Nancy Pelosi leaning toward boycotting Benghazi panel

[babylonsister]

Nancy Pelosi leaning toward boycotting Benghazi panel

Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues are expected to be almost unanimous. | AP Photo
By JAKE SHERMAN and ANNA PALMER | 5/7/14 4:54 PM EDT Updated: 5/8/14 12:04 AM EDT


House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is considering totally boycotting the Benghazi special committee, or appointing fewer members than allotted to her, according to Democratic aides and lawmakers familiar with her thinking.

Appointing fewer than five lawmakers would be an attempt to show that Democrats don’t fully endorse the committee but still are in place if Republican “tricks happen,” according to a Democratic aide — maneuvers like releasing selective transcripts of depositions.

The California Democrat huddled with her leadership team on a conference call late Wednesday — one day before the Republican leadership plans to pass a bill that would create a special committee to investigate the 2012 attack in Benghazi.

Republicans have seven slots on the panel, and Democrats are allowed five members. Pelosi is still considering appointing five Democrats, although sources close to her think that’s unlikely.

Pelosi has made no secret that she thinks this special panel — chaired by Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) — is a sham.

In a House Democratic Caucus meeting Wednesday morning, she told her colleagues she was leaning toward a full boycott. She was backed by South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the assistant Democratic leader, and Rep. Steve Israel, the New York Democrat who chairs the party’s campaign arm. Pelosi, according to an aide, is consulting with a wide range of Democrats before making a decision.

more...

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/benghazi-panel-investigation-nancy-pelosi-106456.html

[el_bryanto]

1. It's a risky strategy - but it's risky either way

If they are setting up some sort of rhetorical trap than having Democratic Senators there could defuse it; but it seems just as likely that whatever trap they have planned would be aimed at their colleagues just as much as the administration.

Bryant

[upaloopa]

2. Didn't GWB's administration ignore investigations by Dems?

I think I remember something like that.

[cilla4progress]

3. I just sent my Repub Congressman an email

urging him to tell his fellow reps to drop it.

Too bad it will have no effect.

[oldandhappy]

7. thank you for trying

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. They should identify the

best procedural person in the Dem caucus and appoint just that one person, openly stating that his or her only role on the committee is to act as the adult in the room while the republicans have their pathetic playtime. That person should then spend 98% of his or her time throwing up procedural roadblocks and jamming up the works.

[dipsydoodle]

5. No elephants here

[Firebrand Gary]

6. Being that its all about politics...

I support Pelosi doing what ever is best politically for our democrats regarding the 2014 midterms...

[oldandhappy]

8. Are the hearing televised?

or recorded in any way?

[zazen]

9. I miss Barney Frank--he would have been ingenious at showcasing its absurdity

Or make Al Franken an ex officio member.

Former Rep Brad Miller (NC) is witty as hell and quick on his feet--too bad he's not around anymore.

In keeping with the grand trickster figure in most world traditions, I agree that we need just one member there to follow-up after every Republican question session--a hilarious grandstander who can keep at them, hour after hour after hour, and clearly relish every minute of it. We need a larger than life character with a great sense of humor. Hell, I'd watch all day.

I assume Issa's on it, and getting him to go berserk would be vastly entertaining. "Oh. . . so, Witness X, you when you say crime, do you mean felonious crime, say, like grand theft auto? Or arson? Just clarifying . . . "

[leftyohiolib]

10. pha-q for taking impeachment off the table