Closing the doors

Out to lunch and all hell breaks loose. Awesome.

I would say that anything that has Democrats cheering so hard and has Republicans squawking in anger so loudly is probably a savvy move for Reid and company.

Here's Reid's statement on the whole thing. An excerpt:

"Unfortunately the unwillingness of the Republican-controlled Congress to exercise its oversight responsibilities is not limited to just Iraq. We see it with respect to the prisoner abuse scandal. We see it with respect to Katrina. And we see it with respect to the cronyism and corruption that permeates this Administration.

"Time and time again, this Republican-controlled Congress has consistently chosen to put its political interests ahead of our national security. They have repeatedly chosen to protect the Republican Administration rather than get to the bottom of what happened and why.

"There is also another disturbing pattern here, namely about how the Administration responded to those who challenged its assertions. Time and again this Administration has actively sought to attack and undercut those who dared to raise questions about its preferred course.

(snip)

"Given this Administration's pattern of squashing those who challenge its misstatements, what has been the response of this Republican-controlled Congress? Again, absolutely nothing. And with their inactions, they provide political cover for this Administration at the same time they keep the truth from our troops who continue to make large sacrifices in Iraq."

If you are going to be afraid to stand up for what you believe in, then it's best to remain seated and believe in nothing. Democrats, led by Harry Reid, have finally begun to realize that Republicans have no qualms kicking out their chairs. So it's time to stand up and fight.

*UPDATE* Hotline:

Did the Democrats' maneuver work?

Here's what Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) just announced on the Senate floor.

"The Majority Leader and the Democratic Leader will appoint three members from their respective parties to meet and report back to the leadership no later that the close of business on 11/14."

It's a start. And they add this tidbit:

A footnote: several Democratic aides tell us that Sen. Reid and Sen. Jay Rockefeller decided on today's tactic after reading Murray Waas's account on NationalJournal.com of how senior members of Vice President Cheney's staff, including Scooter Libby, may have intentionally withheld crucial documents from the Senate staff.

Nothing like finding out you've been lied to get one fired up. I only wonder why it had to be Reid that had to ask, and not the Majority Leader himself.