vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

10.24.2007

Condi takes the stand

Vermonters who are unhappy with Rep. Peter Welch's response to the war in Iraq might want to tune in tomorrow to a committee hearing with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and see if he and his colleagues on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform make any headway.

Rice is scheduled to testify on “The State Department and the Iraq War” at 10 a.m.

“Secretary Rice has a lot of questions to answer. This administration must be accountable to Congress and the American people,” Welch said in a news release today.

The hearing is supposed to examine questions regarding the performance of the State Department on Iraq, including the impact of Iraqi corruption and the activities of Blackwater USA. The committee may also question the secretary regarding allegations of wrongdoing associated with the construction of the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Welch's office said.

It's all expected to be carried live on CSPAN 3 and CSPAN Radio. I personally did not know there was a CSPAN3 and have no idea if people like me get it, but I don't think so. Fortunately for you, it's also available online at www.cspan.org.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 5:13 PM |

Comments:

$5 says nobody read Peter's press release other than Terry and a handful of Vermonters. He and Bernie are non-events at the national level.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:40 AM, October 25, 2007

Sad to say, but it is a good point. Welch can scream until he's blue in the face, but the real powerbrokers in the House will dismiss him like a pesky fly. He's a first-termer, who has yet to rise to the level of career politician (that's a good thing for Vermont, by the way). I worry that the anti-war forces are going to poison Welch on one issue and prevent him from trying to get some traction on issues like health care reform, veterans benefits, infrastructure money, etc. I get it. You're frustrated because Peter can't stop the war. Join the hundred million or so other people across the country feeling the same way. Put this energy towards electing someone president next year who will end this craziness.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:01 AM, October 25, 2007

Peter got elected saying he would work to end the war and now he votes to fund it. If he doesn't do what he said he would then we should not re-elect him. And I am a Democrat.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:06 AM, October 25, 2007

Peter has pledged no more funding for the war. What more do you want from the man?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:55 AM, October 25, 2007

"What more do you want from the man?"

I would like a lot less of the standard talking points that make nice sound bites and some real effort towards making a difference.

The VT delegation has no juice in DC. Leahy included. Great theatrics...no ability to close an issue.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:40 PM, October 25, 2007

Why not just admit you want a republican and what they have or haven't done is irrelevant.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:34 AM, October 26, 2007

Welch is an ambulance-chasing shylock. Would you believe ANYTHING he said?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:36 AM, October 26, 2007

More name-calling.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:00 PM, October 26, 2007

Anonymous 4:40p

You said --

"What more do you want from the man?"

I would like a lot less of the standard talking points that make nice sound bites and some real effort towards making a difference.

The VT delegation has no juice in DC. Leahy included. Great theatrics...no ability to close an issue.
==================================
You must want Jim Douglas gone too!
After all, he fits this description best of all!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:52 PM, October 26, 2007

Douglas actually seems pretty effective. It's the bedlam in the legislature that seems to go nowhere. They have leaders with no vision.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:41 PM, October 30, 2007

We need a new leader in the legislature.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:16 PM, November 02, 2007