I called Mr. Issa's office today with a few questions. You can call him also at two-oh-two, two-two-five, three-nine-oh-six. You can bypass the recording and go directly to the staffer by pressing four.
My first question was about the result of the months-long "investigation" into "Fast and Furious." Was the end result...no change in anything?
It sure was. Mr. Holder is still in office, and nobody at Justice got the axe.
My next question was, how do I see an accounting of how much was spent on the investigation, and who got the money? I explained that it looked to me like a politician grandstanding on the taxpayer's dime, and possibly funneling funds to un-named persons, but the only way to really find out is with an accounting. The staffer couldn't answer that one, and offered to connect me to the House Oversight Committee where such records are kept.
Fine, I said, but before I go, one more bonus question. Mr. Holder recently stated that there would be no prosecution of any members of the CIA for torture, even though we have seen photographs and had candid public admissions of these acts. Since torture is a violation of the Eighth Amendment, and "Fast and Furious" is at best a minor scandal by comparison, why didn't Mr. Issa go after Mr. Holder for his failure to enforce the Constitution, since it was a slam dunk that it was violated?
"I'll connect you now to the Oversight Committee." I guess that answers that.
The Oversight Committee staffer listened to my question, and put me on hold for about five minutes. She told me that there was no one at Oversight who could help me, and if I truly wanted that information, I could ask my own representative to get it for me.
Fortunately, I am represented by an actual progressive, Lynn Woolsey. The staffer at her office was helpful, but had no experience with this sort of request. I was told that she would query the Oversight Committee, but that it would probably take a few weeks to get an answer by mail. If anything ever shows up, I'll post it here.
Perhaps Mr. Issa needs to hear from a few more of us, but that's not my call. I already made mine.