Darrell Issa has plans. If the GOP should win control of Congress, he will be the Chairman of the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, with subpoena power.
Rep. Darrell Issa, the conservative firebrand whose specialty is lobbing corruption allegations at the Obama White House, is making plans to hire dozens of subpoena-wielding investigators if Republicans win the House this fall.
The California Republican’s daily denunciations draw cheers from partisans and bookings from cable TV producers. He even bought his own earphone for live shots. But his bombastic style and attention-seeking investigations draw eye rolls from other quarters. Now, he’s making clear he won’t be so easy to shrug off if he becomes chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in 2011.
Issa has told Republican leadership that if he becomes chairman, he wants to roughly double his staff from 40 to between 70 and 80. And he is not subtle about what that means for President Barack Obama.
At a recent speech to Pennsylvania Republicans here, he boasted about what would happen if the GOP wins 39 seats, and he gets the power to subpoena.
“That will make all the difference in the world,” he told 400 applauding party members during a dinner at the chocolate-themed Hershey Lodge. “I won’t use it to have corporate America live in fear that we’re going to subpoena everything. I will use it to get the very information that today the White House is either shredding or not producing.”
In other words, Issa wants to be to the Obama administration what Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) was to the Clinton administration — a subpoena machine in search of White House scandals… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Politico.com>
I’m not opposed to responsible investigation of this or any White House. I am opposed to an ongoing witch hunt of the type that the GOP committed in their attempt to discredit Clinton. The key to an effective committee is limiting investigations to areas where there is an actual cause, not just a political cause. During the years when the GOP controlled the House during the Clinton Administration and the Bush Regime, Republicans proved over and over again that they cannot be trusted with this power.
I know that many of my progressive brethren would rather waste their vote in protest on a third party candidate than vote for a Democrat that fails to take progressive stands on every issue. I say that, in the general election, even the worst DINOs are better choices than independents with no chance of winning, because because voting for the latter will help elect Republicans. That Issa bad idea!
After we exterminate (politically, not violently) the GOP alligators, then it will be time to drain the Democratic party swamp.
10 Responses to “GOP Control Issa Bad Idea”
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(worst DeNiro impression ever) You talking to me?
Look, I am all in favor of giving the people what they want. If they want a fascist regime that will pilfer ever single dime out of their (and my) pockets to give to their rich friends, let them have it. At least it will be a white guy (in their mind). I’ll move to Canada.
The Universe only knows how each party will fair in this election. Regardless, I know that it will be our typical low voter turn-out and there will be upsets. I also know that chances are good that in 12 years Issa will still be in the House threatening to do what the canned Bush State Attorneys wouldn’t. Whatever. It’s politics.
All I know is I wish we had one of these guys on the Left, but that would require a spine. A spine is something that the Jellyfish Jackasses sorely lack.
I do know that Congress, and politicians in general, are on a short leash. We are in a recession and we are hurting. This is typically a deadly combination for the party in power. The Jellyfish have not made it very clear that this recession was caused by many of the same Rethuglicans that are still sitting in Congress. Now, if they try, it is just political grandstanding and an election ploy. The Jellyfish have woefully mis-managed their power. I am sorry, but they lose, I will put the blame solely and squarely on them. If they win, I will credit the Rethuglicans for trying to move farther right than the country ever wants to go.
Thanks Otis. I did not even think of my pun as a De Nero impression.
I could not agree more that Congressional Democrats have been spineless for most of Obama’s term and before. They should have impeached Bush and Cheney in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
As for voters., all who do not vote, or who vote without informing themselves, deserve Republican rule.
Issa has visions of Grandeur. We aren’t going to lose 39 house seats. Issa is a douchebag and a power hungry on at that. What an asshole.
Lisa, I think you’re right, but I’m not taking any chances.
I second that Darrell Issa is a douchebag. He led the recall drive against California Governor Gray Davis in 2003. He was hoping to become governor himself after Davis got ousted; Schwarzenegger got the job instead.
So he wants to hire twice as many staff members and subpoena-issuers if Republicans take back the House? I thought Republicans were concerned about saving taxpayers’ dollars, government getting too big and cumbersome. I guess that was last week’s soundbite.
Tom, he also accused Al Wilson and Valerie Plame of perjury.
I saw that Rahm is going to take a harder line against these obstructionist republican bastards finally. Why not use the justice department to subpoena Issa all the time. He had no problem when they were doing it to Clinton. make for great irony.
Me an Obama and Rahm are from Illinois man. Obama and Rahm need to remember that when assholes like Issa start stirring up trouble.
Truth, I’ve been unimpressed with Rahm so far. If anything, his influence on Obama has been negative.
I’m more angry about his refusal to go after corporations myself.
Another wasted attempt at bipartisanship.