solly Mack]

24. I'll so sign on to your post

[Individualist]

39. "mere appearance of achievement"

That says it all, wiggs. Hearings without follow-up actions are nothing more than dog and pony shows put on in an attempt to convince people that something is being done when, in fact, nothing is being done.

[guitar man]

19. I'm predicting at least...

...A "strongly worded statement" will result. :hide:

[mmonk]

20. Which ones? I suspect the outcomes will be similar

to the Iran/Contra hearings.

[Solly Mack]

21. All of them actually

and I fear the same

[MissWaverly]

31. well, the problem is that other than Cheney there is no real

strong "hammer" left for them. Bush could not ask for a hot cup of tea w/o resistance from those asked. Just who would want
to do them any favors now. I think the chance for an Iran-Contra tamp down are slim to none.

[LSK]

22. Arkansas, US Attorney Timothy Griffin

Well theres one good thing at least...

[Solly Mack]

26. What's he doing now? Anyone know?

[MissWaverly]

35. No, but Ken Blackwell has a job in DC

I think for one of the "family values" groups

[Solly Mack]

36. like weeds

[MissWaverly]

38. Did Griffin take that job working for Fred Thompson's campaign

there were rumors about it?

[Solly Mack]

40. I believe so

[MissWaverly]

41. that's one more reason not to vote for Fred

also I heard that NBC is pulling all repeats of Law and Order with him it if Thompson runs for Prez.

[Solly Mack]

42. LOL Not sure there is a reason to vote for him...how odd that they would pull

his TV character...it's the only one he has

[MissWaverly]

43. I guess they're afraid of giving him free political ads

:-)

[radfringe]

23. 10 days or so before congress goes out for august recess

bush goes on vacation

then in September there will a hub-bub about not getting the september report on Iraq until november - that will take us through October

then the September-November report won't be available until April-'08, more grumblings, and now we're into the thanks-giving Christmas season and the inevitable war on christmas, followed by the state of the union speech

and by spring it will be not enough time to do anything about gonzo, we don't have the votes and the presidential campaigns will be in full swing

in otherwords - nuttin' honey

[Solly Mack]

25. Once again..gotta admit to having those same thoughts

the waiting game..waiting out the people...

[SoCalDem]

33. Nothing but more hearings scheduled in the future

..and Gonzo will gladly oblige.. he will sit there like a frog on a log and talk at length when Kyl & Hatch gently stroke him ..and when the mean ole democrats want to ask him "hard questions & stuff", he will lapse back into a state of catatonic amnesia..

Inherent contempt is the ONLY way to get rid of him, but even that would not be so great, because that only gives *² a chance to appoint another flunkie who would claim to know even less..

[Solly Mack]

34. He does rather resemble a toad..especially when it puffs out his cheeks

the GOP Hydra...