Comments (18)

Anonymous wrote on August 2, 2007 10:50 AM:

Someone help me out here. What is the purpose of these hearings? Is it only to embarrass the Republicans? To they plan to do anything, anything with the information?

Phli wrote on August 2, 2007 10:57 AM:

I wouldn't sign a question like that either.

bobh wrote on August 2, 2007 10:59 AM:

Orrin Hatch = Bush Whore

phil wrote on August 2, 2007 11:06 AM:

Could someone help no-name out? After 2 years of persecuting the Cletus for (shocking I know) perjury over a knobjob, all of a sudden they're not familiar withn what constitutes perjury.....simply amazing.

JP wrote on August 2, 2007 11:14 AM:

I think something that needs to be pointed out is that many, many emails were destroyed by the GOP "side" email accounts and the WH -- as such, the WH's claims of executive privilege (while legitimate to a degree [not legitimate to not show up, though]) get trumped by their bad acts. I hope this claim of executive privilege gets challenged in court. It is FAR too overbroad.

Becca wrote on August 2, 2007 11:15 AM:

The republicans embarrass themselves just fine without the help of dems, thank yew very much.

We just like to point it out.

Austin Cooper wrote on August 2, 2007 11:15 AM:

The hearing goes on because Fat Karl is flipping off the United States Of America, through the perons of our elected representatives in Congress.

Whether any action is taken or not, I think Senator Leahy wants other people to *see* the fact that Tubby isn't there.

2sick2bother wrote on August 2, 2007 11:17 AM:

I cannot stomach the "I cannot recall" response from one more "testifying" white house employee. Jennings is now able to say "I cannot recall"? It is no wonder that Americans are SICKO

asdf wrote on August 2, 2007 11:17 AM:

The purpose is strictly for entertainment value

DiFi Fan wrote on August 2, 2007 11:23 AM:

How about a bio on Scott Jennings? I haven't read anything about his background to date anywhere online.

Cityoen 92 wrote on August 2, 2007 11:25 AM:

Umm, maybe someone might like to ask if Jennings was coached by Rove for today's tesimony?

Maybe someone would like to ask about the Jane Cherry issue?

A DC Wonk wrote on August 2, 2007 11:31 AM:

Jennings was the one who breifed Lurita Doan at GSA, right?

Jennings also used RNC accounts when discussing the firing of the Ark USA, right?

So, it seems to me that there's plenty to ask about.

Cityoen 92 wrote on August 2, 2007 11:32 AM:

Glad to have you back DiFi.

We may have to have a look at Jennings. I think he started out as quite a novice and got over his head. He got started in Kentucky politics, then ran the state for Bush-Cheney. Then in '04, New Mexico.

He openly posted a few classified-style ads about political appointee openings in the Bush Administration using his GWB43.com address in 2006.

You'll recall it was his sloppiness with the GWB43.com address that we learned about that whole system.

JGabriel wrote on August 2, 2007 11:33 AM:

noname/anon: "What is the purpose of these hearings? Is it only to embarrass the Republicans? To [sic] they plan to do anything, anything with the information?"

The purpose is *oversight*. It's one of Congress's functions. To oversee, hold hearings, ask questions of the heads of, the various departments in the federal bureaucracy.

This serves several functions. For instance, it gives Congress the information needed to: make funding decisions; ensure that legislative intent is met; identify areas of concern for further legislation; and identify corruption and lawbreaking within the bureaucracy and administration.

Sorry if this seems obvious to you, but ask a condescending, get a condescending answer.

Anyway, as to what Congress - and is there any reason why you refer to the legislative branch only as 'they'? - plans to do with the information, that's difficult to know until we get the information. That's why there are laws against refusing to provide the information and why Congess needs to investigate and pursue people who refuse, even if -- especially if -- they are in the White House.

Hackistan wrote on August 2, 2007 11:45 AM:

Couldn't resist, but I have to wonder if I'm the first person to refer to Rove as 'Hot Karl Rove'.

Security code 'white' as in not the colour of young Mr. Jennings' undershorts.

dm wrote on August 2, 2007 11:54 AM:

I thought the exchange between Sen. Schumer and Mr. Jennings about the breakfast with the New Mexico guys was telling. Schumer asked quite specifically why the details of the breakfast were not privileged while the details of the meeting with Monica Goodling after the breakfast were. Jennings' lawyer all but admitted that the difference between the breakfast and subsequent meeting was that the subsequent meeting related to the firing of a US Attorney while the breakfast was purely social. This seems pretty damning, and I wonder if the White House considered before invoking the privilege that the nature of the questions for which the privilege would be applied could implictly demonstrate impropriety (at least to the public, I suppose not in a court).

Richard L. Adlof wrote on August 2, 2007 2:32 PM:

_ @ August 2, 2007 10:50 AM,

The purpose is OVERSIGHT. Overisght is a duty assigned to Congress in the Constitution.

I recognize that between Reagan and Bush 43's efforts to wipe out education . . . especially 'Civics' that you may not have heard about the Constitution . . . BUT you can buy a copy of it at any Barnes & Noble or Borders . . . Hell if you write your Congress person, their office will send you a copy for FREE. As a good capitalist, I reccommend that you plork down your $4.95 plus tax to help stimulate the ecomony . . . but the choice is up to you.

Jane wrote on August 2, 2007 4:36 PM:

Executive privilege is to protect advice to the President. Oversight in part is to give Congress the power to see that laws it passes are implemented during the administration of a Department. When a political advisor like Rove oversteps his bounds and starts administering parts of a department, the privilege should no longer apply. Do we know whether that happened or not? Well, nobody has been able to find administrative records the DOJ is required to keep concerning the firings while there are quite a lot of RNC emails gone missing. Rove is not just advising, he is conducting government admnistration outside of the purview of oversight.