"Today, the United States House of Representatives did something that had never been done in the entire 150-year history of the contempt of Congress statute: it voted to hold in contempt two top White House officials who had been directed by the President not to comply with House Judiciary Committee subpoenas on the basis of the President's assertion of Executive Privilege."
Boehner, "Let's just get up and leave," he told his colleagues, before storming out of the House chamber with scores of Republicans in tow. Can you imagine the Democrats "storming out of the House" chamber on anything?
So Bush says the information is off-limits under executive privilege, and therefore Bolten and Miers are immune from prosecution.
Democrats said they were acting to protect Congress' constitutional prerogatives. If Congress didn't enforce the subpoenas, said Steny Hoyer, it would "be giving its tacit consent to the dangerous idea of an imperial presidency, above the law and beyond the reach of checks and balances."
Well, the fight is on and we will see how powerful the Congress is and how powerful the Imperial Presidency is. Don't make any bets on Congress winning.
Posted by Judith at February 14, 2008 08:21 PMat least they're beginning to fight. and i think the public will be with them.
Posted by Turkana at February 14, 2008 08:28 PMTurkana, after being outraged again and again over these past seven years, I have absolutely no reason to believe that this contempt action will go anywhere or that Miers or Bolton will be held accountable. Executive Privilage most likely will win the day.
House Democratic leaders have decided to postpone a vote on a criminal contempt resolution against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers for several weeks, and possibly longer, according to top lawmakers and aides.
The decision delays any constitutional showdown, at least for the moment, between Congress and President Bush over the extent of executive privilege and the president’s ability to fend off congressional investigations.
But the slowdown, approved by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her top lieutenants, is also stirring objections among Democrats.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers said he is uncomfortable with the delay and worries the House will be seen as toothless unless it moves quickly to hold top officials in contempt for failing to provide documents and testimony in congressional probes.
Pelosi. I should have known. I rest my case.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5750.html
Posted by Judith at February 14, 2008 08:47 PMNice post, got something just as interesting at Papamoka as well...
Robert Wexler has been running this dog to the ground from day one.
Posted by Papamoka at February 14, 2008 08:51 PMbut something's in the air....
What about this:
McCain Sells His Soul to the Right:
Has there ever been a more repugnant example of political pandering than McCain's decision to vote against a bill banning waterboarding, putting hoods on prisoners, forcing them to perform sex acts, subjecting them to mock executions, or depriving them of food, water, and medical treatment? That's right, the former POW who has long been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration's disturbing embrace of extreme interrogation techniques. But that was before he put his conscience in leg irons. This unconscionable capitulation should drive a stake through the heart of the McCain-as-straight-talker meme once and for all. He really will sell his soul for a vote.
HuffingtonPost
Thank you Congressman Wexler! I hope your efforts are not sabotaged.
Posted by Judith at February 14, 2008 09:14 PMFunny thing about the McCain straight-talk thing.
Tonight Tucker Carlson gave Dan Abrams a lecture on how anyone who trying to use facts to show that McCain is not a straight-talker would be wasting their time. The narrative is locked in; nothing is going to change it.
It was stunning because it was an accurate description of how the corporate press/media operates. And stunning because even though Carlson admitted this, nothing will change.
Posted by James E. Powell at February 14, 2008 09:21 PMThere is nothing to this. NOTHING.
The Justice Dept. has already said that it will not enforce any contempt citations.
Posted by Simp at February 15, 2008 02:49 AMYou are right Simp. Others need to get used to it. What is much more important is that the House WILL renew FISA. Democrats are on the wrong side of the issue and the Democratic "leadership" in the House is being pummeled by the rank and file privately.
What's new huh?
Posted by jj at February 15, 2008 03:48 AM"the Democratic "leadership" in the House is being pummeled by the rank and file privately."
You wish.
Got a link for that?
Oh, you don't wanna see the right wing internet shit trough that jj spooned that info from, herbal tea.....I assure you!
Posted by euzoius at February 15, 2008 05:59 AMjarjar jj: "What is much more important is that the House WILL renew FISA."
stoopid right-wing troll, it is not FISA that is being considered
better trolls please
Posted by Gay Veteran at February 15, 2008 10:29 AM