Bush says Congress can not talk to them:
President Bush invoked executive privilege Monday to deny requests by Congress for testimony from two former aides about the firings of federal prosecutors.
The White House, however, did offer again to make former counsel Harriet Miers and one-time political director Sara Taylor available for private, off-the-record interviews.
In a letter to the heads of the House and Senate Judiciary panels, White House counsel Fred Fielding insisted that Bush was acting in good faith and refused lawmakers’ demand that the president explain the basis for invoking the privilege.
“You may be assured that the president’s assertion here comports with prior practices in similar contexts, and that it has been appropriately documented,” the letter said.
I guess my only question is whether or not Bush can keep them from testifying if they want to testify. In other words- if they want to testify, can Bush invoke executive privilege and KEEP them from testifying? Or does this only work when they do not want to testify?
*** Update ***
Tim, via AOL IM, informs me that this question has already been asked by Josh Marshall and Atrios.
This means two things:
1.) My original ideas are not very original.
2.) My transformation from good red-blooded American Republican to pink0-Communist “I’m WITH THE TERRARISTS” Atrios lover is complete.
zmulls
That would be an interesting confrontational moment. Suppose someone truly *wanted* to testify and was no longer working for the government, and Bush declared they were not permitted to; but the witness’ lawyer told him/her that Bush had no right to do so.
The witness shows up at the Capitol and…is arrested? Is tossed in jail by a US Attorney? Is physically restrained by Fred Fielding?
Hmmm…
Dreggas
Taylor claims she wants to testify and would testify but she likes her BFF Bush too much.
The Pirate
Another day, another crime against the republic…
Jay C
1.) My original ideas are not very original.
2.) My transformation from good red-blooded American Republican to pink0-Communist “I’m WITH THE TERRARISTS” Atrios lover is complete.
1) Let’s just file this under “Great Minds Think Alike” – after all: this just proves that you have other things to do than obsessively blogpost (you DO, don’t you, John?)
2) Welcome tovarichsh! The Peoples’ Popular Front of the Population embraces you! (In a purely fraternal way, of course!!)
Punchy
John’s just a big supporter of the big, hairy, smelly The War Against Terror.
Otherwise known as Bush.
Heh.
uh_clem
Were Meiers and Taylor still working for the administration, they could presumably be fired for giving testimony.
But they’re not. So Bush’s request for them not to do so is just that: a request. Now, they’re probably going to grant him his request and refuse to testify, but it’s unclear at this point whether they can get away with refusing.
We’ll see. But Bush’s has no real power over them beyond persuasion.
Jake
In Taylor’s case Bush could order Blackwater goons to kidnap her. It would be a “Shut Up Someone Who Knows Too Much/Look! A Blonde Woman in Danger! Distract-o-Thon” 2-fer.
Fine, show us.
And speaking of showing work, has there been anything about Libby’s probation? Filings were due today. All I can find is this unsolicited letter from Fielding to Fitzgerald, in which he appears to be a bit miffed because no one asked the White House what it thought.
Psycheout
Why not just accept this generous offer? Because this isn’t about getting to the truth, it’s about trying to publicly embarrass the President in a time of war in time for the 2008 election.
Sad, isn’t it? It’s all politics.
Zifnab
I’m sure they wouldn’t go against the Family. I mean, bad things happen to people who talk too much. Harriet Miers is getting on in years. It would be terrible if she took a bad fall. And Sarah Taylor has such a pretty face, it would be a shame if she ran into Dick Cheney during hunting season.
uh_clem
Shorter Bush administration:
Sure, Meiers and Taylor can talk to you. But only if you’ll allow them to lie. This business of having them under oath and writing things down gets in the way of them telling the story we want them to tell.
But as long as there are no consequences for lying, sure, ask away.
empty
Uh John, for a very long time the four blogs I visited were BJ, Eschaton, TPM, and Dennis the Peasant. For what its worth.
RONALD L. WALDRON
WHAT THE POLLS SHOW :
The polls on supporting the atrocities of
George Bush / Dick Cheney / Aipac & Israel’s
WAR , shows that only 28% of American people
support any of the foreign or domestic policies
of this administration.
80% of that 28% have less then a seventh grade
education, listen to talk radio, don’t comprehend
if they can read & write, live in a double wide
south of the Mason/Dixon line, and believes
any thing a preacher tells them about RAPTURE,
and the end of the world is coming.
The other 20% have a high school education in
auto mechanics and wood shop, believe in prayer
in school, even though they never pray except in
fox holes or prison, but believe what propaganda
they hear on Sunday mornings.
Thankfully 72% of Americans can read, write, and
understand we need change from trusting the
hypocrisy of Political & religious leaders of today,
that are in reality embedded in CORRUPTION
with organized crime. Bought out by special interest
and investments in Corporation greed.
2008 elections will prove interesting. Will the
polls that show Americans concern actually
bear it out. OR will the electronic voting
machines be just another FIX and Fraud
election. As HAD been the Elections of 2000
& 2004.
Florida in 2000—Ohio in 2004. Looks like
they are setting up Missouri for 2008..
WB Reeves
Welcome to the dark side John. Glad to see you have a sense of humor about it.
aliceandbob
Question: Can Bush keep witnesses from testifying?
Answer: Kind of, yeah.