Sensebrenner Gavels the Patriot Act Hearings
Posted by Moonage on 13 Jun 2005 | Tagged as: Legislative Process, National Politics
I think this story’s funny as hell. In essence, from what I’ve heard, public hearings on renewing the Patriot Act basically disintegrated into a shouting match, so James Sensebrenner tabled the meeting. Naturally, you’ve got the extremist whackos on both sides taking over the top opinions on this chain of events. Here’s my favorite I think:
This guy goes off to the ultimate limit. You gotta read it all and then come back.
Once you have come back, could you please explain to me what Gitmo has to do with The Patriot Act?
Buzzflash doesn’t allow comments or trackbacks. In their case, I can understand why.
dembloggers has a link to several videos. They explain that if you watch the video, you’ll understand the Bush agenda. However, if you watch the video, you’ll hear Sensebrenner state exactly what I am stating. The "testimony" had nothing to do with The Patriot Act and he spends 6:41 explaining that fact. dembloggers does allow comments, but not trackbacks. I don’t feel like engaging them, you can if you want. If anyone does, I’d just like to know why they think Gitmo is a Patriot Act issue. That’s all.
1 Comment »
on 13 Jun 2005 at 3:07 pm 1.Bryan Kerwick
said …
Anthony:
I watched the entire meeting on c-span.
The chairman made it clear that testimony was to be limited to the 16 sunset issues of the Patriot Act as requested by the Democrats in their letter to him. This was the specific purpose of the meeting and the rules of the House would apply accordingly.
This angered the Minority as the 4 witnesses that were to testify had agenda’s which had nothing to do with the Patriot Act. Numerous points of order were issued and many were heard.Most complaining about attendance issues.
The Chair then immediately swore in the witnesses and allowed the 5 minute rule. He also insisted on holding to that rule at the dismay of many including some Republicans.
Although it was his right as chairman to interupt testimony that was not specific to the 16 sunset issues, the chair allowed uninterupted statements although none of them had anything to do with the 16 sunset issues.
The Chair then proceeded to open the questioning phase by the committee keeping to the 5 minute rule. This caused some problems primarily due to incoherent ramblings about thanking the members and witnesses for the meeting which left about half the time to speak to the issues. Some were cut off in mid-sentance due to the rule and it angered Republicans as well as Democrats and witnesses.
After the question and answer session, the Chair did in fact issue a statement stating the obvious that the entire meeting which was to be on those 16 sunset issues was wasted on other issues which had no relavence to the meeting.
While the Minority certainly has a right to discuss these issues, the forum they chose was completely inappropriate.
At that point, the Chair gaveled the meeting closed while the Minority Member, Mr. Nadler continued to ramble on and continue to elicit responses from the witnesses. His microphone was then cut off.
That in a nutshell was the meeting.