GOP To Throw Temper Tantrum.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-02-14 01:40pm

The brief interlude of cross-aisle love and tenderness is coming to an ugly end in Congress.

Republicans are outraged. Democrats are putting forward a resolution holding White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers in contempt of Congress. House GOP rank-and-file are planning a dramatic walk out when the vote is called.

Democrats are affronted. Right in the middle of the Statuary Hall service for the late Tom Lantos, a Republican went to the floor -- just steps from the solemn proceedings -- and called a procedural vote, apparently out of pique.

The full House will vote on the contempt resolution. It is likely to pass. The resolution directs the speaker to refer the case to the Department of Justice. DoJ would then have to decide for itself whether to pursue the case.

The vote is expected at around 1 p.m.

The controversy involves the firing of federal prosecutors and the refusal by White House officials to comply with congressional requests for documents and testimony.

The president is pressing also. He has a news conference called for 1 p.m. The FISA law is about to expire. Another temporary extension just failed to pass the House yesterday. Republicans are whispering about the possibility of another dramatic gesture, this time from the president himself.

Congress is due to be on recess next week. Might the president call them back? Isn't the president due to fly to Africa very soon? Just askin.'

Poor GOP. They finally get around to calling for a contempt vote, and it's soooooo unfair, they have to take their ball and go home. But not before deciding to interupt a memorial service on the way out.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-02-14 02:44pm

Timely update:

The walkout has occoured. Depending on which of the whining, mewling assholes on the Right you ask, it's over the extension on existing FISA law yesterday, the refusal by the House to take up the horrible Senate bill, or because they're shitcocks who hate enforcing laws.

As a result, the Contempt resolution passed 223-32, because walking out kind of means you don't get your vote counted. Sorry, shitcocks. Mukasey is unlikely to enforce it, so expect more stupid GOP tricks.

Natorgator · Post by **Natorgator** » 2008-02-14 03:57pm

At least they have a plan for when/if Mukasey doesn't enforce it:

The privileged resolution [H. Res. 980] introduced today follows the suggestion first made by former Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner last year and authorizes the House general counsel to file a civil suit to enforce the subpoenas. That way, if the Administration refuses to enforce the contempt finding, we can take action in the courts to vindicate Congress’ authority.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2008-02-14 04:01pm

Natorgator wrote:At least they have a plan for when/if Mukasey doesn't enforce it:

The privileged resolution [H. Res. 980] introduced today follows the suggestion first made by former Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner last year and authorizes the House general counsel to file a civil suit to enforce the subpoenas. That way, if the Administration refuses to enforce the contempt finding, we can take action in the courts to vindicate Congress’ authority.

Good. Congress is growing a spine.

NeoGoomba · Post by **NeoGoomba** » 2008-02-14 04:12pm

I wonder, if this does go to a civil trial, will this turn into a situation where the Sergeant-at-Arms has to "gently" escort people to trial?

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-02-14 04:15pm

NeoGoomba wrote:I wonder, if this does go to a civil trial, will this turn into a situation where the Sergeant-at-Arms has to "gently" escort people to trial?

That's inherent contempt, which Conyers neatly sidesteps because the writings on the wall: The GOP and Blue Dogs would block it.

NeoGoomba · Post by **NeoGoomba** » 2008-02-14 04:30pm

SirNitram wrote:
That's inherent contempt, which Conyers neatly sidesteps because the writings on the wall: The GOP and Blue Dogs would block it.

Too bad. It's a sad fact that I really want to see some sort of massive internal shakedown to get these fuckers out. But whats even more sad is I can't think of anyone to replace them with.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2008-02-14 04:57pm

NeoGoomba wrote:
SirNitram wrote:
That's inherent contempt, which Conyers neatly sidesteps because the writings on the wall: The GOP and Blue Dogs would block it.
Too bad. It's a sad fact that I really want to see some sort of massive internal shakedown to get these fuckers out. But whats even more sad is I can't think of anyone to replace them with.

Eh, fuck the Bush Dogs. They're the reason why the Dems and Repubs have this idea of Majority Rule backwards. Vote 'em out!

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2008-02-14 05:18pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:
Natorgator wrote:At least they have a plan for when/if Mukasey doesn't enforce it:

The privileged resolution [H. Res. 980] introduced today follows the suggestion first made by former Judiciary Committee chairman James Sensenbrenner last year and authorizes the House general counsel to file a civil suit to enforce the subpoenas. That way, if the Administration refuses to enforce the contempt finding, we can take action in the courts to vindicate Congress’ authority.
Good. Congress is growing a spine.

About fucking time. Where was this, oh, two years ago?

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2008-02-14 05:21pm

Molyneux wrote:
Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:
Natorgator wrote:At least they have a plan for when/if Mukasey doesn't enforce it:

Good. Congress is growing a spine.
About fucking time. Where was this, oh, two years ago?

Early 2006? Presumably the campaign trail.

Conyers, the guy behind this, the spine incarnate, if you will, was compiling a stack of lists of things to conduct heavy oversight into on the off-chance things changed. He was the minority head of Oversight then, and thus had no power to make them, well, do their jobs.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2008-02-14 05:26pm

Vote 'em out!

Impossible, unless you want to hand the Republicans their seats.

Darth Yoshi · Post by **Darth Yoshi** » 2008-02-15 07:52am

I met Mr. Lantos once. He was very friendly, and it's a shame that the GOP would be so petty as to interrupt a memorial service over the White House finally being called out.

Xisiqomelir · Post by **Xisiqomelir** » 2008-02-15 12:19pm

Molyneux wrote:
Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:
Natorgator wrote:At least they have a plan for when/if Mukasey doesn't enforce it:

Good. Congress is growing a spine.
About fucking time. Where was this, oh, two years ago?

Two years ago wasn't Presidential election year.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2008-02-15 03:11pm

HemlockGrey wrote:
Vote 'em out!
Impossible, unless you want to hand the Republicans their seats.

Alternatively you could do what Maryland chose in the MD-04 which is to chose a new candidate from the Democratic primary over the curent officeholder Al Wynn. So the incumbent will NOT be on the ballot for the general election, the Dems have knocked off a semi blue dog and they can still keep the seat from going Republican (and they probably will). In other words don't say impossible when that is COMPLETELY the opposite of true.