Rove: It's Still the Absolute Immunity Issue
Sorry I've been a bit distracted (yes yes, I know I promised a post on those missing OLC opinions!!) But until I get undistracted, check out this video from Turdblossom.
Note how he describes the issue:
I've been directed again ... not to respond to a subpoena, exerting privilege on behalf of a former President.
Why We Can't Have Federal Whistleblowers, Per Congress
Crazy Pete Hoekstra says we can't have federal whistleblower protection because it would expose sources and methods. Does that suggest to you that they're doing stuff with TARP and stimulus that they shouldn't be?
Did Holder Promise No Prosecutions?
Is Kit Bond trying to expand the assurances Eric Holder made about prosecutions so he can later attack him if he goes after Bush and Cheney and Yoo and Gonzales?
Whitehouse and Leahy Scold Cornyn and Specter for Asking for No Prosecution Guarantee
The vote on Holder is already done, but in the dregs section as Senators explain why they supported Holder, Whitehouse and Leahy took the opportunity to scold Cornyn and Specter for trying to make Holder commit to no prosecutions for torture.
Whitehouse said (this was a liveblog approximation):
We came perilously close to seeking a prosecutive commitment from an AG candidate on an issue he would have to make a decision
Holder Vote in SJC Now
There won't be any news in today's vote. Specter has cast his yes vote, Hatch is babbling on while making it clear he votes yes, too. And Leahy is just laughing about it, saying, "babble on, I know I'm going to win." (Okay, he didn't use the word, "babble."
But in case you're interested here's the committee stream.
The Blagojevich Shakedown
The IL Legislature has posted transcripts and tapes of the four conversations Fitz released to the Impeachment Committee. They basically portray a thuggish shakedown of racetrack owner John Johnston. While it's not clear that Blago ever got his money, it's not usually supposed to be the governor doing this kind of shakedown.
Scottish Haggis Lives Up to the Name, Backs Holder
Arlen Specter, after throwing a 2 month stink over Eric Holder, has decided he's just a swell guy. And all that crap Haggis threw in the interim, to create a long delay? What's a little Haggis between friends?
Rove's "Renewed" Privilege Assertion: Is It Absolute Immunity or Executive Privilege?
Bush gave Rove a letter telling him he could blow off Congress--presumably after Conyers put continuation of last Congress' suit against the Bush Administration in House rules. Depending on what's in that letter, it may either lead to months of new litigation or--depending on the Obama Administration--a precedent that absolute immunity doesn't exist.
FISA: Grill the Executives
Threat Level posts an interview they did with Russell Tice three years ago. In it, he suggests we subpoena the corporate executives involved in the illegal wiretap program to find out how our government spied on us.
Kansas' Lobbying Helps France Fly Citi to Its Tax Shelters
I'm guessing Citigroup is going to use the new plane they just bought--at taxpayer expense--in France to fly to the places they've been sheltering their profits so as to avoid paying US taxes.
Conyers to Turdblossom: "Time's Up!!"
John Conyers just made a date with Karl Rove, for February 2.
Alberto Gonzales Tells the Tale We've Been Waiting For
Neither and or I, and obviously, I can't really speak for Andy, but I'm confortable saying that neither Andy or I would have gone there to take advantage of someone who was sick. Um, Andy and I both, in fact, talked about the importance of satisfying ourselves as we talked with General Ashcroft that he was in fact competent.
What Jane Mayer Tells Us about Warrantless Wiretapping
Jane Mayer's latest piece describes how much work went into last week's Executive Orders ending the use of torture. Which offers key lessons about the work we need to do to make sure he also ends warrantless wiretapping.
Crappy Record-Keeping: A Feature, Not a Bug
Add Gitmo files to the long list of scandals that the Bush Administration kept no meaningful records of.
Jay Rockefeller Told Us What Russell Tice Just Confirmed, Years Ago
Russell Tice basically confirmed, once again, our suspicions: that the warrantless wiretap program was basically the government operating TIA under a new name. Strangely enough, Jello Jay Rockefeller (of all people) already told us that--and he told Dick Cheney too. Maybe that's why Jello Jay was acting so squirrely about the program the other night.
Feingold Sez: No More Clusterfuck Senate Appointment Processes
Russ Feingold will introduce a Constitutional Amendment designed to prevent the clusterfucks of the Caroline Kennedy and Rod Blagojevich sort: mandating popular elections to fill mid-term Senate seats.
Change Pixie Dust We Can Believe In
Man oh man, Greg Craig is not doing Obama any favors as White House Counsel. In this installment, he apparently told (probably) Senator Whitehouse or Feingold that he believes in Pixie Dust.
al-Haramain: the Dead-Enders Misrepresent Their Appeal to Dismiss the Need to Wait for Obama
To dismiss the concern that Obama has not yet weighed in on the al-Haramain case, the dead-enders asking for an appeal claim that that appeal has nothing to do with issues that Dawn Johnsen and Eric Holder have raised about the warrantless wiretap program. But to do so, they misrepresent both their appeal and Judge Walker's order.
Three Data Points on Blagojevich
Three items of note in the Blago trial: Edward Genson, Blago's attorney, has quit after Blago repeatedly ignored his advice. Blago's wife Patti was fired from her day job. And Fitz has gotten four tapes from his investigation released to the IL state senate for use in the impeachment trial.
Obama's Executive Privilege Order and the House Judiciary Committee Lawsuit
Obama's EO may give us access to evidence Bush has been withholding. But it won't give us everything we need to ensure proper oversight of any and all presidential administrations.