Darrell Issa Cuts Off Mic

During the House Oversight Committee, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) took exception with how Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) was handling the hearing on the IRS targeting of political groups. Issa responded by shutting off Cummings' microphone and calling the hearing to an end. It was rather childish on Issa's part.

The hearing started off strangely with former Former IRS official Lois Lerner pleading the fifth.

In response to a series of pointed questions from Issa on Wednesday, Lerner repeatedly said, "On the advice of my counsel, I respectfully exercise my Fifth Amendment right and decline to answer that question." Over the weekend, Lerner's attorney had apparently been negotiating with the committee over a possible deal that would have allowed her to testify, which had raised the possibility that she would speak Wednesday.

Cummings chimed in afterwards and Issa eventually shut off his microphone. What a disaster.

When Political Hacks Collide

I am no fan of Attorney General Eric Holder. The man has no interest in prosecuting people in power, whether that be CEOs at major banks or people responsible for the torture of detainees. Holder is a horrible Attorney General. Rep. Darrell Issa is a political hack only interested in scoring political points against the Obama administration. These two horrible public servants got into a spat during the Judiciary Committee hearing today.

"No, no, no, that's -- I am not going to stop talking now," he said.

Issa called on the committee chairman to ask Holder to stop talking, but Holder refused.

"It is inappropriate and too consistent with the way in which you conduct yourself as a member of Congress," the attorney general said. "It is unacceptable. It is shameful."

I am glad that Holder called Issa on his bullshit. I just it was someone other than Holder that would took Issa to task.

Lifestyles of the Rich in Congress

Meet the 50 richest members of Congress. I am so glad that these people have taxpaid government health care.

Top 10

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas)

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California)

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.)

Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.)

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.)

Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.)

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.)

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California)

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.)

DOJ Wanted To Make Republicans Happy On Immigration

There have been news articles that the Justice Department wasn't happy with Carol Lam's handling of illegal immigration. An email from Michael Elston to Lee Otis tells the tale the DOJ concerned about making Republicans happy on immigration.

The report was provided by to the AP by the office of Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who has accused the chief federal prosecutor in San Diego of being lax on smuggling cases. Issa's office said it was a Border Patrol report written last August. It was unclear who wrote it.

There is more.

The Justice Department declined to comment. However, at a congressional hearing last month, Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla., told Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that Lam's record on immigration smuggling was ''a pathetic failure.'' Gonzales replied that he was urging U.S. attorneys to more actively enforce laws but noted that immigration cases were '' a tremendous strain and burden'' along the border.

What's interesting is Lam received glowing reviews from the DOJ for her handling on immigration. The GOP really wanted to please their xenophobic base. To bad for them it drove others to the Democrats during the midterm elections.