If you selected E. Ari Fleischer, you are correct.

President Bush's spokesman was giving the President's views on Rep. Burton's efforts to pry loose documents from the Justice Department concerning corrupt practices by the Clinton administration and the FBI.

The quote placed in context so as to be fair: "These are vital matters dealing with constitutional prerogatives vested in the presidency," White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said. "And they should not be whittled down over time as a result of the actions of the previous administration."

"Congress," he added, "for too long has been on fishing expeditions and endless investigations."

Joe Lockhart couldn't have stuck the political knife in Burton's chest any smoother than that.

I can just picture Ari, Dick, and Dubya sharpening the blades of the instruments by which the members of the Clinton cabal will skate off on.

How depressing is that?

"Congress," he added, "for too long has been on fishing expeditions and endless investigations."

The Press Secretary's disdain for Congress merely reflects his opinion ,[and probably Dubya's and Cheney's as well, ] of a Congress who had charted a luxurious yacht to catch and land a prize winning fish during the Impeachment trial and blew it by cutting bait ..

Despite the proven results of the 'endless investigation' presented to the Senate by the House who had used the latest in sonar gear to track the big kahuna all the way to the Ford Building, it was obvious to this administration that the pretense at 'fishing' by the Senate ,and to the 'investigating 'democrats in the House was but only an act for the public, and in reality to merely further their own self-serving re-election interests for display to their constituents rather than to abide by their sworn duty to uphold the law.

So why bother? Congress is not the same breed of cat or polar or brown bear that the patriots of the Revolution envisioned representatives and senators would be ..., that is , men who would fish..

"These are vital matters dealing with constitutional prerogatives vested in the presidency,"

If this means that the President should be able to break laws then it's time for these perogatives to be un-vested in the presidency.

If the top officer of our nation is above the law then this oligarchy has grown too big for its britches, and will have to be dealt with accordingly.

So why bother?

You captured in a mere 3 words, the prevailing attitude of the populace of this country.

Ahaaa? You conclude that there is actually a law involved here when it isn't. Well, the law doesn't allow the AG to give details to an open investigation no matter who it may protect and it doesn't give congress the right to see everything the AG or President does.

I'm talking about laws which were obviously broken by the clinton crime family.
The Bush admin. obstructing for them just makes me sick.

I think ya'll are counting your chickens before they hatch. You are taking things out of context - using supposition, rumor, and assorted and sundry things to try to prove your point that Bush has betrayed us already.

I'm sorry, but I just do not believe that. Bush is just too much of a law and order kind of guy - and I am confident (by the expression on his face when he sees Clinton), that he has no special desire to protect such varmin.

However, you must remember, Bush, as President, wants to protect the presidency itself. Since none of us have ever been in his position, we have no idea what is in the documents we think are so important and need to be released. Maybe they would be very compromising to the workings of the presidency; not to any particular person.

I have written to the President regarding these documents. My feeling is this: if the documents hide criminal activity by one person (albiet a president), then they need to be revealed. The nation needs to experience some justice regarding the Clintons. However, if the documents don't hide criminal activity perse' but are strong enough to lead to a criminal conviction, then it might not be right to release them right now.

Until the record is set straight as to what the documents actually contain, then I can't see what everybody is so upset about??

If he is protecting scumbag clinton, then he may as well BE clinton.

The statement by Fliescher is very telling, reminding me of the stonewalling of x42. He didn't say they are protecting the presidency as much as that it was a "fishing expedition" by Burton.

With the mountain of criminality by the clintons this statement may speak volumes about the commitment to justice we are to expect from the current admin. I hope I'm wrong.

I have gone out of my way on this site and elswhere to stand up for Pres. Bush. But now I'm wondering whether the election of Bush was just a train stopping at a staion briefly, instead of switching tracks.

The Bush administration isn't using the Janet Reno 'continuing investigation' excuse. They claim it's a matter of principle. But their 'principled' stand looks very weak when they start hurling Clintonian insults at Congress.

"......But their 'principled' stand looks very weak when they start hurling Clintonian insults at Congress."

"We have not come here to praise Congress, but to bury them."

"Never underestimate the power of a sitting President"-Chris Cox's response, upon being asked why pertinent information regarding Clinton and Gore's personal involvement in the Chinese missile guidance system traded for campaign funds fiasco was exempted from his 'joint' congressional report....

#9-10 - I still feel you are misjudging Bush. I still believe that Bush's law and order principles are what is being protected - not some criminal activity.

Kristinn - I truly admire your stand every weekend to make the country aware of what kind of criminal they had elected to the White House. My concern is that this stand has caused you to no longer trust ANYONE in government. Remember, Bush always plays his hand close to his chest (which means he doesn't reveal his plan to his enemy). Because of this characteristic, I still believe he knows exactly what he's doing, and his enemy doesn't - which is exactly what he wants.

Amazing.

"Who cares". After I learned (in early 80-ties) some English and started finally to understand what all these nice people around me are saying, it was the first expression used by them so very often that scared me.

In case anyone forgot, the date that Burton's subpoena was supposed to be answered: September, 11, 2001.