-- “If the vice president did nothing wrong, what is there to hide?” - Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA)
-- “An appalling response to a reasonable question. This is reckless; it’s a form of governmental lawlessness that is really astounding.” - Rep. John Conyers (D-MI)
-- “This is a further shift by the Bush administration into Nixonian stonewalling and more evidence of their disdain for our system of checks and balances. Increasingly, the president and vice president feel they are above the law.” – Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
-- “Congress will act to preserve and protect our criminal justice system and to ensure appropriate congressional oversight in all areas essential to the well-being of the American people.” – Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
-- “There’s been a tendency, on the part of this administration, to try to hide behind executive privilege every time there’s something a little shaky that’s taking place. I think the administration would be best served by coming clean on this. There doesn’t seem to be any national security issues involved.” - Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
“With respect to the ‘core’ of executive privilege, the Supreme Court has not resolved this question, and reasonable people have debated it. My view is that executive privilege generally depends on the involvement of the president and the White House.” Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
Democrats firm on upholding the use of executive privilege... NOW!!!
[/b][/i]
Bush's executive privilege claims most expansive since Watergate - Dems
BY DAILY NEWS STAFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, April 10, 2008
WASHINGTON - President Bush's refusal to let two confidants provide information to Congress about fired federal prosecutors represents the most expansive view of executive privilege since Watergate, the House Judiciary Committee told a federal judge Thursday.
Lawyers for the Democratic-led panel argued in court documents that Bush's chief of staff, Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers are not protected from subpoenas last year that sought information about the dismissals.
The legal filing came in lawsuit that pits the legislative branch against the executive in a fight over a president's powers.
The committee is seeking the testimony as it tries to make a case that the White House directed the firing of nine U.S. attorneys because they were not supportive enough of Republicans' political agenda.
