who wants to cover it up, and is it any coincidence this is happening before a major election?
"Our investigation into the firing of United States Attorneys revealed an Administration and a Justice Department that seemed to put politics first, and today's decision to shelve the contempt process, in violation of a federal statute, shows that the White House will go to any lengths to keep its role in the US Attorney firings hidden. In the face of such extraordinary actions, we have no choice but to proceed with a lawsuit to enforce the Committee's subpoenas," said Rep. John Conyers regarding Attorney General Mukasay's stalwart refusal to enforce Miers and Bolton subpoenas.
Everybody is getting caught up in the contempt citations, but few are talking about the core issues of racism, and voter suffrage, which need closer examination by Justice, and both political parties.
The attempt at political obstructionism by way of voter fraud charges simply cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. Racism does not only apply to the demographics on death row, and the make-up of our penal institutions.The appearance (or disappearance) of former White House chief of staff, Josh Bolten, and former presidential counsel, Harriet Miers, ostensibly involves fear on the part of the executive branch that either one, or both, the former aides will divulge details about why the nine U.S. attorneys were fired.
The attorney general appears to think that executive branch employees do not have to answer to a congressional subpoena once the President has uttered the shiboleth "executive privilege." But, Mukasey needs to clarify what he thinks the parameters of "executive privilege" are. During his confirmation hearings, the attorney-general gave the impression that Justice was capable of acting independently from the White House. That claim has yet to be substantiated, and appears dubious in light of Friday's decision in this matter.
There are lots of ways to sabotage an election--breaking into the Democratic headquarters, as happened on Nixon's watch, is only one. Litigating against, incarcerating, or otherwise marginalizing members of a community, especially those who would fall under one's opponent's demographic, under spurious "voter fraud" claims is yet another.
We've seen the important work, most recently, of Rev. Glasgow, in Alabama, as well as others, throughout the country, to ensure that voting rights be respected despite the best efforts of some partisans to disenfranchise those most likely to vote for Democrats. For a government that likes transparency, what could be more transparent than which demographic, politically, socially, and racially, was intended to be targeted by "voter fraud" allegations, and lawsuits which these U.S. attorneys honorably refused to pursue.
George W. Bush has indulged in more white collar crime than any president in recent memory, and has no more right to get off the hook, or get away with destroying millions of White House e-mails, than Richard M. Nixon did. That Numero 43 should be allowed to serve out his second term, with impunity, will be a stain on American history that even the finest K Street dry cleaners would be unable to remove inasmuch as he's not only added hubris to his job description, but unparalleled, and unscripted, use of executive privilege.
One way or another, with or without Justice, all the President's men must be held to account for contempt not merely of Congress, but of the democratic process.
http://ladyjaynestahl.blogspot.com
Widely published, poet, playwright, essayist, and screenwriter; member of PEN American Center, and PEN USA. Jayne Lyn Stahl is a Huffington Post blogger.
In the seven years , and counting, of this horrifically inept and agendised administration we have seen an increase in the assumptionm of power by these folks. In the six years that the Democrats were in the minority they allowed themselves to be railroaded, almost herded like sheep whichever way the GOP majority wished them to go, and they went meekly and silently.
Now that the GOP is in the minority we plainly see the effect a minority can have upon the legislative process and the Democrats no longer can whine about being a minority, instead they snivel about being too small a majority..give me a break. The Democrats in Congress must accept their burden of blame for the events of this terrible Presidency and even the most agendised of party supporters should, if their consciences and their intellect are at all present, understand the complicity with the Bush agenda and thelack of all but a token opposition to it that has caused Bush, Cheney and the gang to be so arrogant in their assumption of power.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2388 comments)
on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 6:50:29 AM
The truth about our government is that two branches are owned by the corporations. The third branch is employed by the other two branches, so it amounts to the same thing. You do not have to ask Republicans what they have on the Democrats to keep them quiet on impeachment. You should ask the corporations that a) fear the disruption that impeachment would bring, b) have told "their" senators and representatives not to impeach or else no campaign funding, no junkets, no parties, prostitutes, etc., and c) have done all this without collusion among corporations to defraud the American people of their democracy! Of course you cannot ask corporations this question because even though they are considered living entities, they have limited liability.
Jim
by
James Brett (80 articles, 95 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 79 comments)
on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 1:12:11 PM
