Mrs. Maria Bartiromo is good at pretending, very good. However, CTH has never pretended or played the game of pretending and we can spot a pretender a mile away.
The game of pretending is needed in order to retain the illusion of the Potemkin Village of DC. A construct manufactured by the power structure that exists behind the puppet show, with the full intention to distract us. Pretending is what gives rise to a Florida governor on a ‘book tour’ run for 2024. Pretending is what kicks the can of accountability away until it can be buried.
Pretending is needed in order to say Republicans will make a difference, or the black eye doesn’t hurt, and look he bought me flowers. Perhaps some reminders and clarifications of the real game inside DC politics are needed. After all, I am this close > < to going back into that mess to destroy some silos.
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, hereafter called the House Oversight Committee or HOC, has a very specific function in DC circles that too few understand. Once again, let us be clear while trying to explain decades of false information founded upon arcane legislative outlooks.
Understanding the DC game of Chaff and Countermeasures…. A “Countermeasure” is a measure or action taken to counter or offset a preceding one.
Politically speaking, the deployment of countermeasures is a well-used tactic by professional politicians in Washington DC to counter incoming public inquiry and protect themselves from anger expressed by the electorate. The Republican leadership are very skilled in the management of “chaff” (outrage), and “countermeasures” (the distraction).
Within Washington DC, the HOC has a very specific and unique function. What Fox News is to corporate conservative punditry, so too is the HOC to the same DC system of pretending. The House Oversight Committee is the “Chaff and Countermeasures” committee. The HOC operates for both parties with the same mission.
The House Oversight Committee was/is created by the House legislative leadership to make money for the party in control of the Chair. When the House Speaker is notified of a DC corruption issue, inside his/her office they will often be heard saying, “give it to oversight.” The intent of that instruction is to give the issue to the HOC, so they can hold hearings, create soundbites and fundraise from the issue.
Making money for the party in control of the Chair is the primary function of the House Oversight Committee. The HOC does not exist to create accountability or oversight; the HOC exists to exploit the issue for fundraising and satiate the base voters of the party in control of the Chair.
The HOC presents the illusion of accountability by constructing soundbites and member performances which are then broadcast on television for appearances to the voting audience. It is essentially theater.
The HOC is a “general oversight’ committee, not a committee of “specific jurisdiction.” Thus, the HOC is the vehicle where Democrats and Republicans publicly display their political initiatives, frame their narratives and then broadcast them on MSNBC, CNN (Democrats) or FOX NEWS (Republicans).
Depending on the issues at hand, the HOC committee members are generally those performance actors best known to the audience of both parties. This is not accidental; this is by design. Again, for emphasis, I am only talking about the HOC, a “generalized oversight” committee. Only this specific committee has this specific mission.
A hot button topic enters the committee ecosphere. Specifically trained staffers and performance artists, uniquely qualified to put on theatrical productions (both parties), are then deployed to assist the representatives in creating the soundbites that hopefully will go viral and assist them with fundraising and opportunities to say, “here’s what we are doing.” Outlining this construct is not an exhibition in cynicism; this is the reality of what the HOC is designed and created to do.
When you see the HOC performing at their best, you will see lots of soundbites created.
The Chair of the HOC is always part of the House Speaker’s close inner circle. From that association you will discover by training, by habit, and by consequence, the HOC framework is developed to sustain the process itself as an end result. The questioning is the sum total of all accountabilities. The performance is the interview; the conversation is the point; the smoke is the fire.
Oversight, in the HOC framework of narrative creation, has evolved into reveling in the endless process (a fundraising proposition) and, as a consequence, it completely ignores the end point, misses the bottom line, doesn’t actually SEE the subject matter, and never actually applies accountability toward what might be discovered. This is why you end up with high blood pressure, frustrated with the questions not asked, and throwing bricks at the screen or monitors when viewing.
The point of HOC hearings is to create what are now described as “viral moments” that can be used to generate money. The second, and lesser objective, is to give the illusion of accountability while not actually ever holding anyone or anything accountable. See prior HOC reference points like Fast and Furious, IRS targeting, Benghazi, the Twitter File review or the current Joe/Hunter Biden crime syndicate investigation.
If you watch the HOC through the prism of expecting some form of accountability for the violations of law, you will be frustrated and disappointed. However, if you watch the HOC through the prism of how well the members will do at raising money from their performances, then you can evaluate the effectiveness – the proverbial winning and losing.
The HOC is designed by House leadership to perform the same basic function for both Democrats and Republicans. The HOC committee assignments are selected based on the theatrical skills of each representative. This is not to say the motives of the members are sullied or impure, it is simply to point out the motive of the committee itself is to generate fundraising from the skillsets of the members on the committee.
Once you fully grasp what the intent of the House Oversight Committee is about, and once you drop the expectation that any accountability in oversight is the intent, then you can watch the performances through the entertainment prism of partisan politics and genuinely enjoy them – or hate them.
The HOC is called the “Chaff and Countermeasures” Committee, because that’s essentially what the committee does. It gives the appearance of targeting, steering the target to a controlled destination, and then distracting the audience from the outcome of accountability.
If sunlight is achieved, meaning the Mainstream Media cannot ignore the issue as presented and questioned, and if the general public become more familiar with the controversial subject matter or topic at hand, and if the party of the Chair can fundraise from the issue, then the committee has succeeded. However, if you are looking for something to change as an outcome of any HOC investigation or hearing, you will be perpetually disappointed.
There seems to be a willful blindness on the part of the American people, a chosen refusal to acknowledge the implications of the unAmerican and unConstititional behaviors, actions and outcomes we are being served on a daily basis.
It can no longer be presumed to be a matter of “I can’t see what’s happening”, because a whole lot of normal Americans really are clean and articulate.
“I can’t see it” just doesn’t cut it.
NONSENSE! Most people can see it. Most are just choosing to reconcile the irreconcilable because it is more comforting to ignore the truth of it. Just be honest, for many people avoidance has become a survival mechanism.
It’s more along the lines of “I see what’s happening, but it’s scary and complicated and confusing, and if I admit that I see it, I will become responsible in a way that I am not if I keep pretending I can’t see it or hear it or maybe I don’t understand it.”
McCarthy’s Lucy has unlimited footballs.
Admit it or keep pretending.
The choices are ours.
Personally, I will not pretend.
If we all stop pretending, eventually the DC house of cards collapses.
I think we need to change things…
I am so naïve; I thought the HOC were ethical. I can’t imagine why anyone would make a political contribution. I had much rather give money to a family member or a neighbor in need.
I would like to think this is somewhat unfair to Maria Bartiromo. The HOC states it has copies of actual “Suspicious Activity” bank records, detailing the web of LLCs and bank accounts that received cash from foreign payers to Biden family payees. Those records should be used by all House and Senate committees investigating the Biden schemes; and should be taken up by the DOJ and the media to continue the investigation. I know the latter two are likely to ignore the evidence; but discovery of actual records of Suspicious Activity, is far more substantive evidence of crimes than what happened in the Watergate scandal, or in the two impeachments of Trump. Isn’t it?
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the brutal honesty. I remember the days when I “believed” in the “process”.
I think Americans now are too STUPID to see what is going on. Most are poorly educated about Civil Society and are only focused on shiny objects that they are sure will bring them “happiness”.
I am with you, Sundance! Wolverines!!!
Very well said! I’ve been preaching this for years, and usually get blank looks in return.
Yet how many people post comments on various forums citing Kabuki theater. What the hell do these people think that is other than PRETENDING.
Keep in mind that fully half of all Americans are dependent on anti-anxiety, anti-depressive and anti-psychotic drugs.
A quarter if us are dependent on alcohol or fully addicted. Another 15% are full blown illegal drug addicts. If 120,000 of us are dying of drug overdose each year, imagine how many new addicts are created annually.
These people don’t think straight and certainly not able of confronting tough existential problems.
In reading you “The Treehouse” you realize that The Gateway Pundit and Steve Bannon are controlled opposition.
Steve Bannon? Please explain.
Throwing around wild accusations with ZERO validating links is not only reprehensible but also puts you in league with the enemy. There’s enough lying these days, why are you adding to it?
Trust nobody, first and foremost. I know little about Bannon but i know not to trust anyone who has a platform. People were telling us 50 years ago not to trust our government and nobody listened, or the news.
This stuff is so deep and unbelievably corrupt I think most have no idea. Bannon can spill the beans all day every day and never scratch the surface of the true corruption.
The problem is the DOJ has all the power, and they are completely corrupt. Things would really get interesting if the Republicans ever decided to cut these agencies by at least 30%. At that point you would almost certainly see the GOPe push back, and push back hard. The reason for this is that many of them are not really conservatives. They still read and believe The New York Times and The Washington Post which is delivered to their offices everyday. I know some of these guys, including two of the ones Sundance pictured. They do not read any alternative conservative news sites like this one, and they do not know what is going on. Even worse, they believe their Intelligence briefings. It never occurs to them that they are being lied to.
This is “pretending”.
“It never occurs to them that they are being lied to.”
no, it never occurs to them to care that they’re being lied to.
“Not pretending” means understanding that there is no political solution to tyranny. There never has been.
Amuzed, that is the real pretending, I agree.
I will quote you. “There is no political solution to Tyranny”. It comes across better than my usual retorts … that tend to refer to gallows and guillotines.
Read up on what Madison said about American citizens’ duty and obligation to replace a trannical govt. BTW it was stated within the context of preserving American’s right to form militias, bear arms.
Dropping some other subscriptions that aren’t doing me much good so I can increase my monthly donation to CTH.
Your work is priceless.
“I see what’s happening, but it’s scary and complicated and confusing, and if I admit that I see it, I will become responsible in a way that I am not if I keep pretending I can’t see it or hear it or maybe I don’t understand it.”
The mindset of this quote from Sundance says it all. This is the mindset of my liberal children. So sad when you realize they subscribe to that saying never talk politics with family at the holiday dinner or on any occasion. Sad because family is the reason for holiday gatherings and celebrations. Sad because our youth have been brainwashed to believe politics is something other than the foundational dialogue of self-governance. A most nascent and necessary conversation to maintaining our Constitutional rights, liberty and freedom of thought.
In other words, I don’t want to look because it will upset the status quo of my beliefs and force me to take responsibility for my weakness of character.
Yes, some say don’t discuss Religion or Politics. YET it’s Religion and Politics that have a great deal of control over our lives.
Bingo
“The HOC is a “general oversight’ committee, not a committee of “specific jurisdiction.””
I prefer HOCUM, House Oversight Committee of Uniparty Members.
Everything damning that they fail to bring to justice is an oversight.
As I said after the last election…….. two more years of screaming and yelling yet none of the real criminals will go to jail.
I couldn’t agree more. In fact as I was about to hit the [More] link on this story I was thinking Goudy, Chaffetz and Issa and how they played the game with Benghazi, Lois Lerner, Holder and Fast ‘n Furious and those govt data breaches. And what should I see after selecting the link? Their lying faces. Never before in the history of the Republic have so many in leadership failed the American citizen. Madison had it right…every American citizen has the duty and obligation to replace a tyrranical govt.
I want the tyrants in the government out. But I do not want to replace our wonderful Constitution.
The most evil president of all time…
Amen Amen! This post was so brilliant, so articulate and so well written that instead of simply posting my response, I donated on the article link. Sure hope that counts as doing a bit more than the normal pretense of “pretending” to care here.
Also, I count myself among those that “see” and have seen for quite some time now. Probably why I remain a registered Undeclared voter and if I ever move to a state that allows it, I will become an Independent.
Moreover, I echo the sentiments from Amuzed_Traveler & below about what actual solutions to actual tyranny look like and have been posting such sentiments in response to commenters like Cat Turd who seem a bit too happy at times to fan the smoky pretense all over the conservative internet. Frankly, as a woman I’m scared we’ll look like France on steroids over here in a few, but on the other hand, I know we have to be ready to do hard things.
It’s a pretty good scheme, really. HOC conducts hearings, gives the impression something will come of it. But nothing ever does, by design. People who catch the little sound bites are left with the impression that criminals were caught red-handed and will face justice.
And then afterwards the accuser and the accused knock off early for a round of golf and drinks together at the 19th hole where they congratulate themselves on getting away with it yet again.
I used to hope “white hats’ were going to rise up and save our republic. After January 6th I realized that this was simply fantasy. The solution to the problem is to organize locally using Committee of Safety as patriots did in 1770s. Our best chance is local and then regional forget about national and international. We will eventually win this thing but not without untold suffering and bloodshed. The hordes coming over the borders and into your town will be fighting for the satanic elites. We need to save our ammo for as them and not our neighbors.
This is the reason that I have gone cold turkey on outrage TV. I never watch it especially FOX, and I was a long time viewer. My heart can be broken only so many times.
We need term limits, so the endless money raising stops and our Reps will be countable to the people instead of the big money guys.
Sorry, accountable, not countable
Serving in congress should be same as jury duty.
I am three quarters of a century old and have been involved in politics for nearly half of that. ONLY ONCE (Nixon) in that time frame have I ever seen anything but hot air and rhetoric come out of a committee, investigation, or hearing. If you think otherwise you are deaf, dumb, blind and stupid.
Short version : Wall $treet-Theater !
I thought I knew something about politics.
Then D. J. T. was elected.
No kidding. That man has created an awakening like no other in modern history.
After reading many of the replies, and gauging reactions, i thought a counterpoint was needed to the OP.
once you understand the concept of “silos” and KNOW the work Devin Nunes did, you understand the real problem
how many of you heard the words “eight criminal referrals”?
Durham, by refusing to pursue, is just completing the work Barr initiated.
limiting damage control. limiting, not limited. different meanings.
the issue is DoJ usurping control from legislature, eliminating them from process.
Is the same true for the Senate Oversight Committee? Do I have blinders on believing that Rand Paul is different? I think I’m struggling with a lot of cognitive dissonance right now…. a very stuck, sad feeling—but at least I realize it must be confronted & pushed through, not mindlessly accepted.
I agree with much of the article and many of the comments, but it’s a fact that Congress does not have any law enforcement powers. And if they did, I don’t think we would like that very much – power cuts both ways.
So DOJ has become a pawn of the Executive Branch, and the media is corrupt, and all of DC is awash with foreign money. And there doesn’t seem to be anything that can be done about it, to the point where patriots are thinking about watering the liberty tree.
Are we left to conclude there there are some flaws in our system itself that have allowed the present situation to develop to this point because they were not previously recognized or resolved?