Since this is on the rec list I guess I should flush it out a bit. I suck as the analysis part, so I'll leave that to others.
Summary – First session 10:30 – noon (45+ / 0-)
This is from notes I took while watching before I dashed off to work. I tended to break during the R’s questioning as I took care of eating b’fast and getting dressed. The rest of the hearing I’m barely keeping up now that I’m on the job. Sounds like it’s starting to get really good. Thanks to all commenters for keeping it going.
10:30 am Conyers opening
Clears photographers out of the way. By vote of 32-6 Monica granted immunity, secured from the chief judge of the DC District Court. Just because she was granted immunity does not mean she is guilty of anything.
Deeply concerned about improper politicization of DOJ and its impact on the Rule of Law.
10:35-10:37 Lamar Smith R- TX Ranking Minority Water Carrier
20 witnesses already ...trying to link USA dismissals to Rove & Miers. Goodling never had contact with them. Dismissals were for performance reasons or to offer the position to another qualified candidate. Bleh ....wasting our time talking about this USA issue having legs and Dems trying to graft new legs on...??? [My first WTF? moment]
Introduction of Monica's lawyer - Mr. Dowd of Akin Gump (someone said he looks like Deputy Dawg)
10:42 Conyers asks first question: Something like, "Who made the list of USAs to be fired?"
Monica responds...on advice of my attorney I take the fifth, sixth, etc..... [WTF? #2]
OK no problem, that turns out to be part of the procedure for granting immunity. Witness takes the fifth and then Conyers reads from judge's order to grant immunity. She must answer all further questions.
10:46 Monica’s remarks - in high pitched chipmunk voice.
1. Denies that she withheld information from Deputy AG McNulty. Says deputy was not candid in his testimony (i.e. LIED) and was holding back information she briefed him on. Said she accompanied him to the hearing but then was asked to leave because it could complicate matters if she was recognized as the White House liaison. So she took a taxi back to her office.
2. Although she was the WH liaison she was not the primary contact for the USA firings. It was Kyle Sampson who went to the WH. She did have some convo’s with members of the WH staff.
3. She doesn’t know why the atty’s were fired.
4. In her role as hiring applicants she admits she went too far in asking political questions.
5. Waaaah! I’m a good person. Everyone on the Internet is saying bad things about me. Crying. :-(
Conyers – Asks about David Iglesias. Who put his name on the list?
Answer: 1-2-3 all together now! "I don’t know".
11:00 – 11:03 Lamar Smith again
You’re a good girl. Doing public service... wah wah wah
11:03 Linda Sanchez D-CA
Q: What did you brief McNulty on and what specifically did you think he was holding back?
A: Says he did everything he could to downplay the role of the WH, although an officer from the WH did sign off on the firing list.
11:09 Chris Cannon R-UT
[WTF? #3] Reading LA Times op-ed from 3/23/07. Talking about Murtha & Pelosi, ethical reform, and making Soprano jokes. FILLIBUSTER!
Interrupted – "parliamentary inquiry"
Cannon continues...culture of corruption... yadda yadda yadda.
11:15 Another Dem (didn’t catch who) yields his time to Linda Sanchez so we can "get back to relevant questioning"
Sanchez back to asking about McNulty’s testimony. Asks Monica to whom at the DOJ she voiced her concerns that McNulty’s hearing did not go well. Monica named Wilma Shella and someone named Ellston.
11:21 Sensenbrenner R-WI
USA appointed for 4 years. La la la... this is just a fishing expedition with no fish in the water.
11:24 Jerry Nadler D- NY
Q: Since you asserted the 5th amendment what crimes are you aware of that made you want to take the 5th?
MG regrets that she asked applicants about political affiliation.
Q: Anyone else aware that you asked these questions?
A: Yes. For the immigration judges. Later a freeze was put on hiring.
11:30 Howard Coble R-NC
USAs serve at the "pleasure of the president". Who is responsible for evaluating performance? What is your role serving as WH liaison?
A: Hiring political appointees and....Morale boosting! Giving DOJ staffers access to cool WH events like meeting the Stanley Cup winners and GWB landing in Marine I.
11:35 Bobby Scott D-VA
On the Criminal Justice subcommittee. Interested in telling the truth. Says these partisan political decisions emphasize that loyalty to the administration is more important than loyalty to rule of law.
To MG: You accused others of not telling the truth. Do you believe it’s legal to ask political questions of job candidates?
MG finally admits that she crossed the line of civil service LAWS, "but I didn’t meant to!"
11:41 Elton Gallegly R-CA
Another repug gasbag...I got nothing.
Pulled this comment from the thread: sounds about right to me...
Gallegly confuses everybody, including self (4+ / 0-)
asks confusing questions. Upshot: USAs absolutely not fired for political reasons. O no! Never!!
by MyBrainWorks
11:47 Mel Watt D-NC
Points out that MG said she never recommended any names be added or removed from the USA firing list. However Kyle Sampson testified otherwise.
11:53 Dan Lungren R- CA
Bleh. Another filibuster. MG doing such a great job testifying today. Thank you for your service ...
Yeccch.
11:59 Zoe Lofgren D-CA
Asked MG about the kind of questions she asked political appointees. Like, who they voted for. Don’t civil service rules apply? i.e., there is no litmus test for these positions.
Citizen Oversight: Congressional Committees Project
by On The Bus on Wed May 23, 2007 at 01:31:09 PM PDT
[ Parent | Reply to This |Recommend Troll ]
The testimony is slowly wrapping up, so use this thread to talk about all the squeaking, huge pauses and slippery recollections of Ms. Goodling.
And please post some good jokes about Lungren. I do not like that guy.