View Full Version : Is Congress above the Law?
As a spinoff of another thread where a Democrat member of Congress had his office searched by the FBI. There has been considerable bi-partisan outcry as to the ethical and legal appropriateness and legality to perform such searches with warrants from federal judges.
Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers on the Hill have demanded that the FBI turn over the confiscated documents, which were named in the current search warrant, as well as previous search warrants, that were confiscated from Rep. William Jefferson's office. Jefferson recently had his home searched where $90,000.00 in cash, alleged to be part of a bribery case, was found in his freezer. That discussion can be found here: http://forum.gsplayers.com/showthread.php?t=19676
So my question to the PC forum:
Is Congress above the law?
Does the FBI have the authority to search offices on Capitol Hill where evidence might exist that is incriminating?My answers are:
No, Congress is not above the law, and Congressman should be held to the same standards as every other civillian with regards to investigation and prosecution of illegal activities.
Yes, the FBI is the federal police agency, the offices on Capitol Hill are federal property. Someone has to hold these politicians accountable for their actions as a representative of the people, especially in lieu of proven historical evidence of bribery and corruption between members of Congress and lobby'sts and special interest groups.What do you think?
Sean of the Thread
05-24-2006, 03:37 PM
I seriously hate that the congress and senate are "above the law"
They should be held accountable.
On the same note watch a major sporting event (HOCKEY) and watch the assault and battery gone wild.
Valthissa
05-24-2006, 04:04 PM
I have no idea what our congress people think they are talking about.
When I queried our general counsel after hearing the claim that the search was 'illegal' I got this link:
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article01/21.html
and a note that the actual immunity enjoyed by our representatives based on case law is very limited.
Of course they are politicians so that explains most of their behavior
C/Valth
Congress should be held to the same standards as anyone else. They even used a search warrant in this case which surprises me as it doesn't seem necessary anymore. We should just remove the 4th amendment from the Constitution and be done with it.
Democrat or Republican I have no stomach for corruption.
Were you two as quick to jump on the Repubs when they were caught in scandals? I seem to remember many a Repub making excused for their corrupt members.
Were you two as quick to jump on the Repubs when they were caught in scandals? I seem to remember many a Repub making excused for their corrupt members.
I'm assuming that I'm one of the 'two' you're asking.
The answer is yes, I jump on any corruption - be it Democrat or Republican. I hate how corrupt big politik is in DC, and I'm hugely in favor of term limitations that would, IMO, reduce the frequency of special interests trumping over the will of the people.
I jump on that just as fast as I jump on biased or bandwagoning someone's guilt (before all the facts are in) for political reasons - which occurs frequently here on the PC. A simple search can demonstrate my stance on DeLay, Rove, or anyone else who's been prematurely tarred and feathered here.
WhiteTrash
05-24-2006, 04:34 PM
I agree with ya 100%
I agree with ya 100%
__________________
In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."
your quote reminded of one by Oscar Wilde:
"Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious"
Tsa`ah
05-24-2006, 07:34 PM
Our legislative branch has proven nothing more than it's inability to govern itself.
That's what it really boils down to. They want to retain the ability to form investigative committees, ethics committees .... committees to explore the value of dog shit in our yards and in our laws.
The Dems are out to sink the Reps, and the Reps are out to sink the Dems ... but getting the feds involved means a danger to both and the system that has been perpetuated for a century or more.
In the mean time it's you and I who suffer.
Setting aside every ounce of your political beliefs and loyalties ... no one can tell me that an HONEST legislature would not have convicted Clinton of perjury. Not of getting a hummer in the Oval Office, not of cheating on his wife, not of questionable use of a cigar ... but of perjury. Granted, the opposition wouldn't have wasted millions of our tax dollars to find out if Clinton was indeed getting freaky with an intern.
The same can be said of this current Legislative assembly and our current administration. Were the interests of the people really under consideration there would be a call to ensure our Administration was following the letter of the law when it at least came to US citizens.
When party loyalty exceeds national loyalty, loyalty to the citizenry, it tends to prove that this "Great Experiment" has failed.
Apathy
05-24-2006, 07:55 PM
1) Do you mean in reality or what they should be? Your question was a little vague in that respect.
In reality the answer is yes.
2) Yes, but they're probably 5 years behind the CIA anyways so what's the difference.
I find it particularly upsetting that the ONLY time these two collections of puppets we call republicans and democrats can come together and attempt to get something done is when one of their own is under fire.
They don't give a shit about you, your views, or your life. All they want is another term to keep the perks coming in.
Warriorbird
05-24-2006, 08:50 PM
It's funny when you hear Ganalon saying this stuff...then you read the Rove thread.
:grins:
Nobody knew...but you'd certainly prejudged there.
I think Congress is largely above the law. I don't agree with it. I don't think our Federal investigative agencies are above politics, however, which is nearly as bad.
It's funny when you hear Ganalon saying this stuff...then you read the Rove thread.
:grins:
Nobody knew...but you'd certainly prejudged there.
I think Congress is largely above the law. I don't agree with it. I don't think our Federal investigative agencies are above politics, however, which is nearly as bad.
Why dont you post where you think I pre-judged if its so blatant.
In essence, put up or shut up.
Warriorbird
05-25-2006, 01:15 AM
Cute avatar. Looks more like an obsessed Republican than a Democrat though. You can read your own posts and rationalize something out if you want. In your first serious discussion of the matter you attempted to attack Wilson and Plame's credibility. Your posturing may be one thing, your actual discussion and thought reflects another. It's like Hulkein if Hulkein denied that he was being Hulkein (which he did in the thread too...kinda cute).
And then you read further into a then fairly new thread...
"Yes, it seems the Republican party will not take the attacks lying down. Good for them."
"Looks like a play straight out of the Democratic playbook if you ask me."
"This is just a new Act in the same old Play if you ask me. Its just sad that so many continue to get taken in when it appears like blood is in the water."
Pre Libby. It doesn't really matter the eventual outcome. Very little information had come out at that point.
You still have not backed up your ascertions. In this claim about Rove and in your other claim about my supporting DeLay.
Congratulations on being the idiot I always you thought you were.
Thanks for proving you dont know shit.
Warriorbird
05-25-2006, 02:24 AM
Uhh... saying "I haven't backed up" doesn't make a damn bit of difference when I just did. Republicans...denying reality just like their avatars. You're not even worth bothering with just for bullshit stunts like your last post.
"But...but...but you didn't really!"
Pretty handy for you to claim stuff when a thread is gone.
Uhh... saying "I haven't backed up" doesn't make a damn bit of difference when I just did. Republicans...denying reality just like their avatars. You're not even worth bothering with just for bullshit stunts like your last post.
"But...but...but you didn't really!"
Pretty handy for you to claim stuff when a thread is gone.
The thread is not gone, its still here, you're only reading it from your interplanetary perspective. Its not denying reality, its reading what was written at face value, not for what you want to see.
Thus far you've proven nothing but the fact that you can make wild accusations without anything to back it up.
You can argue all you wish, but it is what it is.
Warriorbird
05-25-2006, 11:43 AM
How is it still there? And I quoted multiple of your posts from the other thread. Do have to use the search command or something? Way too much effort when you deny the reality of your own quotes from the other thread.
Warriorbird
05-25-2006, 11:55 AM
No...just denying real hard.
You cant deny what doesnt exist.
No.
And, lol, the avatar is cute.
Latrinsorm
05-25-2006, 11:33 PM
Congress is wholly above the law, and is shoulder to shoulder with the Constitution.
CongressPEOPLE are unequivocally subject to the law as United States citizens: nothing more, and nothing less.
They even used a search warrant in this case which surprises me as it doesn't seem necessary anymore.:violin:
And just so everyone's clear, *this* is the cutest and best avatar in the world...
...
....tribute.
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