Comments (1)

Carol Lam wrote on September 6, 2007 5:38 AM:

Sen Leahy: Cheney Told GOP-Led Congress It Was 'Not Allowed To Issue Subpoenas'

Today in a press briefing, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) revealed that the White House had missed its 2:30 PM deadline to turn over documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding legal justifications for the National Security Agency's eavesdropping program. The Committee had already pushed back the original July 18 deadline twice after the White House requested more time.

Bottom line: Specter played Leahy like a badly tuned fiddle

Overall, I’m pretty darned happy with Sen. Leahy.

However, I do wonder why he didn’t come out with a statement such as:

“This “delay” being loudly decried was a result of an agreement with my good friend, the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter. That’s A-R-L-E-N S-P-E-C-T-E-R, whose address is: 711 Hart Building, Washington, DC 20510, and whose phone number is: 202-224-4254. And for the record, the Senate Judiciary Committee, before the request for delay was made by my friend, was indeed ready for an immediate vote on the nomination of Judge Southwick. Thank you.”

Maybe Leahy needs to hear we are paying attention, and we have his back.

I will be calling his office on Tuesday.

Works for me!

Senators, like the rest of us, are humans who make mistakes every day.

I believe we can hold people accountable while still honoring those like Senator Leahy who are very, very alone out there fighting for us.

This is going to be a close one, we need every ally and every friend. I'm glad that Leahy is a gentleman. I agree that he is also a statesman.

It's good that he's the chair of the Judicial Committee, because his gentility allows Schumer's bulldog-like approach and others' outrage.

Leahy's behavior and mien assure that history will take the actions of this committee seriously, to assure that the specious claims of partisanship and political vendettas are seen for what they are.

And I also believe that this is the way to place every brick evenly and truly, so that the box the Senate and House create for the Administration can't be toppled by Republican shenanigans. This is smart politicking all around. I don't think Leahy's intent is to cajole Bush into anything, but rather to let him know what candidates will be rejected off the bat so a lot of time isn't wasted and possibly even make some suggestions that would be acceptable to both sides. Reid was able to successfully bargain with Bush about recess appointments.

And, of course, if Bush refuses then Bush comes across as unwilling to work with the Senate, the folks who have to confirm his nominee. Bush needs as much goodwill as he can get at this point if wants to accomplish anything.

I can't think of a more effective way to handle the situation.Senator Leahy is modeling how it ought to be done--showing respect and assuming it will be shown in return. IF President Bush ignores and bypasses Senator Leahy's offer, then maybe it's time to make fun of him. I think more work gets done by showing respect than the reverse.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

United States Senate
Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

http://judiciary.senate.gov/

Patrick J. Leahy
CHAIRMAN, D-VERMONT

Edward M. Kennedy
D-MASSACHUSETTS

Arlen Specter
RANKING MEMBER, R-PENNSYLVANIA
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
D-DELAWARE

Orrin G. Hatch
R-UTAH
Herb Kohl
D-WISCONSIN

Charles E. Grassley
R-IOWA
Dianne Feinstein
D-CALIFORNIA

Jon Kyl
R-ARIZONA
Russell D. Feingold
D-WISCONSIN

Jeff Sessions
R-ALABAMA
Charles E. Schumer
D-NEW YORK

Lindsey Graham
R-SOUTH CAROLINA
Richard J. Durbin
D-ILLINOIS

John Cornyn
R-TEXAS
Benjamin L. Cardin
D-MARYLAND

Sam Brownback
R-KANSAS
Sheldon Whitehouse
D-RHODE ISLAND
Contact Sheldon

Providence Office:
170 Westminster Street, Suite 1100
Providence, RI 02903
401-453-5294 phone
401-453-5085 fax
Tom Coburn
R-OKLAHOMA

Well then, I guess Cheney is not part of our government so we should stop paying his salary and send him home. Can you say "Obstruction of Justice"?