Posted on 06/10/2005 5:06:48 PM PDT by Pikamax
c By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer 32 minutes ago
The Republican chairman walked off with the gavel, leaving Democrats shouting into turned-off microphones at a raucous hearing Friday on the Patriot Act.
The House Judiciary Committee hearing, with the two sides accusing each other of being irresponsible and undemocratic, came as President Bush was urging Congress to renew those sections of the post-Sept. 11 counterterrorism law set to expire in September.
Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the panel, abruptly gaveled the meeting to an end and walked out, followed by other Republicans. Sensenbrenner declared that much of the testimony, which veered into debate over the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, was irrelevant.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., protested, raising his voice as his microphone went off, came back on, and went off again.
"We are not besmirching the honor of the United States, we are trying to uphold it," he said.
Democrats asked for the hearing, the 11th the committee has held on the act since April, saying past hearings had been too slanted toward witnesses who supported the law. The four witnesses were from groups, including Amnesty International USA and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, that have questioned the constitutionality of some aspects of the act, which allows law enforcement greater authority to investigate suspected terrorists.
Nadler said Sensenbrenner, one of the authors of the Patriot Act, was "rather rude, cutting everybody off in mid-sentence with an attitude of total hostility."
Tempers flared when Rep. Mike Pence (news, bio, voting record), R-Ind., accused Amnesty International of endangering the lives of Americans in uniform by referring to the prison at Guantanamo Bay as a "gulag." Sensenbrenner didn't allow the Amnesty representative, Chip Pitts, to respond until Nadler raised a "point of decency."
Sensenbrenner's spokesman, Jeff Lungren, said the hearing had lasted two hours and "the chairman was very accommodating, giving members extra time."
James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, speaking immediately after Sensenbrenner left, voiced dismay over the proceedings. "I'm troubled about what kind of lesson this gives" to the rest of the world, he told the Democrats remaining in the room.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, in a statement, said the hearing was an example of Republican abuse of power and she would ask House Speaker Dennis Hastert to order an apology from Sensenbrenner.
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Thanks for the ping! Sensenbrenner came in ticked!
bump
This is a replay you're watching!
Oh, good you came over here!!
Enjoy!
No prob.
I think I'm in love. A Republican that manhandles these dems with ease. Someone tape this and send it to the Committe Chairs in the Senate!
This is where Conyers is a member and he's hot on the trail of trying to prove Bush should be impeached. That's probably why they brought this hearing .. just to add to their House record what they believe will taint Bush.
Poor stupid idiots.
I started watching it on my computer after getting an e-mail, what with these four moonbats getting to testify? I am glad Sensenbrenner and Pence when off on them!
They should give the tape to Senator Lugar, FIRST!
House Democrats, eh? :)
Sensenbrenner became my hero, when he insisted on the REAL ID ACT in the Supplemental Bill for the WOT...
Did you notice that the very first witness is talking about detainees...which is NOT what this hearing is supposed to be about..and what Sensenbrenner said he wouldn't allow!!!
He must have been quite a sight - all riled and jiggling. Purple Jello comes to mind.
Even so. It looks like the kid who takes his ball and goes home because he isn't winning. Take them out, and they look like the spoiled brats they are.
Agreed!
Senator Lugar, THIS is how you run a Committee with spoiled brats attempting to take over the proceedings. Stern tone, stay on message, take charge attitude, ignore interruptions and full knowledge authority is vested in you to ram the Majority down their throat.
Oh, look who's up! Zogby!
Is this Zogby related to the pollster?
You mean Jerrold "the Hutt" Nadler hasn't exploded yet?
Maybe someone could pass him one of those "wafer thin mints..." a la Mr. Creosote in "The Meaning of Life" by Monty Python.
But seriously, I think my tagline says it all.......
I'm troubled, deeply troubled, by the word choice the democrats use, with some effect. Barbara Boxer, Harry Reid and their little step sister, Nancy P, have an open microphone to utter those sentiments to the american public.
They ring hollow, because they are hollow.
His brother.
Thanks for the heads up. Am Tivo'ing it now...I can't sit and watch but will definitely take it in later. I want to see Sensennbrenner walk out and make Nadler blow a gasket. :)
Senator Lugar really needs this with Biden, Kerry and Boxer on that Committee! Oh and Buckets!
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