Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/29/2020 3:53:39 PM

Yesterday, I pretty much watched all of the Judiary Committee hearing with AG Barr and today I watched a good portion of the hearing with CEOs from Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google.  It seems chairperson gives the Congressional Representives 5 minutes.  In that time, the vast majority seem to make long winding statements (and accusations to the witness) for which they are not obligated to yield any time for he witness to respond.  If the witness tries to respond, the Congressperson, cuts them off and demands their time, so unless the next person yields their time for the witness to answer, they don't get a chance to answer.

What kind of governence is this?  Why even have witnesses in to testify, if they don't get time to respond beyond their opening statements?  Their opening statement is provided to members 2-3 days before the hearing.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/29/2020 6:38:56 PM

Can you say, “DEEP STATE”!!  It’s election time, useless politicians were making campaign ads during their “show time”.  That’s what         a wonderful “news person” proclaimed.

Name:	lakngulf -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/29/2020 6:56:43 PM

I have for some time held the opinion that there should be NO congressional investigations.  They are worthless.  They have no power.  Politicians bloviating and pounding their chest with no results.  They can't indict anyone, send anyone to jail.  It is a waste of time

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/29/2020 8:42:12 PM

I agree.  I have a feeling all the posturing is for the "folks back home" to convincce them that their represenative is doing something.  

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/29/2020 8:59:51 PM

They should make it a TV series titled "Sound Bite City".

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/29/2020 10:49:08 PM

The description I heard which made the most sense to me was it is Twitter live.  No real exchange, just bloviating.  I didn't catch the hearings with the tech firms but saw a lot of the Barr one.  He made them look like buffoons and it was pretty obvious they were just there to throw red meat to their base with very little actual exchange.  When Barr did get a chance to respond he appeared to me as the ony adult in the entire room.

These hearings get far too much attention in my opinion.  But they generate clicks for the media which is about all they try to do these days.

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/30/2020 6:49:41 AM (updated 7/30/2020 6:51:25 AM)

Every two years, we elect new members to the House as the solution and two years later most are re-elected as part of the problem. It is mostly someone elses Congressperson who needs to be replaced. The worst time for a hearing is just before an election. However, the best time for a hearing for a Congressperson on the committee holding the hearing is just before an election. Nothing will ever change as one newly elected member is just 1 of 435.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/30/2020 8:54:02 AM

I agree for the most part.  As for getting a new one, I am all for replacing ours, especially since she lives in Chattanooga and represents Cobb county.  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	A Problem with House Hearings
Date:	7/30/2020 9:28:49 PM

 I wish more Americans watched them - to see how truly dysfunctiona our government has become.  it made me want to weep.

I agree that Barr seemed to be the only adult in the room  It was clear that this was not his first rodeo - I am sure in his career he has testified many, many different times, and mostly he looked bored.  I think they were ticked off that they never got to hook him into saying something off message.  

I read an article this morning that said they were disappointed with the CEOs because when they responded, it was pretty much the same canned response that they have given many other times.  I guess they weren't easily hooked either.