In what is now an almost mocking level of contempt, Karl Rove has refused to appear before Congress despite a subpoena to do so. While claiming executive privilege, there is no justification for the failure to appear and to answer any questions on the firing of U.S. attorneys. The question is what will the Democratic Congress do beyond expressions of outrage. It is a question that I will discuss on the Dan Abrams show tonight.
Rove is claiming immunity despite the fact that there are obvious many questions that could not possibly be covered by executive privilege. He was first subpoenaed in May. Committee Chair John Conyers and Subcommittee Chairperson Linda Sanchez have already rejected the claim and threatened prosecution. However, Attorney General Mukasey has blocked giving the case to the grand jury. That leaves Congress’ inherent contempt authority, discussed here.
Congress stopped holding contempt trials after the Justice Department insisted that it would be represent the institution in court. With the open effort to protect officials by Mukasey, Congress now must choose between using its inherent authority or to accept open contempt of its authority.
For today’s story, click here.
I’d say you both are “down”.
Lemme know when you want to come up for air.
Jill:
I agree rafflaw seems to have it down.
MessPo blathered
Who writes 4 posts and a hundred words or so to cover what could be said in a sentence?
Another straw argument.
You’ll note, that my previous responses to your temper tantrums were much shorter.
Seems they weren’t enough to “drive the nail home” so to speak.
Thought I’d spell it out for you.
😐
Obviously another lost cause….. as is your positions, since you by your own admission, have been attacking me for what effectively equates, to “nothing”.
Nicely summarized rafflaw! A fine blog.
Jill
No, the sad part is you agree with “this guy”, and you still chose to keep attacking him.
😐
And the really sad part is, that when he bitchslaps you back, you start crying like babies about how bad he is.
As I said, don’t like it?
Don’t come lookin for it.
Patty C:
“I’m sure he appreciates you two mental midgets, launching vicious attack after vicious attack, on one blogger who is posting on topic, so as to bury any real discussion on the issues, and instead turn it into a personal vendetta of you two little kids.”
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I’m using paranoia as my working diagnosis after this exchange. What do you think, oh savior of cholera victims? The volume of invective is just astounding. Who writes 4 posts and a hundred words or so to cover what could be said in a sentence? Well on the positive side, since his financial house is in order, I ‘m guessing he’s got major medical. I feel like R.P. McMurphy in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Between russ and this guy, it’s a veritable case study on fools. I can’t wait for installment three…and four…and five…etc….etc. I am also hoping for more smiley faces–haven’t since so many since about 1974. The sad part is we agree with this guy and he just doesn’t get it.
You want to debate something I said about Karl Rove?
Fine. Debate it.
Wanna throw in some quips? Fine.
But scroll up, and notice that nothing either of you say do that, but instead you’re just launching attack after attack, like two little children.
Which is why, all you’re going to get back, is more of the same.
Don’t like it skippy?
😐
Then don’t come lookin for it.
Oh, and I’m sure professor Turley appreciates you ignoring my comments, which unless responding to you two assclowns, were all on the topic of this thread.
I’m sure he appreciates you two mental midgets, launching vicious attack after vicious attack, on one blogger who is posting on topic, so as to bury any real discussion on the issues, and instead turn it into a personal vendetta of you two little kids.
This is a blog on Karl Rove, not a place for two insecure assclowns to proclaim their professions as if that had the slightest pertinance to discussing Karl Rove.
One sign of knowing when you’ve lost whatever debate you’ve engaged in, is when you resort to declaring your profession, as if anyone here cares, as if we don’t all have jobs, incomes, homes, families, civic duties, etc.
When one does that, proclaims as this idiot did, “I’m save lives!…what do you do?”, then clearly they are simply admitting to being out of brainpower on the topic at hand, and have nothing of substance to offer.
I don’t care if you, or her are saving babies from cholera in your basements while simultaneously curing bone cancer at St Judes Hospital.
It doesn’t mean a thing in here.
We all have jobs, Slappy.
But most of us don’t need to brag about them to try and bolster untenable positions, or our inability to compete in the medium provided.
But for entertainments sake, lets hope you don’t know when to quit.
lol, and there comes the inevitable “from his moms basement” that comes out whenever one of the perpetually impotent can’t think of anything to actually say.
No slick, my mother passed away a long time ago, and my financial affairs are quite in order, thank you, albeit none of your business, nor are they applicable to anything I stated.
Your friend, Patty C, keeps come looking for it.
Its not my fault she chooses to insult and attack me in post after post, nor is it my fault that your combined brainpower is able to come up with anything other than tired blogger pejoratives and quips.
I am perfectly happy though to continue responding “in kind” to hers, and your, impotent attacks on me, my character and my livelyhood.
If you don’t like it, then I suggest, you take some good advice, and “don’t come lookin for it”.
Clear it up any, skippy?
Patty C:
“On another note, by “saving lives”, do you mean voluntarily subjecting yourself to physical restraint so as not to injure your care providers [sic]?”
*****************
Here’s a guy typing vitriolic nonsensical post after vitriolic nonsensical post — probably from his Mom’s basement — and mocking you for saving lives. Is that pathetic or what? From a clinical standpoint, do you think symptoms like this are more indicative of Intelligentsia Derangement Disorder [given the need to be recognized as brilliant at the expense of others] or obsessive-compulsive disorder [based on the showy mindless repetition a la russ] or maybe even ODD? No diagnosis is possible of course, but I like to know what possibilities I am dealing with.
Rove is going down. This is the beginning of the end for that felon. The Bush Regime will try to fight his compelled appearance, but after a few nights under lock and key, he just may get a little talkative. Now, I am assuming that Conyers, et al, have the guts to initiate the Inherent Contempt proceedings as soon as they have located the Rovester.
Susan
1, July 11, 2008 at 10:09 am
BartleBee wrote:
“MISTER” Rove, is a private citizen.”
********************
Thank you! That’s what I had thought. HOW can Rove claim “Executive Privilege” when he doesn’t work for the White House anymore?
———–
I know, it’s amazing, is it not? In fact, its Karl Rove’s attorney, who russ claims has more experience in the law than Professor Turley, who’s trying to purport this legally untenable defense.
The President is the one who invokes executive privilege, NOT the lawyer of a guy being called in for questioning.
And the President hasn’t done that. Because he can’t.
Patty C
1, July 11, 2008 at 1:33 am
I and my team work with medical professionals, saving lives, all day
-can you say the same
————
Whether I could, or could not, I would not degenerate to proclaiming such a thing with a megaphone, in an internet blog merely to bolster a juvenile rant.
😐
On another note, by “saving lives”, do you mean voluntarily subjecting yourself to physical restraint so as not to injure your care providers?
you’re right mespo – thanks for your support. I stand by my earliest comment. Just because they claim something doesn’t make it so!They made it up. So what?
Whether EP OR Absolute Immunity (whatever that is), it doesn’t mean it rules of the day.
Patty C 1, July 10, 2008 at 8:51 pm
“It is called Separation of Powers. He does not have to respond to it! The House Judiciary Committee can go blow smoke.
The White House does not answer to the House of Representatives. That has been the law of the land for 200 + years and if it ever got to the Supreme Court the House knows the Supreme Court would agree with the President.”
****
Not so – he does have to ‘Answer’ ie appear – even if he refuses to
actually answer certain questions.
This is, in effect, what ’separation of powers’ means, Michael.
His is a ‘possible’ argument AND not a persuasive one at that, in my view.
I say Rove loses, hands down, which is probably why he won’t risk showing up – ever, if he can avoid it!
emptywheel: “That’s why my point above is so important. This is not a claim of executive privilege. It is a claim of absolute immunity from forced testimony before Congress.”
Yeah, your earlier post pretty much sums it up. Sorry I missed it for all the chaff being thrown around.
Just two more points or nails in the coffin:
Executive privilege is not an inherent executive power; John Marshall was its midwife and the case against Nixon let it out of the incubator.
And, assuming the Democrats grow a spine, they’d be wise to SLOW-PLAY any remaining cards against Rove and the Administration. The same way you’d slow play an objection to personal jurisdiction until a moment where you’ve run down the statute of limitations clock on your opponent’s cause of action.
The Democrats should keep their mouths shut until January 21, 2001 and kill the pardoning power element.
Regards,
Bob
BartleBee wrote:
“MISTER” Rove, is a private citizen.”
********************
Thank you! That’s what I had thought. HOW can Rove claim “Executive Privilege” when he doesn’t work for the White House anymore? That he has the audacity to claim it at all is no surprise, though. He and others at the White House seem to have this ridiculous notion that the laws of this country do NOT apply to them. Rather like Nixon, and we all know the outcome of HIS case.
BartleBee wrote
Also, unfortunately, for your argument, and for Mr Rove, the courts have already ruled that Executive Privilege applies ONLY in a few, special circumstances, like matters of National Security, and Intelligence.
NOT in helping Turdblossom stay out of jail for screwing around with the Justice Dept. Got any other Red Herrings you’d like to serve up there Sparky?
*********************
Oh, I’m sure “Russ” does, and no doubt he’ll try floating every single one of those tedious Red Herrings right here to see if anyone “salutes” them. He’s just mad because we’re shooting big holes in them instead. 🙂
I will remain hopeful that Rove will be going down sooner or later, but I’d love to see him go down sooner.
The ACLU has filed suit to block the FISA “law” from taking effect.
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/35942prs20080710.html