A House subcommittee voted today to authorize subpoenas for President Bush's key adviser, Karl Rove

[sabra]

Source: CNN

A House subcommittee voted today to authorize subpoenas for President Bush's key adviser, Karl Rove, and other top White House aides, in the probe of ousted U.S. attorneys.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/

---

more:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17717399/

WASHINGTON - A House panel on Wednesday defied the White House and authorized subpoenas for President Bush’s political adviser, Karl Rove and other top aides, setting up a constitutional showdown over the firings of eight federal prosecutors.

By voice vote and without objection, the House Judiciary subcommittee on commercial and administrative law decided to compel the president’s top aides to testify publicly and under oath about their roles in the firings.

[MaineDem]

1. Excellent!!! (nt)

[BlueOysterCult]

44. As Judas Priest would say...

Some Heads Are Gonna Roll!

[Lilith Velkor]

80. Breakin' the law! Breakin' the law!

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[sofa king]

113. Screeeeaming, screaming for vengeance!

[C_U_L8R]

130. they've got another thing comin' !

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[Kikosexy2]

45. Start pouring...

the martinis and raise our glasses...to the ousters of Gonzo & Rove...

[waiting for hope]

2. The ball is rolling....

Time for fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

[Xipe Totec]

6. And the balls will be rolling soon... n/t

[ClintonTyree]

77. I don't think it'll happen soon....

I can see Bush taking this all the way to his Republican stacked Supreme Court. Constitutional crisis? Like Bush gives a crap about he Constitution. No one has dared challenge his assholiness as yet and since he's a spoiled brat he'll kick and scream all the way to the SC. HOW DARE anyone try to hold him accountable! HE'S the decider! :grr:

He's also a huge asshole.

[Xipe Totec]

79. It doesn't have to even go to SCOTUS

Refusing to testify before Congress is enough cause for impeachment.

They either testify, or they're out of a job.

[katty]

100. Yup!!! just keep hanging yourself bushie & the gang

[colorado_ufo]

120. Oh, ecstasy!

[pinkpops]

127. Are you sure about that?

I've been assuming only cabinet officials, judges, and other officers who originally required senate confirmation fit in the impeachable category. For example, could you impeach a janitor?

[Xipe Totec]

135. Going off the deep end, sparky

tell me, which janitor is being called in for Senate investigation?

Gonzales is a cabinet official, therefore subject to impeachment.

Those who are not cabinet officials are not protected by executive privilege and can be jailed for contempt of Congress.

[pinkpops]

142. Sounds like you agree with me -

Gonzales is a cabinet official, could be impeached.
WH oficials (just like janitors who commit crimes) can go to jail but can't be impeached.

The only thing I can add is I think Gonzales can go to jail without being impeached. Impeachment removes him from office but he could be sent to jail without being impeached first, in theory at least. In fact, I believe Spiro Agnew, who was a sitting vice president, was convicted on a state offense, was he not?

The President cannot be tried for crimes (in court) while he is president. He must be removed from office first.

[katty]

101. the boy can't hide behind the Constitution he's shredded

[PurpleChez]

117. Bwah-HAH!

he IS a huge asshole, inn't he?

[liberal renegade]

125. Assholes serve a purpose

GWB on the other hand, has no purpose. He's more like a boil, a boil on karl roves ass....

[tofurkey]

144. Yup, useless. He's a constipated asshole.

:)

[ldf]

118. we have been in full constitutional crisis mode

since november, 2000.

that is when the treasonous supreme court openly and blatantly conspired to thwart the will of the people, by refusing to have all votes counted.

but no one has the guts to call it what it is.

:grr:

[liberal renegade]

126. and you can take that to the fuckin bank!

[Shoelace]

139. amen to that!

but the Dems have to be careful lest they end up like Carnahan, etc. They know not to bring it on too quickly - the "cornbread Cosa Nostra" in the south is about to bite the big one or so we can hope.

[hippiechick]

3. Suh-WeeeeeT!

:applause: Rowr!! :applause:

[BluePatriot]

4. In the words of Shrub...

"bring it on"

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[longship]

5. Recommended and kicked

Please update the post with a link when the story goes up.

:kick:

[erinmblair]

7. This is GREAT! :D

Let the *Co go down like the Titanic! AWESOME! :D

[C_U_L8R]

8. Release the hounds !

and flush these crooks out of their spider holes

[CrazyOrangeCat]

9. Crazy, Daddy-o!!!

K&R

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[quiet.american]

10. WOOT - Karl Rove's porcine posterior under oath, finally! n/t

[liberal renegade]

128. would that be his fat ass?

[wryter2000]

11. Yesssssssssssssss!

Let the games begin!

[stimbox]

12. Heads will roll!

YES! The moment we have been waiting for what seems like forever.
:headbang: :applause: :woohoo:

[Seldona]

13. Oh to be in the Oval Office at this moment.

Shrub must be going out of what is left of his mind. US Attorneys may serve at the pleasure of the President, but subpoenas are served at the pleasure of CONGRESS.

[robinlynne]

50. love that post!

[thereismore]

83. seems like not much pleasure is left today for the resident. nt

[peace13]

93. Hope this doesn't clutter his mommy's beautiful mind! n/t

[Megahurtz]

103. >>>>

ROFL!!!:rofl:

[liberal renegade]

129. for the pleasure of the people, I might add....

[TankLV]

132. with an emphasis on the "pleasure" this brings us too long suffering Democrats...

[EVDebs]

14. Now the task at hand is ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

DUers, this may require a separate thread, but what are the appropriate questions you can think of the the committee hearings should be asking ?

Also, no 'in camera, closed session' bullshit.

[robinlynne]

51. They need to start talking about the prosecutor fired in Guam who was investigating

Abramoff years ago!

[snappyturtle]

88. OMG! you're right. I had long forgotten THAT one! Thanks. n/t

[EVDebs]

138. Yes ! The blind eye on that payola ... I'm starting to think Indian gaming

tribes near SD play into this w/ Lam. Look into Wackenhut/Cabazon dealings from long ago and see if that 'carried forward' into payola skim to intel/blackops/GOP $ machine. Interesting to see if they try a 'national security' defense !

[Botany]

15. Have fun Karl

[Auggie]

26. Holy crap! I love that picture. Where did you get it?

[Botany]

27. Da Google

Click on images.

[Seldona]

32. Great photoshop work.

They even have the man boobs hanging halfway down to his stomach.

[classysassy]

52. How long

will our gutless congress,refuse to impeach that tinhorn dictator?

[wordpix]

70. ahahaha, great photo ---time to go after the jugular, Congressional Dems!

[rodeodance]

16. Well, Jr------they (dems) choose Confrontation----whatcha gonna do?

[EVDebs]

19. * has spent all his 'political capital' and now there's no bullets in his

sixshooter.

[Kablooie]

17. I don't see why Bush is making it such a big deal.

Rove is going to say the exact same lies under oath as he would out of oath.

It will take Congress years, like with Libby, to prove he perjured himself.

[EVDebs]

20. Prove as in court or prove as in already public knowledge this admin is a bunch o'lyin' sacks ?

[Scarlett17]

63. My republican father called and woke me up this morning. . .

to say that he was wrong about this administration and I was right. I cannot remember ever hearing him say anything like that. The "base" is waking up and I am officially a grown-up.

:toast:
And thank you to my very own, Rep. Conyers.

[Treclo]

66. I'm wish I could start the day that way!!

It must have been a validating moment, yes? :):) I wish my folks would say that to me.

[wordpix]

71. Love to hear that. Am waiting for my bro & his wife to do same

[beltanefauve]

81. I'm so happy for you

Scarlett17! My family has "distanced" themselves by calling themselves "Centrists" but would probably still swear that * was a better choice than Gore or Kerry. It's amazing how much Mr. "Im-a-uniter-not-a-divider" has divided whole families in this country.

And I like this assurance to the other side of the aisle from your Rep Mr Conyers that they will not regret their vote.

[EVDebs]

84. The TRUTH will out ! Plus, you don't have to worry about 'blowback' ! nt

[orleans]

116. scarlett i'm very happy for you. n/t

[Vidar]

18. Thank you, Mr. Conyers.

[sweetladybug]

28. I agree with the subpoenas, but I worry about Democrats getting anthax again

Bush and his crime family are EVIL!

[sellitman]

21. The Wheels On The Bus Come OFF, OFF, OFF...

[benld74]

22. Why doesn't he say "Bring it on" NOW?

President Bush has said sworn testimony by his aides would breach executive privilege and vowed a legal fight if subpoenas are issued.
Like thats going to fly!

[Zambero]

46. He wants them to be able to lie with impunity

Personnel matters don't even fall within the scope of executive privilege to begin with. It's sort of like the old TV quiz show "Truth or Consequences". Only this time, BushCo wants Rove et al to be able to register "NO Truth with NO Consequences" and just walk away from their lies without a felony rap hanging over their heads. If the process for the firing of federal attorneys was handled properly as Bush implied, what's there to fear from telling the truth under oath? There's MUCH to fear, because the sacking of these individuals was 100% politcally motivated, and having the key players put in the position of having to explain and account for how decisions were made puts them in great peril. Either they own up to why they fired these individuals, or they lie under oath and risk going to prison. I say BRING IT ON!!

[EVDebs]

85. This bunch of self-servers forgot long ago they were suppose to be PUBLIC SERVANTS

not representatives of the uber-class and corporations !

[Auggie]

23. I don't see how they can squirm their way out of this one.

GO GET 'EM!

}(

[Peace Patriot]

24. "The issue is joined."--as Howard Baker said during the Senate Watergate Hearings.

I wish it had been joined on Cheney's secret energy meeting.
I wish it had been joined on the 9/11 investigation.
I wish it had been joined on the 100% pack of lies the Bushcons told about Iraq.
I wish it had been joined on torturing prisoners.
I wish it had been joined on indefinite detention without trial.
I wish it had been joined on no-bid military contracts for the vice president's company.
I wish it had been joined on domestic spying.
I wish it had been joined on executive "signing statements" defying the laws of Congress.
I wish it had been joined on outing the CIA's covert WMD counter-proliferation network.
I wish it had been joined on Bush Junta ties to Diebold and ES&S.
I wish it had been joined long before this.
But I'm glad that it is joined now. Do we have a Constitution any more? That is the question.

[bread_and_roses]

90. great post, Peace Patriot

I wish it too. But, at least, at last, something.

[the_sheep_look_up]

143. Republic congress majority was nothing more than a rubber stamp for this administration.

Wanna experience flashbacks? Watch C-Span 1 or 2 to hear the
same old crap.

[SusanaMontana41]

25. Hallelujah

Let the house of cards fall. And yes, thank you, Rep. Conyers.

[derby378]

29. At last, this is where the rubber meets the road

I can't wait.

:popcorn:

[aquart]

42. More like the IED meets the poorly designed Hummer.

[whistle]

30. Any comment from the shrub* on this latest volley by the committee?

[TechBear_Seattle]

31. I am just... wow

:wow:

I am not ashamed to admit it: I was wrong in assuming Congress would show its usual lack of spine. I deeply hope they stick to their guns and do not end up with giving in to the White House in some misguided "compromise"

[Justice Is Comin]

33. Guess again bush.

[Zorra]

34. *snarf*. "insisting that the firings were appropriate."

"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." GW Bu*h

[deepthought42]

35. Muahahaaaaaaa!!!! I'm suddenly in the mood for...

:popcorn:


:evilgrin: OH yes...this is getting good.

[edbermac]

36. I feel like dancing!

[robinlynne]

56. you made me laugh so hard I spit coffee on my keyboard!

[nevergiveup]

37. No one will testify under oath

until this is settled, probably in the SCOTUS. I don't feel very good about our chances there but the Democrats for once are taking a united stand.

[robinlynne]

57. I'm a little worried too. especially about the supreme.

[wordpix]

73. a reporter from Cap Hill today said the courts don't really want to be involved in this; however,

if the courts are manned by bushie judges, I'm sure they will want to adjudicate. OTOH, I heard a report that if it goes to court, it goes to one in DC; not exactly a bastion of Bush-friendly types likely to be on a jury there.

The Supremes had better watch their steps if this comes to them b/c they can be impeached, too. First up: Scalia.

[Lord Balto]

112. A Little Known Fact

According to the constitution, the Congress has oversight responsibility for the Supreme Court. They can literally pass a law telling the court to get in line.

[tofurkey]

145. Then why didn't they invoke that power

when SCOTUS was robbing Gore of his presidency?

[Straight Shooter]

38. Calling out the Jack of Spades in the bush house of cards.

Thank you, House Judiciary Committee, and here's to you John Conyers: :toast:

[Tom Joad]

39. WITHOUT OBJECTION! No republican came to bushies defense.

[Jackpine Radical]

43. Combine that with the Senate 92-4 vote

to limit Gonzo's USA appointment powers under the PATRIOT Act, & you begin to sense that the Puggies are in real disarray over this one.

[dansolo]

48. I suspect that many Republicans aren't too fond of Rove

Rove is the type of person who does as much, if not more, research on his allies than on his enemies. There must be some way that he is able to keep everyone in line for as long as he has managed. I would expect that there are quite a few Republicans who would love to be free of this particular albatross.

[PegDAC]

104. Actually, it was 94-2.

Hagel and Bond were the only two no votes.

[Jackpine Radical]

124. Duh. Thanks.

[robinlynne]

58. Thta's because it wasn't in the senate where bushbot specter hides....

[endarkenment]

62. Congress defends its power.

About the only thing they can agree on.

[JoFerret]

134. KEY point

Hurray for shreds of decency wherever they may be found.

[CountAllVotes]

40. well it is about time!

:bounce: :D :bounce:

:kick: & recommend!

[npincus]

41. ...

[President Kerry]

123. Thanks for this great picture of Karl Rove

he never looked better. As for Congress, thank you for showing some spine, and DO NOT RELENT until the truth comes out! Make those thugs sweat.

[Janice325]

47. GOOD!!!

I want to see those motherfuckers live, under oath, in front of cameras!! (even though I'm not sure that will happen).
If they refuse the subpoenas, anyone have any idea what might happen then???

[mike_c]

55. presumably, the refusal will come in the form of a judicial stay of execution....

They'll be seeking a federal judge to stay the subpoenas immediately. Absent such a judicial move, refusal would be a crime, IIRC. As in, send the Federal Marshalls with arrest warrants.

[robinlynne]

59. can they do that? send marshalls with arrest warrants? that would be so BEAUTIFUL!

[mike_c]

65. if no judge squashes the subpoenas, sure...

...Conyers could request a federal warrant. It won't come to that, however-- remember that the federal judges in DC are presidential appointees. They'll get their stay, then the issue will begin working its way through the courts. It WILL go to SCOTUS.

[wordpix]

75. what a beautiful thought, marshals arriving at Rover's door to put him in handcuffs

[Janice325]

94. Thanks for the reply. I was hoping these assholes won't get off

scott free.
I'd love to see dumbfuck Shrub someday hauled out by "Federal Marshalls with arrest warrants," covered with live cameras by the MSM.
Here's hopin'!

[mike_c]

97. nah, it'll never happen to dubya, but Rove et al are not immune....

eom

[PegDAC]

109. Contempt of Congress. n/t

[PittPoliSci]

49. great news!

[deutsey]

53. Let's all pray, send out good vibes, rub your lucky amulets, etc.,

and hope this darkness will soon be exposed in the light.

[bonito]

54. Yahoo!!!

:bounce:

[Le Taz Hot]

60. Good news, however,

I'm worried. If the Bush administration refuses to allow Rove et al. to testify, what then? Appeal to the "Justice" Department? Our illustrious Supreme Court? I think we'll know the outcome of any ruling there. What IS the next step? Anyone know?

[MGKrebs]

67. Seeing as how it was unanimous, I would think

that some 'Pubs would start making noises about how he needs to comply or else.

[endarkenment]

61. Bluff called. Your turn Dumbass.

What's it going to be? Fold? Raise? All in?

[nealmhughes]

64. God speed the plough!

A constitutional crisis is precisely what this country needs to get our attention foced back upon the Enlightenment philosophy upon which the founders formed our Constitution.

[Akoto]

68. Someone please inform me ...

Now that the subcommittee has approved this move, is it a done deal? The subpoenas will be sent? Or must this decision also filter through (and be approved by) other bodies before it becomes official? That's excluding whatever * may try to stop it, I mean.

[catgirl]

76. The Senate is holding a vote tomorrow

this will lend some weight to subpoena them.

[northzax]

86. just remember who has to serve the subpoenas...

you got it, the USA for the District of Columbia. Appointed in November of last year.

he is also responsible for prosecuting any contempt of congress charges, by the way.

[MGKrebs]

87. Wow. That is interesting.

Tailor made for a special counsel.

[AllyCat]

69. Why is the public's right to know and free press (if it exists)

a "media spectacle"?

[maddezmom]

72. AFP's headline: Congress defies Bush over purged prosecutors :D

Congress defies Bush over purged prosecutors 24 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (AFP) - A US Congress panel defied President George W. Bush Wednesday by authorizing subpoenas of White House officials to quiz them in a mushrooming controversy over the sackings of eight prosecutors.

The move came one day after Bush stridently said he would resist subpoenas, saying White House staff members would only be interviewed by small groups of legislators and not under oath.

Those officials include former White House counsel Harriet Miers and longtime Bush aide and political strategist Karl Rove.

Democratic Representative Linda Sanchez (news, bio, voting record), chairwoman of the House subcommittee with jurisdiction for approving the subpoenas, said her committee's action Wednesday "will assist our efforts to secure testimony from White House and Department of Justice officials who appear to have played central roles in the US attorney terminations."

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070321/pl_afp/uscongressjustice_070321163633

[Thor_MN]

119. that Headline is Bassackwards should be: Bush defies Congress

[femmedem]

74. Using my 1000th post to recommend this thread.

I was saving myself for impeachment, but hey, carpe diem, gather ye rosebuds and all that. :)

:bounce:
:bounce:
:bounce:

[peace13]

95. Congrats on the 1000!

What great timing I would say! Peace, Kim

[femmedem]

111. I aim for quantity, not quality.

I think I posted about 800 times about my cats. :blush:

But thanks! :hi:

[peace13]

114. Ya gotta laugh.

It took me a year to get to 100. I made a post to be funny but some didn't see the humor...fo figure?

[femmedem]

137. It took me a long time to get to 100, too.

Then I found...The Lounge :rofl:

[Tekla West]

78. About time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After forcing all that stuff against Clinton, they don't have a leg to stand on. Hung on their own petard.

[whistle]

82. Tony Blow-job is perpetuating the cover-up in his news conference

[TrogL]

89. Oh, c'mon people; get out the popcorn

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[semillama]

91. Bush's reaction:

[Cant trust em]

92. The magic word

Who doesn't like hearing the word subpoena? Let's get to the bottom of this.

[peace13]

96. Truth is one thing the *ush people have trouble with!

If they don't 'visit' under oath it will be a phenomenal waste of time! Tony is so full of *%#t to say that everyone knows that you can't lie to Congress. Give me a break! I'm done listening to him! Peace, Kim

[ryanmuegge]

98. More opportunistic political theater. Yawn.

This probably won't amount to anything, like usual. It'll be like the Rice confirmation hearings. I can visualize it now:

Barrack Obama: So, Karl, you play piano, too, eh? I heard your playing the other night, it was wonderful.

Rove: Yeah, I've been taking lessons since I was eight years old.


Say, where were all of these Republicans that voted to repeal the particular portion of the Patriot Act when Bush's poll numbers were higher and the renewal of the law was being debated? I love how all of these Republican clowns are now coming out of the woodwork about this (what was the vote 98-2?). It's a harmless issue that public opinion is solidly in line with, I guess. This is in contrast with increasing the minimum wage or getting rid of some of those goddamn tax cuts for rich people, which no amount of public opinion preponderance in the world will cause them to go against. In other words, this whole issue is pointless. This is no victory for us on the left; it's just a pointless, safe issue for Republicans to jump on board with while continuing their war against the economic majority.

[Bacchus39]

110. I see nothing coming from this as well

n/t

[diamidue]

140. I'm afraid you are right..

This appears to be nothing more than a "threat" to issue subpoenas.

"The Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled a vote Thursday on its own set of subpoenas, with Democrats complaining that the threat of force is the only way to get a straight answer from the White House".

and this:

"The House subcommittee Wednesday approved, but has not issued, subpoenas for Rove, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers, their deputies and Kyle Sampson, Gonzales’ chief of staff, who resigned over the uproar last week".

[Rainscents]

99. GREAT NEWS!!!

And GREAT DAY for American people!!!

[Megahurtz]

102. LOL!!! Fuckin' Bloody Unreal!

:spray:

[Warpy]

105. House panel OKs subpoenas of Bush aides

Source: NBC News and news services

WASHINGTON - A House panel on Wednesday approved subpoenas for President Bush’s political adviser, Karl Rove and other top White House aides, setting up a constitutional showdown over the firings of eight federal prosecutors.

By voice vote, the House Judiciary subcommittee on commercial and administrative law decided to compel the president’s top aides to testify publicly and under oath about their roles in the firings.

The White House has refused to budge in the controversy, standing by embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and insisting that the firings were appropriate. White House spokesman Tony Snow said that in offering aides to talk to the committees privately, Bush had sought to avoid the “media spectacle” that would result from public hearings with Rove and others at the witness table.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17717399/

---

:popcorn:

[shanti]

106. can i share that popcorn?

it's gonna get good real fast!

[CountAllVotes]

107. gee whiz what next I wonder?

Better than Gone With the Wind ...

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

:dem: :kick:

[redirish28]

108. Did Conyers sign them yet? That's the big question. He has to sign them before they are used.

[kitty1]

115. Time for a major international incident to sidetrack....n/t

[ProudDad]

121. Yoo Hoo

It's the Saturday Night Massacre all over again...

AND I'M LOVIN' IT!!!!!


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[orpupilofnature57]

122. The Quintessential Misanthrope, a Symbol of Opportunistic disease

Let him twist in the wind!! Traitor!!!

[susanna]

131. Excellent news! n/t

[Name removed]

133. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[focusfan]

136. i hope the truth comes out

and this administration is looking at jail time.i hope throw
the book at him.

[kestrel91316]

141. Well it's about time. We need to pin these folks to the wall!

[Name removed]

146. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.