Leahy announces a delay in Gonzales hearings

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Sen. Patrick Leahy announces a delay in Gonzales hearings in light of VA Tech shootings.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/

[yurbud]

1. probably smart

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. All things considered, I have to agree. N/T

[Mind_your_head]

4. Why?/What? How is that smart?

I haven't been listening to the news/toobz much today....was trying to get everything done so that I could watch the hearing tomorrow morning (seriously)!

[yurbud]

26. a school shooting that will require a good three weeks of uninterrupted coverage

even though it's over.

[plasticsundance]

45. Three weeks?

Couric went on about Columbine for 2-plus years.

[yurbud]

48. I confess, I hardly ever watch TV news since 9/11 unless something blows up or a shooting like this

and then only that day. It is generally too devoid of information. I never had anything against Katie Couric until she became CBS anchor, then I realized she embodies non-news the way O'Reilly embodies flat out lies and smears.

[liberalnurse]

13. Agreed.....

I'm dissapointed but, I realize it would never get the necessary traction.

[valerief]

18. Stupid, stupid, stupid, not smart. Why the guilty could just crazy-up

some innocent kid and send him off on a rampage every time an important hearing is scheduled. Of course, this was a tragic incident, but so isn't the war. And we know who benefitted from that, too.

[me b zola]

24. This may have something to do with it:

Justice Dept. fails to comply with subpoena.

The Justice Department has missed the 2pm deadline to turn over documents on the U.S. Attorney firings subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee. Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) said he was “disappointed” and pledged to “review all available legal options to secure compliance with the subpoena.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/16/justice-dept-fails-to-comply-with-subpoena
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x669633

[yurbud]

30. AG ignores a subpoena? That might have been top of the news if no shooting today

[yurbud]

27. it would be an amazing coincidence if there was something ELSE the next time Tattoo is scheduled to

testify

[valerief]

42. My money is on bad weather. nt

[yurbud]

47. "Mr. Chairman, I can't testify today because it's raining and I forgot my umbrella..."

[valerief]

52. LOL! No, no. A bunch of tornadoes and flooding or bizarro snowfall. nt

[liberal N proud]

3. Keeps the gonzo thing from getting drown out by the tragedy

[orleans]

5. for tomorrow? when will they happen? n/t

[jobycom]

6. Good. Congress will have to be involved for a few days at least

in debates on crime, punishment, guns, domestic security, etc. The Gonzales hearings wouldn't get the full attention they deserve.

[orleans]

7. found this

Gonzales testimony postponed
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The expected testimony of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before the Senate Judiciary Committee has been postponed because of the Virginia Tech shootings, committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy announced Monday.

Gonzales was to testify Tuesday about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. Leahy said the hearing was rescheduled for Thursday. (Posted 5:18 p.m.)

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/16/monday/index.html

but when will they take place i wonder

[Silver Gaia]

9. Thanks!

n/t

[dicknbush]

17. good question considering that

It took this long to get him up there..You can bet his schedule is full until June or July of 2008 by now!

[Ian David]

23. I guess Rove will have to activate another sleeper agent once THIS story dies down.

No, I'm not seriously suggesting that Rove has minions of brainwashed sleeper agents at his disposal to create chaos for political purposes.

[yurbud]

28. No, he has to ask permission to use one.

[orleans]

32. (smile) n/t

[Javaman]

49. Until this tragedy unfolded into it true horror, I have to admit

I had thoughts of a manchurian candidate sort of thing.

sad that it's come to this, where even the most wildly bizarre ideas seem to have an element of possibility in them these days. :(

[Silver Gaia]

8. Got a link directly to this story?

I'm looking, but can't find it at CNN.

[maddezmom]

11. here is one..will be held Thursday

Gonzales hearing postponed because of Va. massacre
In light of the Virginia tragedy, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., has just postponed tomorrow's questioning of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on the firings of eight federal prosecutors. Leahy said the hearing will be held Thursday.



http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/04/gonzales_hearin.html?csp=34

[maddezmom]

14. and another from AP: Gonzales hearing postponed

Gonzales hearing postponed By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer
5 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed Tuesday's questioning of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on the firings of eight federal prosecutors, saying the proceedings would be inappropriate in light of the Virginia Tech shootings.

Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record) made the decision Monday to postpone the long-awaited hearing that has been considered Gonzales' last chance to quiet a controversy that has prompted calls in both parties for his resignation.

Leahy said the hearing had been rescheduled for Thursday. He said he made the decision after conferring with Gonzales and the committee's senior Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record) of Pennsylvania. "All three of us agree," he said.

"I'm sure that he will want to be dealing with the matters of the shooting," Leahy said of Gonzales.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070416/ap_on_go_co/fired_prosecutors_36

[mcscajun]

10. brooklynite - could you edit and change the link, please?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/04/16/monday/index.html

[brooklynite]

31. Sorry - locked before I could get to it.

[catnhatnh]

12. It should have been delayed by the failure....

...of the Justice Department to meet the subpoena deadline to produce the papers to congress....Bushies KNOW Gonzo is fried and want this ended ASAP...that's why Gonzo asked to testify sooner.Delaying the hearing because the Justice Department missed the deadline could have accomplished the same thing and nothing says they couldn't reschedule before the papers were produced-all the while implying the JD was now stonewalling...

[SoFlaJet]

15. I heard Leahey

announce it on the floor-the AG is going to be busy for the next few days for sure...smart move....suspicious...but smart

[dicknbush]

19. Very smart...It goes something like this

Taking into consideration the tragedy at VT today we are aware that the attorney general is going to be depply involved by these events. We believe it is important under the circumstances that the attorney generals full attention is devoted to this unfolding tragedy.

[think4yourself]

16. V E R Y Smart

And savvy too. Knowing this country's inability to multitask and especially the media being a one-story 24/7 operation, this is a brilliant move. WE have the power now. "Elections have consequences". Let the worm squirm. Can't wait to see the bags under GONEzo's eyes from not sleeping so well.

[Up2Late]

20. I don't see why this would matter, "the news" is going to milk this tragedy for more than 2 days!

This one will be Weeks of 24/7 coverage, I bet.

[Skip Intro]

21. I agree, they should have at least postponed it unitl next week. nt

[musiclawyer]

22. Leahy needs time to prepare too

Really, time favors the Dems. Whereas Gonzo might be a little better prepared to lie, this I think is far outweighed by assurung the efficacy of the hearings in terms of questions posed. This is a real challenge because there is so much to ask. And events are happening real time (analysis, leaks, etc) that may sway the order of questioning or which questions to ask-- for the desired efficacy. There is no downside to waiting a few days or even a week, although it would have been nice to see Gonzo sweat tomorrow.

[onehandle]

25. Stretch it out.

Let the bones of Gonzales bleach in the sun for as long as possible.

Today was a tragedy. The tragedy of the Bush era will be here for nearly two more years.

[yurbud]

29. recall that the Bushies wanted to do this testimony as soon as possible so it would blow over

[rodeodance]

33. Gonzales hearing delayed by shootings

Source: AP



Gonzales hearing delayed by shootings

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer Tue Apr 17, 3:09 AM ET

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is getting a two-day reprieve in his high-stakes appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee because of the shooting rampage at Virginia Tech.


Democrats raised new questions about the roles he and
President Bush played in the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys.

Gonzales had been scheduled to make his first appearance Tuesday before Congress in the uproar over the firings. The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed the hearing until Thursday after the shooting spree on the Blacksburg, Va., campus.

"I'm sure that he will want to be dealing with the matters of the shooting," Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (voting record) of Pennsylvania, agreed that the delay was appropriate.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070417/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fired_prosecutors

[lostnotforgotten]

34. How Convenient - Guess A Constitutional Crisis Just Does Not Rate Anymore!

eom

[Javaman]

50. that is so pre-9/11 thinking...

:sarcasm:

[saltpoint]

35. Reports say the decision to postpone was mutual, and IMO, a good decision.

Grilling Gonzales today would have been impolitic and counterproductive.

Besides, let's let him squirm a couple more days without Republican support and then nail his fanny to a board on Thursday.

[rodeodance]

37. i had not heard it was delayed--till I saw the headline. Good decision I

think.

[saltpoint]

40. Yep -- Leahy and Schumer and Kennedy might just have a question or

two for the Attorney General on Thursday.

I don't think Gonzales will be any better at answering them on Thursday than he would have been today.

[Captain Hilts]

36. Leahy made this decision yesterday afternoon. nt

[Eurobabe]

38. I figured. Actually this is better because everyone is so wrapped

in this tragedy.

[MetaTrope]

39. Deja vu

I remember that Gonzales' long-stonewalled deposition in Funeralgate--one of the first Bush whistleblower scandals du jour--was delayed by a storm. Oh, and then September 11 happened. Not sure they ever did get a testimony out of him.

[Javaman]

51. nope, they never did. moron* and abu have quite the colorful history together. nt

[underpants]

41. Kick

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/04/16/alberto-gonzales-hearing-postponed/

[JPZenger]

43. Watch Today for White House News Dumps

I am sure the White House has much bad news they have been trying to hide. Today, watch to see what they decide to dump, under the cover of the constant news coverage about the Va. shootings.

[rocktivity]

44. It's only two days, and the shootings SHOULD get priority

I was a little disappointed yesterday, but was too busy to follow the shooting closely. Now I've had time for the reality of it to skin in. Which is progress for me, I guess--it took me close to a week to believe that Columbine had actually happened. Do you suppose the shooter had Columbine in mind. They suffered from unrequited love, too.

:(
rocknation

[Fovea]

46. Politically deft

but it only means the BFEE will have to send more Manchurian shooters out.

Or worse, they may get desperate enough to pop a boomer.

They are in contempt of congress as of 1400 hours yesterday, so let's get the federal marshals up on the hill stat, and put Mr. Gonzales in jail.

That will get a bit of airwave, I suspect.