Now that the Dems are taking action against the crimes of the Administration, I hope the is a new poll of confidence in Congress. I'll bet we will see an improvement in the numbers. Congressional Dems need to learn that when they work against the Administration their numbers go up.

Oh boy, another strongly worded letter. That'll show 'em.

tee he he. Grand Jury? I like the sound of that. Remember the jury in the Libby case stated. "we dont know why other people (cheney) aren't here on trial. Yeah I like the sound of that.

I think I'd orgasm if they actually trotted out inherent contempt and dragged Fielding off to prison just to spite Bush.

I've been torn on these requests, figuring they were pointless for getting information, but at least Conyers and Leahy can rebut the charge this is purely destructive politics by correctly pointing out they did everything possible to avoid subpoenas, short of dropping the investigations. They might be right that in the long run it looks better to have treated the Bush administration like they have some shred of honor, thereby showing that they don't.

How does this work if they continue to refuse to answer the subpoenas? Who represents the Congress if it goes to court, and who assigns a prosecutor to handle it when that happens? Does Congress have to request a prosecutor, and does that come from the DOJ?

Uncle Don,

During the Nixon Admintration, the Court was not ruled by the Fascist Five. Precedence doesn't mean boo to doz fuls . . .

Do not automatically assume that the rule of law will prevail.

Who is the USA from DC? Is s/he a "loyal Bushie?"

Posted by: Anne
Date: June 29, 2007 1:54 PM

Yes. He is thought to be. Numerous references to the DC USA in the comments section of earlier posts regarding the USA purge scandal. As well, he's been connected, tangentially, to that scandal as well.

sorry for double dipping upstream ... the page is updating slowly for some reason

...anyone want to bet that Rove really was involved in this environmental tragedy, despite "findings" to the contrary?

In light of this spotlight shining on Cheney, Rove's mystical resilience, his skating across all this thin ice with such apparent immunity and impunity, has all the earmarks of some "the higher they climb, the farther they fall" Aesop's fable.

But really, anything short of a thousand years of Republican Party rule was a disappointment to Rove. He's already faced with being included forever on the permanent historic record as one of the biggest political failures in history (the entire Bush tenure), and despite his hubris at being able to cheat his way to political respectability (now there's an oxymoron to remember), he no doubt knows his future is not nearly as bright as his past.

Maybe we should let up on the poor guy, he's already been humiliated forever...

.....NOT!!!!
HE DESERVES JUST AS MUCH SYMPATHY AS HE GIVES...

You know, speaking of Tricky Dick, I wonder if there are any good bits on Nixon's tapes with Cheney and or RumDrunk With Power involved.

I mean, if they could get Nixon's tape recordings of what was said in his office, thoroughly unvarnished, Cheney doesn't have a leg to stand on, now does he?

Executive Privlege this, Dick.

Code Word: regret
I have but one regret, that I witnessed the fascist takeover of my country and did nothing but bitch about it on the internet.

The US Attorney for DC is a Patriot Act Gonzo appointment, under the provision Congress just changed. Another provision of the legislation that overturned it states that all such appointees are out 4 months after enactment. That means Taylor is out sometime in October.

His replacement faces Senate confirmation, and ironically enough, the replacement will have to get past Pat Leahy. If no replacement makes it through, an interim is appointed by Thomas F. Hogan, chief judge of the US District Court for DC. Hogan is a straight shooter and is likely to appoint any experienced, prominent member of the Washington bar who cares about his reputation in this city.

I would guess Leahy and Conyers have taken this into account in their calculus, and it's probably one reason they're not rushing things.

blank poster on Taylor's length of service.

You have alleviated my security code word at bit, which is fear

I've been of like mind like a lot of you guys - mealy mouthed Dems, who assert that the pen is mightier than the sword.

But I'm a thinking, maybe our "boys" have planned this like a fine concert. First, destroy any credibility that the DOJ has in the eyes of the American Public...mission accomplished.

Make a run at Rove/Bush and Cheney, corner them like rats and make them refuse the cough up the papers requested by Congress. After all "if you got nothing to hide"... they are on record today, that they'll not comply - so they got something to hide...mission accomplished.

What's next? A chance to stand up and explain that the DOJ and the WH are so interwined and secretive that the only mechinism to get to the truth is impeachment...Cheney first...Gonzo same time or next...impeachment is the only mechinism that the WH or the DOJ cannot impede or corrupt.

This is a good read about the missing emails:

http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2007/06/back-to-the-eig.html#more

"You'll recall that after the first series of dumps, there was a clear chain of emails leading right up to the moment, on November 15, when Harriet wondered whether Bush would have to sign off on the firings. ... And the gap ended at precisely the time when the White House relayed its approval of the firings:
[GW returned] to Washington on Nov. 30, a Thursday. Four days later, on Monday, Dec. 4, the White House signed off on the firing plan."

"and includes the power to "inquire into and publicize corruption, maladministration, or inefficiencies" in the Executive Branch. Watkins v. United States, 354 U.S. 178, 182, 200 n.33 (1957)."

I see that my longstanding reference to the current Bush administration as the "mal-administration" has some historical context, hyphen notwithstanding. I am apparently not the first to assert that a mal-administration is what we have. The citation in Chairman Lahey's letter relates to yet another mal-administrator: Joe McCarthy.

The Watkins case, then, is a bit of an irony. It relates to a person who refused to testify before the infamous House Committee on "Unamerican" Activities. "We are not concerned with the power of the Congress to inquire into and publicize corruption, maladministration or inefficiency in agencies of the Government.", wrote Chief Justice Earle Warren. The Court was, rather, addressing Congress's power to inform the public.

I imagine the balding Fred Fielding (made up name?) might well come to appreciate why the congress, and Americans, are indeed quite serious when referring to the current administration as one that is demonstrably malicious.

Fred's reply to Layey (and the American people) will indicate if he is "with us or with the enemy". In the case of the conduct of the current mal-administration it's easy to see how a viewpoint where they are the enemy of the American people (and US Constitution) is not much of a stretch.

"The Supreme Court, reversing course, agreed Friday to review whether Guantanamo Bay detainees may go to federal court to challenge their indefinite confinement.

The action, announced without comment along with other end-of-term orders, is a setback for the Bush administration. It had argued that a new law strips courts of their jurisdiction to hear detainee cases."

Does the Supreme Court sense that the political winds are changing? Will Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito throw themselves under the bus to save a drowning Bush?

To tekel:

I am certain that Leahy, Conyers, et alii have devoured Fitzgerald's documentation on Cheney and likely have had him instruct them on his chain of evidence. Pat Fitzgerald didn't have the clout to press the indictments that were indicated by his investigation into the Plame affair, but Congress can take all of that work and apply it to their hearings, subpoenas, and, I certainly hope, impeachment processes.

To those who are frustrated:

I'm sorry that some TPMmuckraker readers still deride the process that Congress is painstakingly following. Building the entire case against the Bush Administration thoroughly, so it can't be undone by Fielding or others, takes a lot of time.

I have pointed out elsewhere--but I think it bears repeating--that the web of crime the Congress is unraveling have been at least 6-1/2 years in the making. The hearings have covered a lot of ground and made significant, broad inroads in a short time. They can't do something definitive (remember, this is the POTUS, after all, which has power I know I can't imagine having) unless their foundation is solid, broad, and wide.

I really don't think that Cheney, Rove et al are as smart as everybody makes them out to be... they are just immoral... a vast difference. If you hold yourself above the laws and the rules it is easy to do just what you want. If anything... they appear childish, playing silly word games. Especially Addington! Unfortunately, foolish actions have led to dire consequences for this country.

Gramma Milie,
So are you high ? Or Grammie are you a republicant Troller in disguise > Grammie it does not matter what happens in the Supremes Right Wing Dreams. At this point its clear that Leahy & Conyers have the goods on BushCo . And now the way forward is via the political process. And everyday that it becomes more evident that the Busheviks have trashed our Constitution is one more day forward in the total destruction of the GOP as TurdBlossom would define it . Do you remember the Whigs Grammie ?
Heres a prediction , (but this in your Ed Gillispie Bong and smoke it up Grammie ) - there will be enough moderate -fair minded Republicans - Warner, Hagel , Voinivch, them two girls in Maine-that there will be enough votes in the Senate to Convict Bush /Cheney - The whole shebang will kick off in earnest come September.Read 'em & weep Grammie..
Code word fire "LIKE FIRE IN THE HOLE !"

"The veil of secrecy you have attempted to pull over the White House by withholding documents and witnesses is unprecedented and damaging to the tradition of open government by and for the people that has been a hallmark of the Republic."

That's it. Is our "government" conducted in secret by tyrants? Is our "government" responsive to the People and Their elected Congress? Now we enter the phase that we have all sought for so long--reassertion of the power of the Congress, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. May the People be rewarded for showing restraint up til now. And may the tyrants be held to their oaths and may their oaths, false or true, be revealed for all to see.

All of this is literally so very reminiscent of 1974, the way things then began building slowly and steadily, with one not knowing the events to come and surprised at so much of it.

In the beginning of that period, of course, no one knew of the existence of the WH tapes, and when they became known, everyone's reaction was, "Well, Nixon, being as smart and wily as he is, will just destroy them and say they'd been inadvertently lost or destroyed." NO ONE thought that Nixon would actually turn them over in as complete form as they were in.

Now, everyone is saying that BushCo has destroyed the emails, having learned from Nixon especially, but also just as a common sense way of CYA. However, all that is not over yet. People in the know say the emails can in all likelihood be recovered, and wouldn't that be a bite in their royalist asses?

The other shoe has not fallen yet, folks. More is yet to unfold, with the republic at stake. As in 1974, it was not at all certain that Sirica was going to order Nixon to hand over the tapes - and the SCOTUS back Sirica up, and it is of major concern what the SCOTUS will do this time around, too.

The drama has only just begun. If criminality is at the center, it doesn't end when Bush and Cheney leave office. And, the GOP may have shot themselves in the foot in the Bill Clinton case by passing legislation saying that Presidents could be held accountable for breaches of the law while President: Bush has gone so far beyond lawyerese dodging of what the meaning of the word "is" is, his life could get very, very sticky after Jan, 2009. .. What does the Secret Service do when police come to handcuff and ex-President?

LIE-berman will throw a bucket of cold water on this move too. He and Spector from PA are two of the biggest Bush Crime Family supporters that you can have.

Oh boy, another strongly worded letter. That'll show 'em.

Posted by: max
Date: June 29, 2007 1:38 PM

Asshole: this is about the rule, and restoration, of the rule of law. Law is conducted in writing -- at least 95 per cent of which writings are in the form of letters.

This isn't a football game, jock.

How does this work if they continue to refuse to answer the subpoenas? Who represents the Congress if it goes to court, and who assigns a prosecutor to handle it when that happens? Does Congress have to request a prosecutor, and does that come from the DOJ?

Posted by: Candyce
Date: June 29, 2007 2:03 PM

Does Congress have the authority to issue subpoeans? Obviously yes. Does Congress therefore have the authority to enforce its subpoenas? Yes.

Behind Congress is the tradition of the "general court": before separation of powers, the general court -- legislature -- not only made the laws, but also enforced them, and prosecuted violations of them.

Congress has the authority to investigate. That wouldn't be worth much if it couldn't be enforced. It also has the power to delegate that authority to a special or independent counsel of its own choosing to conduct investigation in its behalf.

Congress also has the authority to impeach -- which includes trial of the person impeached (indicted) in the court of the whole Senate.

If and as necessary Congress can have the courts rule on their actions -- as can Bushit, et al. If history is any indication, the first to go to court, if any do, will be Bushit, et al.

Regardless what happens, Bushit, et al., and the Republicans lose.

Here's the only question that really matters about all of this:

Does anyone really believe that any incriminating evidence will still exist when push comes to shove?

Yeah, I didn't think so.

This will end up being much ado about nothing -- the Bushies may be corrupt but stupid they ain't. By the time it really matters, any incriminating evidence will have long since been shredded, deleted, destroyed, etc etc etc.

And the Broders will still push their violins to their chin and fiddle away about the criminalization of politics. While America slowly rots.

Posted by: Gramma Millie
Date: June 29, 2007 2:14 PM

You really don't get it, do you? And that is based upon the fact that you know it all.

Reality: even if all evidence were destroyed, we still have the evidence of the outcomes of the evidence destroyed. Many of those outcomes are illegal, even without such evidence.

And, by reasoning backward from those, we can determine the sequence of illegalities leading to and resulting in those outcomes.

And, the destruction of evidence would be obstruction of justice -- a crime.

Either way -- whether the evidence is destroyed or not -- Bushit, et al., are got.

What constantly astonishes -- and frustrates -- is that such basics must be explained -- again and again and again and again and again and again to fellow citizens who cherish democracy but -- ultimately -- don't know what it means.

"Democracy is responsibility," -- Justice Louis Brandeis.

Every right is inextricably entwined with a responsiblity. Yet I'll bet throughout your life you've only jabbered about how you have "rights" (everyone else has the responsibility).

Please don't give up Mr. Leahy and Mr. Conyers, and thank you for assertively and persistently challenging the harmful mindsets of those who have destroyed the reputation of the U.S.A.

JNagarya - Well said and your attempt to corral this is needed.

However. The causes of the "peanut gallery" outbursts are serious. Many of us have watched as the most surreal things have ocurred at the highest levels of power and government.

In the minority, the Democrat's failed to stop the now clear disaster in the Supreme Court (something about keeping the powder dry). In the majority, they have not coordinated their focus and attack properly, which of course is critical in gaining the media exposure necessary to get oxygen to these issues. Also, what Gonzales, Doan, and the rest of the criminal gang get away with at the hearings is absolutely unacceptable and should be met with actual hard contempt of Congress citations.

So we're nervous. Some say that Pat and Conyers have the goods and are pursuing the process as you have indicated. Their response to Fielding was to me the first glimmer that this may be true. It was brutal. But we will have to see what's next.

Regaining our country and holding these people reponsible is now a dangerous and serious affair. With the media so far out to lunch (The News Hour political chat last night had NO reference to these topics), the need for us all to use the TPMs of the world to express ourselves, our frustration, and especially our confusion that things are so far off-the-rails is critical.

In the end, I'm sure everyone of us will be glad if you are right and the real assholes take it on the chin. There is nothing wrong in showing passion and rooting for the rule of law to prevail.

JNagarya - Well said and your attempt to corral this is needed.

However. The causes of the "peanut gallery" outbursts are serious. Many of us have watched as the most surreal things have ocurred at the highest levels of power and government.

In the minority, the Democrat's failed to stop the now clear disaster in the Supreme Court (something about keeping the powder dry). In the majority, they have not coordinated their focus and attack properly, which of course is critical in gaining the media exposure necessary to get oxygen to these issues. Also, what Gonzales, Doan, and the rest of the criminal gang get away with at the hearings is absolutely unacceptable and should be met with actual hard contempt of Congress citations.

So we're nervous. Some say that Pat and Conyers have the goods and are pursuing the process as you have indicated. Their response to Fielding was to me the first glimmer that this may be true. It was brutal. But we will have to see what's next.

Regaining our country and holding these people reponsible is now a dangerous and serious affair. With the media so far out to lunch (The News Hour political chat last night had NO reference to these topics), the need for us all to use the TPMs of the world to express ourselves, our frustration, and especially our confusion that things are so far off-the-rails is critical.

In the end, I'm sure everyone of us will be glad if you are right and the real assholes take it on the chin. There is nothing wrong in showing passion and rooting for the rule of law to prevail.

"Regaining our country and holding these people reponsible is now a dangerous and serious affair."

Without question. But bashing the good guys is STOOPID.

". . . The News Hour political chat last night had NO reference to these topics . . . ."

Go back and read about Watergate. The first report of the break-in was in June, 1972. It didn't make the TV news. The first effort to investigate occurred that fall-winter; that didn't make the TV news. The Republicans refused to attend the meetings of that Committee in order to prevent a quorum, and that effort died; that didn't make the TV news. Until the issue became sufficiently front-and-center in Congress -- when it began to reach the White House and DOJ -- and there were live hearings with a colorful character named Sam Ervin -- he was entertaining -- there was little news about it, outside newspapers. And it really didn't take off, on TV, until major firings by Nixon, and the House hearings into impeachment.

". . . . There is nothing wrong in showing passion and rooting for the rule of law to prevail."

By bashing the Democrats, based upon essentially ignoring what is going on in order to demand that "something be done"!? This isn't a football game, or some other sports event for the either/or beer-swilling jock mentality. Without the rule of law there cannot be democracy. Rule of law is civil -- not uncivil and worse. We don't simply go in and arrest people simply because we don't like them, and insist that appearances are all the evidence necessary; we leave that anti-Americanism to Bushit, et al.

I, for one, am fed up with the assholes who don't look at themselves; who don't have the brains to recognize that they are demanding that the Democrats act exactly as do Bushit, et al. -- which they claim to oppose. Who hate the Republicans because uncivil; and bash the Democrats because not uncivil.

"Posted by: wilson
Date: June 30, 2007 9:49 AM"

JN - Watergate, as you said broke in 1972, at the start of Nixon's second term, not near its end, so the situation today is actually urgent. Further, the media have had more than enough time to figure this issue out. But they've been too busy cheer leading this administration and its corrupt and misguided policies as way to repay their corporate owners. So although Watergate took time to gain traction, the media in the early seventies was all over a host of other issues, including Vietnam.

Critiquing the current leadership is actually not stupid - it's essential. I agree that bashing is counter-productive, but honest, immediate and visceral challenges to actions by the Democrats that betray their election mandates is a hallmark of this type of media and it's actually working. Responsive government, what a concept. If "something" truly is being done, then I think it could be clearer, their track record is not the best. "Impeachment is off the table", "Graver offenses", give me a break - let's not be afraid to come right out and say it: "We intend to pursue any illegal action this administration has taken and prosecute it to the fullest extent of the law". What is wrong or "uncivil" about that?

Either way here, I sure hope you are right. There are lots of hints that something may actually happen. But when we a look at ourselves, we have to ask are we doing what is needed - Alberto Gonzales is still the Attorney General, the former governor of Alabama just got sent to prison on a political hit, habeas corpus is suspended, soldiers die at an ever increasing rate for a war to profit oil companies, and the only staffers in the administration to face any legal consequences are Libby and the clown that got caught for shoplifting. So no apologies for the attitude, none.

Media ignoring the Cyclone that hit Pakistan leaving 1 million homeless.

PAKISTAN IS RIGHT NEXT TO IRAQ AND OUR TROOPS ARE OUTNUMBERED AS IT IS, THE DESTABILIZATION CAUSED BY LACK OF EMERGENCY AID CAN VERY WELL IMPACT OUR TROOPS SAFETY - WHERE IS THE MEDIA!!!

WRITE THE MSM AND YOUR CONGRESSPERSON TO GET HELP GOING!!!

More than donations

the US armed forces have the capacity to move large quantities of food, water, and material quickly. Transportation is the hard part here, and the simple act of sending in a limited number of helicopters would allow for the Pakastani to move materials much more quickly. And planes allow for moving large amounts of material to staging areas.

I'm certain that we have aircraft in the area.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/30/04440/2448

Please encourage Congress to look at how the illegally captured data was subsequently used in other illegal programs.

[Below: Hit link "Illegal Use of Illegal Data" for quick details]