wanna see more of JB on Judiciary?

[Muttocracy]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=155871&mesg_id=156140


about 40 minutes in is where the other video on DU cuts off.

[Muttocracy]

1. Feinstein at 1:05 backing up Biden's ?s on politicization. nt

[jillan]

2. You know what really got to me watching the hearing?

Is how Biden keeps calling Lugar "the chairman of the committee".
I've noticed that in other hearings. I think he does it on purpose, out of respect.
So screw you anyone that says Biden has a big ego.

About the hearings, I was really impressed with the line of questioning and how open and responsive
Burns was in his testimony. I was happy to hear how we are working with Russia (Biden has a new statement about US/Russia relations at his senate site) and even more happy to hear how this administration is going after the IRG thru making it harder for them to access their funds. Amazing what we can do besides blowing them up!

I really enjoy watching the SFRC in action. The best of the best are on that committee. Even some of the repugs are decent in their efforts. I cracked up when Hagel said that line about Bush & Cheney's winning personality :)

[Muttocracy]

3. I love how he does that

I think they've swapped chair back and forth over the years, but I also think he believes in the partnership of the two of them.

Rockefeller kept calling Bond the "vice chair" of intelligence yesterday which I thought was odd - he's ranking member - I read it as a darker sort of partnership :tinfoilhat:

That was an encouraging hearing, and I hope Bush doesn't fire that undersecretary!

I love listening to SFRC and Judiciary committees. Really smart people.

[Inuca]

5. Actually Kit the Unpleasant Bond IS "vice chair"

for whatever reason, it seems this is the official term for the minority leader in the intelligence committee as opposed to the usual "ranking member"

[Muttocracy]

9. wow, I stand corrected - thanks. I guess some things are just different for that special committee?

[gateley]

4. I agree about Burns - and I think Biden alluded to that, too.

Burns seemed to treat the committee with respect and honesty -- they're not used to that from Bush appointees!

You're right about that Committee - some REALLY outstanding people. I remember watching some other committee questioning someone on something (how's that for vague?) and it was a SNOOZE. The members had no oomph. The SFRC people seem to ENGAGE the people, the other committee I saw didn't.

[Inuca]

6. These two hearings kept me up well past

my regular bedtime last night :-). Very interesting, both of them. Burns was quite a pleasant surprise, Mukasey looked (and often answered) pissed, bored, and thoroughly annoyed. My guess is that he deeply regrets not staying as a respected judge and instead putting himself in this messy and thankless position. Ah, and yes, Hagel's comment about Bush and Cheney's winning personalities being responsible for Iran helping us in Afghanistan was priceless. I guess most people find him dreary and gloomy, but I think that Hagel has great sense of humor, dry as a martini and often self-deprecating.

[jillan]

7. I fell asleep watching the hearings last nite too.

First watched Mukasey and then the Iran hearings.

Whitehouse did a great job questioning Mukasey. It was a great back and forth.
Altho I don't agree with some of Whitehouse's votes, he is definitely becomming one of my favorite Senators.

I agree about Hagel. I loved it when he dressed up like Biden on Halloween.
For a repug, he's a good guy.

[Inuca]

8. My completely uninformed opinion is that

Whitehouse has an absolutely brilliant legal mind.

[Muttocracy]

10. I think Whitehouse is a rising star - when I hear him I think

oh good, when some of the senior Dems retire or pass on, there are some great senators up and coming.

And he can be funny - "George Bush's little legal shop of horrors!" :rofl:

Gosh, I love the Dems on BOTH of these committees - I just wish they had the votes and Senate leadership to get things done.

[Muttocracy]

11. I almost felt bad for Mukasey a few times

I don't know much about him, but it seems like Gonzalez should be getting grilled on some of this instead of him. Of course, Gonzalez would be even less forthcoming.

[Muttocracy]

12. by the way, Joe is also at 2:12 in with more questions - Guantanamo etc.

guess they did rounds all around FISA. I am just finishing listening to it - have gotten through bits and pieces at a time.

[Muttocracy]

13. "I wrote that with my own little paw!" :-D

[gateley]

14. Awww Did he say that?

What was he referring to? That's so adorable! :loveya:

[Muttocracy]

15. His last round of ?s - Mukasey was trying to tell him what the COPS program was for

and said it was a one-time grant thing - oops - didn't make Joe happy!

:wow:

[gateley]

16. That's hysterical -- Mukasey explaining COPS to Biden!

:rofl:

And you mentioned you almost felt sorry for Mukasey. I kind of did during the hearings, but since his appointment he's fallen right in line with Bushco and has become arrogant and taken on their attitude of entitlement. So I don't feel sorry for him any more. Especially since I saw him act irritated with a question Joe asked him - like Joe was an irritating little gnat.