Texas officials and politicians weren't quiet about a House panel's vote on Wednesday to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt over a fight involving the botched "Fast and Furious" weapons operation. Use our Storify timeline to follow this week's key developments and to see what Texans had to say.
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Comments (14)
Jamie Lewis via Texas Tribune on Facebook
what utter jackasses.
Mary Bell Lockhart
Come on Tribune. Why are you carrying the water for the Republicans obvious and blatant political attack on President Obama and his Attorney General? Where's the truth in reporting - that Fast and Furious was the creation of the Bush Administration, that Eric Holder put a stop to it, that President Obama has invoked executive privilege less than any recent President, that the Republicans are just bringing this up to try to change the subject from President Obama's wise actions in deferring enforcement against young immigrants? Do your job.
Rudy Gonzales
The Attorney General being charged with contempt by Darrell Issa who's background is as spotty as acheetah is asinine. This Congress' own history is indicative of "nothing , not now, not ever" is rooted intheir actions over the past three and one half years. The TEA-Republicans in Washington have introduced 46 bills on abortion, 113 bills on religion, 73 bills on family relationships, 36 bills onmarriage, 72 on firearms, 604 on taxation and 467 bills on government investigations. The SanFrancisco Examiner found that Darrell Issa's claims sweeping stadiums for bombs prior to games was nottrue;
Jay Bergey, claimed that Darrell Issa stole his Dodge Charger in 1971;
Issa and his brother William were charged with stealing a Maserati from a dealer's showroom inCleveland.
When Darrell Issa returned to civilian life and a week before he was discharged, he and his brother werearrested again on theft charges.
It has been my contention that the bigotry and prejudice have devastated decency in America just for onereason. Obama is a black man who won the presidency. Sam Donaldson hit it on the mark that "people donot oppose Obama on principles or politics, but merely because he's black." But the TEA-Republicans haveblocked every jobs bill put forth by Obama.
For the record, George W. Bush exerted Executive Privilege 6 times. Bill Clinton exerted Executive Privilege 14 times. Barack Obama has exerted Executive Privilege in the Fast & Furious incident for the first time. He has NEVER exerted Executive Privilege before.
Executive privilege is called push Back!
Rudy Gonzales
To all the Treacherous Adversarial Egotist(TEA) party members in the Texas Legislature and who are working with the Troubling Economic Antagonist(TEA) to hold back any promising good news for the Obama administration. From John Cornyn, to Darrell Issa to Ted Cruz to David Dewhurst, Ted Poe and Kevin Brady, let it be known we know you are crying like a baby to link Obama to a program from the previous administration and their underhanded means to get an agenda going. For the record, George W. Bush exerted Executive Privilege 6 times. Bill Clinton exerted Executive Privilege 14 times. Barack Obama has exerted Executive Privilege in the Fast & Furious incident for the very first time. On the other hand the TEA-Republicans in Washington have introduced 46 bills on abortion, 113 bills on religion, 73 bills on family relationships, 36 bills on marriage, 72 on firearms, 604 on taxation and 467 bills on government investigations. My question is: Where are the jobs the class of 2010 promised when they ran for office? Is this just pandering to the most gullible with your own lies? Or is it just plain cronyism on steroids for the confrontational Treasonous Erring Anarchist(TEA) who have corrupted the once proud party of Lincoln? Face it, Teddy Roosevelt is turning in his grave at the shenanigans you are pulling in today's America. Even Ronald Reagan would be ashamed of the tactics used to implement local control over federal subsidies and monies used for other than those plans they were designated for.
Hannah Katz
Like Watergate, what brings them down will be the cover up.
BurningFeet
Who says 'stupid' isn't contagious? 8.2% unemployment and this is what our dear leaders are in a tizzy about, an imaginary conspiracy about non-existent gun control? Phttttt! Where are the jobs, Boehner?
Wilkins Micawber
I can't speak for Attorney General Holder, but I have plenty of contempt for Congress.
How anyone with passing familiarity with Darryl Issa's past can take him seriously as a congressman is beyond understanding. The man should be making license plates.
And does John Cornyn ever miss an opportunity to open his pie hole and exhale another of his banal ideological commentaries?
And dodgy Daddy Dewhurst- oooh, you get tough and go give dem libruls hell, Davey!
What a pathetic bunch of grifters.
Steven Kite
Well, it's meaningless posturing but I suppose it's cheaper than Viagra for the Republicult base...
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yep, both of them are jackasses. Dewhurt/Cornyn.
Dale Curry
Just more rhetoric from the repubs and tea party. Wish our Dear Senator John "Slush Fund" Cornyn would stop playing politics and do HIS job. And no, his job is not pandering to his corporate supporters.
audrey fisher
Why is it that none of these "storied" TEXAS politicians will go on the record as to WHY, exactly what DOJ has done wrong, other than grovel at the foot of Issa? Unless they can do just that, it should just be counted as more "political pandering".
Anya Khan
I cannot the stupid party hacks that are supporting Sec Holder in this case. I could give a ***** about who is asking him questions. He should have answered them, and for Pres Obama to invoke on this was wrong. Shame on you people.
visule
In our history, the cover up has been more damaging than the actual scandal (ie Nixon’s Watergate, Clinton's Monica Lewinsky ). But not this time...a US Border agent was killed with Fast and Furious guns allowed to cross freely into Mexico and into the hands of the cartels. Untold number of Mexicans were probably killed as well. Holder must be held accountable. The records are needed to find out why this happened and if any laws were broken. If your liberal there is nothing to see here; its always bush’s fault so move along.
Also, the Nation should not forget the whistle blower ATF agents that exposed this plot.
David Spratt
What does what someone else did at sometime in the past, 40 years ago,,, have to do with what is going on now? It really does not matter that some people are satisfied with vauge explainations and the production of a few documents,,, those selected by the accused to back up their story. There are millions of people who want the entire truth,,, and being the ones who are footing the bill and employing those politicians who may or may not be hiding something. There are millions of " We The People' who are the ultimate bosses who want the truth despite those who are satisfied or do not care,, that deserve to know. Not 1 single person has ever been prosecuted for this, nor are they likely to be unless we find out exactly who they are. If there is nothing to hide ,, then hand it all over. It belongs to the people after all. This administration sees nothing wrong about disclosing details about the killing of Bin Ladin hours after it was done,, even going so far as to announce the vast amounts of data collected,,, which was worthless minutes after the news flash. NBo problem announcing the details of a new sophisticated underwear bomb and the fact this was an ongoing operation. Again useless after the announcement. No problem confirming cyber warfare ,,again an ongoing operation. Operations from bases in Africa, the Presidential Kill list, the doctor that identified Bin Ladin,, but then again those disclosures are not implicating them in criminal acts or endangering them,,,, Just the people working undercover who are apparently disposable.Looks like one hell of a double standard here. I do not care what party affiliation the people who are directly responsible for Terry's death have be it Rep,,Dem,,Lib, or Comm Party,,, they need to be found out and punished.Who cares what Bush did? The weapons released under " Wide Receiver" were tracked and when it was found to be ineffective and tracking devices malfunctioned it was stopped. Intelligent well informed people know this. The Holder DOJ fully owns Fast and Furious and it can not be Blamed on Bush. I suspect that 20 years from now there will be many things that will still be " Bush's Fault."
Holder put a stop to it HUH? How did he stop something he claims he knew nothing about before he Knew it? Answer me that one!!!!!