the13thfloor

So I'll let you in on a little secret. I love talk radio. You could say I have unconsciously evolved my life so I can listen to talk radio. I listen to lots of talk radio. Mostly right leaning talk shows. Notice the link to Hugh Hewitt to the right. His show is tied for the best radio show on the air. I'll let you guess who he's tied with. I have learned to tolerate lefty radio a bit. The best show on the left side of the dial is the Ed Schultz show,http://www.wegoted.com. It still sucks but it is the best of the bunch. Anyhow, I was listening today when Ed had an interview with Rep. Wasserman-Schultz (d) from Florida. On this show she stated how Chairman Sensenbrennar shut down the hearings illegally and without precedence. Being a slow Friday evening, I turned on to watch these hearing for myself. Where do I start with a commentary?? I'll start with this. Rep S. Jackson-Lee is not very bright. She spent the fist 2/3 of her 5 minutes rambling about the "darkest times in America" in a barely coherent fashion. Something about tyranny of the majority. Then she spent the other 1/3 of her time asking irrelevant questions fashioned towards the 'hate America first crowd' of which the four witnesses were perfect examples of. This left exactly 19 seconds for the four witnesses to respond. Since Ms. Jackson-Lee was the last representative to question the witnesses, the show was over. Now I don't want to give the impression that she was the only person to do this. These hearings, or at least this one in particular, are nothing more than PR opportunities for the those involved. It is my understanding that today's hearings were in response to a letter written by the democratic members of the committee requesting the hearing on the Patriot Act. During the hour of hearings that I watched, maybe 10% had anything to do with the Patriot Act or the 16 sections of the Patriot Act that are set to expire soon. Mostly this hearing was lefties blaming America for all the problems in the world. Amnesty International President Mr. Something or another restated his organizations belief that Abu Graib and Guantanamo Bay constitute this eras Gulags. Mr James Zogby, president of the American Arab Institute, basically stated that because of Americas racial profiling in rounding up and questioning Arab and Muslim people after the 9/11 attacks, we have incited hate throughout the world. He also stated that this increased hatred has caused increased disobedience by citizens of other countries (countries who have been supportive of the USA in our war on terrorism) which in turn causes these countries to be more repressive to their own citizens, following the lead of the United States. There was also some other woman from some Human Rights First organization making accusations of 100's murdered and 1000's tortured in American Prisons across the planet. I would love to know where these people get their information. Now I thought the representatives from the right side of the isle were for the most part more intelligent, more focused, and more forthright in their questions of the witnesses. But what do I know? I am only a partisan conservative who follows in lockstep with the Bush administration. The end of the meeting was very enlightening. It shows how the Democrats can not stand the fact that they have lost all of their power. After Jackson-Lee wasted her 5 minutes, Sensenbrennar spoke to the folly of the days hearings. He basically stated the obvious, the the hearings were conducted to placate the desperate lefties, and that the hearings shed very little light on the Patriot Act. The hearings did however shed light on the way the left is conducting its battle against the Bush administration as well as the war on terror. When the chairman was finished speaking a democrat asked if Jackson-Lee would be granted some extra time so her questions could be answered by the witnesses. The chairman asked how much time would be needed. The response was 4 minutes. The chairman asked if there was any objection to the additional time and some one objected. At this point the chairman closed the meeting. This is when the hearing got good. The Democrats sat stunned that the procedural rules had been applied. They started complaining about this, that and the other. Then Rep. Nadler (d) started pontificating and complaining, and moaning and groaning. His mike was promptly turned off. He even acknowledged that his speech was not going to be on the record, but continued anyway. When he was finished, those remaining in the room applauded. Applause at a congressional hearing? What a waste of valuable time and effort of the US government. The following is from Ms Wasserman-Schultz congressional website. I did not viewed this clip before making this post, so if there is any slant in her portrayal of the events, I have no prior knowledge. Press Release - United States Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz - Democracy thwarted at Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Patriot Act: Chairman silences Democrats at a hearing on the Patriot Act by cutting the microphones WATCH THE VIDEO HEREhere My final comment on these hearings are they are not good for the country. We are at war. I know many in this nation are not aware of, or choose to ignore the facts, but there are many poeple and countries out there that want to destroy the United States of America. Video clips from these hearings will be distributed throughout the world. It is my opinion that much of what was said during these hearings lends aid and comfort to our enemies. The only hope our enemies have of winning is to have our country divided by politics. The world learned through the example of Viet Nam that the best way to beat America is to have it beat itself.