Dithering GOP Stalls House’s New Trump-Russia Probe

[Somerville]

WHY are House GOP leaders stalling on the appointment of members to the House Intelligence Committee? If the investigations into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia are such a nothing-burger, why not finish up the questioning? GOP Senators found there was collaboration, so why can't House members acknowledge it.

Dithering GOP Stalls House’s New Trump-Russia Probe

The new leadership on the House intelligence committee is eager to revive the panel’s probe into the connections between Donald Trump’s camp and Russia, an urgency underscored by the latest indictment of a Trump associate accused of lying to its investigation. But three weeks into the Democratic-controlled Congress, House Republicans haven’t taken a critical step necessary for the committee to begin any work at all.

The House Republican leadership has yet to name the intelligence committee’s Republican membership for the new Congress, with the exception of retaining Devin Nunes as ranking Republican. Without doing so, the committee is stalled—no hearings, no internal business meetings. (. . .)

It’s not clear what the holdup is. “That will be announced when it is ready,” said Matt Sparks, a spokesperson for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who did not address the reasons for the delay. A representative for Nunes—who does not pick the membership—did not respond to The Daily Beast's inquiries.

 

[Greenbeard]

Running interference for Trump's crimes, incompetence, and malfeasance is the sole objective of the party at this point.

 

[Cardinal]

If the roles were reversed I suspect that republicans would have moved ahead regardless.

 

[sangha]

If the roles were reversed I suspect that republicans would have moved ahead regardless.

Which is what a democratic party with balls would do.

 

[Somerville]

Which is what a democratic party with balls would do.

Yeah, but it looks like the Dems are trying to follow precedent, unlike the Repubs.

 

[Fletch]

WHY are House GOP leaders stalling on the appointment of members to the House Intelligence Committee? If the investigations into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia are such a nothing-burger, why not finish up the questioning? GOP Senators found there was collaboration, so why can't House members acknowledge it.

When did they 'find' that?

 

[Somerville]

Senate Intel Committee says Putin, Russia intervened to help Trump just adds to the report that Trump campaign met more than 100 times with Russians

Trump and His Associates Had More Than 100 Contacts With Russians Before the Inauguration

 

[Mr Person]

Yeah, but it looks like the Dems are trying to follow precedent, unlike the Repubs.

They should stop bothering with the high road. Every time they take it, the GOP takes the low road, kicks them in the nuts, and runs away. There's no point in giving a dirty fighter the advantage gained by fighting dirty, at least not now.

It doesn't matter whether Dems follow precedent. The GOP breaks it every time it's to their advantage to do so.





What's the worst that will happen?

Ardent GOP supporters will say mean things about "liberals"?

 

[JasperL]

When did they 'find' that?

OK, so you believe that wasn't determined. Why won't the GOP name members to the committee so that it can do its business?

 

[JasperL]

Which is what a democratic party with balls would do.

I'm not sure that's fair at this point. Pelosi might be a lot of things, but a pushover isn't one of them.

 

[Fletch]

OK, so you believe that wasn't determined. Why won't the GOP name members to the committee so that it can do its business?

I have no idea. Could be legitimate reasons, could be that they are just going to drag their feet on everything the way the dems did when they were in the minority. Theres a special prosecutor out there, so don't worry. If there are crimes, he will find them

 

[bongsaway]

Ah, I see the GOP comfortably reverting to their usual tactic of delay since they can't outright stop it. They are practicing for when they lose the rest of congress to once again become the party of no.

No time left to play with these people, it's hardball time. And it's one nothing the dems going into the bottom of the ninth.

 

[JasperL]

I have no idea. Could be legitimate reasons, could be that they are just going to drag their feet on everything the way the dems did when they were in the minority. Theres a special prosecutor out there, so don't worry. If there are crimes, he will find them

Oh, the BOTH SIDES defense. Didn't see that coming! :roll:

 

[eohrnberger]

I have no idea. Could be legitimate reasons, could be that they are just going to drag their feet on everything the way the dems did when they were in the minority. Theres a special prosecutor out there, so don't worry. If there are crimes, he will find them

It might be that there's nothing there?

We have multiple congressmen from both sides of the aisle who have attended private briefings which have publicly stated that there's no evidence of Trump campaign Russian collusion.

Given the recent multiple and obvious exposures of how far politically biased the media is (not news anymore but political propaganda), not certain they have enough credibility as to be believed anymore.

 

[Cardinal]

They should stop bothering with the high road. Every time they take it, the GOP takes the low road, kicks them in the nuts, and runs away. There's no point in giving a dirty fighter the advantage gained by fighting dirty, at least not now.

It doesn't matter whether Dems follow precedent. The GOP breaks it every time it's to their advantage to do so.





What's the worst that will happen?

Ardent GOP supporters will say mean things about "liberals"?

I wonder if it’s just a legislative tradition or a law that prevents the committee from moving forward. If it’s the former then clearly they need to douse it in gasoline and set it on fire.

 

[Utility Man]

 

[VanceMack]

Just out of curiosity...wasnt Trump/Russia the reason THIS clown was employed in the first place?

 

[sangha]

I'm not sure that's fair at this point. Pelosi might be a lot of things, but a pushover isn't one of them.

Maybe. Time will tell.

 

[Helix]

"innocent behavior."

 

[Fletch]

Oh, the BOTH SIDES defense. Didn't see that coming! :roll:

Right, because only liberals are allowed to Resist. Republicans must do everything in furtherance of the liberal cause :roll:

 

[Cardinal]

I’ll bet Democrats feel sort of dumb for not trying this themselves, though even that would be missing the larger point. If Democrats tried pulling this stunt Republicans would have instantly voted to eliminate the requirement that a committee must be fully staffed before it can carry out its duties.

I hope Democratic congressmen are fully aware that one half of the reason we put them in office was to not take any more **** from republicans.

 

[JasperL]

Right, because only liberals are allowed to Resist. Republicans must do everything in furtherance of the liberal cause :roll:

I wouldn't consider the relatively routine and required task of appointing members to a committee as required a very big ask. But you do you. BOTH SIDES!!!

 

[eohrnberger]

Just out of curiosity...wasnt Trump/Russia the reason THIS clown was employed in the first place?

View attachment 67248992

The Meuller investigation, AKA the 'Insurance Policy', purpose is to:

• continue to focus the public's attention on Trump, whether there's anything there or not
• divert the public's focus away from the previous administration was using government agencies to spy on an opposition political campaign
• divert the public's focus away from the manner said spying's justification was wormed through the federal bureaucracy
• divert the public's focus away from the manner in which the FBI conducted itself in their investigation
• divert the public's focus away from the numerous Russian connections between the DNC, Hillary
• divert the public's focus away from the manner in which the FBI conducted itself in Hillary's email investigation

That's all what the Mueller investigation is for, and nothing else.

 

[JasperL]

Just out of curiosity...wasnt Trump/Russia the reason THIS clown was employed in the first place?

Yes, but at this point we don't even know if Mueller's findings will be made public, or what part of them will be. So long as they don't jeopardize the investigation, the House still has an obligation to do their own investigation as part of their oversight role. The GOP did it with 87 hearings on Benghazi (I think...could be off on my count a bit), which was fully investigated by multiple executive branch agencies.

 

[Chomsky]

Interesting. I wondered what was holding-up the show ...