Trey Gowdy’s brilliant questioning makes absolute fool of law professor in IRS hearing

Biz Pac Review ^ | 8/1/2014 | Tom Tillison

[Beave Meister]

At his best Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., made short work of a Democrat-friendly law professor testifying before Congress, even offering him some “free litigation advice.”

The former prosecutor turned congressman was surgical in his questioning of Professor Charles Tiefer, who was brought before the House Judiciary Committee as an expert witness by Democrats — Tiefer has a history of being of service to the Democratic Party, according to The Blaze.

“Professor Tiefer, would you seat a juror who referred to your client as an obscene body part?” Gowdy asked in his opening question.

[Mark17]

The professor had a bad hair day. And then Trey Gowdy lit his ass on fire.

Yes, he made the guy look like a total, complete idiot, but my question is, where do we go from here? When will the rhetoric stop, and the heads start to roll?

[Utilizer]

Also posted here -about nine minutes before yours:

” http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3187976/posts “

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

That is indeterminable, as far as I am concerned. But I lean towards lack of skill as I have watched him (Issa) work several times....each time falling short. I can appreciate both views. But in Issa’s case, I believe it is ego-driven amateurism. Issa, if you read about him, has quite the blue-collar background. He’s enamored of himself and his position and office. In contrast and not even talking about litigation skill, Gowdy is rather self-effacing and even makes fun of himself at times and paints himself as a plain speaking country boy. But boy, he means business. It’s another piece of stark contrast between them.

Litigation questioning, as any good lawyer will tell you, is a fine art and is diametrically opposite to “winging it”. Issa wings it. I happen to know a bunch of lawyers and they all respect Gowdy, their comments are usually along the lines of “that was a skilled piece of lawyering” (referring to a YouTube’d questioning session that I linked them to. We, you and I, amateurs that we are, can see from the results of an Issa session, these holes that he leaves. This is a telltale sign of amateurism.

I’ve actually written Issa and urged him to take questioning lessons from Gowdy, or to have Gowdy prepare something of a question list...but for one, it is not a superficially-learned skill, and 2, Issa really isn’t that much of an intellectual. That’s not meant as an insult, I generally like the guy, but he is unaware that his ego is causing him to think he can pretend to be a lawyer. And in this case it’s potentially very damaging/destructive.

[kevslisababy]

My favorite part!

[Graewoulf]

Give Trey your best rendition of my “All y’all gather in here, it is time to HUNT!” call that goes like this: aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAARLHRLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo - - - - - - - - -

[nathanbedford]

With this skirmish Chairman Trey Gowdy has laid down a marker to all future witnesses: do not come before this committee unprepared or fronting an absurd and illogical position.

The comments which follow the video argue over whether the dustup actually advances the investigation. It has.

First, it has set the ground rules about what will be tolerated from witnesses. I think that announcement should be made that the video of this professor's performance will be made available to every student and every faculty member in his university. Let these academics know that their days of pontificating are over. Come before this committee as a propagandist and you will be publicly humiliated.

Second, Gowdy showed that he will not be interrupted and will not tolerate obstructionism from the Democrats. Again, a procedural observation but absolutely essential to a well ordered proceeding. We have seen what the Democrats will do in order to disrupt the proceedings even resorting to charges of racism. This cannot be tolerated. Gowdy shuts the disruption down in stentorian tones, "you are not recognized!"

Third, Gowdy showed that he will not permit Democrats to set the ground rules or the definitions by which the committee will proceed. Put another way, he will not permit them to structure a hearing that departs from common sense. Leftists, especially academic leftists, often win their arguments by changing definitions. Every trial lawyer knows that if you control the questions you control the answers. Gowdy knows that if you control the definitions you control the answers. This hearing will proceed applying standards for ethical conduct which are rational rather than those contrived for it by this academic.

Fourth, it is likely that this video clip will go viral and be picked up at least by Fox. Gowdy thus draws attention to the committee which the establishment media will seek to avoid. Gowdy's showmanship-yes that's part of his job too-draws attention to the committee's work which the media eventually will have to acknowledge.

Fifth, Gaddy has demonstrated once again that the guy has depth and an ability to think quickly on his feet. He has shown us that he plans his cross examination in advance and knows where he wants to go. He anticipates shenanigans from the other side and is ready to react. In addition to that, he is good at ad lib. and we can have confidence that unlike so many Republicans we have seen in the past Gowdy will conduct these hearings as though he were prosecuting crime and not permit them to disintegrate into Washington farce.

[Ken H]

Here’s some of the exchange => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXbyvFnQ8A0 It’s wicked!

[wildbill]

National reputations have been made in the past during such brilliant and lucid questioning of witnesses.

Gowdy is looking like he is headed for bigger things.

[reasonisfaith]

What about his enemies? When do they draw their last breath?

[catnipman]

I want to see Trey Gowdy as President of the United States as soon as possible. He’s the real deal.

[cpdiii]

Dowdy was "glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife C'mon, hold on tight C'mon, hold on tight"

From Meatloaf's "Bat out of Hell Album." I think the Democrats will think that Gowdy is a Bat out of Hell when this is over.

[varina davis]

Trey Gowdy is the epitome of a Southern gentleman, scholar and defiant rebel. He is definitely presidential material, but the elites will do everything to prevent it.

[tumblindice]

I like Gowdy a lot, but like the professor replying, “I’m trying to make the connection ...”, I wondered about the relevancy of comparing the admittedly foul-mouthed and hyper-partisan Lois Lerner to voi dire, or picking jurors.
If I wanted justice to get a fair shake, would I want her on a jury? No. Huh?
She’s not sitting in any jury box. She’s going to be sitting in front of a table.

[gaijin]

[VanShuyten]

You guys must have been watching a different video. Rep. Gowdy asked some difficult questions, but he didn’t allow the witness to answer.

This video is a wash at the minimum, and a show of bullying as the left will say.

[txhurl]

Oh, they will say that, as they fake heart attacks to avoid Gowdy’s questioning. Look for a lot of RATS to get super sick over the next couple months.

[QT3.14]

Recently saw a very young Trey on one of TV’s Forensic File homicide cases when he was a prosecutor.

[Michael.SF.]

I liked the way Rep. Gowdy did not even look towards him, as if his existence was insignificant.

[woofie]

If I ever needed a lawyer I would want one like Trey Gowdy

[woofie]

Lois Lerner was the one who made decisions (supposedly unbiased) regarding the tax exempt status of groups that were a__holes and terrorists (according to her)