Sorry to break up this back-slapping, but Sink is incorrect on this..
The reason they named "select" committees to FINALLY get to the bottom of Watergate - where the Democrats AND Republicans actually worked well together is the same reason we need a select committee now... a Special prosecutor - even if we had the senate - would be worthless because he reports to the President while a "select" committee - unlike what they are doing right now - uses a Chief Counsel – essentially a prosecutor. This Chief Counsel is tasked with analyzing all the evidence and follows the leads wherever they go. He has pretty much all the powers of a special prosecutor... In addition a Select Committee is tasked to one task .. be it the IRS, NSA, etc... and is limited in members who actually have extended time to question the people brought before their committee to testify. Far superior to the current approach of having multiple committees doing their own thing just winds up being a bunch of politicians making 5 minute speeches.
They need to follow the Watergate model - that is unless you really do not want to get to the bottom of these scandals... proof of lack of anything getting done is Fast and Furious.. all we have right now is just a bunch of small campaign speeches... A Chief Counsel of a select committee would be able to bring all these people in and they question them like it is a courtroom, extensive, detailed, questioning... no grandstanding like we get with Elijia Cummings or Issa - who is NOT an attorney and is, frankly, totally in over his head right now....
That is a very good argument and I would like to explore the select committee option when the timing is right perhaps next spring or summer. My reasoning is political. I think rat scandals just before elections are delicious. I know we will disagree and I can almost hear the echos of "Justice delayed is Justice denied." but that's my opinion.
From my point of view Boehner and the 5 GOP chairmen running 5 investigations all say a select committee is unnecessary at this time. I take them at their word but I trust the GOP to do the right thing were you do not. I think Boehner and the chairmen like the drips and drabs coming out and think they can find more. If Benghazi was not getting a lot of media right now I'd be more concerned.
Here is something else to consider. When Dubya was president he used a masterful technique to bash the rats in the run up to the Iraq war.
First he said Axis of Evil and the rats and media spit out their breakfast and screamed "what does that mean!?!"
Then he said "Saddam has to go," and the rats demanded he explain himself to the American people.
Dubya said "I don't have to."
The rats and media screamed at the top of their lungs "Oh yes you do!" but Dubya waited until the roar was deafening and then went on national primetime TV to make his case.
The rats and media already frazzled then said " you gotta get permission from the Congress!!!"
Dubya said "I don't have to."
The rats and media screamed at the top of their lungs "Oh yes you do!" but Dubya waited and waited until the roar was deafening and then went to the Congress and got permission.
The rats and media were apoplectic now. They demanded of Dubya, "YOU GOTTA GET THE UN'S OK!!!!"
Dubya said "I don't have to."
The rats and media screamed at the top of their lungs "Oh yes you do!" but Dubya waited and waited until the roar was deafening and then he and Powell went to the UN and got the permission.
I believe Bush had every intention of jumping those hoops but waited until the rats and media demanded action.
The actors are different but the method is similar.
Boehner maybe thinking that a select committee will be used by the media to paint the GOP as obsessed with taking down the First Black President. The rank and file GOP demand a select committee.
Boehner says "I don't need to."
The din gets louder and Boehner says "I don't need to."
Soon even the media starts asking why isn't Boehner acting when so much of the GOP is demanding it.
and Boehner says "Look we have 5 committees investigating and they want more time."
The far-right begins to say "Boehner really does not want to get to the bottom of these scandals."
and Boehner says "We don't need to."
Then the media starts asking "what's going on here?" and stories keep coming with background info explaining why Boehner's inaction is so weird.
Then one of the committee chairs says "we are stalled. we can't get any co-operation from Obama. I recommend a select committee."
and Boehner says "We don't need to."
Another committee chair gives up, then a third, then a fourth, until only Issa remains.
By this time Boehner is facing several Tea Party primary challengers. O'reilly, Scarsboro, Will all blast Boehner for not doing the will of the GOP voters.
Then Issa says "I'm done. We need a select committee to proceed"
Boehner says "I guess we have to have a select committee."
Now it is impossible to say Boehner is reckless...he just doesn't have control of the Tea Party faction of the party..
Boehner has used the Tea Party as a foil in much the same manner. He goes to the President and says "I want to do this or that Barry, but I don't have control of those darn Tea Party guys. Soooooorry."