Posted on 05/21/2014 11:28:54 AM PDT by Kaslin
Earlier today, The Hill reported that Nancy Pelosi was ready to concede on the Benghazi select committee, and it didn’t take long for her to do so:
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., names 5 Democrats to the Benghazi select committee – @KateNocera http://t.co/iyPLvA0Ncw
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) May 21, 2014
The only surprise is that it took this long to decide. Pelosi had begun to lean in the direction of participating in the select committee on Benghazi, if for no other reason than to keep from getting left behind in the narrative. Instead of just appointing one troublemaker, though, she’ll fill all five slots:
The following Democratic Members will serve on the Select Committee on Benghazi:
Note that Alan Grayson is not among the group. There had been some suggestion to send only Grayson to provide a clown show to generate mocking press, but this looks a little more serious on Pelosi’s part. The appointment of Duckworth in particular is a deft touch, while Cummings has proven himself as a man who can reliably distract attention when needed.
The Hill’s Mike Lillis explained the thinking earlier:
But a senior Democratic aide said Wednesday that, while the decision is not final, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) “is now leaning toward appointing a full complement of Members to the Select Committee on Benghazi.”
Pelosi met with Democratic leaders Wednesday morning, and a second meeting is “likely” later in the day, to update lawmakers on the negotiations between Pelosi’s office and that of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), the aide said.
Pelosi met briefly with Boehner to discuss the Benghazi panel on Tuesday afternoon, and staff was continuing the discussion Wednesday morning. …
“Talks between Pelosi and Boehner staff continue this morning on remaining items Democrats are asking for to ensure fairness, transparency and balance with respect to the committee’s proceedings and operations,” the Democratic aide said. “To reiterate, no decision has been made.”
The delay in the decision came from Pelosi’s desire to twist arms on committee rules for Democratic participation. That presumed that Republicans are desperate to have Democrats take part in the select committee for reasons of credibility and respectability. Supposedly, that would force Boehner and chair Trey Gowdy to allow the minority to have more control over the direction of the committee’s work, and to get equal power and authority — both of which Pelosi refused in her own 2007 select committee on global warming.
However, this strategy rested on a false premise. For Republicans, credibility won’t rest on the actual participation of Democrats as much as it does providing them with the standard access given to the minority side in any select-committee investigation. There’s nothing about the Benghazi probe that makes balanced participation more necessary than, say, the Senate’s select Watergate committee, which had a 4-3 split. Similarly, the select committees on Iran-Contra were split 6-5 in the Senate and 8-7 in the House, all favoring Democrats. All Republicans have to do is offer the opportunity to participate in order to maintain process credibility; they can’t be responsible if Democrats are too petulant to join.
Besides, the VA scandal and the parallels to White House inaction are rapidly eroding the outrageous-outrage claims of Democrats who argue that the Benghazi probe is just about politics. The more that Barack Obama’s statements and (in)action on the VA follow the same pattern as Benghazi, IRS, and other scandals, the more it looks like Democrats are the ones playing politics with the deaths of Americans. That, plus losing control of the narrative, make it far more incumbent on Pelosi to participate than for Boehner to bend over backwards to accommodate her demands.
She met with Boehner and then decided to go with reasonable representation. This tells me she believes pubs aren’t serious and nothing will come of it — thus no need for dems to boycott. Not a good sign.
I agree but think what publicity one could gain by seeking the truth. Might even rise to the level of a Presidential Candidate ...
Watch for the two women on the Democrat side. If Republicans discipline them it will be “war on woman” time and the Dems will try to make election year propaganda out of it. Same with scumbag Elijah Cummings. Dems will make it into a racism issue if Cummings has to be restrained. Gotta stir up those lo-information blacks and get them to the 2014 polls!
If Trey was smart(and he IS) he would appoint this man as Committee Counsel(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Rogan) he is one of the guys that was TARGETTED by the US House Dems after Clintoon’s Impeachemnt and was defeated by Adam B. Schiff.
They will do their best to protect the big guy.
We wish. But, in general, herding Democrats is like herding sheep whereas herding Republicans is like herding cats.
Bonehead was finally forced to act but because he is still an establishment RINO and the fact he has clearly kissed obozo's butt at every opportunity for the past 6 years, he and Pelosi are very likely colluding behind closed doors to stymie the investigative process, thus and par usual, protecting the administration and their own in DC. That's just what the crony establishment does.
Was the woman behind him used as a model for “Killer Klowns from Outer Space”?
but ... what if the truth leaks?
What if a democrat leaks that truth?
Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform
Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member, Armed Services Committee
Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Committee on Appropriations (Subcommittee on State & Foreign Operations), Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Committee on Ways and Means (Subcommittee on Oversight)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Armed Services Committee, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform
One thing is clear, and that is that these Democrats on the Committee will not be objective and impartial.
Carolyn Maloney - D NY
Looking natural - slightly deranged. Give her a break though - that close to Elijah, the air is saturated with stupid AND crazy.
I get the feeling Gowdy will be significantly less tolerant of Cummins than is Issa.
What if one of them does seek the truth? I’ll Love It!
Does appointment to this committee remove them from the other committees they sit on?
Cummings is there to provide the theatrics and the baseless charges of racism. Pelosi wouldn’t be doing this if they hadn’t decided how to use this to their advantage in the coming months. Damn.
Cummings? Shouldn’t he be in contempt for other crimes pending?
and we don’t kiss those that do not tell the truth. Is a given (imho). I kiss only those telling the truth, as I be you do too. Standing so near, nobody is wasting their time.
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