Showdown in D.C. - Bush claims exec. priviledge, refuses to answer Congressional subpoenas
posted by
Wally
9:35 AM
In the face of Congressional subpoenas, proposed by Dems and supported by members of both parties, the Bush administration (including Dick "not in the executive branch" Cheney) did exactly what one would expect them to do based on historical precedent. Throw a temper tantrum, hold it's breath, and claim that "executive privilege" is a legitimate reason to violate the law. President Bush, moving toward a constitutional showdown with Congress, asserted executive privilege Thursday and rejected lawmakers' demands for documents that could shed light on the firings of federal prosecutors.
Bush's attorney told Congress the White House would not turn over subpoenaed documents for former presidential counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor.
In reaction, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy accused the administration of shifting "into Nixonian stonewalling" and revealing "disdain for our system of checks and balances."
"Increasingly, the president and vice president feel they are above the law," said Leahy, D-Vt., after getting the news from Fielding in an early-morning phone call. "In America no one is above law." The claim of executive privilege and refusal to cooperate were expected and shouldn't surprise to anyone. What will be a surprise is if the Democrats in Congress show the balls to follow through and go after these guys. It will be even more of a surprise if they succeed in the face of the Bush appointed Supreme Court.
Hopefully the Dems realize that the court will almost certainly side with Bush in an "executive privilege" battle, and will act accordingly. Putting impeachment back on the table would give them a nice bit of bargaining leverage. Leaving it off the table renders them just as impotent as we've come to expect.
Call your congress-critters. Demand that they follow through on the subpoenas, and failing that, that they begin impeachment proceedings immediately. Ask your Senators and Representative, what do these guys have to do to be held accountable for their misdeeds? How many laws must they violate before they will be forced to answer for their actions? What will it take?
Clinton got a blowjob
UPDATE: At least some of the Dems are already showing chutzpah.A statement just out from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI):
"The President's response to our subpoena shows an appalling disregard for the right of the people to know what is going on in their government. The executive privilege assertion is unprecedented in its breadth and scope, and even includes documents that the Adminstration previously offered to provide as part of their 'take it or leave it' proposal. This response indicates the reckless disrepect this Administration has for the rule of law. The charges alleged in this investigation are serious - including obstruction of justice and misleading Congress - and the White House should be as committed to this investigation as the Congress. At this point, I see only one choice in moving forward, and that is to enforce the rule of law set forth in these subpoenas."
Update: And this just in from Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), the chairwoman of the subcommittee that's led the House's investigation:
"It's tough to get lectured on the Constitution from the same Administration that said the Vice President is his own branch of government. The fact is that the Bush Administration, which has publicly declared its commitment to getting the truth on this issue, has stonewalled from the beginning. Mr. Fielding should understand two things: that nobody in their right mind would accept a White House offer that would condone perjury, and that saying 'take-it-or-leave-it' for months is not actually negotiation."
This Means War
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