Cross-posted at Some Notes on Living. Do stop by sometime.
Today was a happy day for many of us, as the House Judiciary committee approved a recommendation for the House as a whole to vote on Contempt charges for former WH legal counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten.
Tucked into the bottom of the AP story on this, however, I saw:
A senior Democratic official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the House itself likely would take up the citations after Congress' August recess. The official declined to speak on the record because no date had been set for the House vote.
Why wait? It seems to me the Dems would be passing on a golden opportunity to make WH intransigence the story of the summer.
Now, personally, given the grave nature of our current situation as a country, I like many of you would prefer to see the Congress skip the August recess this year. From Davidslanes' diary on the subject:
Continue the investigations.
Debate bills.
Heck, do all nighters twice a week as the Republicans filibuster.
Let's frame the August working session as a match to what our troops are doing in Iraq, fighting for the American people in 120 degree weather.
This is the first summer when the Democrats are in charge of Congress in a time of this Iraq war. Let's show Republicans and this President that we don't take recesses while our troops are at war!
We could devote all of August's bills towards Iraq and the troops and brand the effort with such a statement like, "if our soldiers have to work in 120 degree weather and we want the Iraq Parliment to be in session throughout August, then we can be in session too when it is only 90 degrees in Washington."
I'm sure the families of our congress men and women can forgo vacations in a time of WAR!
Lastly, another poster pointed out that the Democrats are doing so well at fundraising, it might be beneficial not to let the Republicans go home to fundraise and catch up.
All great reasons. But, given the fact that Congresscritters tend to think just a bit more about their own personal lives and comforts then what is good for our country, I'm not going to hold my breath on this one.
Rather, we should insist that the House vote on the Subpoenas for former and current WH officials before the recess. Why let the stories die down? Why remove the momentum that we have in the media on these issues? Why give the hacks over on the other side more time to pen up opinions which argue against Congress' position?
It seems clear to me that the contempt charge vote in front of the whole house will fall along party lines. This is the Dem leaderships' opportunity to show that they are moving the agenda along as quick as possible, given the time for pursuing the wrongdoing of this admin. is running out (also known as, the president's strategy for survival).
What would the downside to getting this vote in before the recess be, exactly? Is there a question of whether or not we can get the votes? I can't see how this would be possible.
We don't have time to waste, voting now is a clear winner for us in the media, and waiting to vote is a clear loser. Please, call and write the Dem leadership today - tell them that this vote needs to take place pronto!
Cheers