Even Some in G.O.P. Call for More Oversight of Bush

[CShine]

Members of Congress have a proud tradition of asking witnesses tough questions at famous inquiries like the Watergate and Iran-contra hearings. Now the Iraqi prison abuse scandal has some lawmakers asking a hard question of themselves: What doesn't Congress know and why doesn't it know it?

The disclosures about the treatment of detainees, coupled with complaints from some quarters about the Bush administration's handling of antiterrorism money, have ignited a debate over whether Congress is keeping a close enough eye on the White House and staying adequately informed on developments in Iraq.

Democrats, not surprisingly, think much more scrutiny is necessary and have been complaining for months that the Republican leadership in Congress is refusing to hold its allies in the administration accountable on a range of subjects. Now even some Republicans say they worry that Congress is abdicating its oversight responsibility.

"I believe our failure to do proper oversight has hurt our country and the administration," said Representative Christopher Shays, a Connecticut Republican who traveled to Iraq to get a view of the situation outside administration control. "Maybe they wouldn't have gotten into some of this trouble had our oversight been better."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/31/politics/31cong.html

[LoneStarLiberal]

1. Low Numbers Are Starting To Hinder Re-Election

They're getting worried about their re-election bids in November...

[PaDUer]

2. They already know

what they're going to do so the elections do not take place. They do NOT care about the citizens.

[Barrett808]

3. Jebbie: "The people of San Francisco are an endangered species" n/t

[skooooo]

4. Oh come on...

..they can't stop the elections . The constitution wouldn't allow it.

[tlcandie]

5. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing here .. I have my own opinions ..

BUT I would like for someone here to state ALL the things that our constitution does NOT allow which have already been broken in these 4 years, please to help open some eyes.

[jdj]

6. Without oversight, the constitution is just a old piece of

paper. Look at the iran/contra thing. These folks have NO respect for the law of the land, their only law is might (and money) makes right, and they consider themselves a ruling class that knows what's best for everybody, probably a divine right of kings thing, where they figure God gave them the money and power to run everyone else's life, so they might as well take that power. This is what democracy is has to defend against by having engaged and involved people keeping reigns on the segments of society that try to consolidate power and rule everyone else, and so republicans are generally opposed to democracy because it is bad for their bottom line. Which is why they paste over their misdeeds with alot of flags and yellow ribbons and pseudo-patriotism.

Anyway, I totally agree, except it isn't just the last four years, it's the republican party m.o.and s.o.p. to exploit the constitution and the U.S. govt. as a means to an end, that end being money and power. All their piety and psuedo-patriotism are just marketing concepts to achieve mind-control over enough people so that they can appear to win elections honestly.

[Just Me]

12. I believe you pegged the cabal in a nice little nutshell, there, jdjkkse.

Seriously, these power-house politicos do operate exactly like any polished con artist,...except they sell intangible "principles" and "notions" and "ideals". They completely undermine not only the constitution and the possibility of a healthy democracy but also draw out the worst in people while simultaneously diminishing the best in them.

On the most basic, fundamental level,...I have learned that the concentration of wealth and/or power always proves to be the absolute greatest danger to humanity.

[Nevernose]

15. Ecellent Summary

I agree with "Just Me" -- that's an excellent summary of modern day (and medieval) conservative politics.

[wildmanj]

7. what constitution

we are down to raw power and not a democrat in sight who would go head to head and toe to toe with this power----government of, by, and, for the corporations now--sorry but that is what happens when citizens pretend that elections do not affect them

[TrogL]

8. They already did

The US is already in the grips of a right-wing coup that started in 2000.

BBV should take care of the 2004 elections.

[calimary]

9. These thugs have reduced the Constitution to a mere floor mat on which

they wipe their shoes every hour on the hour. If the Constitution forbade something and they disagreed, they'd say - so WHAT? Then they'd proceed anyway, mentioning "war on terror" and "9/11" in every sentence of their announcement.

They've already turned their noses up at the Constitution multiple times. Why would they let its election protections stop them?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Chief Justice Scalia is on the record

Elections can be stopped in time of war

[Zhade]

14. The Constitution doesn't allow a lot of what these triators have done.

What's your point?

They stole their way into power in the first place - what makes you think they're going to give up power willingly?

[struggle4progress]

16. The Constitution is a piece of paper. eom

[TankLV]

18. The Constitution doesn't allow for the selection 2000, either, nor

the Patriot Act that changes the Bill of Rights, but that hasn't stopped anyone.

Only bunkerboy is sole arbitor as to who is and who is not a US Citizen.

We could list countless examples since 2000.

[proud patriot]

10. About friggin time

:think:

[kentuck]

13. 800 American deaths later and tens of thousands of Iraqis ??

A day late and way too short. Obviously realize that the election is nearing and lookin for a way to CYA...

[struggle4progress]

17. All children need adult supervision.

[UTUSN]

19. Kick for "Oh Wonderful Enlightenment of Life I Adore You"

or what was thaqt Madelaine KAHN song?

[Disturbed]

20. Democracy is an illusion.

Amerika has been an Plutocracy for many years. Republicans and Democrats pretend otherwise.


Plutocracy -- Government by the wealthy; a ruling class of wealthy people

I would like to say no, but any sort of look at Washington will tell you different. Our current administration is pretty much made up of wealthy corporate executives, both friends of the President and his father. Almost the second coming of the first Bush Administration in some areas. Wealthy, what is wealthy? Up here in Northern Minnesota, those that have their farm or home paid for are about close as we get to wealthy.

There are a few local business men that we think are wealthy, but none of them have that extra ten thousand dollars that George Bush wanted, to get a picture taken with him as he toured Minnesota, one day this week. Vice President Dick Cheney was reported to make 37 million dollars his last year before running for office. So up here he would be real wealthy. Most of those in the Senate have a few million. Paul Wellstone, our Senior Senator's best paying job ever is his job as a Senator, so he would not be wealthy. Many of the people that work for our government in Washington, would, just with their government jobs, be wealthy with that pay up here. It does depend on where you live when we determine wealth. We have clean water, no crime, peace and quiet, and good soil with few pollutants. So I guess we are wealthy too.


http://www.jamesglaser.org/2002/p20020716.html