It’s time for another Irresponsible Speculation™!
Today the subject that flies to everyone’s lips is the scandal in search of a -gate; the firing of 8 US Attorneys, apparently for political reasons. The situation looks dire (the author rubs in his hands hamster-fashion in the universal gesture of evil delight) for the Administration as they prepare to square off with Congress over that body’s subpoena power. With the Administration’s Dr. Goebbels already on record on the constitutional issues involved, things do not look good for the President. As they always say in Washington circles, it’s not the crime that gets you, it’s the cover-up.
In this case, the cover-up appears to be a doozy, possibly going to the political heart of the Administration, Karl Rove. The document dump that the Administration performed to try to stave off Congress appears to have an 18 day gap in it at the exact time the decision was made to bump off insufficiently Bushie USA’s. But really, what does it matter who came up with the idea?
Until now, this is all simple well-known facts. Where, you might ask, is the Irresponsible Speculation™ you’ve come to expect? Here we go…
This is it. The proverbial final straw. The Democratic Congress has been bending over backward to avoid confrontation with the Presidency, but it is just not in the nature of this Administration to leave well-enough alone. They have to push it. This time they are pushing on the Congress’, and by extension the peoples’, right to know. This is an assertion of Constitutional chutzpah that Congress cannot ignore and cannot accept if they wish to remain a coequal branch. The same could be said about several abuses of the rule of law by this President, but those were quiet back-alley muggings of the Constitution, stealing subtle principles most people, in their ignorance, won’t miss. But this assault is very public, and seeks to steal away the fundamental right to question what our government is doing and has done. More importantly, the subject matter they seek to protect has no rational relation to national security or the ‘war on terror’ for the Administration to hid behind. Their claim of executive privilege is nothing more than the right to cover up a criminal conspiracy.
The last time Bushies pulled this stonewall trick was over Cheney’s energy task force. The Republican Congress was unwilling to face down the President over the matter and let a very poor precedent lie in the DC circuit – the Democrats will have no such compunctions. In fact, they are going to have a ravening crowd at their heels urging them on. With the President’s policies discredited and a majority of the public favoring impeachment, things will be different.
This may not bring down the President, though it certainly has the potential of destroying the icy reserve of the Democratic leadership who have so far resisted calls for impeachment. This scandal is a bullet aimed at Rove, but Bush or Cheney could easily become collateral damage. If Rove doesn’t testify, the President is going to have 535 very pissed-off congress-critters of both parties to deal with, and likely the judicial branch as well. He won’t be able to hold out long. If Rove does testify, and lies, he’s going to join Scooter. If he testifies, and he tells the truth, he’s almost certainly done for in this government. The calls for his resignation will be irresistible, along with anyone else in the chain of command on this dirty trick.
Ironically, this is the one scandal that won’t roll off this Administration, even though at first glance it seems like the ‘minor personnel matter’ Alberto Gonzalez pronounced it to be. The reason this dirt will stick is because the plot is aimed at Bush’s own appointees, and members of his own party – the Administration’s long knives are pricking the Republicans’ own constituency, something that they haven’t felt until recently. Now it’s not just Democrats who are getting cut, and Republicans are getting concerned.
The Scooter Libby trial gave the time and attention needed for it to sink into the public consciousness just how callous, puerilely political, and petty this Administration can be. The destruction of Valerie Plame harmed American national security for no other reason but petty partisan payback – even the most die-hard Bushie knows this in his shriveled little soul, and the knowledge burns. This yet-to-be-named-gate scandal drives home that every function of government, no matter how sacred a trust, no matter how apolitical, is only a means to advance a narrow political agenda to this Administration. And they don’t care who they harm in the process. This scandal really drives home how fundamentally contemptible these people are. Nameless-gate may take several congress-critters down, too, but that’s small change compared to the damage it seems set to do to the Administration. The longer this particular issue stays in the headlines, the more Republican support for the Administration will crater. The longer this Administration fights to defend the indefensible, the better I like it.
We’ve seen scandals that would have sunk any other President disappear from the media’s radar within days, hours even, but this story has legs for every American. This is the one. I just heard a loud snap coming from the direction of that proverbial camel. Buckle your seat belts, we’re in for a constitutional thrill ride in the coming weeks.
This has been an Irresponsible Speculation™.
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Is this a poll? Let him keep on keeping on! I think it’s fun. Way to threaten, btw. And, just to be clear, GWB did it too! I swear, (really, I do. A lot.) if the Bushbots’ finest example of ethical and moral conduct is Billy Jeff Clinton, then they are losing the argument before they even start it.
Mike, I really like your attitude on this one. Believe me, I’ve read A LOT about it on the usual national blogs. You know the ones. It’s got that “little thread that will unravel the whole sock” feel. And I can see Leahy getting ready to throw a certain biological directive back at the White House. rawk.
Dwight,
First of all, the separation of powers issue doesn’t apply when the contempt citation is in pursuit of an investigation of criminal activity by the Executive branch. This is an investigation of possible obstruction of justice charges against members of the Administration and GOP members of Congress. You need to stop taking your talking points from the GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I assure you, not even they believe them.
Second, I never said no one could deviate or disagree with me. I did say that you and others who comment here, do so at my suffrage. This is my blog and I have a right and duty to prevent trolls from hijacking the discussion.
I couldn’t give a crap if you, or anyone else on the internet disagrees with me. I wouldn’t be blogging if that troubled me. Nor do I much care if you dislike my blogging, whether you ever read this blog again, or continue to comment. In fact, many – myself certainly included – would be happier if you didn’t. If you were to confine yourself to making your point, rather than rambling on and attacking myself and other commenters, I would have no problem with you. However, you seem to have some sort of opposition-defiant personality that compels you to take umbrage to every slight and pick fights. In short, you are a troll, Dwight.
I have long considered whether to simply ban you. In the end, I decided you were more entertaining than disruptive and decided not to. I am tempted to poll the readers of this blog to see whether THEY think you should be banned. I think we both know the answer to that one, and that knowledge should give you pause.
Free speech isn’t just about saying whatever you want, however you want, Dwight. If it were, the loudest idiot with the biggest lungs would always win every debate. You will note that I have never deleted even one of your comments. I have never placed a prior restraint on you by moderating you comments before they are posted (which I can do). I have never told you to just go away, though I have hinted that this would please me. Instead I allow you to twist my words, misquote me (remember what I said about quotation signs meaning someone actually said it?), attack me personally, and generally make yourself despised and reviled by my readers, many of whom have privately asked me to get rid of you because you are consistently obnoxious, dilatory, and off-topic. I haven’t done so. If that doesn’t demonstrate a commitment to free speech, I think the only other thing I could do would be to give you your own blog.
I’m even will to do that, if you promise to stop posting multiple screen discursions in my comments.
Patrict J. Leahy agrees with Dwight D. Leister, concerning separation of powers written in the U.S. Constitution, in a letter to the Justice Department on September 23,1999 where he states; Quote” Most importantly compelling compliance with a Congressional Subpoena in this context would be difficult. The Civil contempt mechanism normally available to Congress,see 28 U.S.C.&1365, specifically exempts Subpoenas to the Executive Branch. The Criminal contempt mechanism see 2U.S.C.&192.”
To read the text of Leahy’s letter go to http://judiciary.senate.gov/oldsite/92399p12.HTM
Mike;
We in The Democratic Party have a BIG HOUSE and welcome all points of view from the NEW PROGRESSIVES such as yourself to the Moderates, Conservative and Liberal wings of The Democratic Party; sure we may disagree thats the FUN of being a Democrat; but when PERSONAL ATTACKS are leveled and DEMANDS MADE ON A BLOG”” ANSWER THIS OR ELSE ” or “WATCH YOUR ASS!” I think your Blogging has something to be desired even if your Blogging as you said “IS YOUR SUFFERAGE” and “FOR YOU ALONE” “NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO DEVIATE OR QUESTION ANYTHING ON YOUR BLOG!?”
What about setting a precedent for future “SEPARATION OF POWERS” listed in THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; where future Presidents will be subject to the Senate calling the Presidents PERSONAL staff to testify under OATH;then look into past statements of that adviser calling any testimony perjury?
What IF the President would start calling up Senate Staffers for the same reason; as Chuck Schumer has e-mailed the Justice Department(in 2005) to interfere in U.S. Attorney’s decisions for New York?
I think the matter of the resignations of Presidential Appointments is troubling( 8 out of 93)( Clinton FIRED ALL 93 U.S. Attorney’s when he took office) I DO NOT THINK it should rise to a CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS!
I also see Mike is going to speak at my favorite Forum The Democrats of Greater Tucson on Monday the 26th on the Blog? Mike will you bring up your kindness and consideration towards members of The Democrats of Greater Tucson who post on your Blog; such as myself when I offer opinions or suggestions? I can recal very personal attacks made against me both my physical and mental status being brought into question and on my Family. The opinions I expressed were expressed before many many Democratic Party Functions with support NOT ATTACKS!!!!!!