Congressional Republicans Take Aim At Attorney General Eric Holder
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-06-21/congressional-republicans-take-aim-attorney-general-eric-holder
The standoff between Congressional Republicans and Attorney General Eric Holder over Fast and Furious escalated yesterday. President Barack Obama for the first time invoked executive privilege over the botched gun-trafficking operation. A few hours later, a house committee voted to recommend the attorney general be held in contempt for not handing over some documents in the probe. Holder has been under pressure by Congress over alleged security leaks. Some say this is mostly politics at play others say holder must go. Guest Host Susan Page and her panel of experts discuss the Congressional pressure on Attorney General Eric Holder.
Guests
Evan Perez
reporter, Wall Street Journal
Rep. John Mica (R-FL)
Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Major Garrett
congressional correspondent, National Journal.
Philip Heymann
James Barr Ames Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, former Deputy Attorney General in the Clinton Administration
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Comments
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I am tired of the political power of the NRA. We have enough guns to arm every man,woman,child,and fetus. Now these folks are determined to arm every terrorist,criminal,and the insane. "Fast and Furious" or "Wide Receiver" was to show just how lax and stupid our gun laws are. There are a reported 8000 guns stores on the U.S.,Mexican border.What do you think will happen? A terrorist,criminal,or the insane can go to a gun show and buy from a private seller and kill any of us. Terrorists,criminals,or the insane can go to a garage sale and accomplish the same thing,kill the innocent.
THE DISGRACE IS THE NRA.
PLEASE,PLEASE,how many gun deaths will satisfy the NRA`S blood lust?
Patsy Forever, perfect! you have summed up the Obama administration and the Justice departments view of the second amendment and all the lies they wrap them in. Is it any surprise to anyone at this point that Eric Holder is complicit and facilitated the murder of an American boarder agent and as many as two hundred Mexicans and more to come. They were caught red handed planting evidence to fool more American people into your way of thinking. Thankfully as with anything this administration does it was bound to fail and backfire, too bad so many had to die for another misguided democrat scheme to steal our freedom.
By the way "operation wide receiver" under the Bush administration, was done with the knowledge of the Mexican government, the few guns (about a dozen) that got through were the only guns that got away from them before they shut the program down.
Operation "Fast and Furious" deliberately allowed approximately 2000 guns to enter Mexico without the knowledge of the Mexican government and there was deliberately no attempt to trace them once they crossed the boarder. It was obviously an evidence planting scheme to justify gun control here by showing U.S. guns were showing up at Mexican crime scenes.
This issue is a test of just how hypocritical the democrat party is, Holder is withholding evidence and is proven to have committed perjury in front of Congress on this issue.
NRA?? No, it is the idol-in-chief's DoJ that is America's disgrace, unapologetically causing the death of worthy American citizens through a stupid misguided flawed program. Fry their hides.
I would be pleased to read any plan the NRA has to stop the senseless and massive number of gun deaths each year. HELLOOOOOO??????? So far in the Obama administration all I`ve heard is the right wing lunatic media,funded by the NRA,that Obama is coming for your guns,and dozens of cops targeted and killed by these NRA nuts.
I live in between the Chardon High School shootings, and the Cracker Barrel shooting site. Yeah,all these murders make us all feel safer???
The NRA is a donation driven organization supported by millions of dues paying members to protect second amendment rights. It does offer safety programs but it's primary objective is to preserve our freedom to protect ourselves and our families against the murderers you mention.
Let's not get too far off topic here, this is about the federal government at the highest level breaking laws and planting evidence. Obama's gun banning record along with Holders record and his comments on the need to "brain wash" Americans for more gun control leaves little doubt that there is indeed a massive cover up taking place. We absolutely need to get the criminality out of the White House asap.
"Conservatives" are a hilarious bunch. They are afraid of EVERYthing from aliens to commies to minorities to their own shadows. So they grab every weapon in sight hoping that some lethal device or another will save them from their fears, real and mostly imagined. Paranoia on steroids!!
Now they want to nail the DOJ on bogus gun related charges........for a program that was started in the prior administration (oh, yeah, they renamed it......big friggin deal). Oh shock, imagine guns going across the border!! (Someone else paraphrased it better, alluding to Louie and Bogie in Casablanca.)
Having lived in Texas a couple of times, I am personally amazed that there is even a formality of having "gun shops" as outlets. Guns, ammo, and every conceivable death device from knives to crossbows flow freely EVERYwhere.
The drug cartels are armed better than most national armies. A plan (really an accident) to trace 2000 weapons into Mexico is such a tiny fraction of the real volume as to be deemed a trickle. And the assertion that these weapons are responsible for a US death is such a diversion! Yeah, as if this plan made it so the criminals have better than flintlocks.........get real.
It's a wonder the NRA hasn't created a cartel group membership for Mexican drug lords.
NRA is a lobbying group primarily bankrolled by the gun and ammo manufacturers and sellers. Bullies put the stickers on their vehicles. If any stupid operation involves or promotes selling weapons they will support it. Finally this week Bill Moyers will have Matt Taibbi on with others explaining why our financial establishment is operating on a Mafia model. (Most PBS stations Friday nights) Now if banks are Mafia why would anyone be surprised that gun police are corrupt? I was laughing so hard when two subnormal fat dopes opened a gun store in the middle of what is supposed to be an arts district in downtown Gastonia. (If you hate my tastes return to the gallery opening and pop a cap.) Elicit guns are profitable and enforcement agents are not very well paid. Homeland Security preserves and grows itself by promoting insecurity. The CIA will buy and sell anything including sex slaves to get cash. It ain't no wonder both Dems and Pubs get it wrong. The Empire is in cascade failure. (One more Meltdown, Big Oil Spill, or Bailout Crisis and it's toast.) Remember, ecology will not respond positively to gunfire. (Upon concurring with Patsy N.)
Pancake Rankin wrote: "NRA is a lobbying group primarily bankrolled by the gun and ammo manufacturers and sellers."
Prove it! you have robo posted this several times, where is evidence to back up this statement of "primarily bankrolled by the gun and ammo manufacturers and sellers." The NRA is "primarily bankrolled' by dues paying members and "private donation".
LibVet wrote: "for a program that was started in the prior administration (oh, yeah, they renamed it......big friggin deal)."
Wrong, they recreated it into something completely different. Why don't you investigate anything before spouting off?
LibVet wrote: "The drug cartels are armed better than most national armies. A plan (really an accident) to trace 2000 weapons into Mexico is such a tiny fraction of the real volume as to be deemed a trickle"
The program was stopped by ATF whistle blowers, no one knows how far it would have gone! By the way most of the illegal weapons in Mexico are stolen Mexican government property or from South America
How will the NRA react to the abandonment of their key position by their GOP toadies in the Congress?
To me the real headline of this story is that the GOP majority of a congressional committee has adopted a position with respect to guns that contradicts the position of the NRA. Rep Issa has a whole litany of issues with which to attack Gen Holder, but has chosen this one to use to seek a contempt charge. The debate and subsequent interviews with members of the committee has the members of the majority blaming the administration and ATF for the death of a Border Patrol agent and untold others because they provided the guns! Any follower of the gun control debate is well aware that the position of the gun lobby is that "Guns don't kill people; people kill people."
Are you people SERIOUSLY trying to justify a sting operation in which the US government ENCOURAGED gun dealers to sell arms to criminals - which then killed a law enforcement officer ? And then have the gall to call conservatives "extremists" ? What planet are you from ?
What also is missed is the politics that keep the A.T.F. top administrator`s job vacant and in flux.A series of temp top bosses .The NRA`s power over Republicans allow that important department to go mismanaged and ineffective.
Can one remain a "conservative" without possessing a a deadly instrument of intimidation? C'mon, just admit it and call yourselves Bullies. It's self-evident. In your heart you know you're wrong when you bring firearms to a debate.
The real issue here is that the USA has such a pressurized surplus and saturation of guns that they flow outward in every direction. This is a result of Empire, wealthy class dominance and overblown national aggression as well as the promotion of a culture of hierarchical sadism by media and education. Body armor gets uncomfortable in the Summer. I guess the rich will have to stay on their Reservations. No hops to Tijuana for recreational substances and donkey shows. Stay! Stay home!
If Romney gets in his cronies will be selling Predator Reapers on used car lots.
They're easier to fly than buying a sandwich at WaWa, and you never have to tip, just push the buttons. (Remember when Poppy Bush discovered the checkout scanner?)
Is it true that the House committee hasn't called ANY Bush DoJ officials to testify about the program they started?
I just now (10:20) put the show on, so if I missed any mention of this I apologize.
Darrell Issa is very concerned by the guns from Fast and Furious contributing to the death of a DEA agent, but where is the Arsonist's outrage about the tens of thousands of gun deaths in this country every year? Is his concern only reserved for government agents?
SteMar wrote: "Darrell Issa is very concerned by the guns from Fast and Furious contributing to the death of a DEA agent"
Sorry, he's very concerned with law breaking at the very highest levels of our government that resulted in the death of a border patrol agent not a DEA agent. Get your facts right.
Don't be a idiot!
You are the perfect example of what Fast & Furious was all about.
Eric Holder & his ilk are doing their best to ban fire arms in America.
A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.
Ban guns and you'll get a first hand look at what a true tyrannical government looks like.
Arkus Duntov wrote:
Sorry, he's very concerned with law breaking at the very highest levels of our government that resulted in the death of a border patrol agent not a DEA agent.
Ha, that's a good one, Arskis. Darrel Issa concerned about law breaking. What a hoot!
Eric Holder has been trying to 'Brainwash' the American public for decades into believing guns are bad...
No, unfortunately, guns are necessary to keep the government from over stepping.
Don't you dummies study history?
"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny"
The DOJ was trying to stop the drug gangs with a sting operation that went bad. Unfortunately, the weapons ended up being used to kill one of our border agents and others in Mexico. I view this as equivalent to military deaths caused by "friendly fire". A very sad unintended consequence, but not something that warrants this level of political haymaking. The plan was well intended, but went wrong.
Eric Holder and 98% of Americans are in contempt of Congress.
"find out who's responsible"
Why do you think Obama took executive privilege?
The fish Stinks from the Head down!
The aim of the DEA is to ban hand guns in the USA
No one has been fired at the ATF for operation "fast and furious" they have been shifted to other agencies within the federal government. There has never been a more clear case of cover up by the federal government. I thank president Obama for wrapping himself in this scandal with executive privilege, the drip drip of criminal behavior at the white house is obvious to any objective observer. The bottom line on all this is if there is nothing to hide why are they trying so hard to stop Congress from doing it's job of oversight.
The NRA kills thousands of Americans each year.
250 MILLION guns in the US is not enough?
urbanrage wrote:
Eric Holder has been trying to 'Brainwash' the American public for decades into believing guns are bad...
No, unfortunately, guns are necessary to keep the government from over stepping.
NO, guns are only necessary because so many addled minded lunatics are armed out there.
This is just another example of why Congress has an approval rating of 8%.
Republicans and Tea Party is doing a heck of a job.
Tom wrote: 'Eric Holder and 98% of Americans are in contempt of Congress."
98% of Americans lied and hid evidence at congressional hearings?
The comments are getting dumber by the minute, you lose!
The very debate over the issue has a place, but the problem is by making it so public we prevent other approaches from being taken. If we go on a witch hunt every time a mistake is made the reaction will be to do nothing. Is that what congress wants they want the justice department to be frightened into inaction. If you work in the justice department right now you are not going to suggest any novel ideas to stop the flow of guns because you might get executed by congress is something goes wrong. Congress has to realize that if we make this mistake this public we are only hurting the process of removing guns from the hands of drug traffickers in Mexico.
jpaul_Nelson wrote: "If you work in the justice department right now you are not going to suggest any novel ideas to stop the flow of guns because you might get executed by congress is something goes wrong"
You believe the federal government is above the law! I do not and most agree. Holder and Obama do believe they are above the law and people are getting sick of it.
Congressman Mica knows that Congress has little interest in accountability, but tit has great interest in seizing topics and making them into political footballs.
Just watch their actions, rather than what they say. They never worried about budget deficits under Bush/Cheney, e.g., how to pay for trillion-dollar wars. They have had no interest in holding our many financial criminals in the banking industry accountable. And they have years of using the ATF as a punching bag to make their NRA masters happy. The list is depressingly long.