Power Without Limits

[NCByrd]

Power Without Limits

The Bush administration, which has been pushing presidential power to new extremes, is reportedly developing an even more dangerous new theory of executive privilege. It says that if Congress holds White House officials in contempt for withholding important evidence in the United States attorney scandal, the Justice Department simply will not pursue the charges. This stance tears at the fabric of the Constitution and upends the rule of law.

Congress has a constitutional right to investigate the purge of nine United States attorneys last year. And there is no doubt that the investigation has unearthed improprieties: several administration officials have already admitted illegal or improper actions involving the politicization of the country’s chief law enforcement agency.

But the administration has been extraordinarily defiant toward Congress’s legitimate requests for information. The low point came recently when Harriet Miers, the former White House counsel, refused even to show up in response to a Congressional subpoena. Some of the questions she would have been asked might have been protected by executive privilege, but others no doubt would not have been. Ms. Miers had no right to ignore the entire proceeding.

The next question is how Congress will enforce its right to obtain information, and it is on that point that the administration is said to have made its latest disturbing claim. If Congress holds White House officials in contempt, the next step should be that the United States attorney for the District of Columbia brings the matter to a grand jury. But according to a Washington Post report, the administration is saying that its claim of executive privilege means that the United States attorney would be ordered not to go forward with the case.

There is no legal basis for this obstructionism. The Supreme Court has made clear that executive privilege is not simply what the president claims it to be. It must be evaluated case by case by a court, balancing the need for the information against the president’s interest in keeping his decision-making process private. Mark Rozell, an expert on executive privilege at George Mason University, calls the administration’s stance “almost Nixonian in breadth,â€

[azwreath]

He might as well just have "GUILTY" stamped on his forehead!!!!!

People with nothing to hide, hide nothing, Georgie.

[LuvMyCountry]

He can hire them and fire them.This is alot about nothing.Pres hire and fire attns all the time.This is an apsolute waste of time.I am tired of the politics that goes on in Wash.Our Gov is sooo broken.It no longer has the ability to enforce existing laws.Im not defending Bush but in this cases its a witch hunt.

[Lone_Patriot]

king jorge's words to live by: "Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat."
- John Lehman

[WhatMattersMost]

He can hire them and fire them.This is alot about nothing.Pres hire and fire attns all the time.This is an apsolute waste of time.I am tired of the politics that goes on in Wash.Our Gov is sooo broken.It no longer has the ability to enforce existing laws.Im not defending Bush but in this cases its a witch hunt.

As my great grandmother used to say: It's not what you do its how you do it. Problem with Shrub is that he fired these people for political reasons and replaced them with yes boys as politically corrupt as Johnny Satan.

[Hapexamendios]

As my great grandmother used to say: It's not what you do its how you do it. Problem with Shrub is that he fired these people for political reasons and replaced them with yes boys as politically corrupt as Johnny Satan.

Clinton did the samething, only he fired 90 something attorney's and I don't remember a congressional inquiry asking why. I agree you shouldn't hire or fire due to political party affiliation, but let's be fair here.

[Rockfish]

The Bush administration, which has been pushing presidential power to new extremes, is reportedly developing an even more dangerous new theory of executive privilege. It says that if Congress holds White House officials in contempt for withholding important evidence in the United States attorney scandal, the Justice Department simply will not pursue the charges. This stance tears at the fabric of the Constitution and upends the rule of law.

It is the Congress' fault for not mustering up the intestinal fortitude to impeach this jackass. They must learn to control the President and not the other way around.

[nntrixie]

As my great grandmother used to say: It's not what you do its how you do it. Problem with Shrub is that he fired these people for political reasons and replaced them with yes boys as politically corrupt as Johnny Satan.

Clinton did the samething, only he fired 90 something attorney's and I don't remember a congressional inquiry asking why. I agree you shouldn't hire or fire due to political party affiliation, but let's be fair here.

We are way past the time and deep in too much mud to worry about what Pres. Clinton did. While his doings still have an effect on us - we are fighting a many-headed monster here.

They have all been corrupt for a very long time - but they are gone. Their stench lingers on - but we can do nothing about them. We have to fight what is in front of us now - and that is this President.

[NCByrd]

Hapexamendios

When a president enters office, he has the perogative to replace ALL these attorneys. Yes, Clinton did it.............across the board. This is not unusual.

However, to be in office 6 years and decide to get rid of 6 or 7, and replace them in the manner they were replaced, IS HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE. And it is very apparent from all the subterfuge going on on Bush's part, and that of others involved, QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED AND ANSWERED. There is too damn much lying going on at the White House, Department of Justice, and Homeland Security (JUST TO NAME A FEW!!!!).