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| Home Front: Politix |
| Bush Stands By His Man |
| 2007-03-21 |
| It was very clear from President Bush’s brief statement and short news conference just ended that he does not intend to back down from his support of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, nor will he allow his top White House staff — adviser Karl Rove and former White House counsel Harriet Miers and their deputies — to be subjected to open public testimony on Capitol Hill. He said the White House had offered a reasonable compromise to Congress as it investigates the firings of federal prosecutors; Mr. Gonzales and his staff would testify before Congressional committees to clear up “confusion” and offer the “facts.” “There’s no indication that anyone did anything improper,” Mr. Bush said. He said both he and Mr. Gonzales were dissatisfied with the explanations offered to Congress so far, and promised to provide additional documents and testimony on the issue. Asked whether Mr. Gonzales still enjoyed his confidence, “He’s got support with me.” Democrats on the Hill seemed to flatly reject the compromise offered earlier today by the White House counsel, Fred Fielding: that Ms. Miers and Mr. Rove were willing to be interviewed privately, but not under oath and not in public. Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said the president should not be telling the Senate how to conduct investigations. The president countered that tonight, basically saying that if Congress tried to subpoena his aides, there would be a constitutional showdown. “Initial response by Democrats, unfortunately, shows some appear more interested in scoring political points than in learning the facts. It will be regrettable if they choose to head down the partisan road of issuing subpoenas and demanding show trials when I have agreed to make key White House officials and documents available.He said he would go to the mat if Congress issued subpoenas to his staff. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #11 President Bush just seems completely enervated. There's just nothing in the tank and he's going to roll across the finish line on fumes. Under other circumstances it would simply be sad, but in the middle of an existential war, it's downright dangerous. |
| Posted by: regular joe 2007-03-21 20:38 |
| #10 Bush administration can fire (or not renew appointments of) DAs. Congress can subpoena Bush advisors. Bush advisors can decline to answer questions. Congress can hold advisors in Contempt of Congress. Bush can pardon said advisors. I think that's the end of the trail, if one chooses to follow it. Constitutional lawyers? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-03-21 19:02 |
| #9 And the House fires back -- I think Bush feels strongly about protecting WH aides from subpoenas, and will most likely take this all the way through the courts. One thing about Bush, he does fight to protect the separation of the branches. This may bite the Dems -- talk radio I heard after Bush spoke -- from some Dems, "the Dems are just going too far this time. I may have to consider whether or not to vote for them again." 'Course, this was in a red state. Hope Bush pushes it to the Supreme's. MSM will have to cover it, and folks can see the stupidness of the Dems in this "scandal." from Fox -- In calling for the subpoenas, Democrats are rejecting an offer made by President Bush late Tuesday to allow former counsel Harriet Miers and his top political adviser Karl Rove — as well as deputy White House counselors William Kelley and J. Scott Jennings and Rove deputy Sara Taylor — to speak to judiciary panel members and staff. The president insisted that the consultations be given privately and not under oath. Bush said his aides are free to speak with lawmakers and their staff to explain how the decisions to oust the prosecutors were made. He also agreed to release "all White House documents and e-mails involving direct communications with the Justice Department or any other outside person, including members of Congress and their staff, related to this issue." But the president said any efforts by Democrats to go on a "partisan fishing expedition aimed at honorable public servants" will be met with resistance. He said he would "absolutely" take the matter to court if it went that route. "It will be regrettable if they choose to head down the partisan road of issuing subpoenas and demanding show trials when I have agreed to make key White House officials and documents available. I have proposed a reasonable way to avoid an impasse. I hope they don't choose confrontation. I will oppose any attempts to subpoena White House officials," Bush said. Shortly before the panel authorized subpoena power for its chairman, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow warned, "You don't need a showdown here." Snow said the offer to make the advisers available for interviews is generous and reasonable. He asked, "Wwhat's more important, the truth or a spectacle?" Before the vote on subpoenas, Conyers urged Republican panel members to join Democrats in the authorization, and said the subpoenas would be held in abeyance if the White House continued to cooperate with members of Congress. Republicans weren't biting. Florida Rep. Ric Keller, the ranking Republican on the subcommittee, said the panel has a right to subpoena Rove and Miers, and Bush has a right to invoke executive privilege to protect them. Snow also said the White House will only provide documents about the fired U.S. attorneys, if Democrats accept the restrictions. |
| Posted by: Sherry 2007-03-21 11:30 |
| #8 Schumer and Leahy are playing a dangerous game - they actually know they have no cards to play - it wasn't illegal in any manner to fire or not renew the US atty's. Bush is right to call them out, and it WILL backfire on them Well, maybe in a legal sense, or among people who pay attention. Really the game they are playing--in particular Mr. Schumer--is a FUND RAISING game. It is doubtful that THAT game will backfire. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2007-03-21 11:29 |
| #7 JFM---you have more knowledge of the US Constitution than the Dem Moonbats in Congress!!! The US Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President. Just ask Slick Willie Clinton, who fired a crop of em. The dems are using every front, from legislation, to resolutions, to Walter Reed, to appropriation to destroy the President. The public likes fairness. This stuff is eventually going to blow up in the And despite the MSM ignoring it deliberately, the CAIR connections between dems whoring for votes and things like that will come to the surface. It will get alot uglier before it gets better. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2007-03-21 10:15 |
| #6 Let's see if I understand: Prosecutors, not judges, prosecutors, are under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice ie they are part of the Exceitive isn't it? The Chief of Executive is the President isn't it? The Chief can move or displace employees at will isn't it? The Legislative has no business in the internals of exexutive isn't it? When Legislative has no business on smething the Constitution allows the President to tell representatives to go f.. themselves isn't it? Disclaimer: I don't have adetailed knowledge of the US Constitution. |
| Posted by: JFM 2007-03-21 09:33 |
| #5 I was at a book store yesterday, and skimmed through a moonbat tract, "Witch Hunts : From Salem to Guantanamo Bay." We need people like Gonzales, to counter morons who believe that the hundreds of Arabs who were caught in Afghanistan during the intervention, were innocent tourists. |
| Posted by: Sneaze 2007-03-21 08:51 |
| #4 Alberto Gonzales has been responsible for numerous blunders since he took over for Ashcroft. No doubt Gonzales has intelligence and is personable but he simply is incapable of doing a good job as AG. Bush's loyalty to his team is nice but I wish he could be loyal to someone more capable. |
| Posted by: mhw 2007-03-21 08:46 |
| #3 Former UN Ambassador Bolton was interviewed on The Daily Show last night. He flat out told Jon Stewart that all presidents fire federal prosecutors and he doesn't understand why a fuss is suddenly being made now, except that Washington is such a political place. He flatly contradicted a number of other "of course" stupidities while remaining pleasantly fact-based, to the point where Mr. Wife's head was nodding at each point -- and Mr. Wife has never been pleased with this administration. At the end Mr. Stewart had to thank him for his courage in coming on to face such an audience. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-03-21 08:36 |
| #2 Schumer and Leahy are playing a dangerous game - they actually know they have no cards to play - it wasn't illegal in any manner to fire or not renew the US atty's. Bush is right to call them out, and it WILL backfire on them |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-03-21 06:35 |
| #1 Revenge of Libby??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-03-21 02:37 |