The topics Reps. Rob Simmons and Zoe Lofgren are charged with considering are among the gravest - homeland security, national intelligence, government wiretaps.
Lately, though, the exchange between the House intelligence subcommittee's top members and staffs has been straight from the schoolyard.
...
Simmons, the chairman, is "wimpy," says Lofgren, the panel's top Democrat.
Lofgren, D-Calif., "would rather debate in the sandbox," counters Todd Mitchell, Simmons' chief of staff. "What's she going to say next, that Rob has cooties and gives wedgies?" (Lightman)
I don't know about you, but I'd rather not receive a wedgie from an ex-CIA officer.
What's worse is that there is a very serious issue underlying this apparently ridiculous fight:
Their clash began in earnest in January, about six weeks after news broke about the National Security Agency electronic eavesdropping on civilians in this country without first seeking court warrants.
Lofgren ... wanted a hearing and called the subcommittee's inaction on the NSA reports a "failure."
...
Simmons and King countered that he does not have the power because other committees, notably Judiciary and Intelligence, had authority over NSA spying and were pursuing the matter. Homeland Security, he said, does not have jurisdiction.(Lightman
I guess it could be worse. In 1856, Rep. Preston Brooks of South Carolina objected to Sen. Charles Sumner of Massachusetts delivering a stidently anti-slavery speech, in which he insulted a South Carolina senator.
So Brooks beat the crap out of him on the Senate floor.
Things aren't that bad yet. But they certainly aren't good, either.
Source
Lightman, David. "Californian, Simmons In A Squabble." Hartford Courant 5 July, 2006.
4 comments:
Thank God we have one real progressive we can count on- Hillary said what had to be said- she won’t support Joe if he loses to Ned (which he will). I only wish Chris Murphy could be so courageous- check out this from Republican-American today “Lieberman has campaigned with Murphy, and a grateful Murphy is backing the Senator in the primary.”
So What's the deal, I heard him (Murphy) say he's backing Ned
Anonymous said..."
So What's the deal, I heard him (Murphy) say he's backing Ned"
That works for me.
Previously Joe was the only Dem alive that had helped Murphy and not gotten stabbed in the back for his trouble.
It was just a matter of time.
He ought to come out for Ned- I see he’s endorsed Joe officially but then says I’ll back whoever wins the primary. Not the kind of friend you can count on. That’s like rooting for both the Red Sox and the Yankees.
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