Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
In many cases, public congressional hearings are used merely as opportunities for Congressmen to grandstand and help their own image - and dragging in the guy who ran the salmonella-infested peanut plant strikes me as just such a situation. However, in this particular case, I will give props to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. Sometimes, bad guys need to get their comeuppance publicly - and Stewart Parnell got his in a big way today.
I'm sure a lot of you have seen pieces of this on the news, but I really think you need to watch the whole 4 minutes to see just how much of a laughingstock this guy made of himself. It's one thing to take the fifth when asked if you committed a crime, but it's downright ridiculous to take it when you're merely being asked if you heard the previous testimony. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) did a great job asking just enough questions to make a fool of this guy, and for not letting him go before making sure that Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR) got to ask the question that ended up on every nightly newscast in America.
There might not have been much using in brining this guy in in the first place, but it was first-class political theatre. Good work by the bipartisan tag-team of Stupak and Walden.
boy, that shows my age.
ReplyDeleteWhen you said the "peanut-man", I thought you meant Jimmy Carter finally got his.
I pray for that great nation and its future.
ReplyDeleteGelston,
ReplyDeleteI thought about putting some Carter jokes in, nothing good seems to come from the peanut industry.
I dunno, with the way these congressdweebs fancy themselves "business experts" whenever they lecture these CEOs (love Rush just lambasting this Brad Sherman doofus) when they've never created one damn job in their lives or have any real experience doing anything (which is why I can appreciate Walt Minnick) I'm not ready to say 'yea for Congress' regardless of how much of a blithering doofus this guy actually is.
ReplyDeletein palin news
ReplyDeleteTodd Palin began the irondog race
and
Governor Issues Statement on Planned Parenthood Donations
February 11, 2009, Juneau, Alaska - Governor Sarah Palin today issued the following statement in response to reports that contributions are being made to Planned Parenthood in her name:
“The abortion issue has been with us for decades and has pitted well-meaning people of differing ideologies against each other. Where we can find common ground is in the belief that no one wants a single abortion.
“But when there is a clash of values, I always will come down on the side of life. Making donations to Planned Parenthood in my name might be interesting theater in these politically charged times, but it is not going to change my views or the views of many other Alaskans who believe every life is precious.
“Anti-hunting groups are employing the same tactic of using my name to promote their cause right now. Again, interesting theater.”
BTW Todd (and Scott Davis) finished sixth, but he gets to hug the governor, not a bad consolation prize:) (We should be so lucky)
ReplyDeleteOf course JUST FINISHING a 2000-mile trek in AK in the middle of February is nothing to be scoffed at, considering they had four riders drop out late in the race. I could barely survive Bloomsday, and that's in MAY!