Snow: Congress has no oversight power, can't supoena

[The Count]

Constitutional scholar Tony Snow on ABC this morning:

The executive branch is under no compulsion to testify to Congress, because Congress in fact doesn't have oversight ability. So what we’ve said is we’re going to reach out to you – we’ll give you every communication between the White House, the Justice Department, the Congress, anybody on the outside, any kind of communication that would indicate any kind of activity outside, and at the same time, we’ll make available to you any of the officiels you want to talk to …knowing full well that anything they said is still subject to legal scrutiny, and the members of Congress know that.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002848.php

[Kelly Rupert]

1. And so the trains keep rollin' on,

straight to the Supreme Court.

[Iwasthere]

2. Bullshit!

They are NOT going to squirm out of this! Act quickly Leahy. IMO that is the only way to handle them this time. For six years now they have managed to avert their crimes, laughing at you behind closed doors.

[Eric J in MN]

3. The power to impeach implies the power to investigate...

...things which can theoretically lead to impeachment, of George W. Bush, Alberto Gonzales, etc.

[Windy]

4. Its called co-equal branches of government Mr. Snow

Congress does have oversight authority. This is not a dictatorship. Someone send that man a copy of the constitution!

[ktowntennesseedem]

25. Sending him a copy wouldn't do any good,

He'd just wipe his ass with it!

[librechik]

5. the election meant something, Tony

it means that the days of informal interviews with no transcripts and Cheney in the room watching the proceedings with his shotgun cocked are over. We're back to actually following the Constitution instead of spitting on it.

Get Over it!

[ORDagnabbit]

6. "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." --Thomas Jefferson his motto

[ORDagnabbit]

7. because I'm feeling all jeffersonian....

"The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed." --Thomas Jefferson:

[Straight Shooter]

24. More TJ, because he was so prescient

Thomas Jefferson, Notes on The State of Virginia, #19, 1781: Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.

Thomas Jefferson, taken from a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, September 23, 1800: I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

[Roland99]

8. Checks and Balances, asshat! Checks and Balances!

We're not a dictatortotship! We're not even a Unitary Executive!

[fooj]

9. F*cking loser.

Hey Tony...

[CrazyOrangeCat]

14. oh god . . .

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[fooj]

16. Ya like that?

:spray:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

20. yes!

never cross a woman in an apron.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

33. Bahahaha!!

That's priceless fooj!! :rofl:

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

[FatDave]

10. Congress doesn't have oversight ability?

How fucking dare he??!!

[CrazyOrangeCat]

17. What fucking planet are these fools on???

:wow:

[Morgana LaFey]

28. That was exactly my reaction when I read the topic subject line

Next he'll be trying to tell us that CONGRESS serves at the pleasure of the President.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

29. totally bizarre . . . . n/t

[Tempest]

11. Every communication, Tony?

Does that include the 18 days of missing emails the administration failed to turn over on Friday?

[Toots]

27. Only dealing with the "outside"

Anything within the Administration is not available... That is their contention. They are a Power of their own and untouchable by any living beings......They are afterall "Unitary Executive"

[Tempest]

12. Tony Snow in 1998

Tony Snow in 1998

"Most of us want no part of a president who is cynical enough to use the majesty of his office to evade the one thing he is sworn to uphold -- the rule of law."


That's some about face.

[Iwasthere]

15. OMG!

Let's get that quote everywhere! Tony, you're cooked!

[va4wilderness]

13. Bush just wants to be impeached...

He (thru his mouthpiece Tony Snow-job) is just screaming out, "Impeach me, impeach me, impeach me."

Well, the Democrats have been reluctant to take such a step, but sooner or later, they'll just have to oblige.

Bush wants it bad.

[sakabatou]

18. ::headdesk::

Congress was meant to have oversight over the executive branch. That's one of it's main jobs. To say that it doesn't have this power is just plain stupid!

[rosesaylavee]

19. .

[Ikonoklast]

21. Hey, Tony, The Bobs want to talk to you!

[2008]

22. k&r for Baghdad Tony image (nt)

[tanyev]

23. That photoshop is brilliant!

:rofl:

[rasputin1952]

26. From my pocket Constitution...

Article I; Section 2:

<snip>

(last paragraph)

"The House of Representatives shall chuse (sic)their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power Impeachment."

This last sentence sets up investagitive powers by being able to draw up Aticles of Impeachment. One must have a reason to impeach, and then try an official.

Article I; Section 8:

<snip>

"To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Govermnent of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.:

Well this sounds pretty cut and dried to me.

Article II; Section 3:

<snip>

"...he, (the president), shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all of the Officers in the United States."



There is a reason why the Founders put the Legislative Branch as Article I, especially the House as the focal point: This is where early citizens made a difference in their Congress. Senators, later were elected by direct vote, and the Executive Branch was relegated to Article II. There was to be no amassing of power by an elite element of society. Ever since George Washington, there has been static between Legislative and Executive positions. Not until relatively recently, (beginning w/Reagan), did the Legislative Branch essentially subjugate themselves under the Executive. Without the Legislative Branch taking control of Laws and Enforcement of those Laws, it becomes irrelevant to the Executive. Power checks power, that is what the Constitution is all about.

No one can have their Rights and Liberties "taken" from them, they must be given up by those that have such Rights and Liberties. Thisis why we have been told to be vigilant and to be wary of those within our borders, more so than those outside.

[texpatriot2004]

30. Thank for the Quote from the US Constitution nm

[quiet.american]

31. Excellent photoshop! - lol, we've seen Baghdad Bob, now meet "Tikrit Tony." n.t

[Pharaoh]

32. Time for A military Coup

These guys are fucking nuts!

[tavalon]

34. Bite me, snowjob!