Senate Democrats to challenge Bush promotional efforts

[Cocoa]

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0105/011105cdpm1.htm

<snip>

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., earlier this week asked GAO to investigate the Williams contract -- which paid him more than $240,000 in federal funds to promote the law -- to determine whether it is legal.

Lautenberg is also preparing "anti-propaganda" legislation to formally bar federal agencies from engaging in questionable tactics, and the Democratic Policy Committee is planning to make the issue the subject of one its first investigative hearings, Democratic aides said.

According to a summary of the draft Lautenberg bill, the legislation would bar the government from spending federal funds on any materials promoting policies or laws that do not explicitly include a disclaimer that the materials, including press releases, commercials and videos, are government documents.

Although no formal announcement of committee hearings has been made, Democratic aides on Tuesday said Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan of North Dakota would almost certainly launch an investigation, setting up as an early test of Democrats' efforts to beef up the committee's largely dormant oversight functions.

Although the committee cannot subpoena witnesses, federal law does allow it to hold hearings and call witnesses. Reid and Dorgan have vowed to use those investigative powers during the 109th session to bird-dog the Bush administration. Hearings into the Williams case could test the limits of the committee's ability to conduct oversight of the administration.

More…

[jackster]

1. ya know...

there appear to be more signs everyday that the Dems are not repeating their mistakes of 2001, that they have finally awaken to the facts that so many of us have know for so long - that the repigs are out to DESTROY us

Remember the quote by DeLay (or was it Frist)

something to the affect that we had all better get used to the fact that the repigs were "the permanent majority party" in this country?

[uppityperson]

2. Inaugerate, investigate, impeach, inaugerate again.

[deacon2]

7. That's a bumper sticker!

[Just Me]

9. I prefer, "Coronate, Investigate, Jail",...myself *grin*!!! n/t

[annabanana]

11. "Coronate, Investigate, Incarcerate!!"

YAY!

[Just Me]

12. There ya' go!!! PERFECT!!!! eom

[Just Me]

14. Whoops, nevermind,...delete *LOL*

[jpgray]

3. They may be realizing that the Republicans aim for permanent majority

And in the pursuit of this, they are perfectly willing to pass legislation whose sole purpose is to bolster Republicans at the ballot box and sabotage progressive candidates.

[MasonJar]

4. Well, they had better. Being Pug patsies cost the Dems the Sen-

ate in 2002. It is time for total war; time to go to the mattresses.

[KittyWampus]

5. Dems Are Doing What A DU'er Suggested 2 Years Ago. Holding Their

own investigations and hearings. Even if they don't have subpeona power they can get whistleblowers and others to testify who are willing.

And they can REQUEST info... and end up making GOP and their stooges LOOK like they're hiding something.

[Just Me]

6. Damn straight!!! Don't they have some state AGs who can enforce?

If there are individuals/companies which are cooperating in a covert propaganda op (psy-ops), can't the state AGs pull rank and pursue an aggressive investigation (including subpoenas)?

Surely to GOD ALMIGHTY there is more bite to this than a mere spinning-the-wheels committee hearing!!!

DAMN!!! We have to get our thinking caps on and be on the offensive!!!!

[Just Me]

8. The House are in on it, too *cartwheels*!!!

Rep. Slaughter Demands GAO Investigation Into Bush Administration Journalist Payola

http://tinyurl.com/56ps9

Washington, DC. Today, Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules joined House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Henry Waxman and other members of the House Democratic leadership in calling for an immediate and thorough examination of departments and agencies under the Bush Administration into their use of covert propaganda.

THIS IS A WAR TO SAVE THE EXPERIMENT OF DEMOCRACY AGAINST THOSE WHO SEEK TO DESTROY IT!!!


WE HAVE OURSELVES A FORCE THAT WILL GALVANIZE ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!

No deceptive psy-ops against our own people!!!

[thedailyshow]

10. keep on this, Dems!

[Just Me]

13. Especially since it is NOT OKAY TO BETRAY & MANIPULATE Americans.

I'd also love to know, in addition to monies being funnelled by our neoCONimperialists to so-called PR corporations, how many of the profiteering contractors have a psy-op/CIA history.

I'd really like to know the backgrounds of those whom the executive branch or its constituents have awarded public treasure.

That would be interesting as well.

[Just Me]

15. Kickin' for a killin' (politically-speaking, of course).

:hi: Agent Mike/Joe/George