Comments on: Rush Limbaugh smackdown

By: orihd

orihd — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 08:53:23 +0000

maybe the reason congress has gotten upset over it is that they havent investigated the executive branch hardly at all, so they were expecting the favor to be returned. the corruption of congress is coming out, hopefully congress will repay the administration in kind with investigations into the nsa warrantless domestic wiretapping and phase 2 of the senate investigation into wmd in iraq (both have been stonewalled, the latter of which was supposed to be investigated over 2 years ago).

other than that, i really dont understand why its controversial (other than that its uncommon).

By: douggie g

douggie g — Wed, 31 May 2006 17:21:24 +0000

Bruce,

I understand the concern about “Congressmen are also supposed to enjoy a kind of parliamentary immunity for things they say on the floor of the legislative body.” But at the same time, Rep. Jefferson had 90 days to comply with the supoena and did nothing, including challenge it, and this is an issue, that, to the best of my knowledge, has noting to do with what Jefferson said on the floor or even within correspondence between himself and constituents.

This administration is the last one I would ever trust with anything like that, but if the laws were followed, the search is good and needed to be done. I don’t think it’s a race issue, I think it is an issue of law.

By: Bruce Dixon

Bruce Dixon — Tue, 30 May 2006 17:54:08 +0000

There is a whole lot of back story to the conflict between Pelosi and the Black Caucus that you omit, my friend. To take just one instance, they are very steamed about being told by Nancy P. that none of them are permitted to speak on or co-sponsor the Voting Rights Amendment. Do explain to me when you get the chance how that is good leadership. It seems to me — and I am obviously and unavoidably black — that Pelosi has nothing but contempt for them, and that the Jefferson thing is only the last straw.

If they have lots of evidence against the man, why shouldn’t they just indict him and be done with it. It seems odd that scores of congressmen have been accused, indicted and jailed but it has notbeen necessary to raid the offices of any in this manner ever in the two century-plus history of the institution. Congressmen are also supposed to enjoy a kind of parliamentary immunity for things they say on the floor of the legislative body. But with this precedent established, if a congressman becomes too outspoken an opponent of a presidential policy, apparently the feds can break down his office door and seize his papers, computers and correspondnece — the part of it they don’t already have by listening in on his phone conversations and intercepting his email.

Sounds like a dangerous precedent, more easily enforced, dare I say because the foot in the door is used on a black guy. Hmmm.

By: bacci40

bacci40 — Sun, 28 May 2006 17:43:51 +0000

if pelossi had balls, she wouldve demanded that jefferson resign his seat in the house.

we came close to a watergate situation with jefferson, that almost had the ag and others resigning if the fbi was forced to return papers taken from his office.

is the congress above the law?

jefferson is a crook who put his own property above the lives of the people in nola, when he used guard troops to take him to his home to recover stuff.

he needs to be gone….

eff that, most of the congress (dems included) need to be gone…they have sold us all down the river.

By: darth zinn

darth zinn — Sun, 28 May 2006 03:02:24 +0000

Howard Dean said the same thing to Tim Russert when asked if this Jefferson character should resign if indicted. “YES”
Mike your call was important in so many ways. You definitely won for starters. But more importantly, it took Rush a long time to spin that web of lies and in one phone call you interrupted 10,000 nodding heads and drove home a clear distinction between Democrats and Republicans.
If dissenting phone calls can cut through the illusion of wingnut radio’s omnipotence then I hope that winning one for the good guys can trigger critical thinking.