House Forms Special Panel Over Alleged Stolen Vote

[cal04]

Source: Washington Post

GOP Assails Decision on Food Aid for Immigrants
The House last night unanimously agreed to create a special select committee, with subpoena powers, to investigate Republican allegations that Democratic leaders had stolen a victory from the House GOP on a parliamentary vote late Thursday night.

The move capped a remarkable day that started with Republicans marching out of the House in protest near midnight Thursday, was punctuated by partisan bickering, and ended with Democratic hopes for a final legislative rush fading. Even a temporary blackout of the House chamber's vote tally board led to suspicions and accusations of skullduggery.

While Democratic leaders hoped to leave for their August recess on a wave of legislative successes, the House instead slowed to an acrimonious crawl that threatened to stretch the legislative session into next week.

The agreement to form a special committee was extraordinary. Such powerful investigative committees are usually reserved for issues such as the Watergate scandal and the funneling of profits from Iranian arms sales to the Nicaraguan contras in the 1980s.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/03/AR2007080300878.html?hpid=topnews

[Peggy Day]

1. What? They can't investigate anybody but Democrats!

I just give up.

[Arugula Latte]

2. I saw the headline and got excited that they were going to investigate Ohio, Florida, N.M., etc.

But Nooooooooooooooooooooo.

What utter bullshit.

[NI4NI]

3. 3 members of each party to be selected.

hmmm......I quess that will settle it
(sarcasm)

[1monster]

4. There should be a new rule in the House (and Senate if they have the same sort of

problem): Once time is up, no one can change their votes. Period.

In fact, once a vote is cast and recorded, no one should be allowed to change it.

Democrats appeared to have won the vote, but with the voting time apparently having expired, GOP leaders persuaded three Latino Republicans who had voted with the Democrats to change their votes. At the same time, Democrats say, five Democratic lawmakers who had voted with Republicans were scrambling to change their votes as well. With two of the GOP votes changed, Democrats gaveled the vote shut, 214 to 214, and declared that they had won. But the public tally showed that the Republicans had won, 215 to 213, just as the vote was declared for the Democrats. The official final tally was 216 to 212 in the Democrats' favor.

[momster]

5. *This* they've got time for?

What happened to all that 'we can't impeach nobody 'cause we don't have the time' crap? So the Republicans got their widdle feelings hurt and they've got time to investigate. What about the important 'people's business' they were all gung-ho about last week? Just flushed, I guess.

[rosesaylavee]

6. EXACTLY.

Let's assuage the feelings of the repugs - they sure would have done the same last year, right? We'll take time out for this sh*t but let's make sure we don't waste the American taxpayers money trying to impeach the criminals who have taken our country.

Just crap.

[clixtox]

7. Slowly Sinking In?

Getting frustrated? Are you thinking that no one actually represents you in DC?

After years of hearing opinions stating that there wasn't much practical difference between the two major political parties, the sad truth of that theory is becoming so painfully obvious that it is going to be more and more difficult to bottle this reality back up and obscure or hide it again.

The mere reality that the Democratic leadership(?) is completely unwilling to even entertain the idea of impeachment starkly reveals their complete complicity in the ongoing war crimes and anti-democratic goals of our fascist overseers in both parties.

Even on this DU site, which is here for those wanting to express fawning approval of all things "Democratic", there are more and more posters realizing that they have been bamboozled and their party loyalty exploited. Taking the Democratic Parties "base" voters for granted for decades, there is no reason to actually represent those who elected them. Why? Are they going to bolt the Democratic Party and start to vote with the Republicans? Not bloody likely!

Since the first rule/tactic used to maintain this phony facade is to relentlessly demonize any third party that might appeal to the Democratic "base". Democrats who have been more or less blind adherents, previously unaware or willing to overlook all of the mounting evidence of connivance, cooperation, and complicity. Both parties are strengthened when the threshold for being allowed to participate in "debates" excludes those not endorsed by our despotic rulers in both major parties.

Who are you going to believe? Them, your "political leaders" or your lying eyes and ears? Your own brain or those who prefer that you don't think "outside the box"?

Who are the elected representatives in Washington DC that you believe "have your back"?

How long would your list be of politicians that you now trust to do "the right thing" when the chips were on the table?

I can only think of two off the top of my head, Woolsey and Kucinich. I know that there are probably a few more sprinkled through the House of Reps. I only know about Woolsey because I am lucky enough to be living in her district in Sonoma County California. Actually now I am spending most of the time in Vietnam because of the heart breaking, dismal, depressing situation in the USA.

Slipping into darkness...

[momster]

10. Apathy is Our Greatest Enemy

You can claim 'there's no difference between the parties' and slink off to the darkness or the back of beyond or whereever, or you can stay and try your damnedest to elect those people who 'do' make a difference! My rep is Chris Van Hollen...one of the good guys...and I'm proud to say I helped get him re-elected -- Not that it was all that hard...he won 75% of the vote -- and to put O'Malley in the statehouse. The group I worked for also sent assistance to other states to help elect the good guys. When the House becomes even more Democratic seats, this kind of 'go along to get along' crap will, I trust, stop. But to be apathetic, to shrug, to shake one's head in mock disbelief, is useless and against my very fiber. Stop trying to take the heart out of those who believe in the Constitution and the essential goodness of humanity. It won't work -- and you only annoy those of us who do.

[reprobate]

17. Six or seven years ago I spoke those very words that you posted but time has not

been kind to those of us who stuck with the Democrats in power.

Last November I stayed up late to watch the party win big votes for house and Senate seats. We all cheered as the majorities came in and the first thing in the mind of many of us was that finally, now we will see justice applied to the fascist pigs of this administration.

But no. Impeachment is OFF THE TABLE. Even with all that the criminals have done to defile and destroy our nation the Democrat leadership does not stand up to Bush, they just empower him.

The passage last night of the amendment to give him unfettered power to wiretap ANYONE, ANYWHERE is just one example of how close Clixtox has come to the target.

Let me suggest that there is only one reason that the Democrat leadership in power will not stand up to the Elite in Washington: They are PART of that Elite. An incumbent has little chance of losing his seat. Matter of fact, we return more of our congress critters to power than did the Russian Duma, a real example of a one party system. You can google that yourself.

We too have become a one party system. Might as well do away with the isle down the center of both houses. There is really only ONE party, whether you label it Democrat or Republican. It is the party of money. The money of campaign contributions. How we can expect those who represent us to have to beg for money from the wealthy elite to be elected and then not dance to the tune of those that bought them is a question that eludes me. It would seem reasonable to expect an employee (congress critters) to follow the orders of those that pay him (corporations and their management). But our public apparently can't make that connection.

Wasn't it Will Rogers who said "An honest politician is one who STAYS bought"?

I fully agree that apathy leads us nowhere. Having said that I also fully understand those who feel that way. Looking around all I can see is a road to nowhere for my beloved country. Actually it's not a road, it's a death spiral. The branches of government that could check our Monarchy are ineffective in doing so. The Judiciary because they were put in power by the King and his minions and the Legislature because they fear his power and the money of those who put him in charge.

Personally, I intend to support any candidate who is a progressive but not a member of the party power structure. I will support that person with money and time. I fear though, that the performance of the 'new' democrats in congress will dissuade any bright eyed new comer.

As many have said before me, The problem lies not with the people but with the system.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rodeodance]

8. "We are not irrelevant here," said House Minority Whip Roy Blunt

"We are not irrelevant here," said House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). "Just because we are in the minority doesn't mean we're irrelevant."

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Oh did Roy forget that the republics made the Dems irrevelevant

when they held the majority?

Gawd these people just make me want to :puke:

[rodeodance]

9. Pelosi (D-Calif.) accused Republicans of blatant obstructionism.

Anger-driven delaying tactics threw into uncertainty an agenda that was to include important votes on a huge energy bill, a defense spending bill and a terrorism surveillance measure before Congress's departure for its month-long summer recess.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) accused Republicans of blatant obstructionism. "They've just been deluged by the success of the Democrats on behalf of the American people," she said.

After Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (R-N.C.) violated House rules by calling Democrats "cheaters" on the floor, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), a freshman and relative political neophyte, warned her colleagues that their mothers might be watching.

[tom_paine]

11. We couldn't even get an investigation on the theft of THOUSANDS of D-Judiciary

Documents!

And now, this abuse of power to invetsigate a fleabite. All they are looking for is grist for their Bushevik Party-Loyal Sub-Media and lie laundry. That's it. This is absolute bullshit.

You gotta love the irony about the Party of Vote Suppression and Election Fraud crying about how they feel their votes were stolen.

But, ultimately the Democrats caving to the least Bushevik whines is the issue here.

Damn them, I want to believe in them so badly, but they do not, ultimately, seem to be interested in anything but winning in '08.

And ignoring the level of criminality displayed openly and shamelessly by the Royal Bushies as well as their minions, the damned near FULL Sovietization/Bushification of the Executive Branch, is a terrible gamble with literally the future of the entire nation is at stake.

When, in reality, their usual of running away from their base, while the Busheviks at least make some efforts to actually listen to theirs, and they certainly play to them enough, is killing the enthusiasm of the very foot-soldiers who gave them their 65-35% landslide victory that was muted by Bushevik Voter Suppression and other techniques into the "big win" that was observed.

All they had to do was have a little guts and stand UP to these criminals just a LITLLE BIT. I see a lot of smoke and noise, the occasional hopeful gimmer, but in reality when confront with Bushevik obstruction of justice, they fold like a house of cards.

Maybe time will prove me wrong, I certainly hope so. But I do not see it yet.

[Emillereid]

12. Confirms it for me -- this bunch in the House Democratic leadership is stupid.

With these kinds of investigative powers the Repukes are going to have a hay day. Dumb! Dumb!

There should be panels investigating election theft in 2000 and 2006 - and holding impeachment hearings.

[Zorra]

13. Will the committee investigate retroactively, back to when republicans

controlled the House?

I remember numerous instances when republicans held votes open past deadlines until they got their way.

[bearfan454]

14. GOSH DARN IT !

What in the fuck is going on here ? They investigate "this" shit but let treason from the White House go on and on and on ?

This is beyond stupid. Way beyond. These fuckers ARE all in it together.

Conyers and a few others will stand up for the people and do the right thing, but not too many others.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Oh how ridiculous

Are they also going to investigate the stolen election of 2004??

Which is more important? This vote in Congress or a vote of the American people for president??

[Kool Kitty]

19. Thank you. That is what I was going to say.

These bastards stole two fuckin' Presidential elections, this they want investigated? :crazy:

[mvd]

20. Not to mention the stolen election of 2000

Or the way Bush lied to Congress about the Medicare sham. I can't believe we continue to hurt ourselves.