what comes around goes around....
...good morning! would you like a nice constitutional crises to go with that cup of coffee?
Senate votes to authorize subpoenas for top Bush aides
[usa today, free]
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary committee voted today to authorize subpoenas of top aides to President Bush in a growing showdown between Congress and the White House over the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys.
The vote follows a similar move on Wednesday by a House panel.
The committee, in a voice vote, authorizes Chairman Patrick Leahy, of Vermont, to issue subpoenas at his discretion. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, requested that his vote be recorded as "aye."
The Senate committee, and its House counterpart, are investigating whether there were inappropriate circumstances surrounding the dismissal of the eight federal attorneys. Their efforts have intensified since it was disclosed last week that Justice Department officials provided incomplete information to Congress about the White House's role in the firings.
The president has offered to allow his top political strategist, Karl Rove, and other White House aides to speak privately with lawmakers looking into the case. But he stipulated that the interviews not be under oath and that no transcript would be kept of the proceedings.
He voted to fight in court if Congress attempted to subpoena the officials.
Before today's vote, Leahy rejected as pointless an attempt by Sen. Arlen Specter, ranking Republican on the committee, to fashion a compromise with the White House.
"The president has given us a take it or leave it position," Leahy said. "I take him at his word."
...remember when the bush administration was riding so high and mighty that dick cheney felt comfortable telling patrick leahy, "go fuck yourself" on the floor of the u.s. senate? [ Cheney says he felt better after cursing at Leahy, CNN, free]
...patrick leahy remembers.
Senate votes to authorize subpoenas for top Bush aides
[usa today, free]
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary committee voted today to authorize subpoenas of top aides to President Bush in a growing showdown between Congress and the White House over the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys.
The vote follows a similar move on Wednesday by a House panel.
The committee, in a voice vote, authorizes Chairman Patrick Leahy, of Vermont, to issue subpoenas at his discretion. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, requested that his vote be recorded as "aye."
The Senate committee, and its House counterpart, are investigating whether there were inappropriate circumstances surrounding the dismissal of the eight federal attorneys. Their efforts have intensified since it was disclosed last week that Justice Department officials provided incomplete information to Congress about the White House's role in the firings.
The president has offered to allow his top political strategist, Karl Rove, and other White House aides to speak privately with lawmakers looking into the case. But he stipulated that the interviews not be under oath and that no transcript would be kept of the proceedings.
He voted to fight in court if Congress attempted to subpoena the officials.
Before today's vote, Leahy rejected as pointless an attempt by Sen. Arlen Specter, ranking Republican on the committee, to fashion a compromise with the White House.
"The president has given us a take it or leave it position," Leahy said. "I take him at his word."
...remember when the bush administration was riding so high and mighty that dick cheney felt comfortable telling patrick leahy, "go fuck yourself" on the floor of the u.s. senate? [ Cheney says he felt better after cursing at Leahy, CNN, free]
...patrick leahy remembers.