Sensenbrenner's stunt today was certainly planned. So what was the intent

[burythehatchet]

Or was it simply just a meltdown?

My feeling is that the pubs want media coverage for this and are setting up an atmosphere where any debate about the Traitor Act will be quashed. They need this act as the enabling legislation for permanent control of govt.

[funflower]

1. I was just wondering why the Repubs would do something that drew so

much attention to these incredibly bright, articulate, well-credentialed witnesses. Everyone keeps talking about how much they appreciate Sensenbrenner's "courtesy," to the witnesses, while he is in fact being incredibly rude.

Is he just a cranky guy who can be easily goaded into making an ass of himself? He certainly kept the hearing from disappearing into oblivion.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Thanking that shitnead nazi for his courtesy

was the congressional version of a formal 'fuck you, asshole'.

[Bluebear]

2. Intent: "Republicans run the whole show & you have lost your voice"

Could they be any more obvious?

[Just Me]

23. So, they don't care about being tyrannical. Good.

Their arrogance will fuck the Republican party for generations!!!

They bring it on,...to themselves,...and will get everything they deserve in return!!!

Assholes!!!

[goodboy]

3. trying to get the press on them rather than Dean. That's my guess.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

9. My guess, they are so accustomed to bullying their way through

everything they thought today would be no different. They knew exactly what they were going to pull before the hearing ever started. The speeches written, the repugs were loaded, cocked, ready to fire. It is just something went really wrong along the way.

The Dems and the witnesses didn't roll over and play dead.

VIVE LA RÉVOLUTION

[goodboy]

50. it was quite a sight to see...dems sticking up for their beliefs. (nt)

[annabanana]

4. According to Randi.. the MINORITY called for this meeting....

and different rules apply re: stopping the meeting.. and Senslessbrenner violated those rules.

[Lars39]

5. His parting shot was also another "push the envelope" thing;

he requested a list of the librarians that reported being asked info about library patrons.
From what I remember, according to the Patriot Act, the librarians
are not supposed to even acknowledge that they have been asked for information.

Are these librarians now in danger of jail time because of Sensebrenner?

[burythehatchet]

7. yes, very good observation

it makes sense

[funflower]

56. That's exactly what the Amnesty guy said.

Sensenbrenner dared them to substantiate their argument by exposing the illegal complainers. They're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

[longship]

6. My reading on it is that

The whole thing was obviously orchestrated. The Repugs have a history of attempting to stifle dissent. They didn't want anything on the record, especially under oath.

Senselessbrenner was most assuredly acting as an agent of some higher authority.

Maybe these bums should be indicted under the RICO statutes.

[IChing]

8. If nothing is done: it sets a course for all other committees

He trying to set a precedent for the "new representative government"

Maybe we can get another bipartisan agreement with the 14 for the laws of congress?

[shraby]

10. I looked like he was smiling a big toothy grin

when he left the room.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

12. Wondering if Sensenbrenner was still grinning when he got back

to his office and had to face the phone calls, faxes and emails from pissed off thousands of Americans? I'm betting his staff isn't quite as thrilled with him right now. The Young Republican Flunky at Sensy's side in the hearing will be up all night trying to spin this fiasco.

[leesa]

11. They don't want anyone to know about the illegal incarcerations done

under the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act

[Jose Diablo]

18. You got that right

In my part of countryside, there was (let me see) 5 gasoline stations within a 2 mile radius that had chain link fences set-up around them as the owners 'decided' to go back home right after 9-11. At least thats the story I heard, they left on their own. Truth is, I never saw any of them after 9-11 again. A couple of the guys were OK guys, we would shoot the breeze sometimes when I filled-up early in the morning. You know, get coffee, donut and chew the fat.

Also noticed for quite a while, places like Subway, Burgerking and other fast foods places, there just wasn't too many people from the middle east around anywhere. And this is Atlanta Georgia. There are loads of middle eastern people here.

I would say, with the first patriot act, there had to be hundreds of thousands of people jailed unconstitutionally, many probably deported and their property confiscated illegally. This is all speculation though, because according to the patriot act, the government doesn't have to account for anybody anymore.

Edit: Sounds like the liberals are next, eh?

[tanyev]

37. Yes, we are next.

[Just Me]

54. Zackly!!!! The RW machine asserts the act hasn't been abused.

The witnesses would have placed evidence on the record that, in fact, the act has been abused.

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. Here is James Sensenbrenner's Contact Info

Wisconsin district 5 (R)

Web:

http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner /




:bounce:

http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner /

Email:

[e-mail]


Phone:

[phone]


Address:
Congressman James Sensenbrenner
United States House of Representatives
2449 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, District of Columbia 20515 :kick:

[burythehatchet]

15. he's already deleted my email fer sure

[seejanerun]

29. Thanks for the link. I wrote:

Dear Representative Sensenbrenner,
I, for one, am dismayed that anyone is considering renewing the provisions of the PATRIOT Act due to sunset this year. They never should have been enacted in the first place. That you and other Republicans are thinking of taking away more rights of US citizens is horrifying. This and other initiatives of the Bush administration have convinced me that they do not believe in democracy, that they do not believe in individual rights, and that they will settle for nothing less than some sort of dictatorship once they have consolidated their power by closing off avenues of minority representation and dissent, such as the hearing you disrupted today. I will not vote for another Republican until the party comes to its senses. No matter how principled any individual Republican might be, he or she is certain to be controlled by your increasingly centralized and dictatorial organization, and I would not be able to trust him or her to represent me on anything. Please rethink how you are using the power of the office you are privileged to hold.
Sincerely,

[newyawker99]

53. Hi seejanerun!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[burythehatchet]

55. Welcome

to the battle.

[lonestarnot]

31. My email to this toad

You should be ashamed of yourself for running the Committee as a not a democratic forum for discussion of the Patriot Act, but more like a fat mafia thug! You sure you were not also a member of the Nazi Yute Organization? You are an embarrassment to democracy!

[Jade Fox]

14. If so, it was a bad plan....

He looked like a petulant ass. And what could make it clearer that Bushco
is terrified of the clear light of day shining on their actions?

[burythehatchet]

17. Shiela Lee just dissed sensei big time

by not acknowledging him

[Stinky The Clown]

19. The telling moment was Mike Pence's conclusion

He asked a whole bunch of very pointed and leading questions, he timed his 'remarks so the ended at the **precise** second his time expired, thereby prveneting any of the witnes from responding.

All you had to do was watch the look on his face as the camera moved first to the witnesses and then back to Pence. He actually cracked a tiny smile, a look of self-satisfaction. He then appeared to be biting his tongue as he swallowed the smirk.

[burythehatchet]

20. I have a bad feeling that the shit is about to hit the fan

[lonestarnot]

22. I am of the same mindset!

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. It hit the fan in 2000

this is just gonna finally get obvious

[lonestarnot]

28. Well let's just fucking have at it! I'm sick of this Nazi shit!

[burythehatchet]

30. aint it the truf

[lonestarnot]

33. ththththththththth (fart noise) LOL

[frankly_fedup2]

45. I can't wait until some Democrats start bitch-slapping some of the . . .

republicans. It's time someone knocked some sense into some of them to let them know:

1. This is a democracy not a monarchy.
2. We have laws that the citizens must abide by, why does the Senate not obey the laws put in place for the Congress?
3. Lying is wrong.
4. Lying under oath is breaking the Law.
5. What are they so scared of that they have to run in and close a discussion and end a committee meeting?
6. Bush is not the second coming. Also, Bush is not in the White House to prepare everyone for the second coming.
7. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time.
8. Why are you afraid for the committee to review some of the 9/11 information again?
9. Why do we still have a "secret government" where Cheney sits as President. That is why we do not see his sorry ass but that is fine with me.
10. The World hates America now due to Bush and the Republican leadership. The Republican party is a sad example to the World of what America is all about.

The America of today is not the same Country I was born in, I was raised in, I was educated in. It is also not the same Country my Grandfather, father and his brothers put their lives on the line during WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam wars.

I think it is time that the people take back this country. Another Civil War? If it happens, I'm moving North to a Bluish state. I'm in a hot red one now and they think they do not even have to treat Democrats as human beings. After all, they are Christians for God's sake.

[burythehatchet]

51. they're completely powerless except in the court of public opinion

and that's where they should move their case. You know "catapault the propoganda"

[lonestarnot]

21. Just finished watching this fat thug! My God this was outrageous! Nazi

is too kind! I see the fringes of a revolt bubbling up!

[skooooo]

25. Reminded me of the "hearing" scene in Animal House...

...remember when Delta pulls the "patriotic" string, and walks out of the hearing. They took it straight from the script, I swear.

[lonestarnot]

34. He's a pig of the farm alright!

[tsuki]

26. They have no plan. They are drunk on power. Media Coverage

will include Falafel Bill who will rub himself raw with power grab.

[SoCalDem]

27. Remember though,

very FEW people know that c-span even exists...and even fewer actually watch it. The Corporate Toady press will have to spread the word(hah!) and not many people read the papers these days or watch much more than "reality-fluff" TV..

[lonestarnot]

32. I think people are wising up a bit more than you are giving them credit.

[DearAbby]

36. Off topic sort of, I got to thinking this afternoon about the Arrests made

in Lodi California, of the two Arab men...last night they inferred that they were involved with a terrorist training camp in Pakistan, while this afternoon I had heard that they were only charged with giving false information to the agents.

I wonder if there were those ready to testify, what their stories were, and if these two people in Lodi are the latest victims

[bunny planet]

35. Here's mine

Dear Congressman Sensenbrenner,

I am writing to you with shock, and dismay at your behavior today in shutting down a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee in reference to the Patriot Act.

Just in case you are not aware, we still live in a Democratic Republic where Congressmen and women are paid and given the solemn responsibility to represent the people of this proud country, the United States of America. The minority party that you showed such little respect for today represents just under half of the citizens of the US who voted in the last election, some 49 million people, as well as the millions of Americans who did not cast their votes but who still will be affected by the laws passed by Congress. It is unconscionable and most likely illegal for you to have done what you did today.

To simply decide to end the hearing on the subject and shut off the microphones of Democratic reprentatives trying to express the will of the people they represent is reprehensible. We do not have a one-party system in this country although it seems as if many of you in power would be quite content to have it that way.

Is it only the majority in this country that deserves to be heard Congressman Sensenbrenner? The last I heard, this government was created of, by and for the people and should not be subject to the shameful abuse of power you so clearly demonstrated today. You owe the American people an apology and the hearings should be reconvened as soon as possible with no further illegal maneuverings on your part. Perhaps you should step down as the House Majority leader of the Judiciary Committee. You don't seem to be honorable enough to hold such an important position.

Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxx

[burythehatchet]

38. nice letter

mine was just one sentence. Not as polite. His staff is not looking forward to a busy weekend at the office. HAH!

[bunny planet]

41. Believe me I wasn't feeling polite. It took a lot of deep breathing and

self-control not to address it Dear F*cktard Douchebag of Liberty.

[Blue_In_AK]

40. Great letter...

My guess is, if he even sees it at all, he'll probably smirk and throw it in the trash.

[bunny planet]

42. I'll be sending it snailmail too, with copies sent to every newspaper,

radio, and television station I can think of. I've already sent a copy to Randi Rhodes. Next up Olberman.

[Blue_In_AK]

46. Oh, GOOD JOB...

:toast: They're really getting completely out of control down there. I was just commenting here a couple days ago that there were so many scandals it was hard to keep track...and every day they just keep piling them on. It's got to come crashing down very soon.

[BigBearJohn]

39. JUST WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? WE ARE 70,000 STRONG HERE!!!

[DearAbby]

44. Excellent letter Bunny

:woohoo:

[Sparkly]

43. I had no idea what I was about to see when I turned to C-Span.

I was busy all day and hadn't heard anything about it. It was obvious he was ignoring every basic protocol and etiquette, so I checked in on a DU thread and saw "Watch closely, here's where it gets good." I am absolutely shocked.

This will not quash debate about the Act. It should be a rallying cry, an obvious outrage against democracy, a silencing of the minority, an affront to the witnesses who were there to help the country, a disservice to all our citizens in shutting down the hearing -- including our soldiers!

Sensenbrenner's discomfort with even discussing the Act, hearing the facts, letting them be discussed SHOWED that they're afraid of honest debate about it. It SHOWED they need to be underhanded and can't face up to real scrutiny of the Act.

I wrote an email to Senselessspinner's office, and thank you's to Sheila Jackson Lee, John Conyers and James Zogby. Beyond other emails and support to Amnesty, I don't know what we can do.

[burythehatchet]

48. know what, the Dems were really stepped on tonight

I feel like their blood must be boiling as well. Even the most out-of-touch amongst them must now realize where they have led us.

[LSK]

47. i'd guess it was a test to see how far they can go

They are pushing rules to see how far they bend. They can say they gave the minority their time but also they know they didnt.

[burythehatchet]

49. DAMN, CSPAN is running it AGAIN!!

[funflower]

57. It really was a great hearing. Something that should be shown in every

high school, college and law school.

[Jose Diablo]

52. I don't think it was a 'meltdown', the repugs planned it this way, timing

It seems to me they just don't care about public opinion or the Democrats.

As for the lack of care about public opinion, they have the voting machines and as long as those machines are used, they will get re-elected.

If we look at state level in many states, we will see the ones 'controlling' the elections will be either republican neocons or Dino's as Sec of States. They don't care because they are not accountable to the voters anymore. And in the states without repugs or Dino Sec of States, there is probably operatives working to change that. As long as there is an appearance of being able to vote, the people will not force a change in voting operation until the police state is fully in force and then it is too late.

As for their lack of concern for their Democrat colleagues, same reason. I believe they think that seeing how the elections are rigged to their favor, it's only a couple more election cycles and the Democratic party will be history. They believe our country will become ruled by a single party, much like the USSR was.

[Douglas Carpenter]

58. Here is Sensenbrenner's Contact Info and info about his Dem. Opponent:

:bounce:

Wisconsin district 5 (R)

Web:

http://www.house.gov/sensenbrenner /


Email:

[e-mail]


Phone:

[phone]


Address:
Congressman James Sensenbrenner
United States House of Representatives
2449 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, District of Columbia 20515
:kick:

Also:

:dem:
:kick:

:dem: Check out the Website for Sensenbrenner's Opponent :dem:

:dem: Endorsed by Democracy For America :kick:

Here is the link:

http://www.bk2006.org

:dem: :kick: