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Today's Must Read
Things just aren't what they used to be.
Nowadays, hardly an arbitrary exertion of executive power goes by without examination. Fire eight U.S. attorneys at once, and Congress starts asking questions. Commute the sentence of your former aide who was convicted of lying to protect senior administration officials and within a week, there's a hearing. Even your off-the-record email system is exposed, so that now there might be a record of Karl Rove's communications.
The White House is not happy, as spokesman Scott Stanzel made clear during yesterday's press briefing. Clearly, the Democratic Congress is in some sort of oversight frenzy, cross-eyed and foaming at the mouth, issuing subpoenas every waking hour:
I would note that we do get a lot of inquiries from the Hill. They've launched over 300 investigations, had over 350 requests for documents and interviews...And they have had over 600 oversight hearings in just about 100 days -- so that's about six oversight hearings a day. And we've turned over 200,000 pages of documents as an administration.
It's just no fun being in power any more.
Of course, Democrats, with characteristic skepticism, question the White House's numbers:
Democrats were dubious of the figures but did not offer their own."His numbers are as faulty as the intelligence they used to make their case for war," said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
"In the last six years, all they've had is a rubber-stamp Congress. Since January, Democrats have demanded accountability, a change of course and transparency," Manley said.
Full transcript below.
From yesterday's briefing:
Q The House Judiciary Committee has given the White House until 10:00 a.m. Monday to explain its basis for invoking executive privilege. How is the White House going to respond to that?MR. STANZEL: Well, we always respond appropriately to the inquiries. I would note that we do get a lot of inquiries from the Hill. They've launched over 300 investigations, had over 350 requests for documents and interviews --
Q Since January?
MR. STANZEL: Since taking over, yes. And they have had over 600 oversight hearings in just about 100 days -- so that's about six oversight hearings a day. And we've turned over 200,000 pages of documents as an administration. And in that time, what they have to show for it, if you're taking a generous look at it, is six bills -- six major bills passed.
We'll always respond appropriately, and look forward to reviewing that letter, but I guess I would raise those issues because it raises the question, what does Congress want to do -- do they want to pass legislation for the American people or would they rather investigate and have politics be the course of the day?
Q Does that mean that -- when you say you will respond appropriately, does that mean that you'll meet the 10:00 a.m. deadline?
MR. STANZEL: I haven't seen that letter, so we'll take a look at it and see what they're asking for. And I'm sure the Counsel's Office will have a response in due time.
Q And by your earlier response, are you suggesting that the Congress is too zealous in its oversight, excessive?
MR. STANZEL: Well, I would say they have a lot to show in terms of activity and requests and letter writing, and that sort of thing, but not much to show in the way of real legislation, whether it's legislation on health care, education, comprehensive immigration reform -- all of those things are important issues that we think the American people care about and would like to see Congress move forward on.
Comments (57)
Crust wrote on July 6, 2007 9:52 AM:Re "had over 350 requests for documents and interviews":
I can certainly believe that statistic, since Democrats have had to make requests for the same documents and interviews over and over again.
Anonymous wrote on July 6, 2007 9:54 AM:Very, very, very tiny violins. I'm sure Bill Clinton is crying with you George.
elliottness wrote on July 6, 2007 9:58 AM:Look over there: Shiny
Mmmmm.... Pretty Shiny Stuff
Oh good, American Idol is on... Vote Now!
Mark wrote on July 6, 2007 9:58 AM:Like ol' James Brown said...
Talkin' Loud and Sayin' Nothin'.
Shut up, mouthpiece.
TheraP wrote on July 6, 2007 10:01 AM:Repubs = Pity Party!
plane wrote on July 6, 2007 10:02 AM:We care about the Iraq war, accountability and our national dignity.
David Dobson wrote on July 6, 2007 10:04 AM:Congress is very busy doing nothing, is the story they are pushing here. Will it stick? Or will it backfire and the message be that Congress is working very hard at oversight and the white house is stonewalling?
James wrote on July 6, 2007 10:04 AM:Nevermind that Immigration was shot down by their own party, or that some of those six bills that have passed were the spending and budget business that the previous Republican Congress refused to pass as part of their scorched earth policy upon losing the majority.
200K pages of documents? Maybe, but how many of those 'pages' were filled with repeated bits of email chains that often contained only a sentence or two of new data.
And so on, and so on....
RandyBastard wrote on July 6, 2007 10:08 AM:The reason most legislation fails in congress these days is because of Republican obstructionism. They've been very successful, especially in the Senate, at blocking anything and everything.
So, throw that back in their faces.
theWalrus wrote on July 6, 2007 10:08 AM:The Executive Branch has usurped the power of the Legislative Branch. Democracy in America is OVER. The noble experiment has failed.
Don wrote on July 6, 2007 10:09 AM:Why don't any reporters challenge the administration spokesmen's claims that Dems haven't passed any significant legislation by noting the Republic (sic) party has used legislative tricks to stonewall the legislation?
Anonymous wrote on July 6, 2007 10:10 AM:The reason most legislation fails in congress these days is because of Republican obstructionism. They've been very successful, especially in the Senate, at blocking anything and everything.
So, throw that back in their faces.
Don wrote on July 6, 2007 10:12 AM:And by the way, the tricks they've been using are the same ones they derided Dems for even thinking about using when they (Republics (sic)) were in power!
Bert wrote on July 6, 2007 10:17 AM:Rupubs=Pity Party!
Instead, how'bout: Repubs=itreason!
jhill123 wrote on July 6, 2007 10:20 AM:Why doesn't the Democratic leadership mention that they are trying to pass legislation, but obstructionist Republicans block every step of the process with the threat of filibuster? It's reported in the news that the proposals didn't pass committee because it didn't get 60 votes, but that isn't calling it what it is, filibuster.
John wrote on July 6, 2007 10:25 AM:We need Republicans to keep saying stuff like that!
"They've launched over 300 investigations, had over 350 requests for documents and interviews --
"Since taking over, yes. And they have had over 600 oversight hearings in just about 100 days -- so that's about six oversight hearings a day."
That's a Democratic ad right there!
TCinLA wrote on July 6, 2007 10:26 AM:As a friend of mine said yesterday of our heat wave out here in Los Angeles: "I was sweating like a subpeonaed Republican..."
biggerbox wrote on July 6, 2007 10:31 AM:"Did I say 600 hearings in 100 days? No, I meant ... 900 hearings in 9 days! Yeah, that's the ticket. They even subpoenaed my wife, Morgan Fairchild."
-- Statement by White House Spokesman Tommy Flannagan
Jane wrote on July 6, 2007 10:39 AM:Maybe, just maybe, this is due to the backlog of uninvestigated crimes which exists because the Republican majorities performed no oversight what so ever?
If the 'Publican Party had performed due diligence in Congress they wouldn't now have the Abranoff flu.
davis13 wrote on July 6, 2007 10:46 AM:Yeah, yeah! That's the ticket!!
kentuck wrote on July 6, 2007 10:46 AM:It appears that the Democrats need to get more serious with these investigations. The White House is still not taking them seriously. They need to issue more subpoenas and put more pressure on the criminals that are successfully withholding information from the people..
P J Evans wrote on July 6, 2007 10:48 AM:Gee, and here I was thinking that Congress was supposed to be doing oversight on the executive branch.
Oh, wait. That's in that quaint document known as the Constitution, and the Cheney Administration changed all that, as part of their reqriting of reality.
(cue the sad violin music during the pressers)
georgeinpA wrote on July 6, 2007 10:51 AM:It is long past time for expecting any sort of compliance with "rule of law" or standard of professional conduct with this TOTALLY criminal operation. It is time for indictments, as many as are needed to cripple the function of this administration. NOTHING good for the country or it's people will EVER come from these people, and the best way to minimize the damage they can do is tie them up on every level, and proceed with multiple impeachments. There is nothing else to say.
Beth wrote on July 6, 2007 11:04 AM:If the Repubs wish to be obstructionists then the Dems need to stay in session and let them fillibuster on tv day after day after day so the American public sees who it is doing the obstructing. Just 'throwing in the towel' allows the Repubs to use this argument about things not getting done. I say we stop throwing in the towel and let the public see them in action.
litigatormom wrote on July 6, 2007 11:06 AM:All I have to say to Scott Stanzel is boo fucking hoo.
bobh wrote on July 6, 2007 11:08 AM:boo hoo george.
Xman wrote on July 6, 2007 11:14 AM:Does anyone else finally sense a slight heartbeat in the WH press corps? Now, if we can build on that and turn it into a feeding frenzy.......
or am I just an eternal idiot for being eternally hopeful?
Anonymous wrote on July 6, 2007 11:18 AM:Is Pete Dominici, of "phone call to Iglesias" fame and up for reelection in '08, running scared? (click on name)
Word of his cowardly action should be plastered all over New Mexico from now until November '08.
Dabb wrote on July 6, 2007 11:24 AM:And what did the 109th Congress do? Why didn't they pass all this important legislation? Oh yeah, I know. They took time off.
Just don't understand why these reporters don't ask the really important questions. Why don't they stand up against these sarcastic/non-responses?
And the "Clinton did it" response is getting very old. I sense that when this administration uses this cliche everyone is beginning to realize the administration is just avoiding a truthful response. This administration doesn't know what truth is.
SamD wrote on July 6, 2007 11:25 AM:Forget legislation. Right now, the congress needs to be in oversight mode.
Snow, Stanzel, Perino, Now those are jobs I wouldn't want to put up with.
madmatt wrote on July 6, 2007 11:33 AM:Now what we need is a list of how many sessions were held and paperwork provided in the previous 6 years and ask him about that?
Jake wrote on July 6, 2007 11:37 AM:Try to have a Happy Birthday anyway, Mr. President.
Slippery Slope wrote on July 6, 2007 11:47 AM:It would be interesting to see these statistics:
* Number of oversight hearings conducted by the Republican Congress during Clinton's eight years
* Number of oversight hearings conducted by the Republican Congress during Bush's first six years in office.
* Number of documents requested and received from Clinton's administration.
* Number of documents requested and received from Bush's administration prior to January 2007.
* Number of indicted / convicted executive branch agency officials under Clinton's eight years
* Number of indicted / convicted executive branch agency officials under Bush's six years and counting
I agree with what was said upstream, this ad just writes itself.
Use these numbers to highlight the prior Republican lead congress’ complicit, rubberstamp, cheerleading and participation in destruction of Constitutional protections and corporate gouging of America.
Then add something like, “The Republican’s say if you have nothing to hide, why would you mind giving up your right to privacy?”
The American people see through this. They know the level of corruption under this administration and the Republican lead congress.
THANKS MR. STANZEL!
David Iglesias wrote on July 6, 2007 11:47 AM:Is Pete Dominici running scared? (click on name)
Darryl Luckett wrote on July 6, 2007 11:51 AM:If the administration had been more forecoming
Gordon wrote on July 6, 2007 11:57 AM:and open, their would be no need for hearings
Only 6 bills, while the GOP minority in the Senate has been using cloture votes at over 6 times the rate that the Dems did in the prior sessions. And the one time the Dems used a common move the GOP used constantly when in the majority, we had hours of GOP Senators going "boo hoo, you're not playing fair" on TV.
But Suzanne Malveaux, Candy Crowley will reliably parrot all the GOP talking points.
JNagarya wrote on July 6, 2007 12:03 PM:We need Republicans to keep saying stuff like that!
"They've launched over 300 investigations, had over 350 requests for documents and interviews --
"Since taking over, yes. And they have had over 600 oversight hearings in just about 100 days -- so that's about six oversight hearings a day."
[And nearly all have been stonewalled by the Republicans.]
That's a Democratic ad right there!
Posted by: John
topsight wrote on July 6, 2007 12:05 PM:Date: July 6, 2007 10:25 AM
The BBC reporters go right for the throat, the press briefing reporters go right for the cream puffs (wouldn't wanna be blacklisted from the snack table.)Whatever happened to real investigative reporters and real press secretaries?
poetry wrote on July 6, 2007 12:10 PM:Republican Congressman Dan Burton, alone, as then-chairman of the chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, issued more than 1,000 subpoenas to President Clinton and Clinton administration officials.
- - - - - - -
Burton handed out subpoenas like candy. He subpoenaed 141 different Clintonites. He held hearings — for 10 days — on the Clintons’ Christmas card list. In one instance, Burton was so reckless, he subpoenaed the wrong man (looking for someone with a similar name). In another instance, Burton fired a bullet into a “head-like object” — reportedly a melon — in his backyard to test the theory that former White House counsel Vincent Foster was murdered (this from the man who is now warning against “sensational disclosures”).
And now Burton is worried about Dems going too far? When Waxman gets close to 1,052 subpoenas, then we’ll talk.
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/10480.html
- - - - - - -
And that was just one of the Republican-controlled House committees handing out subpoenas to Clinton officials.
Redshift wrote on July 6, 2007 12:10 PM:So, if I'm the subject of an investigation, can I just give them whatever boxes of papers I choose and tell them they should be satisfied with that, instead of the ones they're asking for? Or does that only work for Republicans?
JNagarya wrote on July 6, 2007 12:22 PM:"It appears that the Democrats need to get more serious with these investigations."
Subpoenas are as serious as a heart attack. Against the reality that 2/3 of the Federal judicary was appointed by Republicans. It requires intelligence and deliberation -- cuation -- to determine how to proceed if one wants to succeed.
And it isn't up to the Democrats; it is up to the CONGRESS to fulfill Congress' obligation to oversee the Executive. Demanding that the Democrats, whose "majority" in the Senate is largely illusion, must do all that you demand despite the impossibility of doing so is dumb and unfair.
"The White House is still not taking them seriously."
That isn't the fault of Congress.
"They need to issue more subpoenas and put more pressure on the criminals that are successfully withholding information from the people."
They need to issue subpoenas that are based upon and supported by hard evidence, and only when that is the porper action.
Posted by: kentuck
Date: July 6, 2007 10:46 AM
--------------------------------------------------
It is long past time for expecting any sort of compliance with "rule of law" or standard of professional conduct with this TOTALLY criminal operation. It is time for indictments, as many as are needed to cripple the function of this administration. NOTHING good for the country or it's people will EVER come from these people, and the best way to minimize the damage they can do is tie them up on every level, and proceed with multiple impeachments. There is nothing else to say.
Posted by: georgeinpA
Date: July 6, 2007 10:51 AM
And who do you propose do the "indictments"? And from whence do the votes to debate impeachment, let alone actually do it, come from?
--------------------------------------------------
". . . . Just 'throwing in the towel' allows the Repubs to use this argument about things not getting done. I say we stop throwing in the towel and let the public see them in action."
Aggressive multiple oversight investigations and subpoenas in the face of stonewalling are "throwing in the towel"!?
Posted by: Beth
davis13 wrote on July 6, 2007 12:24 PM:Date: July 6, 2007 11:04 AM
"Or does that only work for Republicans?"
davis13 wrote on July 6, 2007 12:33 PM:Yes.
MR. STANZEL: "Well, I would say they have a lot to show in terms of activity and requests and letter writing, and that sort of thing, but not much to show in the way of real legislation, whether it's legislation on health care, education, comprehensive immigration reform -- all of those things are important issues that we think the American people care about and would like to see Congress move forward on."
God damned Republican obstructionists. haha.
Hey, rightwinkies, remember when John McCain warned fellow pubes that they should treat Democrats better because they could regain power some day? Republicans treated them like sheit and now they whine and cry. Fuck them like they've never been fucked before. Sound familiar?
Waaaahhhhhh!!!!!!
donviti wrote on July 6, 2007 12:39 PM:you have to give these aholes credit, they polled someone somewhere and know what they are doing by pushing back with numbers.
Even if they aren't right the American public is going to wonder wtf they are doing all this and not passing any laws or changing anything.
they are good at misdirection and the general public wont catch on like bloggers do. They will think "Hey, that is a lot, what have they found out? Who has been fired?, Why haven't they been passing laws and stuff?"
of course not realizing that Bush and his boyz have been stalling, selecting what they give and doing everything under the sun to undermine the new majority.
God I can't stand these guys...and the press that laps this shi#$ up!
jrcjr wrote on July 6, 2007 12:41 PM:so... they issue subpoenas, the subpoenas are ignored, criminal charges are filed, and then the president pardons his staffers.
anyone imagine that could turn out differently?
Jake wrote on July 6, 2007 12:47 PM:poetry:
At the rate they are going, Waxman and the rest of the Dems would have long ago passed Burton's record. I guess, thankfully, they only got started this year. Are you also suggesting Congress pull a Gingrich-style government shutdown too? I thought two wrongs don't make a right?
Charles Bowman wrote on July 6, 2007 12:49 PM:Only three hundred investigations! There must be that many Republican zebras already grazing in the Federal Pens even before accountability arrived! It seems to me that the foibles of the CIA alone deserve that much scrutiny. Much of the Iraq war and its incessant and all pervasive corruption is beyond scrutiny only because the limited resources available to pursue it! The pigs that ate America may have fallen from power, but they are still guilty as hell, and worthy of our contempt, our investigations, and our citation of their evils in a history of American renewal!
MaryAnn wrote on July 6, 2007 1:01 PM:I hope Congress wants to investigate the Executive Office for the American people.
westcoaster wrote on July 6, 2007 1:25 PM:"The BBC reporters go right for the throat, the press briefing reporters go right for the cream puffs (wouldn't wanna be blacklisted from the snack table.)Whatever happened to real investigative reporters and real press secretaries?"
Many White House reporters are media stars, they don't want to embarrass their employers or the Oval Office.
DGOQ wrote on July 6, 2007 1:27 PM:Let's see.
600 Oversight hearings
350 Requests for Documents
300 Investigations
6 1/2 years
Equals
92 Oversight hearings per year
53 Requests for Documents per year
46 Investigations per year
Not a bad average for oversight on any administration.
scorpio13 wrote on July 6, 2007 2:21 PM:Love your style Davis13!!! My sentiments exactly. More of us need to send the message non stop to Dems in the Congress as well as the Presidential contenders that they need to "stay on message". The more I investigate the more I see how corrupt this whole bunch of criminals is. Truly REVOLTING!
Dave Adams wrote on July 6, 2007 3:38 PM:I'd love to see this respos from eith Harry Reid or nancy Pelosi:
"Tell you what- you guys stop breaking the god-damned law, and we'll stop investigating you.
The Oracle wrote on July 6, 2007 7:18 PM:-Deal?-"
Another crooked spokesman for an utterly contemptible and crooked administration.
docholliday wrote on July 7, 2007 11:01 AM:Bush/Cheney/Rove have been in office for six plus years?
Sounds like the legislature has only scratched the surface of the corruption to be found.
They should redouble their efforts.
Anonymous wrote on July 7, 2007 12:23 PM:"Why don't any reporters challenge the administration spokesmen's claims that Dems haven't passed any significant legislation by noting the Republic (sic) party has used legislative tricks to stonewall the legislation?
Posted by: Don"
Great point, but that would require a depth of comprehension just one layer too deep for these American-Idol era Americans.
Ain't democracy great! In a REAL democracy, you can pick your favorite budding young artist and send them on their way to fame, fortune and, inevitably, Betty Ford's clinic.
But to put the mental effort into understanding something like the Republican's pernicious, under-the-covers legislative chess game is more than these Idol-aters can handle.
John Patterson wrote on July 7, 2007 12:25 PM:"Why don't any reporters challenge the administration spokesmen's claims that Dems haven't passed any significant legislation by noting the Republic (sic) party has used legislative tricks to stonewall the legislation?
Posted by: Don"
Great point, but that would require a depth of comprehension just one layer too deep for these American-Idol era Americans.
Ain't democracy great! In a REAL democracy, you can pick your favorite budding young artist and send them on their way to fame, fortune and, inevitably, Betty Ford's clinic.
But to put the mental effort into understanding something like the Republican's pernicious, under-the-covers legislative chess game is more than these Idol-aters can handle.
Jane wrote on July 9, 2007 11:32 PM:Something has gotten the attention of the American Public who wish to see Cheney impeached and Bush gone.
The MSM has its' failings and for some of the public, politics does not rise to the level of spectator sport but something is working: Americans are beginning to wise up to the 'Publican Party which is responding by becoming the Pity Party.
Oh, dear it's close to Bush's Birthday. Let's wish him a happy birthday. His Mom told young women graduating from college that they would remember time spent with their family far more than time spent at the office. Resign and Relax, George. Spend more time with Condi -- OOPS, I meant Laura
Forgive me, the security code was rice.