****Oversight of the DOJ - House Judiciary Hearing - LIVE Thread 2 ***

[Mersky]

Thread 1: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213646356

[mnmoderatedem]

1. Ha Cedric Richmond!

address republican claims that this whole committee is strictly to embarrass the president

paraphrasing Richmond, if we wanted to embarrass the president we would just let him talk about drinking bleach.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

5. I think it should be mentioned...

...in every statement.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

2. EVERY...

...statement by a DEM should include the offhand reference to the pandemic/COVID virus.

That issue should stay front and center. I'm listening to one DEM (Cedric Richmond) doing a cross examination, and he mentioned that Trump said to drink bleach that he is slowing testing down.

I think those constant reminders have an impact on voters.

[soothsayer]

9. Pubs keep bringing it up as something important we should be focused on

Yeah, right. Where have they been since January?

[crickets]

3. Biggs R-AZ finishes up by whining that rules are not evenly enforced.

Irony is lost on him, apparently.

[Mersky]

4. Zelinsky confirming that tRump was in contact with roger stone

During the timeline surrounding the wikileaks scheme

[crickets]

7. Also points out trump denies talking to Stone or Wikileaks.

[Mersky]

6. Recess for 5 minutes

[malaise]

8. That's way too short

people need lunch

[Brother Buzz]

11. Methinks lunch was before the meeting started

I hear the Capitol Hill Bean Soup is real popular:

Ingredients

1 pound dried white navy beans, sorted of debris and rinsed 1 (about 1-lb.) ham bone or uncured ham hock 2 1/2 quarts water 1 large russet potato (about 8 oz.) 3 cups chopped celery (about 6 stalks) 3 cups chopped yellow onion (about 3 medium onions) 1 garlic clove, minced 3 teaspoons kosher salt 3/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

How to Make It

Step 1

Place beans in a Dutch oven; add water to cover, and soak 8 hours or overnight. Drain beans. Add ham bone and water. Cover and bring to a boil over high; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 1 hour.

Step 2

Rinse potato; pierce with a fork, and wrap potato in a paper towel. Microwave on HIGH until tender, about 4 to 5 minutes; peel and mash potato. Stir potato, celery, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper into bean mixture; simmer over medium-low until beans are tender, about 1 hour. Remove ham bone from Dutch oven, and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes. Remove and discard bone and fat; dice meat, and stir into bean mixture. Top each serving with chopped parsley.

[Siwsan]

13. I LOVE that soup, but I leave out the potatoes and add carrots because I love brothy soup

I always know I'll be getting some 'unexpected guests' if I mention I'm making a pot of Navy Bean Soup.

[panader0]

70. Not enough garlic.

[Mersky]

83. I'll try this

In my digital pressure cooker.

Sounds hearty, and good on a rainy day.

[Brother Buzz]

84. Definitely for a rainy day

My wife had it in the Senate Dining Room, like, sixty-two years ago when she accompanied her father to DC for a business trip (her mother's sister worked for a Senator and landed the invite). She uses a trusty Dutch Oven, and tells me the story every time she makes it; I never get tired of hearing her tell it. Hell, I never get tired of listening to any of her stories because I'm a good husband.

[soothsayer]

10. The pubs have acted like kindergarteners at recess throughout

[Mersky]

12. ***Back from Recess*** - Meh, mcclintock is now republicanning at the mic

[crickets]

14. Slamming intelligence agencies.

He's completely trying to make it sound like they are bogeymen with too much power, perverted by politics. Projection, again. This pretense is so old and threadworn.

[Mersky]

16. Like some of the others

Off topic and wandering around in a sea of time-wasting noise

[Brother Buzz]

15. Carpetbagger McClintock!

He's a opportunistic career politician who needs driving directions just to find his district.

[Mersky]

17. Hakeem Jeffries now speaking

D’oh! I am a little distracted. I will rewatch this section and post comments afterwards.

Please add your observations.

[crickets]

18. Gaetz is a dumbass.

By declaring Stone should be pardoned, he's admitting that Stone is guilty. Far from showing the hearings in a bad light, it would show they are needed. What a fool.

[malaise]

19. So is this asshole

Gym Jordan - I detest that creep

[crickets]

20. +1000000

[Siwsan]

21. His biggest concern is creating sound bytes and fidgeting. He fidgets like a toddler.

I want to see him weeping in defeat, this November.

[Mersky]

22. Cicciline (D-RI) is now up

Going through the political nature of pursuing investigations into automakers to retaliate against perceived enemies. To punish for the emissions standards in California.

Elias agreed that the investigations were meritless.

[Ninga]

23. Like Jeffries, he is a very strong questioner. Nt

[crickets]

24. Says trump has weaponized DOJ to reward cronies and punish opponents.

Discussing no misconduct on the part of automakers when agreeing to adhere to CA emissions standards, that they should not have been investigated. It was a bad faith investigation taken due to political whims, closed when no wrongdoing was found. Was a retaliation against CA.

eta Points out taxpayer resources could have best been used elsewhere.

[diva77]

25. I wish all Dems would make it a point to speak directly into the mic - I've noticed the rethugs

outblasting Dems at times with volume (that's all they got )

[Mersky]

26. Ugh, cline is trying to pull Zelinsky down a path to nowhere

so that cline gets to say key words that will make tRump’s base to hit the petal.

Useless pile of buzzword distraction. Then buzzword distraction himself, Gym, is finishing the time that cline yielded.

[Mersky]

27. Swalwell now speaking

I’ll add a video clip here (and in a few other spots).

[crickets]

28. Short, sharp yes or no questions about Stone. Very effective. nt

Pattern: trump tweets, DOJ softpedals in response.

[Mersky]

29. "The pResident tweets and the sentence was lowered?"

Zelinsky agrees

[crickets]

30. Contrasts Stone's sentencing with Cohen's. trump tweets and Cohen gets three years. nt

[choie]

31. So the thugs are denigrated

Zelinsky because he has a newborn and isn't testifying in person? what repugnant pieces of shit they all are.

[crickets]

33. Absolutely true. nt

[crickets]

32. Reschenthaler R-PA starts out by harping on people who attended by video. So petty.

[Mersky]

34. reschenthaler's job today is to deliver a book report

on the logan act and to include as much off topic crap as possible.

Zelinsky replies back that he will not discuss matters that fall within the confines of the special counsel.

[Mersky]

35. Ted Lieu! now speaking

[Mersky]

36. First lines of questioning from Lieu to Zelinsky

Before you worked for the DOJ you clerked for a republican judge? Correct - Zelinsky

And you had to take an oath? Z - affirms and explains

The sentencing complied with DOJ rules? - Yes

(I will clip this. He clearly restates that the US attorney was giving favor to stone out of fear of the pResident.)

[crickets]

37. Z. agrees Stone was 'cut a break' because he was friends with trump. nt

[Mersky]

38. Raskin had technical difficulties. Jayapal is now questioning Zelinsky.

[crickets]

41. Questions Elias regarding the huge amount of taxpayer dollars wasted on investigations

not done in good faith, often involving paperwork never scrutinized or uploaded before the investigations were closed for being unlawful/unnecessary.

[Mersky]

39. Jayapal now asking Elias about the resources used to pursue the 10 cannabis companies

He lists off all the staff. Volume of documents from subpoenas.

THEN, OMG: many of the documents were never used, or even uploaded for review

[crickets]

42. Her line of questioning made it clear that the investigations were never taken seriously.

Sounds like it was all busywork to slow down other investigations and to make someone happy. Wonder who?

[Mersky]

40. Val Demings now up!

“Most people don’t have a fixer with the title, Attorney General.”

[Mersky]

43. Ooooo, she's questioning Muckasey

As to how he can justify his position during his confirmation and his stance today.

[Mersky]

44. Raskin is now live

“The attorney general is not acting for the rule of law, but as sycophant and as a consigliere...”

[crickets]

45. He mentions the guilty pleas - YES! Finally. Every single one of them should do this. nt

[crickets]

46. trump's resistance to vote by mail is entirely inappropriate.

Barr is echoing the president in this and should not be. Acting more like a campaign operative than an AG to the US. Ayers throws shade on Obamagate and the 'investigation' saying that it is wrong.

[Mersky]

47. Really good section - Raskin asking Ayer

Whether barr is working to make the pResident an authoritarian leader. Then lists off the numerous actions that barr has taken as described by Ayer.

Then in regards to how this relates to the virus response

Ayer (paraphrased): how you’re gonna make decisions to address the spread of the virus is very much decision making at the local and state levels. Then, proceeds to generally describe how barr’s DOJ is wanting to interfere in broad ways - as in how churches and others are to be allowed to open up.

Raskin, then asks, do you think he’s acting as part of his campaign? Answers that he’s willing to pursue any of the pResident’s fantasies... Generally gives a robust answer as to how this is functionally so, with the auspice of power of the DOJ behind him.

[Mersky]

48. lesko popped in, said some condescending junk, then gave the mic to Gym

who I did not listen to at all. Garbage.

[crickets]

52. That's who that was.

She was whining about having two committee meetings and about how she bothered to show up in person. (Not wearing a mask, btw.) She just popped on mic long enough to insult people who appeared by video and then sat down. Somebody give her a pretty "you participated!" sticker as a reward!

[Mersky]

49. Scanlon now questioning Zelinsky

[Mersky]

50. Now asking Ayer how unusual this level of interference is at the DOJ

He explains he’s never seen such and worries for the future of the country and the rule of law.

[Mersky]

51. Sylvia Garcia now speaking

She referenced this sentiment in a WaPo OpEd:

“The department undercut the work of career employees to protect an ally of the president, an abdication of the commitment to equal justice under the law.”

Asked Ayer, Elias, and Zelinsky if they agreed with that assessment, and they all did with minor stipulation.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/us-prosecutor-who-quit-roger-stone-case-joins-law-firm-after-laying-road-map-for-dc-public-corruption-unit/2020/06/22/70731a58-b2fb-11ea-8758-bfd1d045525a_story.html

[Karma13612]

53. I think the House should

Begin an impeachment of Barr. (They can do that, right?)

I think this hearing is the perfect “wind up” to that.

Especially Ayer’s testimony sharing his concern for the unknown “bad acts” that could be going on.

I already knew Barr was bad, but this hearing has caused me more concern.

[Mersky]

54. Joe Neguse now questioning Mr. Ayer

I missed the start of this exchange, but currently Ayer is asserting that barr ordered to clear the crowd by force regardless of whether he calls them chemical irritants or not.

[blogslut]

55. Gym got zapped for not wearing a mask

I think it rattled him.

[electric_blue68]

56. I just called Nadler's office..

Free Congress (866) 338 - 1015
To tell him he needs his tough NYC'r side to come out and send the Sargent-at-Arms to Republicans who IGNORE his requests.

[ancianita]

60. He shouldn't give even one warning. But that would get yelled about as "censorship!" in rw media.

[electric_blue68]

68. Hmm...

hmm

I think thinking it over he should only give one warning then signal for the S@A to remove him/her.

Def the rw would yell "cersoreship".

Or maybe at the start of each part of the hearing make a statement about obstruction and the S@A.

[Mersky]

57. Mucarsel-Powell chimed in to check gym for his lack of wearing a mask while sitting close to

the chairman.

He snarked some bs back that isn’t worth repeating, but I’ll note that he doesn’t take this seriously at all.

[Mersky]

58. Lucy McBath is now speaking

Elias clearly explained how he came forward not for political, but because he thought the public should know about the abuse that he saw.

Ayer describes his concerns for how barr seems to pursue authoritarian powers for the pResident.

[Mersky]

59. Now she is entering character witness statements from 33 govt employees for Elias

And reads a couple glowing comments.

[Mersky]

61. Missed a section

Dips in connectivity...

[Mersky]

62. Now Madeleine Dean is questioning Ayer

As an example of barr’s catering to the pResident’s campaign, Ayer says that he is concerned with the AG going on fox news with Obamagate “nonsense.”

[ancianita]

63. Good on Dean to ask Ayer whether all the "Liberate MI!, etc." tweets is a way to deal with states.

He tells the nation that Trump engaged in constitutional overreach with those governors.

[Mersky]

64. Do you believe barr is fit to continue as attorney general?

Ayer: No - he’s been saying so for six months per his OpEd at that time

[crickets]

65. Everyone should close with that question - it's the best one.

I also applaud her for pointing out that all anyone should have said about his newborn baby is, "congratulations!"

[Mersky]

66. Mucarsel-Powell now asking questioning Ayer about the DOJ dropping cases against russians who

attacked our elections

[Mersky]

67. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) now speaking with closing remarks

Beginning with stepping through the events at Lafayette Square
To retaliating against states that the pResident doesn’t like through the coronavirus response.

Then proceeds to question Ayer.
He explains that the DOJ under barr cannot be trusted. Then goes on to warn that the corruption is systemic throughout and that barr has to go. (made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.)


Escobar finished up by relating that barr isn’t the only enabler of the pResident as evidenced by the behavior witnessed during the hearing.

[blogslut]

69. Escobar doing a BLOTUS impression!

She read one of his awful tweets in his shitty voice!

[soothsayer]

71. Enjoyed that

[Mersky]

72. At a minimum, barr should be disbarred

Today. Not tomorrow, or next week.

[crickets]

74. Agreed. Thanks for putting up the posts today, Mersky!

It's a big help in keeping track of what's going on.

[Mersky]

75. Oh, sure, yw.

Paddled as fast as I could. Really appreciate everyone in here.

Glad you caught that tooth in time, and you’re a sport for mucking through this today.

[Karma13612]

73. Barr has to go.

And I am glad that Ayer’s final statements included that.

Wow, great hearing overall, if you just ignore the bratty Republicants rants.

Time to impeach.

I get the feeling that Barr is going to take direct aim at Biden and maybe even dirty up the runup to the election. Did anyone else notice that every time they mention Obama and Holder , they also included Biden. Every time. It was a theme that they obviously planned.

I remember during Trump’s impeachment hearings, the Dems said the funds for Ukraine were held up or delayed. The Republicans ALWAYS said they were PAUSED, to imply that they would eventually be released.

They are gearing up to dirty up Biden in the coming months.

Mark my words.

[electric_blue68]

76. Thank you Mersky! I was able to...

jump in 3/4s through, scroll down posts, and get caught up then follow along.

[Mersky]

78. You are super welcome

I do this so I can process these proceedings and hopefully be informative to others. DU is such a neat outlet and I’m glad the threads worked for you!

I’ll climb back through the hearing’s footage and add some clips later today. I had to get up and do some things right afterwards. Ya know, walk it off and feed cats, etc.

[ancianita]

77. Thank you for all your work and attention to this!

[Mersky]

79. Ah shucks, that's so sweet!

❤️

Applause for everyone contributing and reading



Thanks for being in here

[ancianita]

80. I'll show up in any live thread you run! It requires intense attention and is no trip to the beach.

[Mersky]

81. Lol. Sure, it's a trip to the beach

One awash with spineless jellyfish.

I’ve always said there’s no such thing as a bad beach.

Maybe I should change that to, there’s no bad beach unless republicon members of the 116th Congress are around.

[ancianita]

82. Haha... well, those live hearings are full of so much bs and drama,

that just keeping up with them is tough. So yeah, a beach strewn with plastic and man-o'-wars.

I hope there's a highlights video up on the hearings, but first I'll watch what Rachel shows tonight.

Thanks, again! Stay cool!