Democrats are set to subpoena

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-investigations10nov10,0,1887142.story?coll=la-home-headlines

The new majority is expected to hold hearings on military spending and the Iraq war -- just for starters.

By Richard B. Schmitt and Richard Simon, Times Staff Writers
November 10, 2006

WASHINGTON — Rep. Ike Skelton knows what he will do in one of his first acts as chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the Democratic-led House: resurrect the subcommittee on oversight and investigations.

The panel was disbanded by the Republicans after they won control of Congress in 1994. Now, Skelton (D-Mo.) intends to use it as a forum to probe Pentagon spending and the Bush administration's conduct of the Iraq war.

It has been 12 years since Democrats were in control of both the House and Senate. But they are looking to make up for lost time, and in some cases, make the Bush administration and its business allies sweat.

With control of every committee in Congress starting in January, the new majority will inherit broad powers to subpoena and investigate. And that is expected to translate into wide-ranging and contentious hearings.

The agenda is likely to be dominated by the Iraq war, but could include probes into the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance, environmental policies and new prescription-drug program for seniors. Industries, such as oil companies, could also come under closer scrutiny.

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. THIS is exactly what the cabal FEARS!

I cannot wait until their corruption is exposed. 2008 is going to be a good year!

[LordLovesAWorkingMan]

41. 2007 is shaping up well, too.

This will make for some excellent daytime TV, all those hearings.

Might want to start shorting Halliburton stock soon!

[in_cog_ni_to]

45. I'll enjoy daytime TV as much as I did during the NIXON and REAGAN hearings! Do we see a common

thread here??? YES! THEY'RE ALL CORRUPT REPUBLICANS!:rofl:

[warrens]

2. Go Ike

Get Cheney in there under oath. No more of this hand-holding, no-oath testimony.

[Selatius]

3. The fact the Repubs disbanded the committee in '94 was a red flag warning

They wanted to operate in a cloak of darkness, and anybody that tries to sell you that this is best for everybody is trying to sell you beachfront property in Kansas.

[Kierkegaard]

38. You are 100% correct.

They couldn't remotely justify skirting FISA. The only possible reason to do so was to conduct taps on people without anyone knowing who, what and why. Same with voting paper trails. Why would anyone suggest that no paper trail is preferrable unless they have something to hide?

It's time to turn on the lights and watch the roaches scurry.

[GrantDem]

4. The "Cornered Rat" theory is interesting...

Once these neocon assbags start feeling threatened there is no telling what they will pull.

[cool user name]

54. I'm afraid a DUer's sig line could come to fruition.

It reads:

Whenever Bush is cornered, cities die.


:(

[LynneSin]

5. That's why we shouldn't be pushing impeachment......

.....just yet.

Let the investigations happen. When we expose the lies and harm this administration has done the impeachment will come naturally and the voters will demand it!

[porphyrian]

7. Subpoenas and investigations are all part of the impeachment process.

You're unnecessarily separating parts of the same animal. However, given the rabid irrational response to the word by some, I suppose there's no harm in it as long as you understand.

[LynneSin]

10. I know it's all a part of the system

I just know that the country still has a bad taste about impeachment after the Clinton fiasco. And what did that get republicans other than making Bill Clinton one of the most popular presidents with ratings in the 60's.

I just want the truth exposed and when we finally expose it - naturally it'll progress to the next step which would be impeachment

[porphyrian]

11. Clinton lied about a blowjob. There is an epic difference in criminality here.

This will be nothing like Clinton's impeachment.

[DearAbby]

43. Any call for impeachment by the Dems right now

would be viewed as partisan, and the GOP would just point and accuse the Democrats of "revenge politics", for the Clinton impeachment. Again they would get to beat the Clinton dead horse. Their favorite topic.

I would hope that the Investigations and Hearings, would be more important right now. Exposing the evidence for the AMERICAN PEOPLE to see for themselves. It won't have to be the Dems calling for impeachment or resignation. It will be the AMERICAN PUBLIC that will be calling for it.

The results and evidence brought forth from the investigations and hearings...due course and in due time, impeachment will be brought out.

[porphyrian]

46. Fuck how it's viewed. It's the law.

What are you, scared? I know it hasn't really sunk in yet because we've been powerless for six years, but WE have the power of Congress now. We aren't making things up to impeach, we are simply calling it like it is. The American People will get it once we show them how they've been lied to, and believe me, they're going to be more pissed than anyone here when they realize it.

[cool user name]

57. Not to mention:

That there's a six degrees of separation regarding the electorate and fallen soldiers.

Every family is effected, indirectly or directly, by Bush's criminality. Not so with Clinton. The people, once the truth is outed, will make the French Revolution look like a tea party.

People who know people who know people that have had their friends, loved ones died will be calling for heads - the Democratic Congresspersons will barely be able to keep up with the call for noggins to be rollin'.

[DearAbby]

61. To be honest with you?

It has been so friggin long since we have had the power to do anything but play knee jerk reaction/defense. I just want the investigations to go forward. I want all the filthy shit revealed. Once that happens, Impeachment will be the natural course to take.

[AntiFascist]

68. Right, but in the meantime it's good for the people to be calling...

for impeachment so that we get the level of investigations we really need to dig into the corruption.

[VPStoltz]

30. Clinton's problem was a personal one

In a way, I think in the end the public actually empathized with him knowing any one of us, caught in the same situation, would have reacted in a similar way. The Bush crowd engaged in a calculated pogram of lying about EVERYTHING.

[porphyrian]

44. And remember, he was actually being investigated for a real estate scandal...

...that they found him innocent of. The blowjob lie was all they could get him on after wasting all that time and money. One day of investigation of these criminals should be enough to begin impeachment proceedings.

[AntiFascist]

50. People are ready for the impeachment of Bush....

and I think the Republicans ultimately benefitted greatly from Clinton's impeachment and his investigation as witnessed by their successes in 2000 and 2004. The problem is with the Democrats' appearing weak on the investigations, we need someone willing to dig to the roots of the whole problem.

[cool user name]

58. The Republicans will jump on the wagon ...

... once they find out how it will be political suicide to stand by the prez ...

[cool user name]

56. Forget about Clinton already!

It's apples and oranges compared to this nightmare.

One lied about having his cock sucked. The other lied about war (a national security issue) and is just a plain cock.

[Zodiak]

21. True

but I think that is a semantic argument among us. I think that those that push impeachment and those that push investigations have the same agenda. It is just one side focuses on the ultimate goal and the other focuses on the first step.

Both want accountability, and I support both positions.

The position I do not support is to be forgiving of the Republican party, promise to work with them, and let by-gones be by-gones so we can pass legislationpalatable to Republicans. This position ignores the fact that passing legislation in today's climate is nearly impossible with Bush weilding the veto without fear of the consequences. Not only that, but anything palatable to Bush and the Republicans in general will not be meaningful, and will be noted by the American people. Investigations will make them fear to sopose us as much as we feared to oppose them for the last 6 years.

[longship]

24. Bingo!!!

You've got it nailed.

Although, the time frame doesn't support impeachment, it may just happen anyway. However, you are exactly correct that it has to come from the people. We don't need another Clinton mess, not on our watch.

If the people demand it, it can and will happen.

[Rude Horner]

42. Bingo bingo bingo

There are a lot of Americans who voted for change, but not for impeachment. Let the investigations simmer for the next year. Let's get all the atrocities out in the open. Then we'll be seeing a LOT more people jump on the impeachement bandwagon.

[TankLV]

48. Or, maybe the criminal justice system will take over...

Forced resignations, no longer a public official, trial and imprisonment as the final result - which is what the country demands anyway.

After all, it will take a couple years anyway to work thru impeachment, and we all know the repuke will never do what's best for the country, and there are not enough Democratic votes to force the issue - especially with the repuke in dino clothing LIEberman repuke ass kissers...

[Frank Cannon]

51. LynneSin, again you are absolutely right

Let the investigations begin. Let the bright sunlight shine on all the insanity wrought by these nuts in the White House. Let's open the lid on no-bid contracts; on Cheney's secret energy meetings; on the Bush Administration's inaction on terrorism prior to September 11, 2001; on the mysteriously missing BILLIONS flushed down the toilet in the Iraq war; on the outing of an undercover CIA operation that monitored the movement of nuclear weapons materials; on the delivery of a state-of-the-art spy plane to China. And that's just scratching the surface of all that these fiends have done.

Let's hold every member of this whole ugly rogue's gallery under oath and broadcast their stammered, "I don't recall" testimonies to the American people every day for several months. Let us all see what these monsters are truly made of.

Then, finally, let's let the American people decide whether they want to push for impeachment. I'm pretty sure what the answer will be.

[cool user name]

55. It's self-evident ...

That investigations are a part of the impeachment process!!

Why does everyone say otherwise? Of course you have to have an investigation before you can have impeachment proceedings.

A criminal is investigated before he is put on trial. So why even say such a thing????

Sorry, just frusterated that the people who are against impeachment always say, "We need to investigate first."


WELL DUH!!!!

[SusanaMontana41]

6. That's exactly

what I voted for Tuesday. For the first time in six years, I'm enjoying the news out of Washington ...

[wryter2000]

14. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[SusanaMontana41]

28. thanks, wryter!

Very happy to be a member of this community. I love DU! :hi:

[bobbie]

8. Oh, by all means subpoena. 'kay Rep Conyers?! First 100 hours.

Even better, FIRST hour.

[Coexist]

9. THANK YOU.

[wryter2000]

12. Oh, gawd

It's just like Momma said. It's like a really great orgasm that keeps coming in waves.

[RethugAssKicker]

17. How come us Papas can't get that ?

[wryter2000]

32. Sure you can

We're equal opportunity sluts. :evilgrin:

[cool user name]

59. Yay Sluts!!!

:party: :toast: :thumbsup:

[Beelzebud]

13. THIS is what the election was about!

[Rosco T.]

15. (chuckle, chuckle) I was ahead of the game with this Bumper Sticker, eh?

www.cafepress.com/democatic

[renate]

22. I love the "Our Turn Now--You Ain't Gonna Like It" one

http://www.cafepress.com/democatic.84619021

I don't have the nerve to use it because of the "Game Over Perverts" at the top (I have a lot of Republican neighbors, plus I wouldn't call the average Republican on the street an actual pervert), but I really do love the "you ain't gonna like it" part.

(P.S. This one may be a little older but it's still solid gold: http://www.cafepress.com/democatic.78111543 )

[baby_mouse]

16. Ahhhhhh.....

Mmmm.

I shall enjoy a restful evening with my boyfriend and then sleep well tonight...

Thank you, Democratic Party of America...

[Auggie]

18. So overdue...

[gully]

19. Of course we are. When we take the hill in January

the fireworks will fly.

[readmoreoften]

20. NO! DON'T YOU REALIZE HOW RUDE THIS WILL MAKE US LOOK???!!!111

The American people didn't vote the Democrats in to investigate the Bush Administration. I mean, even though polls say that the majority is fine with it. Come on, we know that polls are slanted towards progressive candidates and ideas. The American people are patently against taking a stand and having a spine. O ye of the far left who cheer Bush's destruction. Don't you realize that if Bush goes down, some how, some way this is going to reflect badly upon us?

We're bigger than that. Let's just give the man a hug. In the true spirit of bipartisanship maybe we can confirm John Bolton and pass another Torture Bill just to show how magnanimous we are.

[BlueStorm]

25. Uhm... ok, whatever

I don't know of any polls that are generally slanted towards progressives et. al but I do know that the Dems were voted in because the American people wanted some sort of change.

Blue

[readmoreoften]

26. Hint...

The !!!111 means that my post is entirely sarcastic. I just hate using the sarcasm tag all the time. :)

[BlueStorm]

27. Oh ok, my bad... lol

It's so difficult to discern tone on the internets! :hi:

Blue

[Maven]

39. !

:hug:

[nolabels]

23. If you will investigate the writers of this article you will see what kind......

of thing they really like to do. The premise of the article is analogous to Cops have guns and plan to shot people.

The Tribune company is badly trying to maintain some type of influence on public opinion which they don't really deserve

WHO OWNS WHAT
Tribune Company
http://www.cjr.org/tools/owners/tribune.asp

[Xenotime]

29. Take them down! They are guilty.

[Jacklyn75]

31. Go Ike!!! I can't believe it's been 12 long years! Good grief!! n/t

[Ken Burch]

33. I Like Ike...well, THIS Ike, anyway...

He follows in the tradition of Senator Harry Truman's war-profiteering investigations in WWII.

[RoccoR5955]

34. Let's Roll!

I hope they investigate every one of them. Personally, their acts are like those of the Mafia. The Republican leadership should be brought up on RICO charges, as well as charges of treason. They all lied. People died. I am not for Capital Punishment, but in this case, I'll make an exception.

[Rainscents]

35. I am going to love watching C-span next two years!

[malaise]

49. I suspect Rummy and Cheney will keel over

and die before they testify. Hopefully there will be DNA tests.

[ananda]

36. Yes!

Thank you, Skelton and Dems.

[usregimechange]

37. Ike is my Rep, go Ike!

[Poll_Blind]

40. YES! This is what I'm talkin' about! n/t

PB

[Cameron27]

47. This is going to be good

I hope we get the same "sit on the edge of your seat" hearings as Watergate.......with the same result:party:

[cool user name]

52. I LOVE THIS PART!!!

Rep. James L. Oberstar, the top Democrat on the House Transportation Committee, this year was in the middle of grilling Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina when the Republican chairing the hearing cut him off. He had used his allotted five minutes.

Now that Oberstar, of Minnesota, is in line to become the committee chairman, among his first acts is expected to be scrapping the five-minute rule established by the GOP majority.

Payback's a muthafuckin' bitch, ain't it!

Woot, Woot!!!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

69. oh yes!

give the good guys more time to make their case.

grill the bad guys for as long as it takes.

[davidwparker]

53. Excellent for a few reasons.

1) The people need to know what has happened in the past 6 years ... where ever it goes.
2) I feel that when the people know what has happened, it will be YEARS before the GOP works themselves out of the hole that * dug for them before they can even be competitive in elections.

Subpoena power in House and control of this country's purse strings my biggest reason for celebrating this week.

[twaddler01]

60. Thank you!

About time! :evilgrin:

[nicknameless]

62. They've sure got their work cut out for them, after this 6-year crime spree.

[cyclezealot]

63. Lot of Democrats won't have backbone for this.

we will need to keep the pressure on them to make them do their job.

[GoblinToe]

64. Investigate to the point of transparency.

Investigate to the point of transparency. Then the Dems won't have to ask for impeachment, because the majority of Americans will be demanding it. There is no way in hell these crooks could have gotten rid of the truckload of skeletons they have under the floorboards.

We've waited 6 long years, watching these insane criminals slowly destroy everything this country stands for, stripping away the very fabric of our country, and now America wants answers!

The truth alone will bury these crooks.

THE TRUTH.

Every single American deserves nothing less.

PS. Glad to be back on the Democratic Underground, btw. I think my last post was a few days prior to the 2004 election. While I never gave up on politics, I have been so disgusted after watching the boy king get re-elected, I haven't felt like posting much since. Honestly, I haven't felt so inspired politically as I did watching the results of this last election in a long time, and it feels GREAT!!!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

70. welcome back!

[cyclezealot]

74. Very true. But we have a dilema.

Some polls show the American people tired of the Repukes because they were perceived to be overly partisan. THe AMerican people know this is the most partisan era, ever. So how do we handle that problem. Yes, we need some truth. We need demand the truth of Republican corruption. But, if we do it in too partisan a way, the American people will think we are are just like them.
We must have the truth revealed , but in a nice, unpartisan manner. Or else, we will be thrown out.
So many uninformed Americans, controversy equals partianship. They both just generalize both parties are corrupt. How do we handle this dilema.

[Erika]

65. Bill Clinton and his wife

were subjected to every harassment that the GOP, with their power, could come up with. The GOP were as angry as hell that Clinton took the WH and they used every subpeona power they could envision to try to take him out. Now, we shouldn't?

[Pierzin]

66. TREASON!!! LIES, DISTORTION, MASS MURDER!!!!

Come on Democrats, ANYBODY who even remotely thinks for a milisecond this cabal should not be prosecuted needs to have their head examined.

Please God, someone tell me that Impeachment and Justice will prevail, or should you just go ahead and slit their throats now?

One way or another, Justice must prevail. It is just amazing beyond anything I have seen in my life. Maybe the Dems won't seek it right away, but they must prosecute the cabal for this illegal international crime.

[19jet54]

67. Focus on business....

...I think the cooperative spirit so as to attend to pressing business (Iraq) should be first; Next is oversight; and of course "uniting our divided country" - There will always be time to "witch hunt" when our sons & daughters stop dieing?

This is not about "vengeance" but about "fixing what is currently wrong"? Oversight should stop allot of the waste & abuse? It is really simple; just follow the constitution as it was written instead of seizing power and ignoring it? The damn thing really works well if we actually use it; Too bad somebody didn't tell Bush that? I think the 2006 voters just did though!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

71. we can do both

that's what all the committees are for.

It's gonna be a good few years :popcorn:

[Up2Late]

72. Man, I didn't realize they totally disbanded that committee. This great!

Ike Skelton is one tough Mo-Fo. Go Ike! :woohoo:

[FernBell]

73. k&r

[Imagevision]

75. Bush cabal under oversight is a new ballgame entirely... (finally!)