No handcuffs, but can we at least subject them to stress positions? It only seems fair.

Let's get this show on the road!

“Remember – no handcuffs.” - What?!? Can I use that defense next time I break the law? This is pathetic.

Threat of punishment does not necessarily prevent crime. Death penalty doesn't stop murders. Indeed about 50% of murders are never solved. People run red lights and stop signs.

I do think committing crimes has to do with people believing they will get away with things. And seeing that indeed that happens. But more than anything I believe it has to do with conscience and conscience relates to empathy.

Sociopaths lack a conscience. And this administration is chock full of sociopaths.

We need to do all we can to bring people to justice and hold them accountable in whatever way is possible. Failing that, we need to at least get people's lies on record.

And failure to appear and create a record deserves contempt.

Meting out contempt will not necessarily prevent further abuses in future. But it must be done nonetheless. It's a pretty low level of moral reasoning to refrain from committing a crime simply due to fear of punishment.

Classic! The higher-ups always have a different set of legal rules than the rest of us. I had an outstanding ticket, so had a traffic warrant. I got stopped, and taken to jail to pay my $200 fine. They let my friend get my ATM card and get the $200. However, they DID take me to jail in handcuffs.

In this case, the highest body in the land, Congress, issued a subpoena and they didn't show. That seems to me to be worse than a $200 traffic fine. But NOOOOOO ...

BP

anonymously yours, I think we're saying the same thing. I stated it negatively (as "does not necessarily prevent crime") and you stated it positively (as "does dissuade crime, in some cases")

I appreciate you going on record here - which is more than those who failed to turn up when summoned by Congress.

Therefore, since you did this of your own free will and not because ordered to do so, yours is not a "worthless little post" as you describe it. If only our legislators stepped up as you have!

Conyers has been a pleasant surprise in an otherwise disappointing Congress.

I agree completely, no handcuffs. That would serve no purpose. This isn't yet at the level of Ken Lay and Scooter Libby.

Don't cuff me, bro!

I predict the vote will never happen.

I've lost all faith in the Democratic Leadership.

Misdemeanor, in criminal law, is a term applied to any offense other than a felony. Prosecution for a misdemeanor is generally by information and not by indictment, and persons found guilty are generally punished by fine or imprisonment in a prison other than a state penitentiary.

Ergo... the DC jail will be just fine.

Let us not go forth with our nickers in a knot. I am sure that contempt of congress is off the table for Ms Pelosi. What would happen to our way of governing if any appointees or elected officials were held to account for their actions or inactions.

The Democratic leadership has indeed seemingly folded on just about everything, except battles they cannot win, like SCHIP redux. Giving the Dems the benefit of the doubt, there has to be some gameplan here, some bigger battle they're saving up for. Anyone want to hazard a guess?

Threat of punishement is a deterent -- for most, including those who lack the moral integrity to do what's right because it's right, rather than because there is punishment if one doesn't.

But not all are deterred -- thus we have prisons.

"Libertarians," of course, hold the view that if laws didn't exist, there wouldn't be any laws to violate, therefore everything one does would be classified as "freedom". And laws would be unnecessary anyone, because humans, being perfect, would readily and always accept personal responsibility for their actions, and always act in accordance with the Golden Rule.

As for the crap bashing of Democrats for "folding": there is wisdom in keeping one's powder dry. There is an election coming up, and as Republicans have shown with their political prosecutions for the crime of being a Democrat, scandal trials before elections tend to affect how the voters vote.

Politics is the art of the possible. The worst thing Grandma Nancy could have done is to bring this contempt citation to a vote and lose. The balance of power in the House are the conservative democrats (or at least those who represent conservative districts.)The thing now most important I think for the Democrats to to insure strong control in 2008. Perhaps this group had the feeling earlier that voting for censure was still too risky in their districts.

Now I think that the emotions of the rightwing base have left Bush and are pinned on the several primary candidates.

Glad they're right on top of this one!