Why does everyone always act so surprised when the intelligence services do things to make it harder to investigate them or provide (necessary) government oversight over their activities? The destruction of the CIA interrogation tapes that involve "waterboarding" is a perfect example.
Doesn't anyone remember the history of these agencies? They get out of line every decade or so and only congressional investigations act to provide any outside restraint. Remember the Church and Pike committee hearings in the 1970's? The Iran-Contra hearings in the 1980's? It is a pity our congress is so pathetic these days, because they would never take the political flak that such hearings would generate today for them. Which means that the word "oversight" has lost any meaning.
2007-12-25 22:11:55 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
the issue about waterboarding didnt come from congress it was the reporters doing their job for once
2007-12-25 22:26:44 · update #1
I think the issue of "Congressional Oversight" has become a political tool to use against the other guy. All you have to do is look at the attendance records of these various committees and see how often members are absent. It only appears that these investigations crop up when one party holds the Senate and another the White House. If a party holds both, you don't have these investigations.
2007-12-25 23:37:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the problem with the Congressional Oversight committee is that Congress no longer represents the voice of the people. They instead have their own agendas that hurt those who elected them.
If people do not vote, they allow injustices in our nation through complacency. If Congress no longer represents the people, then it's time to vote them out of office and replace them with those who defend our nation, our Constitution and our Bill of Rights.
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Congressional Oversight refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation. Congress exercises this power largely through its standing committee system. However, oversight, which dates to the earliest days of the Republic, also occurs in a wide variety of congressional activities and contexts. These include authorization, appropriations, investigative, and legislative hearings by standing committees; specialized investigations by select committees; and reviews and studies by congressional support agencies and staff
Congress’s oversight authority derives from its “implied” powers in the Constitution, public laws, and House and Senate rules. It is an integral part of the American system of checks and balances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_oversight
2007-12-26 14:04:53 · answer #2 · answered by Naturescent 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that these issues are being (or have been) investigated means the Congressional oversight is actually WORKING. If it wasn't, you'd have never heard of any of those issues.
2007-12-26 06:24:12 · answer #3 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
It was swept under the rug along with our constitutional rights.
2007-12-26 14:30:58 · answer #4 · answered by Sarah the Unready 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oversight has become overlook!
2007-12-26 07:03:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no it's just changed to outta sight
2007-12-26 06:20:08 · answer #6 · answered by cochise 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
throw the bums out..
2007-12-26 06:15:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋