Bush denies Congress access to key aides

[sabra]

Source: Yahoo News

Bush denies Congress access to key aides

WASHINGTON - President Bush invoked executive privilege Monday to deny requests by Congress for testimony from former White House aides Sara Taylor and Harriet Miers.

The White House offered once more to make the pair available for private, off-the-record interviews on any role it might have played in the firings of several U.S. attorneys.

In a letter to the heads of the House and Senate Judiciary panels, White House counsel Fred Fielding insisted that Bush was acting in good faith and refused lawmakers' demand that the president explain the basis for invoking the privilege.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070709/ap_on_go_pr_wh/congress_bush

[Botany]

1. If they are no longer in the White House how can they be covered?

8/22/07

Still my date in the impeachment pool.

Bush is trying to hide his crimes

[Kagemusha]

8. The argument would go, the subject matter is advice to the President

and that advice has to be kept confidential.

Not saying I support the argument - I'm just explaining what the argument would be, now that the aides are no longer in the WH.

Edit: An argument which is COMPLETELY UNDERMINED by the offer to have the aides testify off the record with no transcript. What the?!

[Botany]

13. But w/ Clinton "they" went to the Supreme Court to stop ...

.... lawyer / Client confidentiality to investigate a blow job.

The law was set by the great blow job hunt of 1990s ....
but the Supreme court would reverse it's ruling for bus.

[truth2power]

25. That's what I remember, too. Clinton couldn't talk to his own lawyer...

What's changed??

Never mind....I know. It's Republicans. They're outside the laws.

[donkeyotay]

54. So, as long as it's secret and there's no accountability

Bush is waiving his privilege? So long as he can tell them a bunch of bull behind closed doors, he has no problem in honoring the congress's oversight. It's only if his aides were under threat of perjury and being held publicly accountable that he feels the need to invoke executive privilege. No wonder the public is cynical. I want a torch and a pitchfork.

[Kagemusha]

80. Yes that's my point, it really does totally throw the legal argument.

The courts shouldn't even hear the admin's case if Congress litigates. Why? Because this got litigated before, same issue, under Clinton, and the precedent isn't exactly opaque at all. It's clear and shiny. It just so happens that his 'privilege only if it's under oath' argument is completely out of whack. That's an argument for deference, not privilege.

[0007]

58. Wow.....

We can renamed the fourth Branch from, the Black Branch of Government to "The Back Branch Government.

[Botany]

dupe

[Botany]

2. dupe

[Lasher]

3. You're going to see a lot more of this from the unitary executive.

The only thing President Cheney will agree to is giving himself more power.

[wordpix]

65. hey Congress, there's a COVERUP going on---more than one, in fact

[Eugene]

4. Bush invokes executive privilege (AP)

Source: Associated Press

Bush invokes executive privilege

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - President Bush invoked executive privilege Monday to deny
requests by Congress for testimony from former White House aides Sara
Taylor and Harriet Miers.

The White House offered once more to make the pair available for private,
off-the-record interviews on any role it might have played in the firings of
several U.S. attorneys.

In a letter to the heads of the House and Senate Judiciary panels, White
House counsel Fred Fielding insisted that Bush was acting in good faith
and refused lawmakers' demand that the president explain the basis for
invoking the privilege.

The latest move in the separation of powers fight between the legislative
and executive branches came as members of Congress began returning from
their Fourth of July recess. An atmosphere of high tension accompanied the
resumption of work as a fight also loomed there between majority Democrats
and some key Republicans and Bush over his Iraq war policy.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070709/ap_on_go_pr_wh/congress_bush

[BlueInPhilly]

5. Bush & "Good Faith"

Are NOT supposed to be used in the same sentence!!!:puke:

[Irishonly]

52. No kidding

honest, moral, law and order, just,....... should never be used either.

[liberal N proud]

6. When will Congress get it?

They must impeach to stop this bastard and his regime. Nothing else will stop them or the crimes they are committing.

[laststeamtrain]

7. Hot Dog! It's getting more & more 'Watergate-Y' all the time. n/t

[whistle]

15. Bush appears to be far more defiant then Nixon was

[LostinVA]

16. Oh yeah, I agree

[bdamomma]

34. defiant and he just does not care

someone or something has to rattle his frat boy's nest.

[AndyTiedye]

42. Bush** Has A Lot More Power Than Nixon Ever Did

He has nearly all of the mainstream media
a Supreme Court that will do anything he wants
the xtian reich support him no matter what he does
a weak, eviscerated Democratic Party in opposition
and Diebold Repiglickin Electing Machinez!

[wordpix]

66. * has more to coverup than Nixon ever did with his little Watergate break-in

[LiberalFighter]

9. Shut down power and water to the WH

Padlock the doors to the WH
Quarantine the WH

[wordpix]

67. cut WH funding!

[Frustratedlady]

10. I think the time has come when THE PEOPLE demand

I am sick to death of this cabal telling US what they are going to do or not do. I have had it up to here with their refusal to testify, release documents or allow access to logs. They are serving at OUR pleasure and we are forgetting that. That is OUR White House and we are paying THEIR bills. They are ruining OUR country and it is past time for US to take it back.

I am no longer a "frustrated lady" -- I am one royally pissed lady!

[sallyseven]

21. Good So am I and while we are at it we

get the press to stop being such wussies and do their jobs.

[bdamomma]

37. they need to held as accomplices.

[calimary]

31. Make sure you call your reps about that - even if they're in the enemy camp.

The republi-CONS, too, need to know of your anger. They, too, need to get a REALLY clear idea of how the walls are closing in around them. NO MORE STONEWALLING!!!!

Handy TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers always located in my sig line for your convenience.

[bdamomma]

36. frustration is an understatement, we are dealing with

a big threat here to us and to our country, we are not playing here, we want some or demand changes now. Shut down fuckin DC, these democratic leaders are asking these cretins to discuss and turn over documents, they will not do nothing.

[tularetom]

11. WTF does executive privilege have to do with EX aids for crissakes

They don't work there anymore they can talk about whatever they want can't they? What's he gonna do hire them back to keep 'em from talking?

[Kagemusha]

24. Generally speaking, hell no, they can't. There's work product, national security

confidentiality agreements and what not.. that's not the point.

The point is that a congressional subpoena normally trumps all that.

[Dhalgren]

48. I don't understand this blanket executive privilege business.

It seems that if executive privilege were used, it would have to be on a question by question basis. Many of the questions that need to be asked might not fall under the heading of "advice to the President" or "work product" (whatever that means in this context) or any of the security crap these hucksters usually spew. It would seem that a subpoena would have to be honored and executive privilege only stated relating to a particular question. I can't see how executive privilege would preclude an aide from EVEN APPEARING before a committee... :shrug:

[donkeyotay]

53. Isn't it rather contemptuous to not even show up?

Agreed. In a pre-Sept. 11th world, wouldn't the person subpoenaed be expected to appear and at least go through the formalities of saying I can't recall, or I'm taking the 5th, or we're claiming executive privilege?

I think that they can't even show up because it would be too obvious that executive privilege would be stretched thin in the context of the questions asked.

[ckramer]

12. Bush should use executive privilege to implement universal health care

LOL

[madrchsod]

14. surprise-surprise

will it go to the supremes for a constructional showdown?

[dicknbush]

28. If it does they will reject it because it's not about a blow job

And also because its a republican.

[whistle]

17. What will congress now do? Who will come forward and stand up against

...this Bush tyranny?

[LeFleur1]

18. Let's Face It

Let's face it. When those two judges were confirmed to the Supreme Court, it was the beginning of the loss of our Democracy.

[ramapo]

23. I'm afraid you're right

I would expect, well at least hope, that this issue will go to the courts and eventually to the USSC. I would hope that the USSC rules for open government and in favor of congressional oversight but fully expect a 5-4 vote in favor of Bush. That will be a dark day for what was once a fairly well balanced representative government.

Of course it would be interesting to hear the screams from the right when a future democratic chief executive tells a republican congress to go fuck themselves.

[dicknbush]

30. Amen and Amen. This was why the elections were so important

But of course idot americans don't pay attention to this stuff Paris Hilton is much more interestign then how your country will be run for the next thirty years. You can be sure if any of these "Executive Privliges" things reach the Supreme court they will be upheld by this gang of 5. Count on it now that we know they will ignore precedent especailly when it comes to Republican Presidents as opposed to Republican Presidents. GOD PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE OTHER FOUR JUSTICES WHO ARE HOLDING BACK THE DELUGE OF FACISM!

[Frustratedlady]

59. Well, our main objective is to get them out of office, right?

If our Supreme Court won't stand up and do what is right, there is another court that would like to hear what Bush and Cheney have to say. The Hague!

The end result (punishment) would be an improvement, too.

[bdamomma]

41. bush and cheney have their men in place and even in the

SC. The same Supreme Court who appointed this a$$hole.

[YvonneCa]

44. That's true, but...

...there were 11 senators who voted AGAINST Alito and Roberts. They are our FRIENDS...and they are the ones in Congress who are still fighting. That's where my hope lies...they are still fighting...and we need to get behind them and stay behind them with our phone calls and LTTE's.:patriot:

[rateyes]

49. Yeah, and aren't you glad we

kept the powder dry on the filibuster? :sarcasm:

[davekriss]

56. The beginning of the loss of our democracy...

...began during the witch hunt and wrongful impeachment of Bill Clinton in 1998. It accelerated with the bloodless coup of December 12 2000. We are the Wiemar Republic circa 1933-1934 with only good things left to come.

The illusion of freedom in America will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way, and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theatre.
-- Frank Zappa, 1977

George Bush and his minions have been "taking down the scenery" for 6 years now. Anyone who doesn't see the brick wall by now is blind indeed.

[quiet.american]

19. Bush perverts everything he touches. Now "executive privilege" officially means "criminal coverup."

[Spazito]

20. Hmmm, but the WH said they had nothing to do with the discussions

of which US Attorneys to fire so how can they claim executive privilege over Ms. Taylor who was the liaison between Rove and the DOJ?

As regards Ms. Miers, here is an interesting quote by Trent Lott:


"I think he should give up that contest," Lott told reporters Monday. "And I think he should be forthcoming. He should give us more information, not less."


Oh, by the way, here is a bit more wrt to Mr. Lott's statement:

Lott says Clinton should give up executive privilege fight
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said Clinton should stop the fight over executive privilege.

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/06/01/clinton.exec.priv/

Anybody holding their breath waiting for Mr. Lott to express the same belief today? LOL

[Bitwit1234]

22. They made Clinton's aides testify..

The republican majority and courts wouldn't let him invoke executive privilege So tell him to suck it up and give it up.

[wordpix]

68. they made MONICA testify---over a bj and a cigar

[L. Coyote]

26. EXIT RIGHT. Sara Taylor, WH political director, Rove Aide RESIGNS? "subpoenas for her testimony"

May 28 thread, DU Archive: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x990202

[Marnieworld]

27. It should say Bush defies subpoena

Not denies congress. It drives me insane how AP frames these things always to the benefit of the Bushes. Congress demanded with the full force of the law and he is defying them. It's a Constitutional crisis and these baboons make it sound as if Daddy said no so stop asking. No mention as to how unprecedented their behavior is. AP sucks ass.

[mdelaguna2000]

29. Grrrrrrr indeed - you are so right.

[Kablooie]

33. Sounds like Bush is either confident that he owns the Justice branch or is very scared.

[bdamomma]

32. they love to throw that "executive privlege" or should it be

called "executive abuse" around a lot.

[Vidar]

35. Impeach the dictator.

[DemoTex]

38. Gaol for George.

And his Dick.

[RestoreGore]

39. What's he hiding?

This is merely a revenge tactic. He needs to be reigned in NOW.

[ChiciB1]

40. I Don't UNDERSTAND WHY We Don't Just Take Matters Into OUR

own hands. We need to have one humongous, SUPER RAID/MARCH or whatever we want DIRECTED at CONGRESS! This stuff has to stop. THEY need to take some sort of action! IMPEACHMENT will take much too long so OUR so-called Representatives AND Senators need to see "we the people" in action! Action that THEY must see coming from us!!

As we sit here blogging away, signing petitions and writing letters that NONE of them seem to even give one second thought to, this country is being RUINED each and every minute that NOTHING gets done!!

HOW MUCH LONGER are we going to just SIT HERE??? I don't even know if it's possible to do such a thing, but I know if we MARCH against the WH it DOES NOTHING at all! THEY don't give a rats ass about this country!!

Time to GO GET 'EM!!! Someone PLEASE tell me this can be done!!!

[bdamomma]

43. these people need to be arrested, or will we hear from our own

officials, "every man for himself". These thugs must be stopped and they have been giving the Congress and the Republican party a big middle finger salute, what don't these guys get, they are being screwed royally.

[wordpix]

69. storming the WH won't work---we'll be gunned down en masse

I don't know. Do we just have to wait til 08 to get rid of these criminals, and they're off to their palace mansions and luxury vacation spots to live their lives out golfing, clearing brush, fishing and hunting?

[Hubert Flottz]

45. Bush's own words...

"Saddam Hussein has not credibly explained these activities. He clearly has much to hide."

So it seems that maybe George has much to hide also and let us not lose sight of the fact that, "Saddam was an Evil Dictator!"

[Betsy Ross]

46. If * is willing to let them testify

in secret without an oath, doesn't that negate executive privilege?

[rateyes]

50. One would think. nt

[derby378]

47. C'mon, Bushie, bring it!

I just hope the 110th Congress will have the spine to stand up and demand Herr Decider obey the law.

[Giant Robot]

51. Really is this breaking news?

I mean, this was just a given. Any shock or surprise on anyone's part would, in my opinion, be the stuff of extreme naivety.

[wordpix]

70. * has denied Congress everything since the Dems took over in Jan. 07 so this is

more of the same we've had for 7 mos. ---or 6 years, depending how you look at it.

[sakabatou]

55. When do we hold * in contempt on Congress?

[lovuian]

57. This is very damning for Bush He shows he has something

TO HIDE

[NoodleyAppendage]

60. DICTATORSHIP. Pure and simple.

So, the real question is not one of impeachment, but of REVOLUTION.

j

[HuffleClaw]

61. "and refused lawmakers' demand that the president explain the basis for invoking the privilege."

patently offensive and outrageous, though it would be hilarious if they chose to show up anyways. they SHOULD know that they are being offered up as sacrificial lambs in this mess.

[november3rd]

62. Deny

Congress should deny Bush the right to occupy the White House for the rest of his term. I think Scooter's jail cell is vacant right now.

[november3rd]

63. Delete-double post

Congress should deny Bush the right to occupy the White House for the rest of his term. I think Scooter's jail cell is vacant right now.

[kenfrequed]

64. Come on Dems!!!!

Go on the offence!

Stoke the rage of this nation. You will not lose anyone by staking out a higher ground on this. Hold Press conferences and hearings. Subpeona god if you have to. Just make some damned noise about this.

The argument is simple. He lied and misled in a court of law. He lied to the FBI. The administration is keeping liars protected. They are making up flimsy excuses. Dear gods call the networks and get your butts on TV. Excellent arguments have been posted by slackers with computers that defeat any stupid GOP talking points.

Be bold. Don't mince words with these Jackals. Say the 'I' Word. Say it a lot, most Americans are in favor of investigation and a good number want impeachment put back on the damned table.

Cowardice will not save you, nor will bi-partisanship.

[katty]

71. DICTATORSHIP CONTINUES...that's what he WANTED

[mvd]

72. WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS!!??

Um, the Congress is not a part of the Executive Branch. He can't make up things and tell them what to do. The hearings will go on regardless, and he will not be able to hide from the truth. Just like with Nixon, the truth will come out.

[superconnected]

73. Bush denies Congress access to aides

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - President Bush invoked executive privilege Monday to deny requests by Congress for testimony from two former aides about the firings of federal prosecutors.

The White House, however, did offer again to make former counsel Harriet Miers and one-time political director Sara Taylor available for private, off-the-record interviews.

In a letter to the heads of the House and Senate Judiciary panels, White House counsel Fred Fielding insisted that Bush was acting in good faith and refused lawmakers' demand that the president explain the basis for invoking the privilege.

"You may be assured that the president's assertion here comports with prior practices in similar contexts, and that it has been appropriately documented," the letter said.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070709/ap_on_go_pr_wh/congress_bush

[aquart]

74. "Trust us."

[emulatorloo]

75. "We know best. Have we ever been wrong before?" n/t

[loyalkydem]

76. That prooves

he's got something to hide, coward.

[november3rd]

77. They're kidding, right?

First of all, what right does Bush have to tell a FORMER employee whether or not they have the right to testify before Congress? They're not working for him anymore.

Second, this executive privilege nonsense is going too far. Everybody knows the only reason you invoke executive privilege is to hide malfeasance from sunshine and scrutiny.

[sbyte]

78. "appropriately documented"

"You may be assured that the president's assertion here comports with prior practices in similar contexts, and that it has been appropriately documented," the letter said.

From a historical and legal point of reference.

Is there a link the the full response?

[L. Coyote]

79. DU Archive: EXIT RIGHT. Sara Taylor, WH political director, Rove Aide RESIGNS? "subpoenas ..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x990202

[MiserableFailure]

81. Chimpy McDipshit indeed

He has a lot of nerve.