c-span2 Amnesty Inter. chair (Chips) testify to Jud. committee. Conyers on

[rodeodance]

[rodeodance]

1. actually it is about civil rights and the patriote act--I missed Amnesty

Internaation Chair talk except for a few moments.

[rodeodance]

2. Sheila Jaclson Lee talking. thanked Conyers for invite.

[rodeodance]

3. we are subjected by the 'tynanny of the majority' says Lee.

[rodeodance]

4. says we have an opportunity today NOT to turn the lights out on abuse!

[rodeodance]

5. She is talking of Gitmo and lack of due process.

[rodeodance]

6. says the existance of Gitmo is putting troops lives in danger in Iraq and

Afgan!! yes, she is right on.

[rodeodance]

7. another women said that if we abuse non-citizens rights we are not far

from abusing citizen rights.

[rodeodance]

8. Sensenbrenner is trying to 'put the light out' on abuse (as Jackson Lee

said earlier).

[rodeodance]

9. Sen.claiming that patriote ACT being used to oppose Bush poliices.

[rodeodance]

10. Sen. says Gitmo has nothing to do with Patriot Act--says he has patiently

listened this morning but most of what is being said has nothing to do to patriot Act. He is really demeaning the people testifying.

[rodeodance]

11. says the only sec 215 from Mr. Pitts is the only relavant thing related to

the Patriot act. Wants Pitts to submit for the record.

[rodeodance]

14. do you see that!! Jackson Lee wanted to say something and Sen. just

cut her off--several times and shut down the committee.

[cornermouse]

13. They just got up and walked out on them rather than defend themselves.

Not a class act, are they?

[rodeodance]

16. Nadler Dem from NY is trying to talk but Sen. left the room --c-span does

not have mide on him.

[rodeodance]

32. the witnesses were asking too many questions!! It was too much for the

big mouthed Repugs!!

[rodeodance]

40. sorry to say that Sensenbrenner is from Wisconsin

[suegeo]

81. Not very classy at all.

Classy fascists GOOSESTEP out of a room. For the Republicans to just simply walk out, well.

Were our fascists at least wearing their SS skull pins?

[rodeodance]

59. Sen was acting like a baby--a whinning toddler!!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

12. What the hell just happened?!!!

[cornermouse]

15. Apparently they have gone so far as to cut off the microphone?

This needs to be shouted from every corner of every street.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

19. Chairman called meeting adjourned - people wanted to speak

[rodeodance]

23. c-span continues to cover it--Repugs left and Dems and witnesses are

continuing to talk to mikes yeah.

[kentuck]

24. Obviously are talking thru C-SPAN microphones only???

They did shut down the individual mikes , it seems.

[rodeodance]

75. yes, seems sensenbrenner but off the mikes (and took the gavel)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

17. Go Nadler!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The won't hear us but we will speak!

[rodeodance]

18. Dems are still sitting there talking and the Repugs left the room!!

[rodeodance]

20. J. Lee asking that if there is a way under the p. Act that if you are inno

cent --can you prove it? says the fact that they can not answer it is shamful.

[kentuck]

22. Damn!

That's the first time I've ever seen that....They better get out before they send the Sergeeant of Arms in to arrest them...

[Just Me]

25. What's happening?

I can't see what's going on. What's happening?

[kentuck]

29. The Repub Chairman shut the meeting down and left room...

and the Democrats and the witnesses kept talking without the microphones...

[Just Me]

36. PROVING they are friggin' tyrants!!!

Geezus!!!

[lonestarnot]

28. Well those sons of bitches!

[Just Me]

How many times have they pulled this crap now!!!!

Makes me so damn mad!!!!

[rodeodance]

54. I am beyond anger--One of the witnesses commented that there was

no place in this Congress to air their greienves/concerns about Bush policies--this was after Sen. accused them of bringing up matters that do not concern this committee.

[Just Me]

21. In case I've failed to thank you, rodeodance,...

,...thanks so much for reporting this info.

[rodeodance]

26. a witness is nothing to say the WH response has been--we will deal with

that after the confict--but the people charged have no lawyers. It is an indefinate precess. The repugs failed to answer the qeustion.

[rodeodance]

30. ok--but wish i could type faster!! Sensenbrenner just walked out--the

tyranny of the majority as J. Lee said. It was disgraceful.

[seabeyond]

34. me too, i have said it before

saying it again, i loook for your string. makes life so easy. thanks

[Skidmore]

27. Make sure Olbermann gets this.

[rodeodance]

33. Everybody needs to email Keith Olberman and other media--this is

front page news--or should be!!

[atldem]

68. Emailed Olberman and CNN.

I would bet money on the fact that it won't be reported on though.

[reality based]

31. Republicans have the air of arrogant losers

They're playing their Marie Antoinette card

[rodeodance]

35. [e-mail] -please all email keith about this.

[rodeodance]

37. Jackson Lee and others said that there is not place to have a real hearing

on the Bush policies!! Like today--they were cut off.

[rodeodance]

38. I hope tthis makes national news!!

[cornermouse]

42. It should.

[Just Me]

39. AAR would definitely be interested in this rabid Republican crap, too!!

They are starting to do this shit on a regular basis. Don't like what they're hearing, just shut the process down and walk away!!!

They PROVE themselves to be the tyrannical majority!!!! Assholes!!! :grr:

[rodeodance]

41. send it to them please

[rodeodance]

43. nominate this please=--All should know what happened and follow -up.

[Just Me]

45. Working on it, right now.

My dial up is so goshdarn S-L-O-W!!! Ick!

[Just Me]

49. DONE!!! and nominated!!!!

:kick:

[walkon]

47. I only know what I have read here.

Completely disgusting, revealing and darkly disturbing. I did think that when Galloway traveled all the way from G.B./Scotland to testify the Repugs shut things down very prematurely. Any citizen who believes in the U.S. Constitution and the principles of Democracy should let those Reps know that they are not performing their duty as elected (possibly) and should consider firing them for their dereliction.

[joanski0]

44. This was the worst display by the Repubs

that I have ever seen. It was obvious that Sensenbrenner didn't want to hold the hearings. When he started the hearing, he said that the Dems wanted it and now they didn't show up for the hearings. He read a list of names of the Dems who were not present. He named Jerald Nadler, and Nadler was sitting right there. He named Sheila Jackson Lee, and she was there.

When Sensen. cut off one of the witnesses, Conyers said isn't it our general practice to let the witness finish the sentence. Sensen. said under the Rules the Chairman has a right to keep to the time limits. And I am keeping to the time limits.

Oh, what an awful sight it was. Sensen. kept talking over the Dems who were trying to make a point of order. One Dem got through, and Sensen. said that is not an appropriate point of order.

After the hearing, Mr. Zogby said he was furious. Then Sheila Jackson Lee said "I am ashamed of this hearing". What a freakin' mess that was. If C-Span replays it, you all have just GOT to see it.

[joanski0]

46. Also, one of the witnesses said

that more gruesome pictures of prison torture will be released at the end of this month.

[rodeodance]

48. needs one more to nominate please.

[rodeodance]

50. what is the delay--they said that 2 weeks ago. suppose they have to

redact out faces??

[rodeodance]

51. Thanks for the beginnging of the hearing--as I missed it. Whow!! you

are right. what a complete jackass!!

[rodeodance]

53. "trying to turn out the lights on abuse"--that was Sheila Jackson Lee

comment--she said this about the disgraceful meeting--the behavior of Sensenbrenner!!!!!

[Just Me]

52. Such a gawd-awful abuse of power!!!!

Incredible. :grr:

[rodeodance]

55. I hope Jackson Lee has this on her web site later!!

[sunnystarr]

56. Conyers asked that witnesses each be

given one minute to respond to J.Lee's questions especially since she was the last to ask questions of the panel ... then Sensensbrenner says objection? and I guess there was an unheard one so Conyers request was quickly denied. Guess they didn't want any public responses that may enlighten people to the real probs of those Patriot Act provisions.

I heard Nadler (NY) say "Point of Order" a few times when Sensennbrenner was shutting down the meeting over objections... but Nadler was ignored ... then Dems were outraged that Senate/Committee protocol was being ignored like it didn't exist.

[Just Me]

57. All hell should break loose on this abuse by the tyrants!!!

I can NOT believe they keep doing this,...this act of ANTI-DEMOCRACY,...shutting down hearings!!! It's just insanely dictatorial!!!

[rodeodance]

58. Sen. uses the 'rules' of the comm. to shut it down--in witnesses faces!!

This should REALLY get them riled up!!

[rodeodance]

60. I cross posted this thread to the Wisconsin forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=186&topic_id=8581#8588

[rodeodance]

61. you are right--I heard that--Sen. denied the witnesses a response!!

[rodeodance]

64. hey-Finlander listener--We do try to be a Democracy but we have too

many Repugs in office!! yes, i know--the sheepies elected them!! --but think some of them are waking up!!

[jmatthan]

62. A bigger farce of a hearing

than the Galloway Senate hearing.

I listened to the entire proceedings on CSpan and the actions of the Chairman were strange!!

Confirmed to me that America is certainly NOT a democracy!!

Jacob Matthan
http://jmpolitics.blogspot.com
Oulu, Finland

[Just Me]

63. They pulled the same garbage on Sens Kerry, Boxer, Byrd,...

,...they just shut down the process, oppressing free speech. Their behavior is shocking and abhorrent!!!

[rodeodance]

65. well, lets just hope Countdown and others have a segment on this disgrace

[Pirate Smile]

66. Nice work, rodeodance!

:applause:

[4_TN_TITANS]

67. Thank-you rodeodance....

from us cube rats who might not have heard anything about this.... Excellent play by play.
:D
:yourock:

[rodeodance]

69. I eamiled some news media plus some WI papers also.

[rodeodance]

70. also see this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=132&topic_id=1845169&mesg_id=1845340

[Pirate Smile]

72. Rodeo, that link goes to an open post a reply link.

:hi:

[Judi Lynn]

71. Buzzflash has picked this up, too! Great!

June 10, 2005

GOP House Judiciary Chair Uses Pinochet Tactics to Abruptly and Unilaterally Shut Down Hearing Into Abuses of the (Un)Patriot Act, Because He Was Afraid the Truth Would Come Out. America: "IT" is Happening Here. Democracy is Being Dismantled by GOP Thugs.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ANALYSIS

This morning, House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI) unilaterally and arbitrarily shut down committee hearings on the reauthorization of the Patriot Act without comment or issuing a statement. Sensenbrenner gaveled the committee hearings in the middle of witnesses testifying about human and civil rights abuses at Guantanamo Bay, racial profiling of individuals of Middle Eastern descent, prolonged detentions of Americans after September 11th and other abuses.

The suppression of free speech and testimony in the congressional committee in charge of protecting our civil liberties shows the Republican’s power grab has no limits and no decency. The irony was not lost on anyone.

The witnesses appearing before the House Judiciary Committee included, Chip Pitts, Chair of the Board of Amnesty International USA; Dr. James J. Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute; Deborah Pearlstein, Director of the U.S. Law and Security Program “Human Rights First”; and Carlina Tapia Ruano of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

The witnesses were called by the indomitable Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) who continues to stand up to the right-wing’s attempt to eviscerate American Constitutional liberties.
(snip/...)

http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/05/06/ana05020.html

AlRIGHTy! :woohoo:

[Pirate Smile]

73. C-span has the video up

"Full C-span coverage of House Judiciary Committee


It is titled "House Hearing on Reauthorization of Patriot Act" under Video/Audio Recent Programs.

http://www.cspan.org /

I haven't watched the whole thing yet so I'm not sure when they stop recording. Hopefully, not until everyone is done, not when Sensenbrenner walked out."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3828780&mesg_id=3828780

[rodeodance]

74. thanks--also a story on Yahoo now.

see
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1539399#1539419

[rodeodance]

76. also a Guardian (AP) story---yappa dappa dooo

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-506...

Friday June 10, 2005 10:16 PM

By JIM ABRAMS

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican chairman walked off with the gavel, leaving Democrats shouting into turned-off microphones at a raucous hearing Friday on the Patriot Act.

The House Judiciary Committee hearing, with the two sides accusing each other of being irresponsible and undemocratic, came as President Bush was urging Congress to renew those sections of the post-Sept. 11 counterterrorism law set to expire in September.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the panel, abruptly gaveled the meeting to an end and walked out, followed by other Republicans. Sensenbrenner declared that much of the testimony, which veered into debate over the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, was irrelevant.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., protested, raising his voice as his microphone went off, came back on, and went off again.

[rodeodance]

77. and here is Nancy Pelosi's statement on the hearing walkout by Sen.

Date : Friday - June 10, 2005



To: National Desk

Contact: Brendan Daly or Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616, both of the Office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

WASHINGTON, June 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on Republicans' shameful attempt today to silence Democrats at hearing this morning on the impact of the Patriot Act, when Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin inappropriately adjourned the hearing.

"The Republicans' abuse of power reached a new low this morning when they tried to silence Democrats at a hearing on the Patriot Act by cutting the microphones.

"Chairman Sensenbrenner proved again today that he is afraid of ideas, and that Republicans will stop at nothing to silence Democrats. It is quite ironic that at a hearing on the impact of the Patriot Act on civil liberties, the Republicans attempted to suppress free speech.

"This is part of Republican abuses of power: to silence Democrats and the voice of the minority, to deny millions of Americans a voice in Congress. Republican leaders dictate the party line and ram bills through committees, and permit few if any amendments on the floor. Republicans are unwilling and unable to compete in the marketplace of ideas, so they have chosen to arbitrarily and capriciously abuse their power simply because they can.

"Democrats will not be silenced when we uphold our oath of office to protect and defend our Constitution and civil liberties as we protect and defend the American people. I commend Judiciary Committee Democrats for continuing to question witnesses after the Republicans' shameful behavior, and for standing up for the institution of the House.

"This incident is the latest in a series of disgraceful conduct by Mr. Sensenbrenner. Last month, he misused an official committee report to mischaracterize in a derogatory manner amendments offered by three Democratic Members. As a result, the House was required to authorize the filing of a supplemental report, which contained significant changes, to correct the record.

"As House Democratic Leader, I expect all Members to be treated by the majority with dignity and respect. I will ask Speaker Hastert to order Mr. Sensenbrenner to apologize for his behavior to the witnesses at the hearing today, and to promise that this will never again happen."

http://press.arrivenet.com/pol/article.php/651798.html

[Carla in Ca]

79. Rodeodance, Thank you

for the play-by-play. You had me on the edge of my seat! Even though it is on video now, your posts were exciting to read, like a good book.

Thanks again:hi:

[rodeodance]

82. you are welcome--this issue is being blackballed by the WH-and Sen.

is one of Bushco's lieutentants who sultutes the King!!!

[burrowowl]

78. KICK!

KICK! The Brownshirts and Nazis are here now!

[Douglas Carpenter]

80. Here is Sensenbrenner's Contact Info:

:bounce:

Wisconsin district 5 (R)

Web:

http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner /


Email:

[e-mail]


Phone:

[phone]


Address:
Congressman James Sensenbrenner
United States House of Representatives
2449 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
:kick: