Right. Oversight hearings, conducted properly, can win public support and weaken the administration. With zero weakened and the public on our side, legislative initiates will have a greater chance of success.
For example, health care hearings will give the public a window into rationing and privacy intrusions. Just get Berwick and Sebelius on the hot seat and the videos will go viral. Oversight hearings on fraudulent climate change research could mobilize public opinion against executive orders that seek to impose energy taxes.
We can walk and chew gum at the same time.
I hope Republicans just stand on principal. Oversight is their constitutional duty and if Democrats condemn them for oversight (the media) just point out that the American people already know the Democrats believe the constitution and rule of law gets in the way of their daily actions. That is a lot of the reason they lost power.