Feb 9th, 2012
"He doesn't even like kittens"
Showing posts with label Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Show all posts
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Congressional Theater
Jan 8th, 2012
And a damn clever bit of it as well. National Journal reports via Yahoo:
"In a odd piece of political gamesmanship, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democrats took to an empty House floor on Friday morning to hammer home that they are in Washington to work on extensions of the payroll-tax holiday and unemployment benefits – whileRepublicans are not.
But before they got too far, Republicans in control of the chamber shut off the microphones , the House was gaveled adjourned for the day, and C-SPAN TV was instructed to quit broadcasting the events. Democrats still believed they had made their point, even if Americans at home weren't permitted to see them doing it.
“Where are the Republicans?,” demanded Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., assistant to the minority leader, suddenly entering the chamber with Pelosi and the three of the five House Democratsassigned to the payroll-tax extension conference committee.
“Mr. Speaker, where are the Republicans?” asked Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., in a refrain that others echoed.
But Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif. – serving in the rostrum as the speaker pro tem – immediately declared they were out of order, gaveled the House adjourned over their voices, instructed the stenographer to quit taking down the floor statements for the Congressional Record, and walked away. The microphones were shut down, and C-SPAN TV was instructed to quit broadcasting the events, according to House sources."
And a damn clever bit of it as well. National Journal reports via Yahoo:
"In a odd piece of political gamesmanship, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democrats took to an empty House floor on Friday morning to hammer home that they are in Washington to work on extensions of the payroll-tax holiday and unemployment benefits – whileRepublicans are not.
But before they got too far, Republicans in control of the chamber shut off the microphones , the House was gaveled adjourned for the day, and C-SPAN TV was instructed to quit broadcasting the events. Democrats still believed they had made their point, even if Americans at home weren't permitted to see them doing it.
“Where are the Republicans?,” demanded Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., assistant to the minority leader, suddenly entering the chamber with Pelosi and the three of the five House Democratsassigned to the payroll-tax extension conference committee.
“Mr. Speaker, where are the Republicans?” asked Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., in a refrain that others echoed.
But Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif. – serving in the rostrum as the speaker pro tem – immediately declared they were out of order, gaveled the House adjourned over their voices, instructed the stenographer to quit taking down the floor statements for the Congressional Record, and walked away. The microphones were shut down, and C-SPAN TV was instructed to quit broadcasting the events, according to House sources."
It is becoming increasingly common for the GOP leadership to shut down the people's channel when it isn't showing a controlled message. Perhaps, they have confused C-Span's mission with that of News Corp.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
"Uncharted Ground"
June 9th, 2011
If Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) maintains his resolve not to resign, Ben Pershing of The Washington Post notes that the investigatory process will find itself in potentially murky territory:
"Within hours of Weiner’s public confession Monday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, as the ethics panel is formally known, to launch an investigation. The panel issued a statement the next day, saying, “If and when an investigation is appropriate in any matter, the committee will carry out its responsibilities pursuant to our rules.”
But which rules, exactly?
The word “Twitter” does not appear in the House Code of Official Conduct, nor does “direct message” or “explicit photo.” Infidelity is not referenced, either, and while the means of communication may be new, lawmakers have generally been wary of policing each other’s sexual behavior.
“If the only evidence out there . . . clearly indicated that this was personal conduct only between consenting adults, I just don’t see a reason why the ethics committee would or should take it up,” said Robert L. Walker, the former staff director of both the House and Senate ethics panels. “Even if people think it’s reprehensible conduct, that doesn’t mean it’s an ethics violation.”
The House does have guidelines governing “official electronic communication content,” and rules permitting lawmakers to post content on external Web sites for “official purposes,” but it’s not clear whether Weiner’s Twitter account falls under those categories."
If Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) maintains his resolve not to resign, Ben Pershing of The Washington Post notes that the investigatory process will find itself in potentially murky territory:
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| (via) |
But which rules, exactly?
The word “Twitter” does not appear in the House Code of Official Conduct, nor does “direct message” or “explicit photo.” Infidelity is not referenced, either, and while the means of communication may be new, lawmakers have generally been wary of policing each other’s sexual behavior.
“If the only evidence out there . . . clearly indicated that this was personal conduct only between consenting adults, I just don’t see a reason why the ethics committee would or should take it up,” said Robert L. Walker, the former staff director of both the House and Senate ethics panels. “Even if people think it’s reprehensible conduct, that doesn’t mean it’s an ethics violation.”
The House does have guidelines governing “official electronic communication content,” and rules permitting lawmakers to post content on external Web sites for “official purposes,” but it’s not clear whether Weiner’s Twitter account falls under those categories."
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