congressional protest: the empty chair

[unblock]

everybody is familiar with the "empty suit" from the corporate world. you know, someone who fills his station but doesn't actually provide any independent contribution. they just go through the motions, fill out paperwork and write stupid memos to look like they're running a department or whatever, but they don't really do any more than just get by, just put up the appearance, and of course boast about "their" accomplishments.

well, next time some house or senate committee chair decides to run some sham hearing, refuse to swear in witnesses, or generally act as a mere mouthpiece for the shrub administration instead of a leader of a co-equal branch of government that's SUPPOSED to provide checks and balances against executive excesses, i'd LOVE to see a democratic congresscritter do the following:

PICK UP A CHAIR AND PLACE IT ON THE TABLE.

announce that this empty chair is a symbol of this committee's empty chair, its supposed leader, who fills his station but doesn't provide any independent contribution. he just goes through the motions, bangs his gavel and makes stupid motions and agendas to LOOK like he's running an investigation or hearing or whatever, but he doesn't really do any more than just get through the exercise, just put up a show, and of course boast about what a great job they're doing and what a great investigation or hearing they just had.