Posted on 07/12/2007 4:15:43 AM PDT by Turret Gunner A20
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration says the president's immediate advisers are absolutely immune from having to appear before Congress, but legal scholars say the issue isn't that clear cut. The question grew more pressing Wednesday as President Bush ordered former White House counsel Harriet Miers to defy a congressional summons in the controversy over the administration's dismissals of federal prosecutors. The Democratic chairmen of the Senate and House judiciary committees have said they would consider introducing contempt of Congress citations against any subpoena recipients who resist. House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., could begin that process as early as Thursday if Miers ignores her subpoena and skips his hearing, based upon the White House's assertion of executive privilege. An argument that Miers has to testify "is certainly as tenable as that she doesn't," University of Texas law professor Sanford Levinson says.
snip
This dispute over Democratic claims that the firings were politically motivated has been simmering for months but the issue of executive privilege - how much information lawmakers can force presidents to disclose - is as old as the nation. Ever since George Washington refused to release his War Department correspondence, the executive and legislative branches have tussled over their authority.
(Excerpt) Read more at home.peoplepc.com ...
Oh well, at least they will have a hard time figuring how to get taxpayer money out of this to build another billion $ two-hole outhouse of some sort in West Virginia to name after Triple-K Byrd.
Where can I go to register my total, utter and absolute contempt for congress? Where can I sign up?
When will the Dems hire Fitz to look into this?
High noon for democrats is harassing a real man with spit balls.
For a Dim, life must be really miserable..... all that power, of no real use. No aid for crack babies, no taxes to retard growth, no union resurgance.
The Dems are nothing but a bunch of whiny-ass Drama Queens.
Nifong is also available for duty.
Only as a typist, perhaps. He's been disbarred.
The dems just don’t know what hill to die on, do they?
The american people could care less about the crao
This is actually an important issue that does need to be fleshed out to protect executive branch powers
When this corrupt Senate starts to try to enforce its subpoenas someone needs to take them out one by one. The most corrupt body in the world investigating someone else. Maybe the Mafia should investigate Congress.
Just as a baseline, there’s nothing whatsoever to prevent George Bush from taking the podium at 10AM to say “Congress has wasted many months of the people’s time investigating the termination of 8 Attorneys General who under the Constitution serve exclusively at the pleasure of the President. The Congress has greatly exceeded its mandate and jurisdiction, though my staff has cooperated in the interest of comity. However since we see no end to this exercise and since it is in any case not under the oversight or jurisdiction the Congress, I am today ordering my staff to cease any further activities in the matter, and we will have no further comment on it. Thank you.”
The Democrats know they win if they raise a big stink over the issue. It doesn’t matter that W had the right to fire the prosecutors for whatever reason.
I'd like to know the political affiliations of these anonymous scholars.
The Summer Congressional Follies of 2007 is getting under way.
Then why is congress' approval rating the lowest ever?
Remember when voters were warned before the ‘06 elections that dimwits like Conyers would be taking over important committees in Congress and would spend their time in mindless, expensive “investigations”? Remember the Dims assuring voters that would not be the case? Maybe the much-over-rated “Independent” voters will have learned a valuable lesson, but I doubt it since most of them are Democrats anyway.
You’re already here. And you just did. Keep it going — everytime you talk to someone with brains enough to share your contempt and to do the same.
I'd like to know the political affiliations of these anonymous scholars.
Try checking with Moscow or Tehran.
>Just as a baseline, there’s nothing whatsoever to prevent >George Bush from taking the podium at 10AM to say
He needs to point out that BC did this also. And to end the
wasting of public funds on this ‘Fishing Expedition’
I am issuing a blanket pardon in advance for all of my staff
for any ‘contempt of congress charges’.
He doesn't need to do anything but say "it's illegal, and its over."
I think the less said the better. Let the rats and the MSM explain it.
No pardons either (unless absolutely needed). That legitimizes what Congress is doing, that being a gross violation of the separation of powers.
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