Why dosen't Congress get rid of this shitshow format?

[LakeSuperiorView]

Five minute turns just leads to stalling on one side and fawning praise from the others. It's useless.

[theboss]

1. Congressional hearings are useless in the tv age

I honestly think there have been two meaningful moments in them since tv's invention:

1. McCarthy's "Have you no sense of decency" moment and
2. The revelation of the White House taping system during Watergate.

So, they've produced two meaningful moments since 1950 and the last one was in 1973, before I was born.

[theboss]

2. Also since the objective is never to actually learn anything, but rather to score partisan points...

Both sides are wedded to this format.

Look, I like the guy, but Cory Booker is trying to run for the presidency based on his 5 minute performance pieces in committee meetings.

[Fuzzpope]

4. Which aren't very impressive, tbh.

Booker does nothing for me at all.

Also, he makes his eyes open too big, it makes him look like a sweet pickle.

[brooklynite]

5. Wouldn't the same apply to Kamala Harris?

[theboss]

6. That's a good point

I honestly didn't think of her, because she was so damn good the Kavanaugh hearing. It was a performance within an awful lot of competency.

Booker - to me - seems to be doing some kind "Truth to Power" schtick which is almost nothing but performance.

I'm a bit in love with Harris.

[msongs]

3. and replace it with what? nt

[LakeSuperiorView]

7. Anything. The hearing was a waste of time.

Dems ask Yes/No questions and get rambling nonanswers, Repubs ask irrelevant questions to give him a break. Flip the House and flip the above. It doesn't work.

[theboss]

8. I think there are a few ways to do this

1. Put a limit to how much of this can be on tv. We can tape it and play the transcripts later in order to have transparency. Nerds like me will listen. But it won't be pro-wrestling on CSPAN.

2. Designate one questioner from each side and give them each 30 minute questioning periods. Make these people work if they want to grandstand.

I think it combining those two ideas we might, you know, learn shit about our government.