The good news is that Congress is already hard at work

[zipman]

Yes indeed, House Republicans were so anxious to get started that they went to work late last night.

Unfortunately the bad news is that they did so in order to gut the Office of Congressional Ethics, the independent body established to investigate Congressional misdeeds.

"Drain the Swamp" indeed.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/house-republicans-vote-eviscerate-office-congressional-ethics/

 

[Adre]

At least they're not trying to fool anybody.

 

[Hard_Rom]

When you drain a swamp the runoff has to go somewhere! Not to mention the devastation it causes to the natural ecosystem!

 

[zipman]

At least they're not trying to fool anybody.

Is that the bright side? Because I was having trouble seeing it after reading that.

It's almost a given that any time a republican congress gets to work that quickly it is in their self-interest.

 

[Sean]

The usual apologists will be along soon to explain why this is either
A. A good thing for the US or
B. Obama's fault.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Is that the bright side? Because I was having trouble seeing it after reading that.

It's almost a given that any time a republican congress gets to work that quickly it is in their self-interest.

Even when they work slowly it is their best interest.

 

[Hard_Rom]

The usual apologists will be along soon to explain why this is either
A. Obama's fault or
B. A good thing for the US.

FYPFY

Blame first, reason second.

 

[Ms_Ann]

No matter who is in chage it's never good when Congress is hard at work...but I can imagine you libs are terrified.

 

[Hard_Rom]

No matter who is in chage it's never good when Congress is hard at work...but I can imagine you libs are terrified.

Haven't you been following along? It's 'progressive'!

 

[Ms_Ann]

Haven't you been following along? It's 'progressive'!

Labels schmabels.

 

[BoyNextDoor]

These actions are clearly coordinated. Who benefits the most?

 

[Ishmael]

Another of the basic tenets of American law is that the accused have the right to confront their accuser in a court of law. Today the OCE is able to accept anonymous complaints, meaning literally anyone from anywhere in the world can send something through a website and potentially disparage the reputation of a Member without a basis in fact. Responding to an anonymous accusation drags good people’s names through the mud, costs the accused tens of thousands of dollars, and costs people their jobs. And when the anonymous complaint is found to be frivolous none of that is returned. This amendment requires OCCR to create rules that disallow anonymous complaints, something that will prevent frivolous complaints and allow the OCCR to focus their time and energy on legitimate complaints.

From The Hill.

Ishmael

 

[zipman]

No matter who is in chage it's never good when Congress is hard at work...but I can imagine you libs are terrified.

Terrifying is having Trumplethinskin with the power to launch nuclear weapons.

This just falls into the category of mildly sickening. We're talking about congressional republicans so it is hardly even surprising.

 

[Sean]

From The Hill.

Ishmael

Actually, that's from REP. BOB GOODLATTE writing in The Hill. Goodlatte is the Republican Congressman mainly responsible for this fuckery.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Terrifying is having Trumplethinskin with the power to launch nuclear weapons.

This just falls into the category of mildly sickening. We're talking about congressional republicans so it is hardly even surprising.

Your guy lost. America didn't want Botox Tranny in the White House.

Didjuh know Obama set the Democrats all the way back to the 20s when the GOP ruled.

Look at it another way, when your daughter gets arrested for selling pussy in the Detroit ghetto, who you gonna call?

 

[Hard_Rom]

Actually, that's from REP. BOB GOODLATTE writing in The Hill. Goodlatte is the Republican Congressman mainly responsible for this fuckery.

Just put in an anonymous complaint against him. Problem solved.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Your guy lost. America didn't want Botox Tranny in the White House.

Didjuh know Obama set the Democrats all the way back to the 20s when the GOP ruled.

Look at it another way, when your daughter gets arrested for selling pussy in the Detroit ghetto, who you gonna call?

%27 of the eligible voters hardly constitutes 'America". %1 seems to though. Actually %.5 as they are all cut from the same cloth.

 

[zipman]

From The Hill.

Ishmael

LOL, right on schedule Ish, just one of the many things you have in common with a bowel movement.

Of course, what this would actually do would be to eliminate protection for whistleblowers who are against corruption, you know, those anonymous sources.

All the OCE can do now is "have the freedom to pursue allegations against lawmakers and make recommendations to the House Ethics Committee about whether to open a formal probe."

If passed, they would only be able to investigate those cases that come from the Ethics committee.

We've already seen that lack of independent oversight is a bad thing. I guess you think allowing Congress to police itself is a good thing because we all know how upstanding they are and that they would never do anything corrupt.

 

[zipman]

Actually, that's from REP. BOB GOODLATTE writing in The Hill. Goodlatte is the Republican Congressman mainly responsible for this fuckery.

Thanks, I looked for his article but couldn't find it.

Hysterical that is who Ish tried to cite.

 

[Comshaw]

From The Hill.

Ishmael

Interpretation: Defensive post of a sound bite opinion from congressional Republicans trying to justify their actions.





Comshaw

 

[Sean]

Thanks, I looked for his article but couldn't find it.

Hysterical that is who Ish tried to cite.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/judicial/312439-rules-amendment-strengthens-mission-of-oce

 

[Ms_Ann]

Terrifying is having Trumplethinskin with the power to launch nuclear weapons.

This just falls into the category of mildly sickening. We're talking about congressional republicans so it is hardly even surprising.

If I'm not mistaken the only US president to drop nukes was a democrat.

 

[zipman]

If I'm not mistaken the only US president to drop nukes was a democrat.

Come on, if you want to troll you can do better than that.

Maybe 2017 is the year you up your game.

 

[Ms_Ann]

Come on, if you want to troll you can do better than that.

Maybe 2017 is the year you up your game.

Sorry to introduce facts into your rant tthread.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

One very simple question: Were any former members of Congress ever sent to prison for bribery or other criminal activity prior to the creation of the OCE in 2008?

YES? Literally dozens?

Then I guess this doesn't do one damn thing to obstruct the fair administration of justice does it?

Pardon me for not joining in with the hand wringing over Congress making rules for Congress rather than an independent body making rules for Congress as long as the DOJ is still in charge of enforcing the LAW.

And, oh BTW, the "independent body" created by Congress remains intact and merely adheres to any new operating rules enacted by Congress. So who were we kidding in the first place?