For the record: House rules require at least 7 days notice for any committee hearing

[StarfishSaver]

That means the earliest the House Oversight Committee can hold a hearing on the Post Office is next Monday, August 24.

And that's a good thing. Hearings take time to prepare for - they require a tremendous amount of research, strategy, coordination, etc. Witnesses have to be given time to prepare, as well - for example, witnesses must submit their written testimony at least 24 hours before the hearing and they need time before that to draft it. In other words, the House Dems can't hold the hearing before next Monday.

Moreover, not holding the hearing this week works politically. A hearing this week would step all over the Democratic convention, Biden and his message. There are times when a split screen is good. There are times when it is a bad thing. During the Democratic convention, when Biden is presenting himself to a national audience as the standard bearer of the party and the alternative to Donald Trump is a bad time.

You know when is a good time for a split screen highlighting Trump's and his henchmen's efforts to steal the election? During the Republican convention - which is exactly when the hearing will take place.

So, while I understand the sense of urgency that many people - including me - have about all of this, please recognize that the House Dems know what they're doing and there are rules and processes that they must follow and political considerations they must make, as well. And that means that not only can't just throw a hearing tomorrow on 24-hour notice because we're anxious to have one, it would be a bad idea even if they could.

[SheltieLover]

1. TY!

[tblue37]

2. K&R and thanks for offering common sense again! nt

[spicysista]

3. Great post!

[stillcool]

4. thank you.

information is a wonderful thing.

[Karadeniz]

5. Good to hear from a pro!

[sheshe2]

6. TY

[Kali]

7. good points

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. August 24 is also the first day of GOP convention, so perfect timing!

And August 24 is way better than the original September 17 date.

[StarfishSaver]

10. Exactly

Let the hearings bigfoot all over Trump's big week, not Biden's.

[lapucelle]

9. Great to see this as an OP.

There's been a lot of concern lately about Democrats doing things the smart way rather than ...
Now!
Now!
Now!

[Pathwalker]

11. Ah, facts. Stubborn things, they are. They do tend to get in the way,

don't they?

[StarfishSaver]

12. Not for some people

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

13. K & R

[beachbumbob]

14. he forced the Federal Reserve to go haywire and give out trillions to the elite class

so that part is "winning" but represent .05% of voters

[mcar]

15. Thanks for explaining

You really shouldn't have had to.

[StarfishSaver]

16. It is frustrating that the first reaction of many here is to always assume the Dems are weak n/t

[CaptainTruth]

23. +1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[mcar]

19. It never seems to change

We get a few days of celebrating our great team and then, boom, the naysayers and Debbie Downers show up.

[H2O Man]

17. Recommended.

Thank you for this. It's important for citizens to be fully informed on how the House operates. In following the rules, the Democrats have the ability to deal with this. More, just as you stated, it provides for the time necessary to be fully prepared. And I'd add that it allows us time to contact our elected representatives .....and that, of course, helps them to put more pressure on republicans, including those in the administration.

[StarfishSaver]

21. Bingo!

[George II]

18. Thank you! That kills the complaint that "we should have the hearing tomorrow, why wait?"

[George II]

29. I don't know what you're going on about, but whatever.

[NurseJackie]

20. So, what I'm hearing is: "release the Kraken right fucking now" isn't a realistic strategy?

So, while I understand the sense of urgency that many people - including me - have about all of this, please recognize that the House Dems know what they're doing and there are rules and processes that they must follow and political considerations they must make, as well. And that means that not only can't just throw a hearing tomorrow on 24-hour notice because we're anxious to have one, it would be a bad idea even if they could.

Thanks for your very sensible and informative post.

[CaptainTruth]

22. As usual, you are 100% correct. THANK YOU for the post!

[jaxexpat]

24. and when Trump's USPS toadie doesn't show up............

GO GET HIM!

[Talitha]

25. Thank you, StarfishSaver - always the voice of dignity and reason.

[StarfishSaver]

27. There are exceptions but it requires minority approval

But even if the Committee could call a hearing on a day's notice, that wouldn't be very smart. First, they'd be looking at empty witness chairs since they can't compel a witness to show up on such short notice. And they'd be going in dreadfully unprepared because, as I said, these hearings take a huge amount of prep work. This isn't a come as you are pop-up party.

Waiting a week to hold a hearing isn't going to make the hearing any more effective.