[dolinsky]

In watching the live stream there is some young-ish woman speaking so fast in order to get through the particular amendment she is (I'm assuming) required to read verbatim, and in such a monotonic tone, that I can't understand the reason for doing so. The people listening surely can't be retaining what it is that she is saying. It would be much more prudent if (gosh forbid) everybody involved had done their homework, read up on the appropriate amendments prior to this hearing, and came prepared to discuss and debate merits. Ya know...kinda like what we all had to do growing up. Do your homework. BTW, there's a woman furiously typing away on a blackberry with an iPad in her hand and a man on an iPad who are both on camera directly behind this woman speaking. I rest my case your honor.

[cbs]

Is this your first time watching congress? Yes, shes required to read it, all you've really said is that its silly for her to do so, which it is. But its a formality and they'll normally move to have her STFU. In this case its a procedural runarund. Like a quorum in the senate, nobody actually cares that everyones there, and if they did care so much about attendance they'd have a better way to take it.

They did their homework beforehand, otherwise the chamber would be empty, like always.

[dolinsky]

When I have watched hearings in the past it has been to listen to debates (most of which wind up being read verbatim from a piece of paper), but the language used is more natural than that of a proposed bill/amendment.

As for doing their homework, from the events surrounding SOPA which have taken place to date and in reading the list of amendments to be discussed, I don't believe these JC members - save for a few like Lofgren, Polis, Sensenbrenner, Chaffetz - have done their homework.

Two of the most important amendments over the next two days: * performing a study on the impact of any bill prior to its enactment (why this isn't a part of judiciary procedure escapes me) * an expiry on the provision of the bill after 5 years, which I think is a wonderful idea.