Democrats pledge probes of Bush, not impeachment ["John Conyers is an enthusiastic advocate...]

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

Democrats pledge probes of Bush, not impeachment

By Andrea Hopkins 10 minutes ago

Democrats will launch a series of investigations of the Bush administration if they take control of Congress in November but are not out to impeach President George W. Bush, a top Democrat said on Sunday.

House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said Democrats would hold hearings on the use of intelligence in the lead-up to the Iraq war and investigate the high price of energy and prescription drugs if they win the extra 15 seats they need for a House majority in the mid-term elections.

But Pelosi denied Republican claims that her party would move quickly to impeach Bush.

"I said we'd be having hearings on the war, we'd have hearings. But I don't see us going to a place of impeachment," Pelosi said in an interview on NBC's Meet the Press. "Investigation does not equate to impeachment. Investigation is the requirement of Congress. It is about checks and balances."

In Congress, the majority party controls the chairmanship and agenda of all committees, where most laws are drafted and investigative and subpoena power is held.

With Bush's public approval rating at an all-time low and Republicans fearing they could lose control of both houses of Congress in November, Democrats are laying out plans for an aggressive start to the new Congress.

Michigan Rep. John Conyers (news, bio, voting record), the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has called for the creation of committee to recommend grounds for possible impeachment of Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney.

But Pelosi said such a decision rests with her and the Democratic caucus.

"John Conyers is an enthusiastic advocate. I am the leader. Our caucus will decide where we go," she said.

[HarleyLady27]

And who says the libs are taking over the house, senate and wh????

Hillary????? ROFLMAO

[Beckwith]

John Conyers is a hard core Marxist.

[Past Your Eyes]

"Do you have problems with certain type fo fabric?"

Poor Tom ain't as smooth as he might be. And neither are oyu, eh? (try typing oyu when it wants to be you!!!) LOLOLOLOL

[manwiththehands]

The fact that the democRats have not and will not do ANYTHING to President Bush unless they win a majority tells me they have been full of feces from day one. But even an "investigation" will backfire on them.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: even IF the "Republican" party loses the House in November they are still looking good to regain it in '08.

[EGPWS]

Democrats pledge probes of Bush, not impeachment

Well, gosh as long as it it driven by a promotion of doing the work of the people and isn't politically driven.....

[Cautor]

"Democrats pledge probes of Bush"

They'll have to stand in line behind Arlen Sphincter who plans a probe of Bush over the NSF wire-tap issue.

[Howlin]

In Congress, the majority party controls the chairmanship and agenda of all committees, where most laws are drafted and investigative and subpoena power is held.

To name a few:

Robert Byrd -- Appropriations

Carl Levin -- Armed Services

Joe Biden - Foreign Relations

Ted Kennedy - Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Joe Liebermann - Homeland Security

Patrick Leahy - Judiciary

Chris Dodd -- Rules and Administration

---

Tom Lantos - International Relations

John Conyers - Judiciary

Charles Rangel - Ways & Means

Jane Harman - Intelligence

Barney Frank - Financial Services

Henry Waxman - Government Reform

[Howlin]

If people get the idea that the chief plan of the left is to punish Bush with no plan to protect us, then I do not think the House is in jeopardy.

I wonder if the Democrats remember what happened to Clinton's Job Approval Ratings when the RNC tried to impeach him.

[Howlin]

Of course, you have to probe before you can impeach.

[Howlin]

I think Conyers has submitted a bill to impeach him every month since Bush took office.

[Howlin]

I'm beginning to believe the Dem's might well get their chance to impeach Bush considering the way conservatives are turning on him here.

They're not conservatives; they are the New John Birch Society.

Believe it.

Does this sound familiar?

[Cautor]

"In Congress, the majority party controls the chairmanship and agenda of all committees, where most laws are drafted and investigative and subpoena power is held."

Looks like someone forgot to tell the Republicans about this secret weapon.

[Brilliant]

Got those American flags everywhere, don't they?

[jazusamo]

That list is really scary isn't it? Almost as scary is the nearly 15% of members here who have taken poll and indicate they won't support Repubs. That says to me they'd sacrifice the many to satisfy the few, they are not team players.

[Howlin]

One need only look at that picture to see what the rest of our lifetime would look like.

Because if they ever DO get the power back, the first thing they are going to dismantle is the Electoral College.

And they had to use the flags because the GOP wouldn't let them have a "real" hearing room for that debacle. Har!

From The Hill:

If the Financial Services Committee is the best in the House when it comes to bipartisan comity, then the Judiciary Committee may well be the worst.

In December, ranking Democrat John Conyers (Mich.) began holding “forums” — gatherings with all the trappings of official hearings — after Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) refused to hold hearings on topics Conyers requested. The forums have been held in smaller committee rooms, often with C-SPAN coverage and formal witness lists.

In a sign of how far relationships on the committee have soured, majority staff recently announced a new policy to deny any request from a committee Democrat for the use of a committee hearing room.

Majority spokesman Jeff Lungren said the Republicans have given Democrats three opportunities to make clear that the forums are not official committee business. Nevertheless, Lungren said, in at least one case, members were addressing Conyers as “Mr. Chairman.”

“They were unwilling or unable to make those changes,” Lungren said. “At this point, if they want to hold these forums, they’ll have to find some other place to do it.”

Sean McLaughlin, deputy chief of staff for Sensenbrenner, recently wrote to a minority staffer in more pointed language.

“I’m sitting here watching your ‘forum’ on C-SPAN,” McLaughlin wrote. “Just to let you know, it was your last. Don’t bother asking [for a room] again.”

A committee source said committee Democrats are still planning to hold the forums when they find other available space

[Howlin]

That says to me they'd sacrifice the many to satisfy the few, they are not team players.

Amazing, isn't it? They are the ones who put themselves and their tunnel vision before country, if you ask me.

[Mike Darancette]

Democrats will launch a series of investigations of the Bush administration if they take control of Congress in November but are not out to impeach President George W. Bush, a top Democrat said on Sunday.

They admit that the investigations will be for purely political reasons? That policy can't be a winner IMHO.

[KJacob]

I wonder if the Democrats remember what happened to Clinton's Job Approval Ratings when the RNC tried to impeach him.

Yeah that is what I am thinking. The Dems will inspire their base, but little else, with this strategy.

[Howlin]

Looks like someone forgot to tell the Republicans about this secret weapon.

Sen. Harry Reed (D-NV) congratulates Sen. Trent Lott on his efforts to come to an deal with the Demoracts on a power sharing agreement

[TAdams8591]

"Democrats will launch a series of investigations of the Bush administration if they take control of Congress in November but are not out to impeach President George W. Bush, a top Democrat said on Sunday."

I don't believe them. They've stated their intentions to impeach the President many times. They are backtracking now, becuase they know that threat will encourage Republicans to vote Republican.