R U Listening MSM ??? - Congressional Oversight Is A Linchpin Of How Our Democracy Works

[WillyT]

From: U.S. Supreme Court in its 1927 decision in McGrain v. Daugherty -

"Experience has taught that mere requests for such information often are unavailing, and also that information which is volunteered is not always accurate or complete; so some means of compulsion are essential to obtain what is needed. All this was true before and when the Constitution was framed and adopted. In that period the power of inquiry, with enforcing process, was regarded and employed as a necessary and appropriate attribute of the power to legislate-indeed, was treated as inhering in it. Thus there is ample warrant for thinking, as we do, that the constitutional provisions which commit the legislative function to the two houses are intended to include this attribute to the end that the function may be effectively exercised."

<snip>

But that which the Court said is "unavailing" -- namely, relying on "mere requests for such information" and remaining content with only that which is "volunteered" -- is precisely what has been happening in this country for the last six years. As a result, the information we have received about what our government is doing has been incomplete, misleading, and often outright false.

And the fact that Alberto Gonzales and top DOJ officials simply got caught lying the minute that minimal amounts of oversight were exercised -- the minute that their statements were investigated for accuracy rather than blindly assumed to be true -- demonstrates just how pervasive this corruption and deceit has been at the highest levels of the Bush administration. And this has occurred principally as a result of a Republican-led Congress that did not just fail to investigate, but deliberately sought to help the administration conceal wrongdoing so as to politically prop up and protect the President.

In light of how quickly and powerfully evidence of wrongdoing and deceit is spewing forth with minimal amounts of prodding, it is just inconceivable that our Beltway stars -- including alleged journalists -- would be more worried about the unpleasantness and disruption that comes from uncovering corruption and illegality than they are about the corruption and illegality itself. But that is exactly the message they are conveying.

And none of that should be surprising, even though it is so destructive. After all, our government would not have been able to spend the last six years blocking all forms of accountability and checks if not for the support of our national media. So it should hardly come as a surprise that so many of them do not believe in that which lies at the core of our political system since its founding -- namely, a belief that all political leaders must constantly be subjected to rigorous scurtiny and compelled disclosure of their conduct.

<snip>

Link: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/03/25/oversight/index.html

That's why the new media is so much more effective. Here's to the MSM wetting their pants. :toast:

[malaise]

1. 100% correct

After all, our government would not have been able to spend the last six years blocking all forms of accountability and checks if not for the support of our national media.

It's that simple. MSM hired Rethug hacks who push the agenda of corporations. Karma is coming for the Tweety's of this world.