[Colonel_Flagg]

He said they will assemble their own legal team, and he has Attorney General John Ashcroft's assurance that the Justice Department would defend the statute's constitutionality.

I'm not sure what disappoints me more .. the fact that Bush appears ready to sign this steaming pile of garbage or that Ashcroft will run intereference for him, if the media can be believed.

[the bottle let me down]

I'm not sure what disappoints me more .. the fact that Bush appears ready to sign this steaming pile of garbage or that Ashcroft will run intereference for him, if the media can be believed.

The problem is that Bush will sign it. Once the law has been signed, the executive branch, i.e., the DOJ, is bound to make any non-frivolous argument to stop the Court from overturning it. Ashcroft is doing his job. Bush, on the other hand, should veto the bill and is not obeying his oath of office.

[deport]

Ashcroft will run intereference for him

I think he doesn't have a choice

Functions of the Office of the Solicitor General

The major function of the Solicitor General's Office is to supervise and conduct government litigation in the United States Supreme Court. Virtually all such litigation is channeled through the Office of the Solicitor General and is actively conducted by the Office. The United States is involved in about two-thirds of all the cases the U.S. Supreme Court decides on the merits each year.

The Solicitor General determines the cases in which Supreme Court review will be sought by the government and the positions the government will take before the Court. The Office's staff attorneys participate in preparing the petitions, briefs, and other papers filed by the government in its Supreme Court litigation. The Solicitor General personally assigns the oral argument of government cases in the Supreme Court. Those cases not argued by the Solicitor General personally are assigned either to an attorney in the Office or to another government attorney. The vast majority of government cases are argued by the Solicitor General or by one of the Office's other attorneys.

Another function of the Office is to review all cases decided adversely to the government in the lower courts to determine whether they should be appealed and, if so, what position should be taken. The Solicitor General also determines whether the government will participate as an amicus curiae, or intervene, in cases in any appellate court.

[Howlin]

or that Ashcroft will run intereference for him, if the media can be believed.

CLUE: It's the law.

[bybybill]

Ashcroft HAS to defend the stupid law....watch the rats blame him when they loss...love to see him appoint an outside counsel from the rat party to represent the government

[eccl1212]

With Ken Starr in charge, HOW can we lose?

[LS]

I don't think Bush is devious or sneaky. But do you know what a truly sneaky or devious administration would do? Have Ashcroft bring his "D" game to the proceedings and get thrashed by Starr. Indeed, if one was really clever, Ashcroft could, in his "defense" of the bill, raise issues in such a way that the Court would HAVE to rule on even those parts that the DEMS don't WANT the Court to touch.

That is, if someone was sneaky and devious.

[rwfromkansas]

I don't blame Bush for sending him to argue the case.....he really doesn't have any other choice. But, I do blame him for signing. The only hope I have is htat he will sign it, and refuse to enforce certain provisions until the courts decide to rule on them. I would not be as furious with him if he did that....I think he would keep my vote in 2004...if he did that instead of just outright signing.

[KC_Conspirator]

I know I am getting in the arguement a little late, but Ashcroft is charged with enforcing the law while the USSC in charged with interpreting the laws. The minute it is declared unconstitional then Ashcroft drops it.