Tommy, There is NOTHING wrong with airing the linen in Washington.
On Oct 1, 7:41 am, Tommy News <[email protected]> wrote: > How a Republican Congress Would Deal With Obama How much would the GOP > investigate the Obama administration? > > By Kenneth T. Walsh<http://politics.usnews.com/topics/author/kenneth_t_walsh> > > Posted: September 30, 2010 > Print<http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/09/30/how-a-republican-...> > > - > - > - > > There has been plenty of speculation about what will happen if the > Republicans <http://politics.usnews.com/topics/subjects/republican-party>take > control of the House or the Senate in the upcoming midterm > elections <http://politics.usnews.com/topics/subjects/2010-election>. > Strategists of both parties, including those at the White House, see two > general possibilities. The GOP might work cooperatively with President Obama > on some issues of common interest, such as getting control of the federal > deficit<http://politics.usnews.com/topics/subjects/deficit-and-national-debt>. > Or Republicans will push against Obama by insisting on more tax cuts, less > federal regulation, and a rollback of his signature accomplishment, the new > healthcare <http://politics.usnews.com/topics/subject/healthcare-reform>law. > [image: Click here to find out > more!]<http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/3a26/0/0/%2a/m;44306;0-0;0;51212...> > > [See a slide show of the 10 keys to an Obama > comeback.]<http://www.usnews.com/news/washington-whispers/slideshows/10-keys-to-...> > > But one of the biggest problems for the White House in dealing with a > Republican-run Congress <http://www.usnews.com/congress>would be something > that has drawn little public attention—the GOP using the legislative > branch's majority powers to investigate, call hearings, and subpoena > witnesses to embarrass and hold the administration to account > <http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/09/30/how-a-republican-...>. > Some Democrats > <http://politics.usnews.com/topics/subjects/democratic-party>see > the prospect of witch hunts and endless probes, which could tie the > administration in knots with constant demands for documents and appearances > by senior officials. Some GOP leaders privately say that's likely. "There's > a long list of things on which Republicans are chomping at the bit to put > his people in the hot seat," says a former senior adviser to President Ronald > Reagan<http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/09/30/how-a-republican-...>who > is close to many GOP legislators on Capitol Hill. > > Among the subjects likely to come up for investigation, according to GOP > sources: > > • The administration's controversial decisions to bail out banks and > other financial > institutions<http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/09/30/how-a-republican-...> > . > > • How Obama appointees are administering the new healthcare law, how much it > is costing, whether the administration is exceeding its statutory > jurisdiction, and whether the law is turning into an excessive use of > government, which many Republicans predicted. > > • The bailouts of automakers General Motors and Chrysler. > > • The Minerals Management Service and the extent to which the agency failed > to see problems with the BP drilling platform that blew up in the Gulf of > Mexico, and why the cleanup and the federal response didn't happen faster. > > • Obama's use of recess appointments and special executive branch "czars" or > White House advisers, such as consumer financial regulation adviser > Elizabeth Warren, to run important functions of the government rather than > submit nominations to the Senate for confirmation. > > • The small New Black Panther Party and, notably, GOP claims that three > members tried to intimidate voters at a Philadelphia polling place in 2008. > Conservatives have criticized Attorney General Eric Holder for narrowing a > Justice Department prosecution of this case. > > [See photos of the Obamas behind the > scenes.]<http://politics.usnews.com/news/photos/obamas-behind-the-scenes> > > Among the legislators who are expected to be in the forefront of these > investigations are Reps. Darrell > Issa<http://politics.usnews.com/congress/issa-darrell>of California, > who is in line to become chairman of the House > Oversight and Government Reform > Committee<http://politics.usnews.com/congress/committees/house-committee-oversi...>, > and Lamar Smith <http://politics.usnews.com/congress/smith-lamar> of Texas, > who is expected to become chairman of the House Judiciary > Committee<http://politics.usnews.com/congress/committees/house-committee-judiciary> > . > > It's the duty of Congress to serve as a watchdog over the executive branch. > That means determining if taxpayers' > money<http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/09/30/how-a-republican-...>is > being wasted; looking into whether programs have outlived their > usefulness; and rooting out corruption, fraud, and abuse. [See who is > donating to your member of Congress.] <http://www.usnews.com/congress> > > The last time there was an extended period of divided government, in the > 1990s, the Republicans on Capitol Hill spent large amounts of their time > investigating Clinton's administration and going after Bill and Hillary > Clinton personally. Among the specific topics were the suicide of White > House aide Vince Foster (multiple reviews debunked anti-Clinton conspiracy > theories and attributed it to Foster's clinical depression) and the > Whitewater land-development deal in Arkansas (investigations found no legal > wrongdoing by the Clintons). And of course there was the scrutiny of > Clinton's affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, which led > GOP legislators in the House to impeach Clinton on charges of perjury and > obstruction of justice. But the Senate acquitted the president. Both sides > fiercely debated whether Clinton was being treated unfairly. > > A new cycle of questioning would worsen partisan tensions and likely > increase public dissatisfaction with Washington. White House officials say > there's nothing they can do about any prospective GOP intentions, other than > try to prevent a Republican takeover on November 2. Obama and his aides have > reason for concern on both counts. > > - *See an Opinion slide show of **5 ways a GOP majority should govern in > > 2011.*<http://www.usnews.com/opinion/slideshows/5-ways-a-gop-majority-should...> > * > * > - *Check out our editorial cartoons on **President > Obama.*<http://politics.usnews.com/opinion/photos/barack-obama-cartoons> > * > * > - *See a slide show of **11 hot races in November. > *<http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/slideshows/hot-races-to-watch-thi...> > > More:http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/09/30/how-a-republican-... > > -- > Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. > Have a great day, > Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
