OLC: Sen. Whitehouse Raises the Stakes on Dawn Johnsen Vote

[babylonsister]

http://christyhardinsmith.firedoglake.com/2009/07/21/olc-now-this-is-more-like-it/

OLC: Now This Is More Like It
Christy Hardin Smith Tuesday July 21, 2009 5:18 am


Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse offers to bring a little hardball to the OLC proxy fight.

From the National Law Journal (subs. req.):

One vocal Johnsen supporter, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), said he's eager for a Senate debate about the office. "I'm happy to spent the whole {time} talking about what the Bush administration did to the Office of Legal Counsel and why it needs to be cleaned up. There's a long and sordid tale there to be told, and if Republicans want to spend time on that subject, it's their prerogative."

Since Sen. Whitehouse is a member of both the Judiciary and the Intelligence Committees in the Senate, I'm certain he knows exactly what he's talking about with the "long and sordid tale" characterization.

Isn't it time the American public knew the full and complete extent of it as well?

Word to the wise, GOPeevish blockers of Dawn Johnsen: as a former federal prosecutor, Whitehouse knows how to bring the evidence meticulously to light. And, even more importantly, he knows how to lay out the full evidence as a story easily followed and interesting enough to hold short attention spans -- tailor made for public consumption -- from his days of litigating before juries.

It's about time someone brought some hardball to the floor on Dawn Johnsen's behalf. I'd be even happier if the leadership would schedule a vote. And tell proxy stand-ins John Cornyn and Jon Kyl to go "Cheney" themselves.

Soon.

Because I'm well past tired of the rule of law being on the backburner.