John Dean on Harriette Meirs

[illinoisprogressive]

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/07/14/john-dean-on-harriet-mierss-contempt-of-congress/

President George Bush has issued an instruction to his former White House counsel Harriet Miers to defy the House Judiciary Committee’s subpoena. The Committee had sought to ask her about her role - and that of others in the White House - in firing a covey of United States Attorneys who were apparently not toeing the political line. Bush’s instruction sent a very clear signal: As I wrote earlier, and as has been clear from the outset, he is looking for a fight.

By not responding to the subpoena, the President and Ms. Miers all but invited the House Judiciary Committee and, in turn, the House of Representatives to vote to deem her in contempt of Congress. It was a defiant, in-your-face insult to Congress. No president would do this unless he was quite confident of the outcome. Clearly, Bush’s White House and Justice Department lawyers believe that the solidly conservative federal judiciary will grant them a favorable ruling, and that, in the process, they will greatly weaken congressional oversight powers, to the advantage of the White House.

In short, the Bush White House is not bluffing with this act of defiance. Rather, the White House truly wants to test, and attempt to expand, presidential power.

[Disturbed]

1. If the House Judiciary Committee does not arrest her they

will lose this fight.

[Fredda Weinberg]

12. The Sergeant at Arms

... is authorized to arrest and detain any person violating Senate rules, including the President of the United States.

http://www.senate.gov/reference/office/sergeant_at_arms.htm

[The Wielding Truth]

2. This is deadly frightening, what powers this presidents has!

[Bitwit1234]

7. Just remember if the democrats keep on their toes

and monitor rove and his election stealing ideas the democrats might win the 2008 election. THEN DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE ALL THOSE POWERS THIS PIECE OF CRAP STOLE. And like Larry Flynt says PAY BACK IS HELL.

[WCGreen]

3. Oh man, I though this was a really icky sex thread....

[TahitiNut]

5. It is. Most of the country is getting fucked.

:shrug:

[hootinholler]

14. Yep, that's why it hurts so much

Few of us are equipped to receive an Elephant.

-Hoot

[pnwmom]

4. Here's the original, complete article in Findlaw -- well worth reading.

http://writ.lp.findlaw.com/dean/20070713.html


K & R

[WCGreen]

6. Thanks...

I wanted more...

[TreasonousBastard]

8. Not only is this terrifying in itself, but...

it goes a long way in explaining why some things in the House are going they way they are.

Or aren't, as the case may be.

[aquart]

9. For an incoming Democrat?

Seriously, how stupid are they?

[struggle4progress]

15. You don't expect logically consistent rulings from a politicized judiciary, do you?

There's a reason the wingnut judges said their 2000 installation of Bush could not be used as a precedent

[blondeatlast]

10. Very interesting (and very long) discussion about his article here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1324110

[snappyturtle]

11. Earlier I subjected myself to watch The Wall Street Journal Report of Faux News....

This issue was talked about. The panel sees the Dems taking Miers refusal to testify to extremes, i.e.contempt charge leading then to ensuring court cases and concluding it is just grand standing....and not doing their job of legislating! As you can imagine, the discussion was fair and balanced. :puke:

I'm always interested in the framing of subjects by the repukes but I can't do it very often. They make no attempt to present opposing points of view of a bonafied Dem nor play the devil's advocate. Garbage.

[BlooInBloo]

13. Shorter John Dean: Let's get it on.

[Disturbed]

16. John Dean is a great American.

Did you know that he is an Independent. He was a Repub and had the wisdom to drop out of that horrible group of Assholes.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

17. K & R. This makes me think...

...this administration would claim Bush and Cheney are not impeachable either if it came to that.

I fear we've reached the final phase of our transition -- I believe they're now quite ready and willing to use the military or Blackwater to enforce their domestic rule, and they appear to be inviting Congress to push them to give a demonstration.

I wish Congress would listen to John Dean. I'm confident they won't though.

[orleans]

18. what do you mean this administration would claim Bush and Cheney are not impeachable ??

shit! half of us here claim the same thing! (BUT NOT ME!)

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

19. I mean it looks to me like BushCo's ready to...

...use the military or Blackwater domestically to impose their will and have their way on anything, including avoiding submitting to impeachment.

Nobody behaves the way they are unless they think they've got some sort of ace in the hole. I think theirs is brute force.