Talks Could Clear Way for Congressional Testimony by Rove

[Hissyspit]

Source: Washington Post

Talks Could Clear Way for Congressional Testimony by Rove

By Carrie Johnson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 14, 2009; Page A05
White House lawyers and representatives for former president George W. Bush are engaged in discussions that could clear a path for congressional testimony by onetime Bush aide Karl Rove, three sources familiar with the talks said yesterday.

Word of the negotiations came on the same day that House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) issued Rove a fresh subpoena regarding his role in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys in 2006, allegedly for political reasons. Rove has deflected congressional demands for information about the dismissals by citing executive privilege and instructions from Bush. But Democrats say President Obama's view of the matter may open the door for Rove's eventual appearance on Capitol Hill.

"I believe that continued defiance of the subpoena is even less tenable in light of the fact that Mr. Rove is now the former adviser to a former president," Conyers wrote yesterday in a letter to Rove's attorney, Robert D. Luskin. Luskin replied that he and Rove are awaiting advice from White House counsel Gregory B. Craig about whether Obama would back the executive privilege assertion by his predecessor. "The president is very sympathetic to those who want to find out what happened," Craig said in a statement yesterday. "But he is also mindful as president of the United States not to do anything that would undermine or weaken the institution of the presidency. So, for that reason, he is urging both sides of this to settle."

A clue about the next phase of the dispute will emerge next week, when the Justice Department is scheduled to file legal briefs in a federal court case in the District. The House of Representatives has sued for information about the prosecutor firings from former Bush White House counsel Harriet E. Miers and former chief of staff Joshua B. Bolten. The issue is heating up even as a criminal investigation into the firings accelerates. Nora R. Dannehy -- a career prosecutor from Connecticut named to examine whether laws on false statements, obstruction of justice or other matters were violated surrounding the dismissals -- began to interview key witnesses Thursday.

Read more: http://webmail.earthlink.net/wam/index.jsp?x=-623375773

[aquart]

1. I don't want talks. I want leg irons.

I've wanted them for sooooooo long.

[justaregularperson]

4. Looks to me like our system is lost... Everything is compromise our values and constitution

Even from Dems.....

[radfringe]

11. you said it - time for talking is long past - time for handcuffing

bring on the frog marching band

[TacticalPeek]

2. "So, for that reason, he is urging both sides of this to settle."

Fuck that shit.

[Hissyspit]

3. Amazing, isn't it?

[byeya]

5. Throw his ass in jail and then

let him try and talk his way out.
What's it going to take to get him to abide by the law and for the Democrats to enforce the law? This has become such a joke that the late George Carlin would stand aside in awe."Money and corruption are ruining the land..." The Kinks

[jody]

6. Obama should send U. S. marshals for Rove, they are DOJ employees. n/t

[Hissyspit]

7. .

[babylonsister]

8. If nothing is done, the institution of prez will be further weakened and

undermined. Doing something will strengthen it.

And talk is cheap. :grr:

[hayu_lol]

9. Rove and Meirs have both ignored previous summons from...

the Congress to testify(under oath). They will continue this charade on into the next century if they are allowed to.

Answer is quite simple: Congress can send out the Marshalls to pick Rove and Meirs up, place them in a detention cell to await their decisions to either testify or rot in the cell forever.

Nothing short of this action will be worthy of notice.

[rurallib]

18. or in other words - THE RULE OF LAW

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

10. the little pig

would perjure himself to avoid implicating his boss.
These Hearings will go nowhere.

Get Cheney on the Stand with Bush in his lap, like the 9/11 commission, only this time under oath.

Give them their Trial.

[rateyes]

12. Why compromise with the devil when we hold all the cards??

[truth2power]

13. "...a fresh subpoena..."

:rofl: :rofl: How many subpoenas is that now?

What a joke!

[kmac3]

14. This is pure hogwash . . . . .

:wtf:
Is this a signal that any and every illegal thing Bush constructed during his "Rein" are going to stay in effect permanently? Whoa ..... better think twice on that one. Bush is gone, let's use our DOJ in the means it was originated and bring those brekaing the law to justice. We asked for a fresh start of new ideas and honest government let's demonstrate that by totally exiting the Bush regime!

[salguine]

15. "But he is also mindful as president of the United States not to do anything that would undermine or

weaken the institution of the presidency." So the presidency is more important than the rule of law, now, is that it?

You know what? I'm gonna say it. Fuck Obama. I'm done with him. And shame on me for actually believing he might turn out do be any different from all the others.

[acmavm]

16. So we play Let's Make a Deal with criminals now? "Give me your testimony

about the way you gamed our political system and brought our country down to the level of a third world dictatorship or we'll really do something bad to you, like call you names."

[paparush]

17. US Marshals need to clear the way...

[Titonwan]

19. "Word of the negotiations..."

Is it just me, or is anyone else having a big ass problem with that? NEGOTIATIONS? WTF?
Works for me! When I rob that bank, I'll be sure to get me a lawyer beforehand and
he can negotiate whether I'll come to court or not. I'll tell my attorney that I'd prefer NOT
to as I'm very busy buying stuff on E-Bay and can't be bothered. This is a WONDERFUL new law!

[Wizard777]

20. Why in the hell would Congress think they have to do this on Roves terms?

Why would Congress act like they are subordnant to a lowly political advisor? They walk on egg shells like they're afraid Rove fire everylast one of them. Even the peanut guy showed up. He refused to testify. But at least he showed up.

[msongs]

21. because Conyers is a blow hard fraud who issues toothless subpoenas? nt

[Wizard777]

24. Conyers better put his dentures in before Rove ends up owning his ass on an abuse of process suit.

He's literally getting to the point where he needs to shit or get off the pot before that toilet snake Rove eats his ass alive.

[The abyss]

22. I think Peace Patriot said it best…

On this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3715513#3716541

[creeksneakers2]

23. Weaken the institution of the presidency?

The executive branch must be held to answer questions from Congress. Otherwise it becomes like a dictatorship.

[CanonRay]

25. Talks? We don't need not stinking talks.

Get your ass in there or go to jail. What the f... are we doing here?

[mitchum]

26. The only thing I want to hear from Rove is "I'm dying and it hurts a lot"