Change Preferences | Sign Out
SEARCH:
washingtonpost.com
Web
| Search Archives
Page 3 of 3   <      

Let the Games Begin!

GOP lawmakers' stalling tactics help Doug Feith escape relatively untouched.
GOP lawmakers' stalling tactics help Doug Feith escape relatively untouched. (By Susan Biddle -- The Washington Post)
  Enlarge Photo     Buy Photo
TOOLBOX
Resize
COMMENT
0 Comments 
Discussion Policy
CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging
» Links to this article

Ellison: "Wait a minute."

Feith: "-- kind of irresponsibility."

Ellison: "-- I control time, Mr. Feith."

But not for long. When Ellison begged for another minute of time, Issa objected.

"Wait a minute," Ellison griped. "How come everybody gets an extra minute, but I don't?"

Nadler tried to get Feith to explain why, as the witness put it, "removal of clothing is different than naked." King interrupted to say that "the chairman is ignoring the five-minute rule under Rule 11, Clause 2J."

Likewise, John Conyers (D-Mich.) found time working against him as he tried to question Feith about the witness's attempt to equate torture by the U.S. government with the recent killing in jail of a homicide suspect in Prince George's County. "Have you ever been considered an uncontrollable witness?" Conyers asked.

Feith tried to answer, but Nadler felt obliged to say that "the gentleman's time has expired."

The parliamentary tactics had apparently rattled the chairman, who found himself at a loss for words as he cut off another member of the panel. "The gentleman from Iowa has insisted on strict enforcement of the five-minute rule," Nadler said. "I will have to -- I will -- I will -- I will have to -- I will have to -- I will have to -- I -- I will have to -- have to accede to the demand."

But one member of the panel seemed to have no difficulty with the five-minute rule. When it was King's turn to ask questions, he uttered only eight words: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move we adjourn."


<          3


© 2008 The Washington Post Company