Just issue the goddamn subpoenas, Mr. Conyers.

[cali]

Same to you Mr. Leahy. I know and you know- hell, everyone knows that bargaining with this administration over this is absurd. They will not capitulate and let Rove testify under oath. Not in public. Not in private. Not under the sea or on the moon.

Don't bother saying stuff like this:
<snip>
House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, said subpoena authority is ``merely a backup'' while Congress negotiates with the administration. ``We are not going to move in a reckless or angry or temperamental way at all,'' he said.
<snip>

Same to you, Mr. Schumer:

<snip>
Senator Charles E. Schumer, the New York Democrat leading the Senate Judiciary Committee's inquiry, signaled that lawmakers may accept a deal with Bush that would allow closed-door testimony as long as it's transcribed and under oath.

``We, hopefully, can work out a compromise,'' Schumer said in an interview. ``I can understand why he wouldn't want it in public even though there are good arguments why it should be in public. There are no good arguments not to have an oath and a transcript.''

<snip>

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a2A1E9x4XBtw&refer=home

Stop playing these coy little games to demostrate to the Press and the American people how reasonable you are, and how you really aren't going on a witch hunt.


Just issue the goddamn subpoenas.

Just do it.

[Janice325]

1. I agree!

[Virginia Dare]

2. I think they will, they're just toying with them a bit...

and letting the info drip, drip, drip. I think they've really got the goods on them this time. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[Cerridwen]

3. I don't mind the "sound bites" as long as their staff is putting

together the paperwork and processing the subpoenas as they are in front of the cameras. A little distraction while in action is a good thing.

:evilgrin:

[Raven]

4. THEY HAVE TO NEGOTIATE!

The law on EP requires it. The court will not enforce the subpoenas unless both branches have negotiated in good faith and failed to reach a compromise. Believe me, Conyers and Leahy are doing just what they need to do at this point.

[William769]

5. Agreed.

[cali]

6. OK, that changes everything

I didn't realize that. Can you provide me with some links about this? Because it seems like bush was ruling out any negotiation last night, and it sounds like Leahy was doing the same today.

[onenote]

10. here's one mention

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/secrecy/RL30319.pdf

bottom of page CRS-1, top of page CRS-2 mentions the courts' preference for situations where there has been a good faith attempt to resolve the dispute.

[cali]

13. Thanks, onenote and Raven for the

education on this subject!

[Raven]

12. Cali, see my post just below. Onenote had the cite

to a really good analysis of EP. I just posted in GD about it.

[pampango]

7. Good to know. n/t

[onenote]

8. Cali - I usually am on the same page as you

but I have to disagree on this one. First, if this ends up in court, precedent indicates that case against the invocation of executive privilege is stronger if attempts are made to work out a compromise...in short, Conyers et al have to give the administration enough rope to hang themselves. Second, the case against the exercise of executive privilege is not a slam dunk case and I think that Conyers et al would rather get something than nothing. Of course, from my perspective (and I suspect yours), getting nothing wouldn't really be getting nothing because the political fallout from resisting a subpoena and forcing this through the courts could/should land mostly on chimpy.

Its a chess game on multiple levels. I think (and hope) that taking it one step at a time is probably the best strategy.

[Raven]

11. Onenote!!! You're the one who posted the cite to a very good

publication by the Congressional research service. Could you post that link again. I had it and lost it but did download the publication and it is excellend. I just posted about it on GD so we can all go to school on this stuff.

[0007]

9. They will!!

But for the moment they are giving them a fair chance to buy extra depends and waiting for their next offer.