Live Blog # VI Goodling -- House Judiciary Committee Don't Recommend

DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BLOG
Refer back to Master blog for all links and Recommend Master Blog HERE

See drational's diary on Goodling's Pre-Testimony Analysis for brilliant analysis.

You can tune in to

.C-Span3 for brilliant analysis.

Reminder:  Please, NO PICUTRES as they bog down the diary for those on dial-up.

A new Liveblog diary will be up at around 250 comments, watch for the link in the comments.

List of Volunteers following this diary:

1. Liveblog

2. donnamarie

3. asimbagirl

4. joanneleon

5. shayera

6. gchaucer2

7. Crashing Vor

8. boofdah

9. kate petersen

10. roadette

11. on the bus

12. Miss Blue

13. Sassy

14.
15.
16.
17.

18. fabooj

19.
20.

If you can volunteer for an open space, please indicate your preference after the first comment.  Thank you.

•  Go Maxine!

  Research when @ Repub?

  by Kdoug on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:26:10 AM PDT

•  Tips and yawns.

  by gchaucer2 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:26:11 AM PDT

  •  We need Volunteers.

    Please post below if you can whip together a quick diary for the open slots.
    Thanks for putting up this diary, gchaucer2 ;-).

    by donnamarie on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:27:21 AM PDT

    •  I have one ready.

      Let me know if you need it.

      by Marcus Tullius on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:28:14 AM PDT

    •  I'll pick up

      another one if needed.  Will prepare one now.

      by gchaucer2 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:35 AM PDT

      •  Don't think you can

        You are limited to one diary a day and this one counts as yours for today. Unless you are expecting this to go on through midnight?

        by pucklady on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:57 AM PDT

        •  sheesh thanks for the reminder! n/t

          by gchaucer2 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:43:04 AM PDT

    •  Just mentioned below

      I'll move up to 14 if need be.

      by fabooj on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:47 AM PDT

  •  Don't REC this thang

    by RF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:05 AM PDT

    •  OT-You're so funny

      I think you've put this in every diary so far.  Good work.  Carry on.

      by donnamarie on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:36:39 AM PDT

      •  yeah

        and I think it finally started working, last diary.

        by JLongs on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:46:40 AM PDT

      •  Really hoping to see Zero RECS, buttttt

        Not yet...

        I nearly cried tears down my chest arms and legs when whomever got control of the LIVE blogging process of REC

        I bashfully thought of the vry same thing,   butt said NOTHING-

        Least I can do, as I thought the plan would crash and burn...

        Nvr underestimate the pwr of this community to straighten itself out!

        by RF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 10:15:19 AM PDT

        •  I see zero rec's

          Once I removed mine. I got to the game late and recommended out of habit.

          by Tomtech on Wed May 23, 2007 at 10:38:50 AM PDT

          •  Yeah, I would guess habit is what is causing it..

            Butt so far this new "liveBlogging" is easier to track, while one toils away working...

            by RF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 11:14:03 AM PDT

•  Used oppo research in decisions n/t

  by Sassy on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:26:37 AM PDT

•  A few real questions

  by cohe on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:26:48 AM PDT

•  I think

  Goodling: I think I had conversations with Scott Jennings

  by cohe on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:27:38 AM PDT

•  Waters should ask Goodling

  to define what constitutes "negative" when she was conducting her "research" on AG appointments.

  by RenaRF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:27:47 AM PDT

•  At Least She Has

  a better memory than her boss.

  by Hear Our Voices on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:27:51 AM PDT

  •  having immunity as long as she tells the truth

    helps jog the brain cells :D

    by UniC on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:04 AM PDT

•  Thanks ghaucer2 very quick

  by Its any one guess on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:28:30 AM PDT

•  Maxine- Did you document your research?

  Do you have files using your opposition skills?

  by cohe on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:28:35 AM PDT

•  They have NO HR department

  for vetting ploticial appointees?!

  Really?!

  and instead, they vetted the highest levevl people in the DOJ by saying "Hey, lets let that White house liason chick figure it out"?

  Yeeaaahh right.

  by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:28:45 AM PDT

  •  No, it's career staff

    Prior to Bush, career staff would choose the most qualified career staff - since careerists serve regardless of whatever President is in office.

    Schedule C political appointees become eligible for the preference after about 1 year. White House staffers have I think 3 years.  

    by mini mum on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:59 AM PDT

    •  exactly

      but that's not what happened inthe Bush WH according to Monica

      by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:38:29 AM PDT

      •  Yes, that's right n/t

        by mini mum on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:38:52 AM PDT

•  One Bush Admin Motto:

  "No files allowed"

  by RenaRF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:28:46 AM PDT

•  Maxine is great

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:28:56 AM PDT

•  Maxine is so calm and intelligent

  She is tearing Monica to shreds! Monica actually just squeaked--literally!

  by Jennifer Clare on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:20 AM PDT

•  Darrel Issa: speaking of crybabies.

  by reef the dog on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:23 AM PDT

•  "My opinion would not be relevant"

  OMG.  There's an understatement.

  by mini mum on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:28 AM PDT

•  Issa...yuck n/t

  by Sassy on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:35 AM PDT

  •  The second (or third?)

    embarassingly partisan and inept CA GOP committee member.  Guess the voters in their district have no interest in the truth or holding any Republican responsible for crimes.  What happened to "Rule of Law! Rule Law" that these thugs were chanting a few years ago.  

    by Marie on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:50 AM PDT

•  Monica's voice is cracking.

  LOVE Maxine.

  by boofdah on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:46 AM PDT

  •  Maxine Waters establishes....

    ...that DOJ has been unresponsive to the document demand.

    by MediaFreeze on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:14 AM PDT

•  Barf.

  Daryl "How's My Hair" Issa.

  by RenaRF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:47 AM PDT

•  I'm home

  The girl is at school, the baby doesn't need diapers, I can move up to 14 if necessary.

  by fabooj on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:49 AM PDT

•  Issa up. Get ready for more

  "you did nothing wrong. This is just a witch hunt."
  He makes me sick!

  by shayera on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:29:58 AM PDT

•  I can't believe that the Republicans

  Are actually trying to push the canard that these USAs were fired for performance reasons.  

  Is that really the best they can do?

  by Conservative Liberal on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:13 AM PDT

•  Hey, it's wingnut Issa

  Here to cover for the firing of Carol Lam.  How nice of him.

  by pontechango on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:13 AM PDT

  •  Keller set the stage for Issa

    and Issa is going to bat clean-up.

    by mini mum on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:39 AM PDT

    •  Issa left her speechless

      Goodling, "Er, I'm afraid I don't have a comment on that"...after he spewed his spiel that she was "often" non-partisan?
      "Isn't it a right of the pres to appoint"...blah blah blah...(I set my warehouse on fire to get the insurance money and got away with it.)

      by Panda on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:36:21 AM PDT

      •  LOL

        I was waiting for him to say "Don't you see I'm trying to help you here?" wink, wink

        by mini mum on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:39:50 AM PDT

        •  He was overly eager

          in his "support" of her. The award though, for most disgusting Republican this morning was Cannon. Issa is a close second.

          by Panda on Wed May 23, 2007 at 10:02:00 AM PDT

•  Hey ya know

  Westlaw has some very detailed billing records that can show you EXACTLy what you looked up.  and THOSE records AREN'T covered by executive privelege at all

  by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:15 AM PDT

  •  Now that's good to know

    but does everybody at DOJ use the same account? It wouldn't be impossible, and would make the records essentially useless.

    There are also plenty of ways to research on Westlaw - if she's still got access to her law school research sites, she could do it from there.

    by mmacdDE on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:44:12 AM PDT

    •  well at MY name gov't agency

      I like everybody else has a unique password and can access my own research trail

      by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 11:14:46 AM PDT

•  Subpoana the RESEARCH

  yeah files, files get the files

  by 313to212 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:15 AM PDT

•  G is willing to express an opinions about the

  constitution, what is reasonable with respect to the president firing USA,'s, but her opinion about whether her notes on opposition research she herself carried out--she doesn't think that would be relevant.

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:33 AM PDT

•  WTF is with Conyers cutting off Waters

  mid-sentence? Now we get to listen to Issa (ugh) kiss Monica's but and insult Carol Lam.

  by Jennifer Clare on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:35 AM PDT

  •  Yes, you just pass a note

    as anyone does in timed presentations at conferences.  Or have a light go on, as they do in court.  Conyers has a way of interrupting that is especially disruptive to the questioners.

    by Cream City on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:33:14 AM PDT

    •  I think the Repugs must be hounding him

      when the time runs out and he responds.  It's only the Dems that he keeps cutting off.  These asshole repukes walk all over Conyers - cause he lets them!  He is great, but he needs assertiveness training!

      by enough already on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:43:47 AM PDT

•  Hey Issa what about gun enforcement laws

  at Va Tech?  Asshole!

  by reef the dog on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:30:46 AM PDT

•  Issa's going after Lam

  Harping on the 20 times arrestee not being prosecuted.

  (Let's ignore all the other good things she's done, M'Kay!?)

  by kfred on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:13 AM PDT

•  And now...

  it's "Let's Drag Carol Lam Through The Mud Time!"

  by Timroff on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:16 AM PDT

•  Issa returns to the harping on Lam

  methinks he doth protest too much.

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:25 AM PDT

•  Yep...its ALL Feinstein's fault

  Because she wrote a SCATHING letter,  3 YEARS before Lam was fired.

  by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:25 AM PDT

•  Issa Helped Smear Lam With Duke Cunningham

  He signed the letter complaining about her with Duke Cunningham

  by bernardpliers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:35 AM PDT

•  Darn it, Conyers cuts off too soon

  He needs to watch the Comey hearing to see that it really, really is okay, when you're the party in power, to make Repugs like Specter whine about questioning going over time.  And yet, the republic still stands.

  by Cream City on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:48 AM PDT

•  Maxine Waters

  W: decisions about who should be retired?

  G: retired? no, no

  W: did you have an HR division to help do that work

  G: no, we didn't have a staff to do that

  W: so you were basically responsible for doing that research

  G: yes

  W: did you ever discuss with rove

  G: no

  W: anyone in his office

  G: think i had conv with jennings or ?

  W: as you reviewed pol appointees, did you discuss w/ rove or his office

  G: would talk to OPA

  W: did you document your research? on file somewhere

  G: didn't really keep that kind of file

  W: do you have files w/ info you gathered doing you research using your opposition research skills

  G: there would be some at doj

  W: can we get them

  G: not decision for me to make

  W: would it be helpful for us to understand by having those files

  G: [squeak] committee would have to take up w/ dept

  by joanneleon on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:31:50 AM PDT

•  Aww.. she's smitten for Issa. How sweet. n/t

  by pontechango on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:32:00 AM PDT

  •  I'll pay good $$ for pictures.

    THAT would finally sink the slimy Issa.

    by RenaRF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:32:47 AM PDT

    •  That guy is total sleaze

      It really came out in the climate change politicization hearings.

      by pontechango on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:33:55 AM PDT

•  And let's ignore what Feinstein says today

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:32:01 AM PDT

•  cutting off questions mid-sentence

  He ought to give a verbal 30-sec warning.

  by Hootenanny on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:32:10 AM PDT

  •  No, a note

    not verbal, which is disruptive.

    This is easily done without verbal disruption.  Done all the time at conferences and other meetings.  Congresspersons need to get out of Congress to see how the rest of the world handles this.

    by Cream City on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:38:15 AM PDT

    •  What?

      Get out of the bubble and move into the 21st century?

      by mmacdDE on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:46:04 AM PDT

      •  Sometimes I think they're afraid

        to get out of the 18th Century, much less the 20th...

        by Timroff on Wed May 23, 2007 at 10:08:44 AM PDT

•  Okay, Now She Knows Why Lam Was Fired!

  by leonard145b on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:32:39 AM PDT

•  Mouse squeeking...

  God, you can see the love in her eyes when she looks at Issa...

  by MediaFreeze on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:32:43 AM PDT

•  So Carol Lam was a bad USA

  because she spent so much time in court trying actual cases?

  by Wandering Hoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:32:58 AM PDT

  •  But Iglesias was a bad attorney

    Because he designated too much

    by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:33:59 AM PDT

•  "Carol Lam is not a Republican, correct?"

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:32:59 AM PDT

•  Except Mr. Issa

  the FBI's raw files are CONFIDENTIAL  and no one not even the DOJ gets to see them

  and IF the FBI did do all that research then why WAS Goodling wasting our time by researching again?

  by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:33:09 AM PDT

•  Goodling Does Opposition Research And Doesn't

  know Lam's party affiliation?

  by leonard145b on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:33:37 AM PDT

•  "has absolute right to make political appointment

  sorry, Issa, the right is not absolute.  You can't break the law.

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:33:48 AM PDT

•  Can't get CSPAN 3

  up can you'all tell me where else to go?

  by Arkydem on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:33:57 AM PDT

  •  washington post

    by Wandering Hoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:50 AM PDT

  •  CSPAn radio online

    by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:36:11 AM PDT

  •  Live webcast here too

    http://judiciary.house.gov/

    by Panda on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:41:18 AM PDT

•  Yeah, I'm sure Issa

  would feel the same way if a Democrat had done what she did.

  by Conservative Liberal on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:06 AM PDT

•  She chose to be...

  nonpartisan "very often".  Well, I choose to obey the law "very often" as well.  It's those few "infrequent" times that getcha.

  by RenaRF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:32 AM PDT

•  Is it me...

  Or does anyone else see Issa as Uncle Arthur's evil twin.  

  by fabooj on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:36 AM PDT

•  can't get cspan 3??

  Try http://judiciary.house.gov/

  by Hootenanny on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:38 AM PDT

•  hands in ears: I can't hear you. la la la la la

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:43 AM PDT

•  Issa: The DOJ Should Enforce Policy Not Law

  It's the right of the Unitary Executive

  by bernardpliers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:44 AM PDT

  •  Was that not amazing???????

    Department of JUSTICE.  Makes you wonder how we got this far down this road.  Yuck.

    by PsychoSavannah on Wed May 23, 2007 at 10:03:54 AM PDT

•  Non Partisan? Even Goodling Is Stumped-Silence!

  Umm, I'm not ure how to answer that.  Yeah right!

  by leonard145b on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:49 AM PDT

•  Is issa testifying?

  He's asking and answering his own questions! What a jerk!!

  by reflectionsv37 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:34:52 AM PDT

  •  "I'll let my response stand".

    Well, good for you Issa.  Totally irrelevant, but whatever floats your boat.

    by RenaRF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:58 AM PDT

  •  Sounds like he is trying to justify himself

    by cohe on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:36:00 AM PDT

  •  I believe

    That's called "leading the witness".  He's like the Rumsfeld of the committee:  "Did you break the law?"  "Golly, no!"

    by fabooj on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:36:00 AM PDT

  •  Congratulations to Issa

    I have to say, his finish was excellent, in the best traditions of modern Republican politicians and propagandists. They truly are the champions of the strawman argument.

    by Smyslov on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:37:11 AM PDT

    •  He learned from HAtch

      the master

      by Glic on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:42:22 AM PDT

•  issa's a dick n/t

  by Albatross on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:06 AM PDT

  •  I thought he was

    a Darrell...

    by mmacdDE on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:49:19 AM PDT

•  except for the niggling detail

  that "policy" is not the purview of the DOJ.  what an ass issa is.

  by Liveblog on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:11 AM PDT

  •  That would make him an

    Assa

    by fabooj on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:40:06 AM PDT

    •  Heh heh n/t

      :)

      by Panda on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:42:44 AM PDT

    •  Assa hole

      by Da Rock on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:56:37 AM PDT

•  Issa: President can choose any USAs he wants

  Someone tell Issa the president isn't allowed to choose attorneys for the purpose of obstructing justice.

  by munky on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:19 AM PDT

•  de la hunt from MA

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:35 AM PDT

•  Delahunt

  He can be great...

  by MediaFreeze on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:38 AM PDT

•  are you guys surprised

  she's been pretty forthcoming?

  by rgdurst on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:54 AM PDT

  •  I'd say her memory has been pretty hazy

    about the topics dems are interested in.  She seems to have a great memory for topics she isn't going to get in trouble over.

    by Dr Colossus on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:42:28 AM PDT

•  You know you said something stupid

  When the witness you are running interference for won't agree with you

  "hey what about all those US atty you DIDN't Fire?"

  is = to

  "hey how come the prosecutors never talk about all those people you DIDN't Murder?  Why all this focus on the ONE you did?"

  by Magorn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:35:55 AM PDT

  •  Totally, my laugh for the day!

    "hey how come the prosecutors never talk about all those people you DIDN't Murder?  Why all this focus on the ONE you did?"

    by Naniboujou on Wed May 23, 2007 at 10:48:01 AM PDT

•  fyi

  Iglesias is doing a live chat here right now

  by BDA in VA on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:36:15 AM PDT

•  Pick Up the Pace, Delahunt

  We aint got all day

  by bernardpliers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:36:42 AM PDT

  •  Just cut her off

    Said, "I have limited time."

    by fabooj on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:37:33 AM PDT

•  OT, about Delanunt (good Dem from MA/good hair)

  white hair, nice Massachusetts accent.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/...

  Talks really slowly today.
  Monica talks really fast with a cute voice and accent (Maryland? Virginia?)

  by LNK on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:36:54 AM PDT

  •  Actually that voice could become quite grating

    over time. In fact, it has already.

    by Rasputin on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:49:49 AM PDT

•  "Maybe you can explain to us why the order from

  the AG bypassed mr. mcnulty...and why he was to be made aware of the process."  

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:37:01 AM PDT

  •  shoud be "not to be made aware"

    by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:37:39 AM PDT

•  Curls are going South

  for Goodling...

  by RF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:37:09 AM PDT

  •  Only straight thing you'll get from her all day

    by Wandering Hoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:39:07 AM PDT

•  Responds to G's bs by asking again, why this spec

  G:  I actually don't think it did create controversy.

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:38:33 AM PDT

•  Delahunt: Why not notify McNulty

  considerable controvery within DOJ (according to article).....Goodling didn't find article accurate.

  Monica (talks too fast to capture):....Mr. Sampson would tell McNulty about the order personally.

  People didn't think it right for deputy to sign off on something that gave him authority (and removed some authority from him).

  Delanut accepts her answer.

  by LNK on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:39:36 AM PDT

•  Delahunt is a former DA...

  BTW.