If Congress does not push the contempt charges, they will help bring down the republic

[still_one]

this is an extremely dangerous situation

Refusing a subpoena issued by Congress will effectively exempt the executive branch from any oversight, and they will be accountable to no one.

If Congress allows this to happen, then it is over

[bluerum]

1. Congress is letting this regime steal the power of the people. They are

simply handing it over.

[Double T]

2. It is already TOO LATE, the dictatorship is in place.

Wait till marshall law is in place and the 2008 elections are canceled.

[whistle]

3. That is absolutely the truth

[Kagemusha]

4. Attention, ladies & gentlemen: a 5 day wait is not the end of the world!!!

Just because time is given for administration officials (former and current) to repent does not mean that Congress is NOT pushing charges, it never has in the past, it doesn't now and it never will!!! I'm sorry, I need to vent, things like the first reply in this thread just eat at me. Regardless if the depth of my feelings about that Congress should not permit this defiance to stand, there is no reason for Congress to behave like a headless chicken.

There is a proper, above board process that gives the administration a final opportunity to be reasonable. That is the tradition, that is the way things are done, and there is no reason to rush it and for Congress to look bad and unreasonable. It is in being reasonable that the issue becomes not just one of co-equal branches of government, but "JUSTICE". Let us not allow sight of that to be lost. This isn't a tug of war, this isn't petty revenge, this is serious business.

[bluerum]

5. A final opportunity? Before what? They issue more rhetorical subpoenas? eom

[Kagemusha]

6. What, no one's ever heard of you know, going to court?

Anyone out there? It's not completely unheard of, right? Right??

[still_one]

8. Congress actually has the power, and Conyers is trying

Actually this should disturb both Democrats and Republicans in Congress alike

Their institution, and our Republic are under attack from within

[bluerum]

9. If they ignore every request/order/subpoena from the court, in this case

congress, what difference does it make?

Appearing before congress in in effect going to court. The regime is in essence saying that they are answerable to no-one, not us, not congress, not anyone.

We elected them to represent us. If they fail to represent us, we must take the recourse given to us in the constitution. This goes for congress, the senate, the courts, and the executive.

[still_one]

10. That is in effect a dictatorship... /nt

[bluerum]

11. In effect, and in practice. I have come to see the term "unitary executive"

as synonymous with dictator.

[Generic Brad]

13. Some Americans still refuse to believe it

So the only way they can be woken up is to keep hammering at it until it is undeniable to all. We are nearing the tipping point moment by moment. It is taking an excruciatingly long time to those of us who realized what was going on as far back as 2000. The rest of the country is finally catching up.

[still_one]

7. Your argument is indeed reasonable, but we are running out of time

This is potentially much worse than the Congress doing nothing about Iraq until 2008. This redefines our Constitution

Yes, some in Congress are trying:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/House_committee_hits_Republican_National_Committee_0713.html

but because of the very real threat to our form of government, this should take precident over everything until it is resolved

If it stands, it effectively says the executive branch can overrule Congress on everything

How many people compelled to testify before Congress will say they don't have to if this isn't stopped now?

[Kagemusha]

12. But ANYONE else would be given the time to comply.

Time to comply under pain of contempt charges, that is. That's why it's irritating to me to see people judge on the basis of having applied the same procedure that would be applied to anyone else showing such defiance when it is applied to Miers. Equality under the law isn't good enough? Since when?

Having said that, once the deadline is up, there'd damned better be the bringing down of the Hammer of God.

[Disturbed]

14. Congress has to issue Inherent Contempt Charges if

Ms. Miers does not comply. They have to have arrested. A simple Contempt charge allows for stonewalling that could last well over a year and never be resolved. It is showdown time for Congress!