In case you all missed it, Sensenbrenner gaveled a hearing to a close and walked out of a hearing on the Patriot Act as numerous witnesses and Democratic Representatives shouted to be heard and for a point of order. The microphones were shut down (C-SPAN's microphones remained on) and folks continued to talk as long as they could. It was a shameful, childish temper-tantrum walkout and Sensenbrenner should get at LEAST as much attention as Dean has been getting for such an outrageous action. BASTARD.
:fume:
Let me see if I can provide a reasonable synopsis, since people are asking for it... and recommending this diary(!! WTF I actually have a diary on the recommended list? Can I get you all to populate my blog too?)
People from Amnesty International, etc., were at the hearing. I missed the hearing but tuned in toward the end when Rep. Conyers asked to have each of the 4 witnesses make a final 1-minute statement. Someone objected to the motion and although Conyers attempted to speak, "the chair recognizes himself" and begins to go off about how irrelevant the testimony was. "The Patriot Act had nothing to do with Guantanamo Bay." "The Patriot act did not cause Minutemen on our border." Accused everyone of using the Patriot Act as a "buzzword" -- his word, not mine -- to use "broad-brush accusations against this administration's policies." (No shit, the Act IS one of its policies!)
Someone asked him to yield and he refused. When he went into "Thank you all for coming," a whole host of "Mr. Chairman! Mr. Chairman!" and "Will the Chairman yield" and even "point of order" started coming up, but he spoke over all of them, declared the hearing adjourned, banged his gavel, and stomped out of the rooms (but not before stopping to give some instructions to what looked like the techies -- betcha he was saying to disconnect the mikes.) Democrats kept talking for several minutes afterwards, bless them.
Hope that helps.