Four Quotes

[H2O Man]

{1} "(There is a) power of the Congress to inquire into and publicize corruption, maladministration, or inefficiency in agencies of the Government. That was the only kind of activity described by Woodrow Wilson in 'Congressional Government' when he wrote: 'The informing function of Congress should be preferred even to its legislative functions.' Id., at 303. From the earliest times in its history, the Congress has assiduously performed an 'informing function' of this nature."
-- US Supreme Court decision in Watkins v. United States, 354 US 178, 200 (1957)

{2} " 'It is the proper duty of a representative body to look diligently into every affair of government and to talk much about what it sees. It is meant to be the eyes and the voice, and to embody the wisdom and will of its constituents. Unless Congress have and use every means of acquainting itself with the acts and disposition of the administrative agents of the government the country must be helpless to learn how it is being served; and unless Congress both scrutinize these things and sift them by every form of discussion, the country must remain in embarassing, crippling ignorance of the very affairs which it is most important that it should understand and direct. The informing function of Congress should be preferred even to its legislative function.' Wilson, Congressional Government, 303'."
-- US Supreme Court in United States v. Rumely, 345 US 41,43 (1953)

{3} "They had forgotten, if they ever knew, that the Constitution is designed to be a law for rulers and people alike at all times and under all circumstances; and that no doctrine involving more pernicious consequences to the commonweal has ever been invented by the wit of man than the notion that any of its provisions can be suspended by the President for any reason whatsoever.

"On the contrary, they apparently believed that the President is above the Constitution, and has the autocratic power to suspend its provisions if he decides in his own unreviewable judgment that his action in doing so promotes his own political interests or the welfare of the nation. As one of them testified before the Senate Select Committee, they believed that the president has the autocratic power to suspend the Fourth Amendment whenever he imagines that some indefinable aspect of national security is involved."
-- Senator Sam J. Ervin, Jr.; Individual Statement in the Senate Watergate Report

{4} "Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research."
-- Malcolm X; Message to the Grass Roots

I was impressed with the Senate hearing yesterday. I will take the time today to express my "thanks" to a number of democratic senators for their good work.

[Me.]

1. #3 Could Have Been Written Today

All are particularly apt but #3 is so prescient

[H2O Man]

2. It is, indeed.

It is very important to learn the lessons of history.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

4. That one struck me most, as well. It seems so many HAVE forgotten how,...

,...this democratic institution is suppose to operate.

[H2O Man]

6. "The Eagle That Is Forgotten"

by Vachel Lindsay

"Sleep softly .... eagle forgotten .... under the stone,
Time has its way with you there and the clay has its own.
Sleep on, O brave-hearted, O wise man, that kindled the flame --
To live in mankind is far more than to live in name,
To live in mankind, far, far more .... than to live in a name."

That is quoted on page 254 of Senator John F. Kennedy's 1955 book "Profiles in Courage." Last week, I asked DUers if they had read this book. I think it is of value to those who are interested in how the House and Senate can provide true leadership.

[Me.]

7. It Is Also A Reminder Of The Fact That Truth Spoken Beautifully

Never becomes old or dies.

[H2O Man]

10. Very true.

I like these swing historical lessons, from the mouthes and pens of the past.

[Me.]

12. They Could Be Our Map To A Better Future

if:

1. people would pay attention and not dismiss them out of hand

2. people would learn and benefit from the experience of others. And those who would diss the words of the founding fathers and people like MLKjr., are pebbles pretending to be boulders. The proof is in their accomplishments. The men who wrote this nation into being have created something magnificent that has managed to sustain itself for centuries. The work of Martin is the the reason Obama can run for president today.

[H2O Man]

15. "This world

and yonder world are incessantly giving birth;
every cause is a mother, its effect the child.
When the effect is born, it too becomes a cause
and gives birth to wonderous effects.
These causes are generation on generation,
but it needs a very well lighted eye
to see the links in their chain."
-- Jalal-ad-din Rumi

[Me.]

18. Just So! n/t

[eallen]

5. Not forgotten, so much as deliberately neglected. Six years of a rubberstamp Congress....

Allowed an overreaching administration to act with an impunity of the sort that Nixon only dreamt.

:hippie:

[H2O Man]

8. Right.

A while back, I read "The Broken Branch: How Congress is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track," by Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein. I think they did a fairly good job of describing how the damage to the congress has been a long process, but how it really came to be severe around 1994, with the "Contract with America" business of Newt Gingrich. That damage led to the six years of rubberstamping that allowed a "Contract on the Constitution."

[mmonk]

13. Yep, pretty much.

[TheBaldyMan]

23. not prescient, today is an echo of Watergate - Cheney and Rummy both worked for Nixon.

Cheney was probably the chief architect of the imperial monarchy. I'll wager that with his second bite at the cherry he has been hiding even more using his VP office.

[malaise]

3. We need another Sam Ervin now n/t

[H2O Man]

9. Yep.

Sam Ervin Jr. was a curious mix of good and bad as a Senator, until it came to the Watergate hearings. Then he really stepped up to the plate, and did this country proud. We have several democratic senators who have that same potential. Conditions today cry out for that same type of leadership as did conditions in '73-'74.

[KoKo]

11. Ahhhh Sam Ervin, jr. that "Country Lawyer" whose downhome humor

cut to the heart of issue in Nixon hearings time and again.... RIP...Gentleman Sam...who always described himself as "just an old country lawyer" underplaying his smarts so you didn't see his brilliance until it hit you front on... :D

[TahitiNut]

17. We share the same recollections.

He was a remarkable man ... who knew very well how to use an opponent's underestimation of his intelligence and integrity like legal Judo. He never severed the ties of abstract reasoning to common sense roots.

There were MANY times I found myself in disagreement with Sam's behavior as a Senator, but he sure comported himself well in Watergate.

[H2O Man]

20. Though I cannot recall

the exact quote, Gandhi said that when people are working together to work for good, the right person will step foreward to assist. Ervin was the right person to step up to the plate for the country at that time. It was a pleasure to witness.

[Swamp Rat]

14. prescient

k&r

[spanone]

16. 'nuff said. I was also duly impressed. We should ALL express our thanks.

[lpbk2713]

19. One other memorable quote ....

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —President George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004



Sorry to lower the level of your thread but it occurs to me that Shit-for-Brains is such a striking contrast. He has provided the late night talk show hosts with a lifetime of free material.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Mabus]

21. Thanks for posting this food for thought

You've just treated me to a banquet. And, you are an excellent host.

K&R

[H2O Man]

22. And thank you

for taking the time to read and respond to my post. I think those quotes are interesting, and of value to democrats as we consider the situation we are faced with today.