Waxman and Leahy getting cold feet or what?

[garybeck]

I admit I've been busy and haven't been following all the other scandals as closely as many of you have... but it seems to me that with all the info that has come out there should at least be some subpoenas by now. It seems like weeks ago I was reading about them "preparing" a subpeona for Condosleezbag Rice on the Niger docs. And a month ago Leahy was ready to issue a subpeona for Rove.

There's such a mountain of evidence. I think the Carol Lam story alone should land someone in jail. You can't fire a prosecutor with the knowledge that they were about to indict someone. That is clear obstruction of justice, no? How could it be anything but?

It seems to me that a month ago all this stuff was headlines but recently there hasn't been as much in the news about it.

I'm starting to worry that the Leahy and Waxman are getting cold feet and all this stuff is going to blow over.

Please tell me I'm wrong and I'm just being impatient.

[Kool Kitty]

1. Whats-his-name, Schlotzman (?) just

*ahem* "clarified" his testimony (from last week's hearing) today. (Just saw it on TPM.) I would think, from the looks of it, that he LIED. Goody-two-shoes Goodling lied, Gonzalez lied, McNulty lied, and they all lied under oath. What are the Senate and House committee going to do about it?

[tularetom]

2. I still have some confidence in Waxman

but I've just about given up on Leahy. He blusters and fusses all the time about how the WH can't just ignore subpoenas and then he doesn't do jack shit about it. How about sending a few marshals over there and drag the assholes into the hearing room in handcuffs if necessary. He has all the tools at his disposal he just doesn't have the balls to use them.

[RufusTFirefly]

3. I'm concerned that you're not wrong.

Here's the rub. Approving a subpoena and actually serving one are very different.

I'm a big fan of Leahy and Waxman, but I'm afraid that both realize that actually serving their subpoenas (and those of Conyers, too) will inevitably lead to a Constitutional confrontation. Using the bogus "unitary executive" as their rationale, the Bushies will argue that it is a violation of the separation of powers to allow members of the executive branch be subpoenaed. My guess is that, given the makeup of the SCOTUS, members of Congress are concerned that the Court will rule against them and set a precedent and so they're somewhat skittish about creating a confrontation in the first place.

[babylonsister]

5. I thought they'd already served one on Rice, who ignored it. Something's

gotta give, or what's the point?
Bring on the constitutional crisis if that's what it takes!

[RufusTFirefly]

11. I think they were hoping the mere threats of subpoenas would get results

Of course, there's no guarantee that the Court won't rule in our favor. Look at the recent enemy combatant decision, for example.
But it's scary to contemplate. After all, if the Court rules in favor of the unitary executive, it could be "Game Over."

[Phredicles]

12. If this is allowed to slide, it's effectively "game over" just the same.

If congress will not stand up for its constitutional prerogatives, then it is tacitly accepting the primacy of a "unitary executive".

[RufusTFirefly]

14. Yes, you are right.

It seems like a question of brinksmanship though.
Congress needs to decide when the mere threat isn't going to work and when it will be time to go for broke.

[garybeck]

17. the threat will not work. Period. we know that and they know that.

it's time to act.

[garybeck]

7. so, besides serving a subpeona,

what about the folks who have already testified and probably lied under oath. or have testified about seemingly illegal actions like vote caging? what's the next course of action for them? Does someone have to appoint a prosecutor or what? if all this blows over I will really lose faith in the democratic party. oversight is nothing but a buzzword. hold some hearings and make everyone feel all warm and fuzzy, then go back to status quo.

[babylonsister]

13. I've heard the reason * won't let go of Gonzo is because he's afraid of

what will happen; by common sense, a prosecuter will be appointed, and it will be 'game over'. MAkes sense to me, which is why Gonzo has to go, one way or the other. But don't let anyone tell you it has to do with friendship, love for Hispanics, etc. Gonzo is covering *'s lyin' ass.

[RufusTFirefly]

15. I think that's a totally plausible hypothesis. n/t

[garybeck]

16. so the reason there's no prosecutor yet in any of this is

simply because Gonzo is the only one who can appoint a prosecutor? There's no way that congress can appoint a prosecutor?

[Kagemusha]

4. Uh aren't there votes on subpoenas for various matters this very week?

Let's revisit this in a few days.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. Ok. You're just being impatient.

And so am I.

Honestly though, I don't think it's cold feet as much as getting a lock-tight case..but, dammit!!! Time is running out and the "politics" are going to win out over doing the right thing!!!!!!!!

I'm not an impatient person by any means. It's more accurate to call it frustration...and it's growing to a level just behind the line of THOROUGHLY AND COMPLETELY PISSED OFF!!!!

[garybeck]

9. I think all of us are pretty patient. look at what we've dealt with for 6 years, and

we haven't jumped off a cliff yet. well at least most of us haven't.

[Donnachaidh]

8. I have faith in Leahy - he's getting his ducks in a row

He knows how tough it's going to be. He's not going to go into this half-cocked.

[garybeck]

10. if he doesn't do anything, how will you feel?

if this all blows over, are you going to be as PIssed off as me?

[Donnachaidh]

18. I don't think that's going to be the case

He's been working on this since BEFORE the November elections - and he also takes into account how cagey the sitting Republicans are. They'd cut their own throats right now, just to keep a Dem from finding out to much.

Leahy is a stand-up guy. He's RARE in Washington. And he's a methodical bulldog. He's not going to go off on a tangent. He's going to have a solid case to work. And that takes time and effort.