WH might invoke executive privilege re: internal Katrina docs

[sabra]

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1540626

White House Resists Katrina Probe

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2006 — The Bush administration says some key White House officials and documents are off limits to congressional investigations into the failures of the Katrina disaster.

...

The White House is unapologetic, saying that those advising the president must be able to freely offer advice without fear that their positions will be made public.

"Now, the issue you bring up goes to separation of powers issues," said White House press secretary Scott McClellan during a White House briefing. "The president believes that Senator Lieberman ought to have the right to confidential conversations with his advisers just like all presidents have asserted they ought to have that same right. That's what this is about. That's the bottom line here. "

A separation of powers showdown appears to be brewing, with some members of Congress threatening subpoenas to force the White House to comply.

The White House could invoke executive privilege, a legal position often upheld in the courts.

[C_U_L8R]

1. that's not "priviledge:

it's just obstruction.

what a bunch of crooks.

[stevedeshazer]

2. "Might"??

:rofl:

[sabra]

3. I know, I know :-)

[DemInDistress]

4. what else is new...ex.priv. for 911...ex.priv for iraq and now

more executive priviledge for Katrina...the iron curtain of secrecy with this fucking scumbag bush and his crime family has angered me terribly...

[BOSSHOG]

5. More "conservative" garbage

supported by the bush base. The worst administration in the history of the United States fucked up again and they don't want to raise their right hand and swear to tell the truth. "Conservatives" will continue to support the failures of this man and those he surrounds himself with. Executive privilege enables bush to hide his gargantuan failures from the public. The man and his supporters are what is wrong with America.

He continues to fuck up and his base continues to cheer him on.

[MidwestTransplant]

6. They should just say that the Terrarists can't find out lest they

would use the info to attack us. It's true in a way. If they had confirmation of how truly incompetent the WH is, it truly may embolden them further.

[livetohike]

7. They are afraid to admit that Bush

probably said, "Let it flood." Since an AZ fundraiser is more important than the safety of the American people.

I hope Lieberman and everyone else keeps leaning on him. Expose him for the criminal he is.

[Spinzonner]

8. Turning into Executive Privylege

Using it to cover up all their incompetent crap.

[arcane1]

9. remember, the chimp sealed all the Iran/Contra doc's too

it was practically his very first act as president, IIRC

[sabra]

11. ah, very good point.

[cybildisobedience]

10. If Bush did nothing wrong...

what is he do afraid of?

And BTW, what it be THAT hard for some Dem to say that?
Even the average American can understand it.

[Marr]

20. EXACTLY.

Hey- what's the big deal? If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to be afraid of, George.

[cantstandbush]

12. And the Dems aren't even screaming about this except for Conyers

and a few others in the Black Caucus.

[sabra]

13. Amazingly enough Lieberman is one of Senators who is pissed

about it.

[KamaAina]

14. Where, might I ask, is Landrieu on this?

Why are two New England senators, Lieberman for the Dems (finally!) and Collins for the repukes, taking the lead on this?

[pitohui]

15. seriously? we're already not getting any $$$

landrieu cannot afford to piss this administration off any more than they are already pissed off

look next door, trent lott is getting money for mississippi, but we can't get the money because we don't have a senator w. the same seniority, w. breaux retired landrieu is all we got to negotiate for us, vitter the republican is useless and has no pull or authority whatsoever

landrieu is busying lobbying to get $$$ for this state, which is abt broke, it is not going to be proper for her to take a lead in attacking the administration at this time

this is why we have 50 states, and 100 senators, sometimes it's going to be more appropriate for someone else to step up and do the dirty work


it's just better, methinks, if people who seem more neutral, such as the northeast senators take the lead in this investigation

[KamaAina]

16. Mmm.. very savvy. Hadn't thought of that.

Normally each state's senators speak up for that state's interests -- but this is hardly "normally".

Perhpas Mary could instead push for the Baker Bill, which King Dumbass** has just come out against, to little notice from DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2064705&mesg_id=2064705

[insane_cratic_gal]

19. I call Bullshit. That woman has all of the power in the world

if she'd only wield it. But she won't

NO One can tarnish the Bush Admin like she can. She could of rallied the troops, but she cowers like the dog she is. She lays down she doesn't fight! She votes with this administration 76 percent of the time (google it she even brags about it).

If she doesn't have the balls (figuratively of course) to fight them now, she won't be around for the next battle. LA is going to vote her out one way or another.

She could do it, but she doesn't. WHY? Why doesn't she shame them into it?

[driver8]

17. Typical Congress / WhiteHouse dialogue...

Congress: We demand those files now!

WhiteHouse: No! We aren't giving them to you!

Congress: (Tail between legs) Oh...okay...sorry to have bothered you.

[insane_cratic_gal]

18. "Let em drown" was that the advice they invoking exec.

privilege with?

That's it.. I want a new law passed ANY administration can only invoke "executive privilege" once a term. Otherwise your SOL!!

How many fucking times (excuse my cussing) has this admin invoked this shit!!!!

If they weren't so corrupt this wouldn't be an issue.