USNews: Democrats on oversight committees across Capitol Hill are still just revving up

[sabra]

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070211/19waxman.htm

<snip>

A tough assessment perhaps, but Democrats want to make this much clear: The Bush administration is going to be answering a lot of questions. Elected with a mandate to clean up Washington, congressional Democrats on oversight committees across Capitol Hill are still just revving up; many are hiring staff and deciding what exactly to investigate. Those investigations can take months, and the showdown hearings could be a long way off. But investigations are coming. Lots of them. And potential targets from the White House to private corporations are keeping a close eye on Congress and hiring new attorneys just in case they come under the spotlight.

[PhilipShore]

1. Kick -- These hearings are defacto impeachement hearings...

--- all the Repuke corruption will lead to Bush and Cheney. If the Dem investigations find wrong doing under the rule of law, they are required to impeach.

I am not a lawyer, any lawyers have any opinion of my theory?

:kick: :nuke:

[AValdoux]

2. No one is watching

It seems like the only people watching them are the ones who know the facts any way. The MSM isn't covering them. If they do it is in 2-minute sound bites that pretend as usual there are two sides to every story. The news organizations are too busy spending air time on the 2008 candidates and celebrity freak stories. The Democratic Congress can hold all the hearings they want but if the average person isn't informed about them, we are right where we started. A small group of people who have searched out the truth over the last few years trying to get someone to listen.

Did anyone see the footage of Darrell Issa getting crappy with the Blackwater families? No Was there any facts checks about his claims the families' lawyers being political even though they contribute to GOP candidates? No Did anyone follow up on the story about the Blackwater contractor accused of murder and slipped out of Iraq? No


AValdoux

[NewJeffCT]

3. Levin's comments got some coverage

when he said it was "devastating" the news that came out of his hearings...

[sabra]

5. but there was zero live coverage of the hearing itself...

not on c-span or on any major networks.

[NewJeffCT]

7. then write your local newspapers and demand coverage

if they get enough letters, they will cover it more extensively.

I got a bunch of people here, and from DailyKos and MyLeftNutmeg to write to a congressman in CT when I heard that only people in favor of the Bush/McCain/Lieberman escalation had contacted him since he got elected this past November. I hope it has made a difference...

[conscious evolution]

4. Oversight is starting to roll

This is last weeks topics:http://oversight.house.gov/
These are this weeks upcoming hearings:http://oversight.house.gov/schedule.asp
Here is a list of subjects(past and current)being investigated by the Oversight Committee:http://oversight.house.gov/investigations.asp


I'm sure there are more investigations and hearings to come.

[Coexist]

6. I can smell the fear from here

and they should be afraid, the same as anyone who has abused power and is not about to be handed over to those he kicked around.

[Frustratedlady]

8. I guess I need an answer as to what happens next?

They have a few hours of hearings, but what else comes of the hearings? Are they continued behind closed doors? Granted, some of the questions were probing, but when they are staggered, Democrats/Republicans and they only have a few minutes for an answer, what is truly accomplished. I would hope these hearings are just the beginning for deeper probing and action.

Can someone explain them to me? I've never been this "into" hearings before, just listened to newscasts on the highlights.