A piece in The Daily Beast by Mr. Sam Brody, the Beast’s Congressional Reporter, bore the summary headline: “Dems Worry Rudy Would Send Impeachment Hearing Off the Rails.” Well, yes. That garrulous old liar has created so much uproar and chaos on TV shows that I’m amazed that they keep asking him to return. Yet there he is, all the time, with his grimaces and grins, talking like a prize-fight promoter, and telling one whopper after another unless he is stopped. And, yes, he is hard to stop, because he has no manners at all.

I came away from the Corey Lewandowski hearing feeling pessimistic about future hearings. Members of Congress, Chairs of Committees need to rouse themselves and shut down the delaying tactics and derisive behavior of their colleagues. They need to make witnesses either answer the questions or face a citation for Contempt of Congress. Our institutions must be less indulgent and tolerant when dealing with practiced liars and swindlers. Mad-dog partisanship and a high tolerance for foolery have made a mockery of the oversight role of Congress. Congress must resume this role with grave and determined energy if our democracy is to survive.