Bush Says He'll Ignore Subpoenas
Posted by Michael Link on June 28, 2007 at 12:53 PM
President Bush must have learned about checks and balances at the same school that taught Dick Cheney that the VP wasn't a part of the Executive Branch.
Yesterday members of both parties subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney's office for documents related to the Bush administration's illegal domestic spying program. Specifically, according to AP, they're looking for "documents that might shed light on internal disputes within the administration over the legality of the program."
Such disputes, as I mentioned yesterday, we know existed, even though Gonzales testified that they did not.
But now Bush says that he won't supply subpoenaed documents, claiming executive privilege. On top of that, the White House is saying former presidential counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor will not testify next month, as directed by the subpoenas.
Such contempt for the rule of law by ignoring the subpoenas is fitting, consider it is to find information about an illegal program. Here's how Rep. Conyers framed his initial response:
The executive privilege assertion is unprecedented in its breadth and scope, and even includes documents that the administration previously offered to provide as part of their ‘take it or leave it’ proposal,” said Conyers, in a prepared statement. “This response indicates the reckless disrespect this administration has for the rule of law.
The charges alleged in this investigation are serious – including obstruction of justice and misleading Congress – and the White House should be as committed to this investigation as the Congress. At this point, I see only one choice in moving forward, and that is to enforce the rule of law set forth in these subpoenas.
As Rep. Conyers said, it's time to enforce the rule of law.
UPDATE: It's not just the subpoenas about the illegal domestic spying program that are being ignored, but also the ones about the US Attorney Scandal.
Comments - 22 »
Comments - 22 «
Bush is like a cornered rat. He's not going to give up anything willingly. He's just trying to stretch it all out until he can leave office and flee to Paraguay.
Posted by goodfoe on June 28, 2007 at 01:24 PM
Conyers' words are telling - "enforce the rule of law."
This Administration seems to forget that we are a country governed by the rule of law, not by the whim and fancy of its rulers.
Posted by Robert_F_Donovan on June 28, 2007 at 01:39 PM
Posted by DemocratKickingAss on June 28, 2007 at 02:07 PM
I hope the SJC is up for the fight because Mr. Bush is already walking on thin ice concerning his expanded use of executive privilege. The Senate must take a stand to stop this executive power grab.
Posted by davidual on June 28, 2007 at 02:59 PM
Even the president and his henchmen must be compelled to abide by the law or held for trial or have they succeeded in their efforts to establish a dictatorship in America? It seems obvious this has been their goal.
Posted by leagleeagle on June 28, 2007 at 03:39 PM
Once again our President is breaking the law! Not a big Surprise there
Posted by AnnaB on June 28, 2007 at 04:32 PM
Personally, I believe that the "coup" in question occurred when no one in a position of leadership objected strenuously to the departure from legal precedent apparent in the Supreme Court case of Bush v. Gore. Former President Bill Clinton and other national leaders did not speak out in protest strenuously on that occasion. So I am not optimistic that any leaders in the Democratic Party (or any other political party for that matter) will have the guts to object to this apparent disrespect for our nation's laws either. Where indeed are the state bar associations? Where are the outraged independent newspaper commentators? We have witnessed a massive institutional failure in this country in my opinion, and it became apparent when people did NOT speak out to protest the Supreme Court's outrageous action in deciding the national election in 2000 along partisan lines.
Posted by sigridsmommy on June 28, 2007 at 04:34 PM
It figures. The Executive Branch has taken over the government. Some bitch suck his dick already so we can impeach him, shit!
Posted by GeniocracyIStheFuture on June 28, 2007 at 04:58 PM
As Rep. Conyers said, it's time to enforce the rule of law.
****
Mr. Conyers it's past that time. It's time to impeach Chimpo and Shotgun.
Posted by rjsnj on June 28, 2007 at 05:16 PM
Why can't we raise hell and embarrass the Republicans until they force Bush to comply? Boy, did they give us a bad time during the Clinton mistake, until it made it look like all Democrats were corrupt. Our Senators and Representives were afraid not to agree with the Republicans. Let us show the same determination?
Posted by freeforall on June 28, 2007 at 05:18 PM
Conyers' words are telling - "enforce the rule of law."
****
So, let me understand this. Did Conyers just say in a nice way that he is going to start impeachment proceeding? If so, all I can say, it's about time.
Posted by rjsnj on June 28, 2007 at 05:22 PM
It's time to impeach!
We don't have to impeach these criminals on Iraq, they've done enough in so many criminal acts that they can be impeached, indicted, and sentenced for a number of crimes!
The Bush administration has done so much illegal and downright treasonous actions that if the sentences are contiguous, rather than concurrent, Bush, Cheney and their minions can spend the rest of their lives together. In Leavenworth!
Posted by Butte on June 28, 2007 at 06:18 PM
It's time to impeach!
We don't have to impeach these criminals on Iraq, they've done enough in so many criminal acts that they can be impeached, indicted, and sentenced for a number of crimes!
The Bush administration has done so much illegal and downright treasonous actions that if the sentences are contiguous, rather than concurrent, Bush, Cheney and their minions can spend the rest of their lives together. In Leavenworth!
Posted by Butte on June 28, 2007 at 06:18 PM
<rant>
You know I'm so tired of hearing about executive privilege, and our current SOB-in-Chief has flagrantly used this bogus executive right as cover for every underhanded thing his administration has done. We must work hard to ensure that democrats get a filibuster proof Senate majority, extend their majority in the House, and a Democrat in the white House. After we achieve that objective, then, we can achieve writing legislation to legally define what constitutes executive privilege and what does not.
If we need to amend the constitution for this legal determination, fine. After the crassness of this current administration I really do not believe it would be difficult to 2/3rds of the states to ratify an amendment for this purpose.
We cannot allow each prsident form now until never to define their idea(r) of executive privilege. this must stop, and this president must be the last one that is allowed to squat all over our constitution for his pleasure.
</rant>
Posted by davidual on June 28, 2007 at 06:26 PM
I 100% agree.Enforce the rule of law.The unbelieveable part is that never hesitate to use lawyers when it`s convenient for them.I would not hesitate to take this to the wall.Such contempt for the law cannot be allowed and refusal to be answerable to anyone for what they do even more so!
Posted by virgo on June 28, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Please Impeach both of them!I don1t care if you lose the impeachment proceedings!You cannot allow this to stand.For once stop strategizing until you are dribbling saliva,and grow a pair!
Posted by virgo on June 28, 2007 at 08:46 PM
Can we last until he's gone? This day has been a devastating day for the people. WHY is NO ONE impeaching this trash???
Saw this product that I think I'll order. Maybe it will help me get through watching all the carnage of our progress over the last 50-80 years.
Posted by WatchfulEye on June 28, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Posted by WatchfulEye on June 28, 2007 at 10:10 PM
I am now convinced that those 8 attorneys were fired for political reasons. Bush Co definately has something to hide about the attorneys scandal and the ILLEGAL spying program.
Posted by stretch22 on June 29, 2007 at 01:35 AM
I like it!Good work Rep.Conyers and Congress.
Posted by Truck on June 29, 2007 at 01:53 AM
It is amazing how you guys stick up for the lawyers now, but if it was not for this you would be saying to string up the ambulance chasing nuts. I also remember all the people wanting to get the lawyer that defended OJ.
Look, regardless, you play with the big boys, you could get burned. Don't play the game if ya don't like the rules.
Hey Stretch, political or not, their fired. You could care less if they get their job back or not. you are just going after bush. The spying program, ILLEGAL? Hell, they can snoop in my business any day. I have nothing to hide. What are you hiding Stretch? Huh, are you a drug dealer, a child molestor, a murder? what have you done that is so bad? You must have done something, or their is something you want to hide. Cmon spit it out. Jees, where do they get these goofes from
Posted by Democratorpop on July 11, 2007 at 08:37 AM
Hey sigridsmommy, you don't know how correct you are. You have made my point I have been making for years.
You guys are still upset over the 2000 election. The second time in history that has happened and you still can't get over it. Well, thanks for making it clear, that ALL of the issues facing Bush is all because the 2000 Election. My goodness, the Democrats should change their name to Demobrats.
Posted by Democratorpop on July 11, 2007 at 08:41 AM
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