Here is why the Bush White House is scared to death of subpoenoes....

[Blackhatjack]

It goes much further than these eight(8) US Attorneys that were fired.

Take your pick, and you find that use of the Dept of Justice for political purposes has been pervasive:

* Pressure placed on US Attorneys to 'go easy' and to 'sabotage' the Government's case against the tobacco companies.

* Intervention to prevent US House Representative Charles Taylor from being questioned regarding a 'loan fraud case involving a bank he owns.'

* Intervention to head off an investigation of Jack Abramoff in Guam by firing the US Attorney.

And the list goes on and on.....

Congress in its role of performing oversight of the Executive Branch could get into any of these scandals, and the White House knows it.

[lonestarnot]

1. But would they not be more limited in scope to the matters at hand?

[napi21]

3. Right now I don't believe they are limited, but you cam BET

IF there is an arrangement to finally have them testify, many limitations will be set and agreed to.

[Blackhatjack]

4. Answer: NO, unless Congress agrees in advance to limit their questions at that particular hearing

But you have to remember if Congress proceeded under some kind of limitation at that hearing, then they could recall that witness later(also under subpoena) without any kind of limitations.

We do not let criminal activity go unpunished because the witness agrees to withhold evidence at a hearing which is directed at another matter.

Congress' power in this regard is unlimited.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. BTW, I wonder what the hold-up is on the Rep. from Louisiana

Are they going to just let him keep hanging out there in the wind without any conclusion? I don't know whether he did something or not, but it sure is taking an awfully long time for the Justice Dept. to advance it.

Pisses me off that Cons will throw his name out there when they're losing an argument! :grr:

[Horse with no Name]

6. That's why

They cannot make political hay out of a not guilty verdict.
BTW, when is Tom Delay's trial?:eyes:

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. I was wondering the same thing now that he's making the book circuit!

It's further attempts to manipulate a jury pool that he's just a really nice guy who was smeared by those evil Democrat terrorists who are a threat to the nation and want to destroy our way of life. :puke:

[Horse with no Name]

11. Sad thing is

It will play in Texas.:(

[notadmblnd]

23. I think he said over the weekend that he had been cleared of all charges

I think it was on MSNBC.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. They're USING him/his name. They'll keep him around to use as long as they're

under the microscope. That's my guess.

[Norquist Nemesis]

18. There's another possible explanation

primarily that his 'associations' that are under investigation have led toward people that the Bushies/GOP have dealings with. Maybe even a few no-bid contracts signed-off by the VP! (no sources, just spec and rumor from my tfh)

And secondarily, the added bonus as you've described.

[The Count]

5. How about the ol' energy commission plans to divide Iraq oil fields in 2001?

(before 9.11, that is)

[glitch]

7. It's been odd (to say the least) that election fraud hasn't drawn more attention

from USAs. Plenty of reasons to start investigations.

[earthboundmisfit]

8. Only one word for this, and it's

OB·STRUC·TION –noun 1. something that obstructs, blocks, or closes up with an obstacle or obstacles; obstacle or hindrance: obstructions to navigation.
2. an act or instance of obstructing.
3. the state of being obstructed.
4. the delaying or preventing of business before a deliberative body, esp. a legislative group, by parliamentary contrivances.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

10. As I understand the "talking heads", bush is afraid that a subpoena

would endanger a president's right to have candid conversations with his staff. Ok, I can understand that. But can't they be subpoenaed to answer questions about exchanges and business that took place that did not involve personal conversations with the president?

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. According to Tony Snow the psycho-in-chief had NO CONVERSATIONS WITH ANYONE about the firing of the

U.S. attorneys. IF he didn't have any conversations with anyone about the firings then why not let them testify because, after all, none of it involves HIM....which is who the repukes SAY they are protecting with this "Excecutice Priviledge" CRAP. If he's not involved, what are they protecting? It's not like Congress is going to ask about top secret, National Security matters when talking about these firings.

[Rob H.]

12. You really wanna get mad about Abramoff, just read

Al Franken's The Truth, with Jokes. The guy's a complete bastard (Tom DeLay, too, but everyone knows that).

A Republican lobbyist named Jack Abramoff went into Saipan and helped it stay exempt from U.S. labor and immigration law while allowing them to make garments that say 'Made in USA', while bringing women from China, locking them up in barracks and forcing them to get abortions. Abramoff is friends with Tom DeLay, and DeLay promised not to let legislation get to the House floor that would put them under our labor laws. DeLay killed it even after it passed in the Senate in legislation by fellow Republican Murkowski of Alaska… So Delay's the guy who closed down Congress over Schiavo and called an emergency midnight session for that, but it was fine with him that they were aborting babies (in Saipan). And he knows that that's part of the problem over there.

[OneBlueSky]

13. it's because they're all guilty as sin . . . thieves, war criminals, you name it . . .

once they start getting the lead BushCoers on the stand and they start making deals to save their own asses, it's all over for them . . . and a lot of them will be going to prison . . .

[bobthedrummer]

22. KICK.

[Blackhatjack]

14. If you are a career Repub on the Hill today, you are facing a real dilemma....

You have seen this scenario play out with Nixon in the past, and you have an idea what is coming.

If you put too much space between yourself and the Bush White House, there is still enough power there that if it is directed at you for not being loyal it can do great damage.

If you speak out in favor of the Bush White House and adopt their talking points you can envision tv political ads being run at you next reelection which spotlight your affirmative support for a corrupt Administration.

If you remain silent, you may get both barrels for knowing too much and failing to do anything.

Career Republicans are interested in their pensions and benefits, and their continued employment.

Must be a difficult time to be a Republican on the Hill today... whether to be a statesman and stand for what is right, or be a political hack and protect criminals and their wrongdoing. Not a tough choice for the average joe, but then nothing about them is average....

[formercia]

17. You're either with us or against us.

time to get off the fence.

[Norquist Nemesis]

19. There's one thing Bush has that Nixon didn't though

An extremely loyal and intricate network managed by Rove. At this point, short of murder at 1600 Pennsylania Avenue committed by Rove with video would be required before the GOP Leadership stops twisting arms.

[bobthedrummer]

20. Then there's Rep. Waxman's House Oversight Committee's

list of Jack Abramoff's White House Contacts: Karl Rove, Susan Bonzon Ralston, Barry Jackson, Ken Mehlman, Ruben Barrales and Jennifer Farley-plus some possible others.
http://oversight.house.gov/abramoff/index2.asp

[Marr]

21. Just wait until we have concrete proof that they were spying on Kerry's campaign.

[bobthedrummer]

24. A Tony Snow kick