Live Blog #12 - Gonzales Hearing

This diary provides live-blogging of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing involving Alberto Gonzales.
This is #12 of the series.

Part 13 is Here

Please recommend new live blog diaries and unreccommend any old diaries.

Part 11
Ellicat's excellent pre-game summary

Television coverage is now on C-Span3, which will carry the full hearing.

Internet Video
C-Span 3
Real Audio
Windows Media

Audio Only
CapitolHearings.org

No pictures please as a courtesy for dial-up users.
New diary starts when current one reaches around 250 comments.

Here's a summary of what happened before the lunch break, courtesy of Magorn

Overture:  Pat Leahy lays to the wood to the AG says flat out that it looks like he lied under oath.

Surprise support from Arlen Spector who tells Gonzales that he regards this as a re-confirmation hearing, and that his job is in jeopardy.  Goes into full prosecutorial cross-examination mode about halfway through his questioning.  The "I don't recalls" start flying.

Brownback, and most especially Hatch, play loyal party toadies and try to run interference for Gonzo, but even then he's busy turning their lifelines into a noose.  Brownback lets Gonzales opine on EXACTLY why each of the removed were dismissed.  His answers feel like something hastily cobbled together ex post facto from the personnel files. ( They will in my opinion come back to haunt him badly)  eg. One of the attys had "management Issues" which Gonzo defined as the fact that the US Atty  brought in one of Justice's staff mediators to resolve a personnel dispute in the office (Eg what he was SUPPOSED To do under government HR rules)

Cornyn throws all shame to the wind and even busts out the utterly Tired "b-b-but Clinton" talking point and then promptly changes the subject to inquire about Rush Limbaugh's pet cause:  the Border guards who went to jail for shooting a drug dealer in the back.

Leahy smacks down the talking point- HARD

Feinstein then brings the thunder and lays the wood to Gonzo on both sneaking in the replacement provision in the Bill, and most especially the firing of Carol Lam.   Gonzo begins sounding like an Amnesiac version of Porky Pig.

Feingold gets to the heart of the matter: that these firings have severely damaged the credibility and appearance of impartiality of Justice as a whole.

Schumer that smacks the HELL out of Gonzo over the NC Atty firing and the e-mail where his deputy essentially lays out a plan to sneak Rove's guy in there and then stall congress on the confirmation hearing.  

Next Graham tried to rehabilitate Gonzo without appearing too sympathetic, but in the end gave up in disgust.

To today's live-blog diarists:

• Link back to the previous diary only.  


• Copy the remaining diary volunteers list into your new diary entry.

Part 13: FleetAdmiralJ
Part 14: fanaa
Part 15: bewert
Part 16: mardish
Part 17: Uniter
Part 18: joanneleon
Part 19: Abraham Running for Congress when I turn 25
Part 20: bumblebums
Part 21: litigatormom
Part 22:
Part 23:
Part 24:
Part 25:

If you would like to volunteer, please reply to my first comment to be added to the list.

The only witness today will be Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

Committee Members:

Patrick J. Leahy
CHAIRMAN, D-VERMONT

Edward M. Kennedy               Arlen Specter
D-MASSACHUSETTS                RANKING MEMBER, R-PENNSYLVANIA

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.                Orrin G. Hatch
D-DELAWARE                          R-UTAH

Herb Kohl                               Charles E. Grassley
D-WISCONSIN                        R-IOWA

Dianne Feinstein                    Jon Kyl
D-CALIFORNIA                        R-ARIZONA

Russell D. Feingold                 Jeff Sessions  
D-WISCONSIN                         R-ALABAMA

Charles E. Schumer                 Lindsey Graham
D-NEW YORK                           R-SOUTH CAROLINA

Richard J. Durbin                     John Cornyn
D-ILLINOIS                             R-TEXAS

Benjamin L. Cardin                  Sam Brownback
D-MARYLAND                           R-KANSAS

Sheldon Whitehouse               Tom Coburn
D-RHODE ISLAND                     R-OKLAHOMA

•  Gonzo is pwn3d!!!

  No Pics, Please!

  Also...please Unrecommend all previous threads.

  (Note to Catte Nappe, means are the ends -- please Un-TR Argus Run's comment, the picture is gone!  Thanks.)

  by MKinTN on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:04:43 PM PDT

  •  Thanks. You didn't have to do that..

    It's so odd. I wound up getting major mojo from that whole fiasco.

    by ArgusRun on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12:53 PM PDT

  •  Does Anyone Here Work?

    Maybe this 21932193 part series would be better in an IRC chat room because as much as I love Gonzo 21832183 recommended diaries Live blogging this with minimal analysis kind of clogs up the Diary List...

    by itsenbay on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:17:19 PM PDT

    •  Well, if we un-rec old diaries it's not too bad.

      This live blog is a bit unusual being so important a hearing...but usually our live blogging has worked very well.

      by Dunvegan on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:41:28 PM PDT

•  Whitehouse grilling Gonzo

  ```
  peace
  
  

  by peace voter on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:05:31 PM PDT

  •  More a lecture so far

    I don't see it leading to the 'Perry Mason' moment.  

    He's done.  

    by deepsouthdoug on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:06:52 PM PDT

•  If anyone gets an answer, it will be Whitehouse.

  I think I'll name my next cat Sheldon.

  by highfive on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:05:41 PM PDT

  •  I think you set the bar too low :-) nt.

    by Yellow Canary on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:17:40 PM PDT

•  Coburn kicks Gonzo to the Curb!

  More accurately, that's the GOP "we're trying to clean up Washington, too!" angle.

  by cskendrick on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:06:25 PM PDT

•  Whooops...

  Kyl.

  by mayan on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:06:31 PM PDT

  •  What a buzz-kyl :)

    by cskendrick on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:07:15 PM PDT

•  Whitehouse Should be President

  Clear concise and on point

  by drational on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:06:33 PM PDT

  •  Whitehouse for White House?

    Road-tested for the first time here (or perhaps not)?

    by thingamabob on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:14:08 PM PDT

    •  Not

      I heard it when he was running for Senator!

      by fabooj on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:17:50 PM PDT

      •  I expected as much

        But I still couldn't resist.

        by thingamabob on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:22:02 PM PDT

    •  Campaign slogan

      During the Senate campaign was "Finally, a Whitehouse in Washington you can trust".

      by Aexia on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:17:55 PM PDT

  •  At least should be in the White House

    by frogmarchbush on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:16:07 PM PDT

•  Admiral Byng

  John Byng (October 29, 1704 – March 14, 1757) was a British Admiral who was court-martialled and executed for failing to "do his utmost" during the Battle of Minorca, at the beginning of the Seven Years' War.

  History from Whitehouse's comment.

  by Magnifico on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:06:40 PM PDT

  •  More on Byng - scapegoat

    More, possibly more important regarding Admiral Byng:

    The severity of the penalty and the suspicion that he was used as a scapegoat led in time to a reaction in favour of Byng. It became commonplace to say that he was put to death for an error of judgment.

    by Magnifico on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12:13 PM PDT

•  Kyl up next

  by FleetAdmiralJ on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:07:00 PM PDT

•  Is Kyl going to continue the

  smackdown? He seems to be continuing on that theme.

  by shayera on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:07:09 PM PDT

•  Kyl is going after him

  Resignation immediately following hearing.

  by nogamez on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:07:11 PM PDT

•  "Every so often you have to hang an admiral ...

  ..just to keep the others in line." (sic)

  Oh man - I love Whitehouse.  He can defend me any day.

  by Ninepatch on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:07:18 PM PDT

  •  Did a United States Senator ...

    just say we need to hang the Attorney General?

    by Jon Meltzer on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:08:18 PM PDT

    •  Just up to the point of organ failure, of course.

      by Starve2Act on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:02 PM PDT

      •  I wish that were funny.

        I want to laugh, and then I remember where it comes from.  That is some seriously black humor, my friend.

        by b2witte on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:44 PM PDT

        •  "Black" is the only kind

          you get with the Bush Administration.  it makes me nostalgic for my high school days and "Old Mother Reagan" jokes.

          by Starve2Act on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:16:41 PM PDT

    •  Not, just a literary reference

      to enhance his point.  Although, I could be persuaded to make gonzo walk the plank - right out of the chamber and into a jail.

      A girl can hope, no?

      by Ninepatch on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:15 PM PDT

    •  He's saying AG did this

      Is he saying that the Attoryney General, at teh behest of Karl Rove, is hanging USA's to make a point to the others? Or that Gonzales has to go to make a point? Both?

      by bethcf4p on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:40:22 PM PDT

  •  Whitehouse ROCKS!!!

    Whitehouse for the White House!!!!

    by litigatormom on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:16:17 PM PDT

•  Whitehouse is good.

  On point.

  by satchmo76 on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:07:21 PM PDT

•  OK guys.. Let's catch ABU in lunch coma..

  and permanently put him into a political coma.

  Next up, Boy King his evil pupetteer.

  by 4democracy on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:07:48 PM PDT

  •  Just please do not

    send him back to the office of the Counsel to the President!

    by Compost On The Weeds on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:51 PM PDT

•  good work everyone

  thanks for doing this.

  i can't keep up but at least i have some inkling what's going on while i'm at work.

  by JLongs on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:07:49 PM PDT

•  Whitehouse for SCOTUS!

  Calling out Fredo on interrupting public corruption cases by removal of USAs. This guy is terrific!

  by Jennifer Clare on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:08:07 PM PDT

•  I'm not sure that Kyl...

  Will be abu's friend either...I think he was pissed off about the Arizona filing.

  by mayan on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:08:10 PM PDT

  •  Kyl just gave Abu a cookie

    stating that it's wrong for "some" to expect the DOJ to prove a negative...to prove that there wasn't improper firings. Did he just say that, or is my understanding flawed?

    by Lisa Lockwood on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:46 PM PDT

    •  I was SO wrong.

      I'm sorry.  Mistakes were made.  Kyl played true to form.  Don't fire me.

      by mayan on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:21:24 PM PDT

•  Whitehouse

  W: serve at pleasure of pres - rhetoric, highly misleading.  misses the point. these people make tough decisions, out there on their own, want to protect them from political environment.  this was not customary practice, agree:

  G: yes I agree.  structures and traditions are important

  W: second piece of the structure i think is important, enormous majority of prosec authorithy has been dispersed to men and women from the local community, and they go back to that community.  second is that they have to get a senator to sign off on the appt, when those things happen it creates a corps of practicality, common sense, i consider to be of huge value to this country...

  W: ask you to comment on dispersion, important and s/b protected

  G:  do think its valuable, think USAs should feel protected, however, wrt policies and priorities, this pres..

  W: i'll spot you that, but there's a counterbalance to that - when you go to lam and say you're fired, some of which are pretty evil, esp since she was known as premiere USA... you can't let the policy question run away with the issue, can't see anywehre that this was considered in this situation

  G: it's import for amer people to understand that even when there's a change in the USA the cases continue

  W: i know that... we should further agree with what an improper reason for removing a USA should be.  your def of improper is almost the same as sampsons - an effort to interfere with or influence a particular case for partisan political advantage.  i think that the def of where impropriety lies, that would be improper.  but i think you've set the bar too low.  i think any effort to add any partisan political into that office... you've set the bar that it's not improper until it affects a particular case

  G: the focus in my mind was to focus on what is the legal standard - what would be improper

  W: but sometihng alot less than that would be improper right?  if you hang a USA every once in awhile... you have to agree that would be improper (like the example "you have to hang an admiral once in awhile...")

  ...

  W: it's more than just a mgmt issue - when the AG says that impropriety happens when partisan issues used to affect a particular case, that's a problem

  by joanneleon on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:08:24 PM PDT

•  Kyl is piling on

  Where were these people when Gonzalez was orignially confirmed?  Why couldn't they grill this nincompoop like this, back then?

  by mdgarcia on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:08:29 PM PDT

  •  Elections

    Elections have consequences.

    by Nina Katarina on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:16 PM PDT

  •  Actually, he's not

    He just called Schumer a "conspiracy theorist" and said he was trying to get the Justice Department to "prove a negative".  Now he's using up time talking about shit unrelated to the hearing.  He got the memo from Karl, I believe.

    by geordie on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:25 PM PDT

    •  yep. i jumped the gun on that one.

      by mdgarcia on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:17:03 PM PDT

  •  What a bloody wanker

    His constituents should be ashamed...

    by Tux the Penguin on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:23 PM PDT

    •  we are :(

      by buddabelly on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:14:12 PM PDT

      •  ditto n/t

        by redcardphreek on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:54:41 PM PDT

•  And Gonzo still has to hang on for another round.

  Is Schumer vying for a rematch?

  by countrycat on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:08:48 PM PDT

•  Whitehouse

  W  USAs can be fired at will by the president - its true, but its use as a rhetorical source is misleading because we both know there is a tradition of independence, once appointed, they are left to do their jobs and that practice is left for good reason.  Can't just say the p resident has the power; it misses the point.  the idea that willy-nilly senior staff can come out and (cause resignations...)  can we agree on that?

  AG  (yes; it is important)

  W  although you as AG is in command, there is very little prosecution that comes out; is disbursed in 93 districts; they are from the local community and when they are done, they go back to that community.  They have to have a senator to sign off on them, and the whole senate and the president.  It creates a corps of responsibility of experience - is a huge value to this country.  How this was handled is highly destructive to this.  Do you think this is a structural component..that has value and should be protected?

  AG  does have value; USAs should be independent to prosecute based on the evidence.   POTUS is elected based on...

  W  When you make a decision, there is a counterbalance (talks of Lam); there is a consequence.  It sends a rough message.  In the balancing, .., you can't let the policy question run away from the issue.  

  AG  no question that we have to take into account how decisions affect ongoing cases.  Even if there is a change at the top, the cases continue.  

  W  definition of the improper reason - is almost exactly the same as sampson's.  He said they i include a reason to interfere or influence prosecution of a case for partisan advantage.  You loaded up those words and used them repeatedly.  I think you set the bar way low for yourself if that is your standard of impropriety.  Any effort for political intervention, is something we need to react to firmly strongly..

  AG  because of the accusations of something improper, that's why the focus in my mind was "what is the legal standard", what would be improper

  W  but something a lot less than that would be improper, would it not?  If you hang a USA just to discourage others, you would have to agree this would be improper

  AG  Some would wonder is that an improper way to manage a dept.; they have had their 4 years, not improper.  

  W  its more than just a management issue; issue about the structure, when its broken, damaged..I have a real problem with that.

  by Ellicatt on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:10 PM PDT

•  We have limited information in Main justice

  About ongoing cases"

  except of course for the 50 emails pertaining to forcing Charlton to seek death penalty the DOJ produced for this inquiry.

  by drational on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:13 PM PDT

•  Kyl starting to shift over to helping Gonzo now

  by FleetAdmiralJ on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:20 PM PDT

•  asdf

  New threads coming fast and furious.  

  by BDA in VA on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:22 PM PDT

•  a conspiracy theory?

  well the GOP Senators are well versed in those

  by kimoconnor on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:23 PM PDT

•  Kyl was surprisingly tough here

  but now WTF is he talking about?????

  Internet Gambling? Jesus Christ on a Pogo Stick! STFU!!!!

  by Timroff on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:31 PM PDT

  •  He's shocked!

    He's Shocked! Shocked! That there's gambling, er, politics going on in this establishment.

    by Nina Katarina on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:03 PM PDT

  •  Yes, before deciding to screw around for a while

    by Diggs on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:54 PM PDT

  •  Shiny thing! Lookie lookie! n/t

    by DanC on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:56 PM PDT

  •  Maybe he wants to know the odds on AG

    resigning.

    by nightsweat on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12:17 PM PDT

•  LEAVE MY OFFSHORE GAMBLING ALONE!!!

  I'm still pissed about that.

  by malharden on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:55 PM PDT

  •  I'm against gambling

    ...but this jerk has interfered with my poker obsession.

    by Scarce on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:52 PM PDT

•  What in the world is Kyl blathering about?

  by MrBoomer on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:09:56 PM PDT

  •  WTF? (n/t)

    by pink panther on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:26 PM PDT

  •  the old Internet Gambling filibuster trick!

    n/t

    by inclusiveheart on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12:13 PM PDT

•  Kyl....shut up...

  let's get back to the grilling!!!

  by kriser on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:03 PM PDT

  •  He's giving Abu some cudos and

    another breather to rebuild some semblance of "non-flustery".

    by madgranny on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12:26 PM PDT

•  Um, WTF Kyl?

  by funluvn1 on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:11 PM PDT

  •  Is Kyl trying to drive away the audience

    by boring them?

    by lysias on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:09 PM PDT

    •  Yep n/t

      by geordie on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:13:19 PM PDT

•  WTF is Kyl talking about?! Geez...

  Set up a meeting next week? Gambling laws?

  by Diggs on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:12 PM PDT

  •  Send an email to the new AG next week, dumb ass

    speaking to Kyl of course.

    by PatsBard on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:06 PM PDT

    •  Just don't ask him to produce that email later

      by Diggs on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:13:12 PM PDT

•  FUCK!

  Kyl is using this time to fucking PRAISE AG for his "internet gambling" work!

  WTF???

  we come to bury AG, not to praise him!

  by condoleaser on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:13 PM PDT

  •  Kyl

    Ultimate dumbass.

    by mojavefog on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:26:18 PM PDT

•  Internet Gambling? Get back on topic please. n/t

  by kN3eLb4Z0d on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:19 PM PDT

•  Kyl pleasures Gonzo

  With obsequious, irrelevant crap.

  by FishOutofWater on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:21 PM PDT

  •  We'v egot to admitll, you

    by kck on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:04 PM PDT

•  jeezus christ

  talk about a life raft...

  by guyermo on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:30 PM PDT

•  re

  Kyl: Gambiling?

  WHAT THE FUDGE!!!????????????????????????????????????!!!!!!!

  What a TOOL.

  by cookiesandmilk on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:31 PM PDT

•  Now Kyl is asking about things not even relevent

  to the hearing

  by FleetAdmiralJ on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:32 PM PDT

•  boooooooo

  Bullshit law. Bullshit. Not to be celebrated. USA is facing WTO sanctions due to this shitty law.

  by Politburo on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:34 PM PDT

•  Who

  is next?

  by BDA in VA on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:36 PM PDT

•  What is Kyl doing?

  Setting up his appointment calendar?  I think this is called...changing the subject.

  by miriam on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:37 PM PDT

  •  Running out the clock, of course.

    by Jennifer Clare on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12:22 PM PDT

•  Off Topic

  Kyl is totally off topic. What the hell?

  by orphanpower on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:40 PM PDT

  •   Floodgates: while we're OT

    Let's ask about:
    TORTURE
    GITMO
    HABEAS CORPUS
    NSA SPYING
    And Gee whiz, Abu,since you're under oath, is there anythingelse illegal going on at DoJ?

    by kamarvt on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:20:17 PM PDT

•  now on to illegal gambling

  and giving Gonzo a break. What a guy!

  by kimoconnor on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:41 PM PDT

•  Internet Gambling ?????

  Softball question!!!  just give Gonzo some flowers. . .

  by arogue7 on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:41 PM PDT

•  "Internet Gambling?" What the Fwack?!?!

  Am I listening to the right hearing?

  by Omen on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:44 PM PDT

•  Kyl is talking about internet gambling.

  Hahaha!  Real important stuff, there Kyl.  Much more important than investigating corruption, right?

  by Five of Diamonds on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:51 PM PDT

  •  Internet gambling is teh evil

    it allows for money laundering, and that's our job.

    by Uniter on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:13:09 PM PDT

•  Kyl lauding Gonzo's resume...

  thanks him for conversing with him on victim's of crime and sets up a meeting for next week. Also, taking time to thank him for cracking down on internet gambling! What's this have to do with the investigation???

  by Wide Awake in NJ on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:51 PM PDT

  •  Abu isn't even doing a decent job

    of fielding the softball questions.

    by madgranny on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:16:34 PM PDT

•  Why

  is Sen. Kyl acting like Abu is going to be the AG next week?  Dumbass.

  by J Royale on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:53 PM PDT

  •  blowing kisses

    by sooner on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:16 PM PDT

•  I guess Gonzo still has Kyl because

  now Kyl is going on about how great he is on internet gambling - of course that is the most important and pressing issue at this time in the nation's history.

  This is the strangest filibuster I've ever heard at a hearing.  Kyl is reading the regulations on internet gambling.  Is Kyl insane?  Trully bizarre.

  by inclusiveheart on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:10:59 PM PDT

•  Whitehouse was impressive

  I really like how he vociferously stressed how improper it was to destroy the independence of the justice department from the executive branch.

  Gonzales was a scared little puppy in the face of truth.  It was a spectacle to watch!

  (And now Kyl is being typical republican pansie over this important issue.......whats the point of him talking)

  by mehamo on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:03 PM PDT

•  Kyl supports Gonzo

  Thanks, (fellate) you can't prove a negative on their "conspiracy theories", (fellate) Call me, (fellate) Internet gambling - bad, (fellate)

  by Uniter on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:03 PM PDT

  •  Happy Ending...

    and......CUT!

    by ebradlee10 on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:24:57 PM PDT

•  "Will you set those meetings for me next week?"

  Sure... if I'm still working here ...

  by AmyVVV on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:05 PM PDT

•  the hell?

  What a stupid diversion this is.

  Asshole.

  by bumblebums on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:08 PM PDT

  •  Too bad Leahy doesn't TR for OT comments.

    by kck on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:12:29 PM PDT

•  gambling???

  Did MSNBC suddenly shift to a different hearing?

  wtf?

  Lisa

  by Boston to Salem on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:09 PM PDT

•  I thought Cornyn was a shill when he suggested

  that CLinton had done the same sort of firing, but now Kyl is asking AG to help him set up a meeting and now is talking about gamgling on the internets. Unbelievable. If only McCain was there to ask AG how much he thought that big sow at the ag fair weighed.

  by Spud1 on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:11 PM PDT

•  I want to scream!

  by friendlyfire on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:12 PM PDT

•  "Tray-sury"?

  by Fatherflot on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:13 PM PDT

•  Ahem, Leahy. Can we stick to the matters at hand?

  Please.

  by highfive on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:16 PM PDT

  •  Senators can use their alloted time any way

    they want.  Kyl chose to use his time to make himself look like derranged and confused Senator who thinks that he is in a commerce hearing or something.

    by inclusiveheart on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:28:31 PM PDT

•  Can Khyl sink any lower in his defense

  of Abu?  TOOL.  

  by vigilant meerkat on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:18 PM PDT

•  Did I just

  have a mini-stroke or something??  What the hell is Kyl talking about off-shore gambling for when this is supposed to be an OVERSIGHT hearing??

  by Dreaming of Better Days on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:11:21 PM PDT

  •  Where's Leahy?!

    Kyl should be gavelled down and told this is not germane to the purpose of this hearing.  This is insane and bizarre.  I think we're all having strokes over this except for Kyl and Gonzo!

    by 3goldens on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:13:28 PM PDT

  •  To create the impression

    and to make it clear that Abu will be around next week?  But my god, he made the point and continues on.  This is amazing.  Just eating his time.  A protest of sorts I guess.

    by vigilant meerkat on Thu Apr 19, 2007 at 12:14:15 PM PDT

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