For the record: House rules require at least 7 days notice for any committee hearing

That means the earliest the House Oversight Committee can hold a hearing on the Post Office is next Monday, August 24.

And that's a good thing. Hearings take time to prepare for - they require a tremendous amount of research, strategy, coordination, etc. Witnesses have to be given time to prepare, as well - for example, witnesses must submit their written testimony at least 24 hours before the hearing and they need time before that to draft it. In other words, the House Dems can't hold the hearing before next Monday.

Moreover, not holding the hearing this week works politically. A hearing this week would step all over the Democratic convention, Biden and his message. There are times when a split screen is good. There are times when it is a bad thing. During the Democratic convention, when Biden is presenting himself to a national audience as the standard bearer of the party and the alternative to Donald Trump is a bad time.

You know when is a good time for a split screen highlighting Trump's and his henchmen's efforts to steal the election? During the Republican convention - which is exactly when the hearing will take place.

So, while I understand the sense of urgency that many people - including me - have about all of this, please recognize that the House Dems know what they're doing and there are rules and processes that they must follow and political considerations they must make, as well. And that means that not only can't just throw a hearing tomorrow on 24-hour notice because we're anxious to have one, it would be a bad idea even if they could.

Let's just make Kamala vice president and get it over with

Anyone who can multitask like this - and who obviously knows how to brine the hell out of a turkey - shouldn't even have to campaign for the job. Just give her the damned job and move on ...
https://twitter.com/notcapnamerica/status/1294768057055948811

Before going after Congressional Dems for "not doing enough" about Post Office abuse, etc., consider

there is very little, if anything, they can do in Washington right now, especially with the Senate out of session. They can't finalize any legislation and any negotiating that can take place can just as easily take place via phone or Zoom.

Hearings may seem like a good idea but hearings need a certain amount of notice (and can be easily postponed by weeks by the committee minority). They also require witnesses and it will be very unlikely that the Dems could get any witnessed to agree to testify in the next couple of weeks. And we know how effective a subpoena will be. The Postmaster General will testify on September 17 - and while that is too far in the future for many people's preference, that's about as soon as we can expect this to happen since he can't be forced to come sooner. And this gives the committee staff time to do the necessary research, interviews, and other oversight that can help ensure the hearings are actually effective and not just come across as a random fishing expedition.

We also should remember that we're going into a convention next week and, as frustrating as it may be to adjust to a political calendar, it's critically important in the long run (at least if we want to win) for Biden to dominate the political coverage in the next two weeks without being overshadowed by hearings (especially hearings that would include Republicans distractions) and for any hearings the Dems hold not to be overshadowed by Biden/convention activity. A split screen next week would not work to Biden's benefit.

With that said, please also remember that just because they're not in Washington doesn't mean the Members and Senators aren't getting work done. Being in DC is only part of what they do - much of their work involves being in their states and districts. Yes, being in Washington might get some national news coverage (although they can be covered and interviewed wherever they are), but the national coverage isn't going to have as much impact as we think since people tend to follow the national outlets that confirm what they already believe. The news coverage that will make the most difference right now is local coverage.

And that's one of the reasons the Members need to be at home right now. They're touring postal offices, meeting with constituents, talking to postal workers and local elected officials, etc. For example, Manchin visited postal facilities yesterday in West Virginia, taking lots of local press with him. I know of a Member of Congress who is planning today to drive around her district with a news crew to map the distances between drop box locations to show how difficult it is for people to get to them. Talking to and working with their constituents in their backyards showing what Trump is up to and how it affects them is much more meaningful and influential than a three-minute hit on Stephanie Ruhle or having joint press conferences on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Instead of complaining about Democrats not being in Washington where they can't get much done right now, I urge people to think local. Contact your Members and Senators (if they're Democrats) at their district offices, find out what they're doing in your community and offer to participate in and even help with events or activities that highlight to local residents and local media what is happening. If your reps aren't Democrats, find out what local activity is happening that you can get involved in. Reach out to the local and state Democratic party to get more information and, if you can, volunteer. Contact local media to share your views, disseminate information to your friends and networks about what's happening.

The Congressional Democrats are doing a lot more than many people give them credit for. And it doesn't help them or our cause to publicly berate them for supposedly not doing enough simply because we don't see them on MSNBC or C-SPAN. There's also a lot we can all be doing ourselves.

We all need to stay focused and work together and not engage in circular firing squads that undermine the very people who are fighting for and with us. We have more power than we think. Let's use it!

What are are YOU doing in your community to fight back against voter suppression

Please share.

I cannot express the joy I felt hearing Joe say he and every other Dem will have Kamala's back

Black women - especially the first one in any venue - are always subject to incredible pressures that are often overlooked and dismissed by our white counterparts and colleagues. "Oh, come on, it doesn't mean anything ... Why are you making such a big deal of it? ... Just suck it up ... Stop making excuses", etc. It can be unspeakably lonely to have to deal with this on our own.

So to hear Joe not only call out the attacks but make clear that Kamala is on HIS team, OUR team and that if you mess with her you're messing with him and all of us means more than I can even say.

Thank you, Joe for having Kamala's back, just like we have yours!

Brian Williams and Peter Baker are talking how the Russians targeted Kamala in the primaries

Interesting

For those keeping score at home, a DNC speaking slot opened up today

Kamala Harris was scheduled to speak on Thursday night before Biden. But now she'll be speaking in the slot set aside for the VP Acceptance Speech.

So that leaves room for another primetime speaker.

Any thought on who it might/should be?

Or maybe they can show.a video -

Or they can have a Macarena break (bonus points to anyone who remembers which convention that was ...)

Every Democrat in America today (and a few Republicans, too)

Black women everywhere today ...

Truth about Joe: