Bachmann: Get ready for the subpoenas
posted at 2:30 pm on July 23, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
What will Republicans do if they win control of the House in the midterms? Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) says that investigating overreach in the executive branch will be a big part of the strategy. Three Fingers of Politics has the audio of an interview with Bachmann where she makes plain the desire to restore Congressional prerogatives and executive-branch accountability:
According to Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., the House Republicans should exercise their power to subpoena and hold continuous hearings. Speaking to a gathering for the GOP Youth Convention on July 22 in Washington, D.C., she emphasized this point.
“Oh, I think that’s all we should do,” Bachmann said. “I think that all we should do is issue subpoenas and have one hearing after another. And expose all the nonsense that is going on. And it’s very important when we come back that we have constitutional conservative leadership because the American people’s patience is about this big.”
In some sense, this may be Congressional self-defense. I wrote yesterday about the Associated Press exposé of the politicization of FOIA requests at Janet Napolitano’s DHS, including those coming from Congress. That should have prompted an immediate probe of DHS by Congress, whose requests for information are critical to its oversight responsibilities. The deliberate delay and obstruction at DHS described by the AP creates a balance-of-power issue that a less-lapdoggish Congress would act immediately to correct.
On the other hand, these efforts should be balanced by a positive agenda from Republicans that sets up a real choice in 2012 for voters, with both the White House and Senate on the line. If the GOP gets seen as merely a foil for Obama, voters may decide to keep government divided, especially in the absence of an argument for conservative governance rather than solely a check-and-balance 112th Session of Congress. Bachmann hints at that in her emphasis on “conservative leadership” and keeping promises in 2011.
We’ll ask Bachmann more about this when she appears on TEMS this afternoon. Tune in!
Blowback
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I like that someone in the GOP is FINALLY drawing a line in the sand and growing some, ahem, cajones. Accountability in our government, whether Republican or Democrat, is crucial to our country’s survival.
search4truth on July 23, 2010 at 2:33 PM
Have any of these “probes” ever led to criminal charges?
Johnnyreb on July 23, 2010 at 2:35 PM
We have all been wondering what this administration would do to thwart the upcoming midterm election…
Well….here is the likely answer
http://emergingcorruption.com/?p=87
We have work to do people!!
stacy on July 23, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Don’t talk about it, just do it when the time comes and do it thoroughly and honestly. And live your values!
Monica on July 23, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Investigations may be all we can do. Unless we can gain veto-proof … we’re pretty much sunk.
Most of the bang for the buck from a GOP congress will come from STAYING the party of “Hell NO!” and using investigations to expose this criminal administration.
HondaV65 on July 23, 2010 at 2:38 PM
I am sure the media arm of the “Regime” will give fair and balanced reporting to the sheeple of this country…
Seven Percent Solution on July 23, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Go, Michelle!
Message to democraps: This is what it looks like when a politician actually takes their oath of office seriously.
UltimateBob on July 23, 2010 at 2:39 PM
A politician read the Constitution?
Egads!
percysunshine on July 23, 2010 at 2:40 PM
I get your drift Ed, but any hearings held by a republican controlled house won’t get any coverage in the media. We will be reading about it here at HotAir but the sheeple will never know jack-squat about the extent of corruption revealed in the hearings.
fogw on July 23, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Hearings are OK for the most egregious offenses, but it shouldn’t be “all we do”, because it will look too much like a partisan witch hunt, not a positive agenda. This was the argument Bill Clinton used successfully in 1996 to win re-election.
Republicans need to pass some serious tax cuts (or extend the Bush tax cuts), de-fund ObamaCare, help small business, and pass an energy bill favoring nuclear power plants, oil and gas drilling, new refinery construction and a “smart grid” that can accept intermittent power from small generators (solar, wind, fuel cells, etc.)
Some of these bills might now pass the Senate, or might get vetoed by Obama, but Republicans need to show the will to pass a positive agenda, and paint Obama and the Democrats as obstructionists.
Steve Z on July 23, 2010 at 2:43 PM
As stated, not just probe but defund and untangle the entire mess. No money = no power. No money for Obamacare, no money for the host of agencies needed for all the 2,000+ bills that have been passed (and we are still in the dark as to what all they entail) and no spending of any more “stimulus” funds still in the pipeline.
texabama on July 23, 2010 at 2:43 PM
oops–Some of these bills might NOT pass the Senate. Fumbly fingers…
Steve Z on July 23, 2010 at 2:43 PM
I’m ready!
mjbrooks3 on July 23, 2010 at 2:43 PM
As the Wilford Brimley character says in “Absence of Malice,” “Wonderful thing, a subpoeny.”
Wethal on July 23, 2010 at 2:44 PM
oh God! YES!!!
moonbatkiller on July 23, 2010 at 2:44 PM
Get ready for a whole lotta ‘On the advice of counsel, I plead the 5th’….
BigWyo on July 23, 2010 at 2:49 PM
I didn’t like it when Pelosi ran on subpoena power, and I don’t like this.
MayBee on July 23, 2010 at 2:50 PM
Yeah, but let’s be careful about this. If done wrong, it starts to look like Henry Waxman tactics.
Mr. D on July 23, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Seven Percent Solution on July 23, 2010 at 2:51 PM
If you do only one thing, repeal Obama Care.
Oil Can on July 23, 2010 at 2:52 PM
I would like two things to start, repeal Obamcare and make the Bush tax cuts permanent.
Johnnyreb on July 23, 2010 at 2:53 PM
If we win back just do your frigging job. Act like they don’t exist. Don’t use it as a tool. We lose this way every time. So stupid.
tomas on July 23, 2010 at 2:54 PM
This tact of stating what they are going to do, legally wise is so stupid.
Just run your campaign, be honest with the people, and when you are in power, do the right thing.
But don’t tell the enemy, don’t give the enemy any ammunition.
Here is an ad: Do you remember when for years our executive were tied up in legal process? Congress was obsessed with subpoena, and nothing got done. Millions were spent important decisions not made, wasted time, wasted money on “scandals” that didn’t exist…well, the Republicans are promising the same thing again. We need leadership, not lawsuits, we need to focus on the problems at hand, not dig for some non-existant scandal…is this really who you want to elect, a return to the Bush policies of hearings, but not hearing the people?
*
They should shut up, and run on better policies, the legal stuff comes later…independents will not vote for a bunch of politicians on a witch hunt.
right2bright on July 23, 2010 at 2:55 PM
I would really like to see Bachmann in the House leadership position because she makes her cases well without stridency. She is logical, well-prepared, and committed to Constitutional principles. It certainly IS possible for Congress to use subpoena power AND to craft ethical, limited, and responsible legislation that respects the American people’s liberties and pocketbook.
onlineanalyst on July 23, 2010 at 2:55 PM
Notice how some of the bravest and courageous conservatives tend to be women. Courage is very appealing. (swoon)
RobCon on July 23, 2010 at 2:55 PM
About the only thing of note the Democrats did when they took Congress in 2006 – besides stopping reform of Fannie Mae – was investigate Bush.
It seems to have worked for them pretty well, and frankly Bush was about the cleanest presidency we’ve had in recent memory. The Obama administration should be a rich target.
18-1 on July 23, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Hook Michele up with Tina Turner and send them into overdrive!
We be Takin’ Care of Business
-Bachmann-Turner Overdrive-
Sweet_Thang on July 23, 2010 at 2:58 PM
Hearings?
Anyone notice the confirmation hearing for what’s his name the new DNI the last coupla days?
Hearings? Bills being passed, never read, that create hundreds of new regulatory agencies and turns the writing of those regulations over to bureaucrats that haven’t even been named yet?
Skandia Recluse on July 23, 2010 at 2:59 PM
Yeah, the danger here is that the GOP comes off as having nothing positive to do, only interested in ‘payback’, etc.
Not that there shouldn’t be some of this, but there’s needs to be a pro-active agenda as well – repealing ObamaCare, scaling the budget back to where it was a *long* time ago (well before Bush’s uncontrolled spending, imo), getting the government out of the people’s lives (personal, health, taxes), out of the way of business, out of the energy business, etc.
People don’t simply want the GOP to do nothing but try to ‘gotcha’ Obama – they want some serious action taken to rectify the f-ups Obama and the Dems have foisted on us, as well as take some sane steps towards actually behaving in a way that will let the country and economy prosper and grow again.
Midas on July 23, 2010 at 2:59 PM
Jason Mattera and Luke Russert could be the new Woodward and Bernstein…
… Wouldn’t that be kewl?
Seven Percent Solution on July 23, 2010 at 3:01 PM
I like that someone in the GOP is FINALLY drawing a line in the sand and growing some, ahem, cajones.
//
Too bad the women have them and the men don’t.
ohiobabe on July 23, 2010 at 3:01 PM
;>)
Sweet_Thang on July 23, 2010 at 3:02 PM
And larger.
UltimateBob on July 23, 2010 at 3:03 PM
The real problem with conservatism is the whole ‘morality’ thing. I mean, all those hot women and they’re all decent upstanding moral and ethical. It just isn’t right. All of my evil intentions to have my way with them and their hot selves thwarted. Oh the calamity.
WashingtonsWake on July 23, 2010 at 3:04 PM
lol
excellent
cmsinaz on July 23, 2010 at 3:06 PM
“Off with their heads” is not a rallying cry, however good it makes us feel. We must have something to vote for. Going after the vile scum that put us in this pit is part of the approach but it can’t be all of it or even the major part of it. It must be a call-for-justice subset of the conservative pro-growth agenda.
Extrafishy on July 23, 2010 at 3:07 PM
As someone who absolutely despises Republicans and sees them as an only slightly better alternative to the most horrifying, corrupt, unethical, evil and insidious band of thugs, hooligans and criminals every assembled and given a name (aka Democrats) – I think the hearings that will ensue in the advent of a Republican takeover are the single best hope for the next congress. There will be nothing but gridlock on the legislative end, they won’t be able to repeal anything over the veto, and any budget they pass will be vetoed as well. In my opinion, the only thing they’ll get done is the outing of all (or maybe just a few, they probably won’t be able to get indictments on all 20,000,000 active democrats though they’re probably all criminals) the criminals in the democratic party.
WashingtonsWake on July 23, 2010 at 3:08 PM
Just worry about getting that check first…
tommylotto on July 23, 2010 at 3:11 PM
If the dems were serious about a clean and ethical govmint, Rangel would be sitting in a jail cell next to Dodd and Frank. We all know that ain’t happenin’. The R’s won’t do anything about it if they win cuz then there would be nothing but paybacks when the D’s get back in charge. We lose either way.
Kissmygrits on July 23, 2010 at 3:13 PM
Winner
faraway on July 23, 2010 at 3:14 PM
Subpoena Obama’s head and check for a brain. Also check for attached puppet strings. Remove the excessive umms and uhhs while you’re in there.
darwin on July 23, 2010 at 3:17 PM
The less Congress ‘gets done’, the more freedoms we have left.
Go get ‘em, Michelle!
fossten on July 23, 2010 at 3:21 PM
When Americans are working again with less taxes and government interference and they see the traitors (democrats) frog-marched, I suspect President-elect Sarah Palin will have a 50-state sweep of a win!
SouthernGent on July 23, 2010 at 3:23 PM
Oh yeah!!!
This is the kind of talk that calms a nation.
Speakup on July 23, 2010 at 3:25 PM
I wonder how many will run tail to Eurabia? I’m sure the communists and muslims would love to have them.
darwin on July 23, 2010 at 3:25 PM
Smart, principled, brave, and beautiful. What a great role model.
LASue on July 23, 2010 at 3:36 PM
Ever notice how conservative women usually look like Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin while liberal women almost always look like Debbie Stabenow and Barbara Mikluski?
bw222 on July 23, 2010 at 3:42 PM
Legitimate concerns should be investigated. But if Democrats are able to frame the narrative (it was only a blowjob) it will hurt conservatives.
Conservative voices need to get out there and frame the narrative on any possible investigation. Get ahead of the curve.
ButterflyDragon on July 23, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Make a mental note: They are called “Thatchers”.
BobMbx on July 23, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Well, thanks for that, Sue…
oh, you were talking about Rep. Bachmann.
And ditto.
BobMbx on July 23, 2010 at 3:45 PM
The last thing most people want is the various political parties “investigating” each other. Many see it as a waste of taxpayers money. Even if that is their plan, they should probably shut up about it as that kind of talk turns off Independent voters. It might play well to the base but it doesn’t play well with anyone else.
crosspatch on July 23, 2010 at 3:50 PM
I’m really impressed with Bachman. She is the type of representative I would like to have. My guy is quiet and low key. This is the time in our history where we need firebrands and those willing to take on the status quo. I agree that telegraphing your intent is not a smart move but it will strike some fear into the Demorats and maybe keep the lame ducks from doing even worse things than they already have. I get sick to my stomach when I think of John Boenher being the speaker of the house. This guy doesn’t represent me or my thoughts and he never leads on an issue. He is always a day late on most things and then screws them up or mealy mouths his response.
inspectorudy on July 23, 2010 at 4:01 PM
Never happen. 2/3 vote required to override Bambi’s veto.
Our only hope is a majority in congress and the White House in 2012.
BacaDog on July 23, 2010 at 4:07 PM
Stacy’s post should be read… There is no way that the Democrats Soros and Obama will not use vote fraud to hang onto power. Remember Obama helped Ogabe campaign in Kenya and when Ogabe didn’t win they promoted violence and anarchy until the duly elected gov’t shared power. This is the kind of guy we’re dealing with. I think we need to get organized about poll watching and video at voting places to get evidence. We cannot underestimate the fraud and corruption that the Left engages in.
CCRWM on July 23, 2010 at 4:08 PM
There is another way. Simply defund it. In fact, return all collected funds to pay down the debt…Make Obama fight on a bigger deficit and forcing people to buy health insurance…
Republican politicians have to learn how to fight politically…because depending on controlling every branch of government, by large margins, to overturn Dem policies is not a winning solution.
18-1 on July 23, 2010 at 4:14 PM
I like Bachmann. I’ll love her and walk through broken glass for her once I see she’s a chair of something ripping Barney Frank a new one.
ted c on July 23, 2010 at 4:35 PM
I wish Michelle were my mom. I mean I love my own real mom and all, but, hey, can you have two moms?
Akzed on July 23, 2010 at 4:45 PM
Mary in LA on July 23, 2010 at 4:50 PM
Argh1 Tag fail.
I was going to suggest “mujones”, from mujer, (Spanish for woman, lady, or wife, depending on context) + cojones, but I think I like your term better.
:-)
Mary in LA on July 23, 2010 at 4:50 PM
Mary in LA on July 23, 2010 at 4:52 PM
“
So not pass or propose any bills?
There are parts of ObamaCare (elimination of pre-existing conditions, in particular) that are popular, so that’s a dangerous strategy. Try telling voters that you want to again allow insurance companies to deny coverage for kids with pre-existing conditions (which is now in effect) and see how popular that is.
Jimbo3 on July 23, 2010 at 4:54 PM
Elimination of ‘pre-existing conditions’ is popular with stupid people. Unfortunately there are a lot of stupid voters, so the Republicans do need an alternative. It’s not difficult however to come up with a plan for those few people that honestly can’t get insurance, and are legal aliens, that doesn’t bankrupt us, destroy medicare, and take more of our liberty away than the liberals worst Patriot Act nightmare ever could.
slickwillie2001 on July 23, 2010 at 5:21 PM
SubpoenaMania!!!!
CynicalOptimist on July 23, 2010 at 5:25 PM
Gettin’ Medieval on their buttocks!
CynicalOptimist on July 23, 2010 at 5:28 PM
Trials would be more appropriate, but considering the protections in place sheltering lawmakers–even ones who do more deliberate damage to the nation than any hostile foreign power could ever dream–I suppose hearings would do.
Blacklake on July 23, 2010 at 5:32 PM
I don’t think it’s a lot ask the GOP to be able to chew gum and walk at the same time. The GOP needs to do both in equal measure, but the squishes will still fret about the fallout from exposing these bastards. I’ve never been concerned over the GOP having too much back bone and Bachmann will find plenty of opposition in her own party. Let’s not rain on the parade before it gets started.
RadClown on July 23, 2010 at 5:48 PM
I’m fine with investigations and hearings by congress. The American people will expect it. As far as legislation goes. They need to do what they are required to do. i.e. budgets. And then pass popular bills (Drilling in Anwar, offshore, tax cuts etc.) that Obama will have to veto. That frames the case against him in 2012.
conservnut on July 23, 2010 at 5:52 PM
“What will Republicans do if they win control of the House in the midterms?”
Make this woman speaker of the house?
I would!
Sign of the Dollar on July 23, 2010 at 6:37 PM
I want them to start undoing as much of the crap passed by Obama as possible, and that will be a full time job. I just don’t think most of our congresscritters have the stomach for it – they’re not out there shouting from the rooftops all the corrupt and illegal things the Obama crew is doing. It’s like they aren’t all that upset with how things are going like we all are out here. Why don’t they have the same outrage? That really bothers me. John Boehner already said he wants to work across the aisle when he is speaker, and we know what that means.
silvernana on July 23, 2010 at 6:45 PM
I think there should be investigations and hearings. But I think it also wise to pick one’s battles.
The impeachment of Clinton (as justified as it was) hurt Republicans more than helped. If Republicans sound like they will hold continuous anti-Obama hearings, I think that will hurt them as well.
Pick the most clear and egregious outrages of the Obama regime and hold hearings on those, not on everything.
WannabeAnglican on July 23, 2010 at 6:57 PM
The Republicans gain the House and hopefully, the Senate, they’d better damned well FIX THE ECONOMY! They’ll have 24 months before the 2014 elections roll around. IF THEY WANT TO GET RE-ELECTED.
GarandFan on July 23, 2010 at 7:04 PM
I want investigations into where all that cash went… you know the TRILLIONS that TARP and Stimulus type programs have dumped into the rat-hole… I want to know who stole what. It’s this simple when it comes to that amount of cash being passed around; you know there were many in charge of the flow who could not resist diverting a few million here or there… Illegally. And I want their *sses in jail where possible.
-
Sure there’s more to do, including repealing Obast*rdCare for instance… But jail time might slow down the enthusiasm for the next wave of generational theft.
RalphyBoy on July 23, 2010 at 8:06 PM
Dems are evil.
proconstitution on July 23, 2010 at 8:40 PM
That’s it Ed.
RINO her good.
She needs to be MODERATE, REASONABLE, COMPROMISING.
Don’t let this crazy woman go nuts on our esteemed President
RINO her good.
notagool on July 23, 2010 at 9:46 PM
John “Raging” Boehner, Speaker of the House (Whig-France).
james23 on July 23, 2010 at 10:09 PM
We need Republicans to do the congressional hearings for the sake of the rule of law. Leadership needs to severely discipline the Republicans to ensure they don’t grandstand it. Maybe run three of them (in three committees) concurrently so they can’t be covered live.
I think what folks hate most about congressional hearings is the grandstanding.
slickwillie2001 on July 23, 2010 at 10:16 PM
I can see November from my house.
PattyJ on July 23, 2010 at 11:42 PM
Depending on the final balance of power, it may be the best strategy – to drive forward on hearings and produce no new legislation, other than to repeal what’s on the books that need repealing. Seriously, the country will get along just fine without new laws coming down the pike.
AH_C on July 24, 2010 at 12:14 PM
I think the executive branch definitely needs its wings clipped, and the GOP must do it.
Obama promised and then hasn’t delivered. I presume the next GOP president will be the same.
Michelle is right. This MUST be done by Congress.
AnninCA on July 24, 2010 at 12:27 PM
When the republicans take control of congress, they need to first repeal Obamacare, and when it is vetoed, pass it again. And when they are doing the investigations maybe a little Snowe will fall.
Slowburn on July 24, 2010 at 2:02 PM