As DailyNewsBin says, the Congressman emerged as a Democratic hero in yesterday's 11 hour Benghazi hearings.
http://www.dailynewsbin.com/opinion/elijah-cummings-emerges-as-new-democratic-party-hero/22890/
When Trey Gowdy started cherrypicking through Sidney Blumenthals emails to HRC Cummings rightly demanded to release Blumenthal's transcripts as he had already testified at length before the Committee.
Yet as Cummings says, if there is something damning about Blumenthal, then why not release the transcripts to show this? Doesn't the fact that Gowdy want, proof that Blumenthal offers no smoking gun?
"In case you don't know, Sid Blumenthal is a former journalist and longtime friend (and sometime employee) of the Clintons. For a variety of reasons, some more legitimate than others, Republicans regard him as a singularly sinister character. When it emerged that he had sent Hillary Clinton lots of emails about Libya (and other matters), they could barely contain their glee, going so far as to subpoena him to testify privately. He apparently failed to give them what they wanted, because up until now committee Chair Trey Gowdy has refused to release his testimony to the public. This is a replay of what happened in 1998 during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, when independent counsel Ken Starr forced Blumenthal to testify about what he knew in that case (if you want a lengthy explanation of Blumenthal and his relationship to the Clintons, go here)."
http://theweek.com/articles/584761/what-hillarys-benghazi-hearing-revealed-about-life-inside-republican-bubble
Congressman Cummings, to be sure, has been doing God's work throughout this longest running US investigation in history. While the Dems debated whether they should have participated at all in this, I think Cumming's choice to be a watchdog for truth was the right one for Dems.
Now that HRC;s testimony is done, arguably they should leave. They are debating this now. The truth is that the GOP doesn't know what to d about this themselves at this point. Where can BC possibly go next?
http://www.dailynewsbin.com/opinion/elijah-cummings-emerges-as-new-democratic-party-hero/22890/
When Trey Gowdy started cherrypicking through Sidney Blumenthals emails to HRC Cummings rightly demanded to release Blumenthal's transcripts as he had already testified at length before the Committee.
Yet as Cummings says, if there is something damning about Blumenthal, then why not release the transcripts to show this? Doesn't the fact that Gowdy want, proof that Blumenthal offers no smoking gun?
"In case you don't know, Sid Blumenthal is a former journalist and longtime friend (and sometime employee) of the Clintons. For a variety of reasons, some more legitimate than others, Republicans regard him as a singularly sinister character. When it emerged that he had sent Hillary Clinton lots of emails about Libya (and other matters), they could barely contain their glee, going so far as to subpoena him to testify privately. He apparently failed to give them what they wanted, because up until now committee Chair Trey Gowdy has refused to release his testimony to the public. This is a replay of what happened in 1998 during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, when independent counsel Ken Starr forced Blumenthal to testify about what he knew in that case (if you want a lengthy explanation of Blumenthal and his relationship to the Clintons, go here)."
http://theweek.com/articles/584761/what-hillarys-benghazi-hearing-revealed-about-life-inside-republican-bubble
Congressman Cummings, to be sure, has been doing God's work throughout this longest running US investigation in history. While the Dems debated whether they should have participated at all in this, I think Cumming's choice to be a watchdog for truth was the right one for Dems.
Now that HRC;s testimony is done, arguably they should leave. They are debating this now. The truth is that the GOP doesn't know what to d about this themselves at this point. Where can BC possibly go next?
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/123198/its-time-democrats-boycott-benghazi-committee
But I am certainly a fan of Congressman Cummings, appreciate his great work and would vote for him for Senator-if only I lived in Maryland!
"Yesterday, longtime democratic congressman Elijah Cummings suddenly became a household name and star in his party as he defiantly shouted down republican Benghazi committee chairman Trey Gowdy in defense of Hillary Clinton. Cummings helped put an exclamation point on the proceedings, which most sides agree was won by Clinton and exposed as a partisan farce. While he may be a new face for casual observers, he’s been influential in the House for nearly twenty years. And this may be old news for those who follow congressional races closely, he’s considering running for the Senate in 2016."
"Elijah Cummings is exceedingly popular in his home district in Maryland, having been reelected nine times in blowout victories. With Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski preparing to retire when her term ends in 2016, the local media has been abuzz for months over whether Cummings will aim to fill her seat. The catch is that if he runs for senate and loses, he’d be out of congress entirely."
"But after the highly favorable manner in which most democrats viewed his nationally televised performance during the Benghazi committee hearings yesterday, Elijah Cummings may now be in a stronger position to feel comfortable seeking that Senate seat, which would make him more powerful than he is in his current role in the House. While the Benghazi tragedy should never have been politicized to begin with, the republican party’s misguided decision to do so hasn’t merely helped Hillary Clinton’s effort at becoming President. It may also have elevated Congressman Cummings the status of party hero and Senator in the process."
http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/congressman-elijah-cummings-democratic-hero-of-benghazi-committee-may-run-for-senate-in-2016/22895/
But I am certainly a fan of Congressman Cummings, appreciate his great work and would vote for him for Senator-if only I lived in Maryland!
"Yesterday, longtime democratic congressman Elijah Cummings suddenly became a household name and star in his party as he defiantly shouted down republican Benghazi committee chairman Trey Gowdy in defense of Hillary Clinton. Cummings helped put an exclamation point on the proceedings, which most sides agree was won by Clinton and exposed as a partisan farce. While he may be a new face for casual observers, he’s been influential in the House for nearly twenty years. And this may be old news for those who follow congressional races closely, he’s considering running for the Senate in 2016."
"Elijah Cummings is exceedingly popular in his home district in Maryland, having been reelected nine times in blowout victories. With Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski preparing to retire when her term ends in 2016, the local media has been abuzz for months over whether Cummings will aim to fill her seat. The catch is that if he runs for senate and loses, he’d be out of congress entirely."
"But after the highly favorable manner in which most democrats viewed his nationally televised performance during the Benghazi committee hearings yesterday, Elijah Cummings may now be in a stronger position to feel comfortable seeking that Senate seat, which would make him more powerful than he is in his current role in the House. While the Benghazi tragedy should never have been politicized to begin with, the republican party’s misguided decision to do so hasn’t merely helped Hillary Clinton’s effort at becoming President. It may also have elevated Congressman Cummings the status of party hero and Senator in the process."
http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/congressman-elijah-cummings-democratic-hero-of-benghazi-committee-may-run-for-senate-in-2016/22895/
The little I saw of the proceedings included some clips of Elijah, and I did like what I saw.
ReplyDeleteO/T: Chafee's out: I actually would like to see them invite Lawrence Lessig now. I found him to be an engaging speaker. There's little chance he'll go anywhere, but I like the attention he draws to his cause.
...that fact that Trump is calling SuperPAC money "dark money" now is doing the same. Lessig might be right: perhaps that's an issue that crosses party lines to some extent.
DeleteHowever I recall a self funded candidate here in California that got nowhere a long time ago... back then I was more friendly to Republicans and sometimes voted for them, and I actually liked the fact that he was self funding. He and his now (much more!) famous wife actually lived in my neck of the woods... Montecito (just on the other side of Santa Barbara from where I am). Apparently they were the toast of the town (I don't generally run in those circles, although I did personally meet and speak briefly with Teresa Heinz Kerry at a party in Montecito once... when her husband was running. Why was I invited? I donated money). Montecito is a very rich town. He and his wife are divorced now... and nobody ever hears about him, but his foreign born ex-wife has made his last name famous, even today. Can you guess who I'm talking about?
The media market was SATURATED with his self funded campaign ads... people my age (at the time) were sick to death of it by the time the election took place, and he ended up losing anyway (it was for a US Senate seat I think). He really did make a big deal about how he wouldn't be beholden to special interests because of his self funding.
So I know from personal experience that self funding isn't always such a powerfully positive message. Hopefully it will have run it's course by the time the Republican primary is over.... since nobody else on either side of the race can really afford to self fund (I think).
Yes, he makes some sense. He is more realistic than Bernie. Still, at this point, it's all about Democrats focusing.
ReplyDeleteEven some Bernie fans are now saying that HRC is the right choice now as change will be incremental at this point.