Cage Match

Congress v. The Prez. Washington Post (12.16.06):

"Incoming Democratic committee chairmen say they will hold a series of hearings and investigations early next year to build the case for their call for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and for possible action against defense contractors found to have wasted billions in federal funds." Incoming Chairmen Ready to Investigate

"Among the most eager incoming chairmen is Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), a lawyer with a professor's demeanor and a prosecutor's doggedness. As head of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Levin, 72, will be his party's point man on the Iraq war and on the Democrats' call to begin withdrawing troops in the coming months." "Levin said he also plans inquiries into 'documentation of waste and fraud and abuse in the contracting areas' of the military. Aggressive oversight 'is not just a budget issue,' he said, but at some point 'becomes a significant moral issue.'" "In the House, Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), another leading advocate of a phased withdrawal, has vowed to use his Appropriations subcommittee chairmanship to investigate the Iraq war, holding 'two hearings a day for the first three or four months . . . to find out exactly what happened and who's been responsible for these mistakes.'" "Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) said he will use his Judiciary Committee perch to conduct 'real oversight' of the FBI and the Justice Department and to delve into 'the abuse of billions of taxpayers' dollars sent as development aid to Iraq.'" "'I am not prepared to accept answers like 'I can't talk about it,'' Leahy said in a recent speech at Georgetown University's law school." "[Senator John D.] Rockefeller, incoming chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, also plans more aggressive hearings." "'Oversight doesn't have to be a hostile process,' Rockefeller said. But he said he and Levin are determined to overcome the administration's long-standing refusal to hand over documents concerning the White House contention in 2002 and 2003 that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. 'The public must understand that you can't do that," Rockefeller said.'" Don't forget Henry. Wonder if George and the boys realize just how screwed they are.