Subpoena power takes a powder

by Kagro X

That was then:

Pelosi was asked what was most important about regaining majority status. "Subpoena power," she said.

This is now:

House Democratic leaders have decided to postpone a vote on a criminal contempt resolution against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers for several weeks, and possibly longer, according to top lawmakers and aides.

Why?

Pelosi decided to delay a vote until at least late September, and possibly into October. Democrats said they are not yet ready for such a vote because they have not briefed lawmakers on what it would mean and how the controversy would play out, both legally and politically.

“I don’t think anything is going to happen on that for a while,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.). “When you decide to do that, you have to make your best case. You want everyone to understand what’s happening and why.”

Emanuel said Pelosi and other top Democrats have not begun those consultations yet — and he was unsure when they would.

Quick briefing for you, then: What it would mean is, if you don't act, the Congress isn't a coequal branch anymore. In fact, you won't have that one thing you said was "most important" about regaining the majority.

Do you like being a coequal branch? Then vote to be one. If you hate having power and getting things done, sit on your hands for a little longer.

Ready to vote? Good. I thought so. Briefing over.

Comments

[oldtree]

thanks for commenting X, now I can go and try to understand where democracy went. I think it was sold, and this was the receipt. But I don't understand the criminal way of doing business.

[P J Evans]

DCCC and DSCC, thank you so much for protecting incumbents.
Your bill will be arriving next year, when we vote for someone else, preferably from the Constitutional wing of the party.

[dead last]

I think the Clinton wing of the Democratic Party finds the idea of a unitary executive kind of appealing...

[bmaz]

In related news, "This just in. Generallisimo Francisco Franco is still dead."

[phred]

Kagro X, I saw this over at TPM earlier and I nearly blew a gasket. Thanks for preparing all that is needed for Pelosi's "briefing". And JEP, if you happen by today, this is why I am firmly in the camp that Pelosi is complicit in the abuses perpetrated by the administration rather than merely hamstrung by the numbers.

[Dismayed]

Time to form a party that is absolutely not allowed to take corporate or lobby money.

The average voter has no representation in Washington.

[Jodi]

Kagro X

I am sure your party leaders know what they are doing.

Just sit quietly and let them do their "Good Governance."

(As DemFromCT is wont to say.)