Rice On The Rise, Reid Gets Caught, And Lerner Stalemate *Open Thread* Updated

Updated with Rep. Trey Gowdy video at the end of the post.

It seems what is going on in the nation and in the world is finally pushing former Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, to increase her visibility on the political stage. As I have admitted here before, I had no time for Sec. Rice whatsoever when she was Sec. of State. Nope. Refused to listen to her, but sure made fun of her. What an idiot I was, a realization that smacked me upside the head (as we say in the South) when I heard Rice speak to the RNC Convention in 2012. Live and learn, I reckon.

Now, Sec. Rice is speaking up more, concerned about what she sees going on in our nation as The Hill reports:

[…] The former secretary of State is headlining the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual fundraising dinner on Wednesday, a marquee slot often reserved for White House contenders. In a rare move, she recently penned an op-ed weighing in on the situation in Ukraine, and cut an ad for American Crossroads on behalf of her friend and former employee Dan Sullivan (R), who’s running for Senate in Alaska.

She has intentionally kept a low public profile since the end of the Bush administration. But as one of the party’s most powerful and popular women and one its few high-profile African-Americans, she’s in high demand within the GOP — and when she feels like speaking out, people listen.

“She’s very concerned with where the party is going, where the country is going, and that’s why you’re seeing her engaging,” Georgia Godfrey, Rice’s chief of staff, told The Hill. “What she’s going to do this cycle is really support the party, help empower leadership and help the party win back Congress.”

That means weighing in on international politics as well as an increased involvement in the GOP’s internal battles. Rice recently headlined a fundraiser for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), helping him against his Tea Party challenger, Matt Bevin, and keynoted the California Republican Party’s annual fundraising dinner. She’s serving as a co-chairwoman of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s task force pushing for immigration reform, and has weighed in on education and energy issues in recent months.

Many from the Republican establishment welcome her increased involvement.

“At a time when there’s such a focus on America’s leadership on the world stage, who better to hear from than former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,” NRCC Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said in a statement. “She is living proof that our country is the land of opportunity. We are very grateful that she is our keynote speaker and appreciate her help making this event such a success.” […] (Click here to read the rest.)

Indeed, when Sec. Rice speaks, people DO listen. She is an incredibly knowledgeable, brilliant woman, and what she has to say, particularly about foreign policy and affairs is important. Not that there can’t be concern about the role she played in the Bush Administration, as is the case for many of her detractors, but that does not negate the acumen she has in this regard. Hence, her opinion is worthy of consideration if you ask me, especially considering all of the insanity raging on in the world currently. Heaven knows, I’d rather listen to what Sec, Rice has to say compared to Sec Kerry. Just sayin’.

And while Sec. Rice is rising on the stage, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid seems to have gotten his hand caught in the Nepotist’s Cookie Jar. Oh, yes, seems the Reid Campaign handed out a little sumpin’ sumpin’ that benefited Reid’s granddaughter as CNN reports:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s campaign committee said Tuesday it had done nothing improper when it spent nearly $17,000 in campaign funds on hundreds of items from a jewelry company owned by Reid’s granddaughter, Ryan Elisabeth Reid.

Those items – coasters, picture frames and other trinkets with themes from Reid’s hometown of Searchlight, Nevada – were given to staff members and campaign supporters as thank you gifts, according to a Reid aide. Each item is valued at about $50.

“The campaign complied with all FEC rules,” said Chris Anderson of Friends for Harry Reid in a statement.

Despite believing the expenditures were in compliance with federal campaign laws, Reid said late Tuesday he would reimburse the campaign from his personal funds. […] (Click here to read the rest.)

Uh huh, sure. Because there was NO PLACE ELSE from which to buy these little trinkets of Reid’s appreciation than his granddaughter’s place of business. Yeah, okay. We’ll just see what the FEC has to say about this, or if they will let it go since Reid is going to repay the funds with his own money (not a major hardship since Reid has become a gazzillionaire since getting into office. Ahem.). Still, sure would be nice if Reid’s feet were held to the fire a bit, wouldn’t it?

Finally, once again, as I type, the House is having another hearing on the IRS scandal, questioning the new IRS Director, John Koskinen, about what happened under Lois Lerner, and what the status is in regard to her emails about the IRS targeting of US Citizens. Lerner will not be testifying, of course. She continues to stonewall the House, and us, in her refusal to answer direct questions about her role in this low point, even for the IRS. What is she doing instead? Oh, you’re gonna love this. From the Daily Caller:

Ex-IRS official Lois Lerner lives the life of a free private citizen at her more than $2.4 million Bethesda, Maryland property as congressional investigators continue to sit on possible contempt charges. In the meantime, the top House committee probing the IRS scandal will interview an IRS official who was not at the agency at the time of the conservative targeting.

[…]

Lerner, whose husband Michael Miles is a Washington-based partner at the top law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, has retreated from public view since pleading the Fifth Amendment again at a March 5 hearing. Her attorney Bill Taylor said that she will not return to the spotlight or give another interview unless compelled.

As The Daily Caller reported, former Washington-based IRS exempt organizations director Lerner sat for a “Q+A” with DOJ lawyers that was not under oath, but has still refused to answer Issa’s questions about her role in the targeting scandal. […] (Click here to read the rest.)

Well, it’s about damn time this woman was “compelled” to testify. And it is far past time that Lerner was held to account for what the IRS, under her leadership, did to numerous American citizens based on nothing more than political partisanship. But for now, she stonewalls from inside her mansion, and we are still left without answers. It is just infuriating, especially since Lerner was paid with our tax dollars, and is still receiving her retirement pension. There is something seriously wrong with that…

Rep. Trey Gowdy is, as I am writing, questioning Director Koskinen. Once that video comes available, I will add it here. I can tell you that, as usual, Rep. Gowdy is on FIRE. Thank heavens for this man, a true American dedicated to the Constitution.

And that’s it for me. This is an Open Thread. Now it’s your turn!

UPDATE: Here is the promised Rep. Trey Gowdy video: