The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Breaking News => Topic started by: TheSarge on November 13, 2008, 08:27:55 AM
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WASHINGTON — When a Congressional committee subpoenaed Harry S. Truman in 1953, nearly a year after he left office, he made a startling claim: Even though he was no longer president, the Constitution still empowered him to block subpoenas.
“If the doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of the presidency is to have any validity at all, it must be equally applicable to a president after his term of office has expired,†Truman wrote to the committee.
Congress backed down, establishing a precedent suggesting that former presidents wield lingering powers to keep matters from their administration secret. Now, as Congressional Democrats prepare to move forward with investigations of the Bush administration, they wonder whether that claim may be invoked again.
“The Bush administration overstepped in its exertion of executive privilege, and may very well try to continue to shield information from the American people after it leaves office,†said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, who sits on two committees, Judiciary and Intelligence, that are examining aspects of Mr. Bush’s policies.
Topics of open investigations include the harsh interrogation of detainees, the prosecution of former Gov. Don Siegelman of Alabama, secret legal memorandums from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel and the role of the former White House aides Karl Rove and Harriet E. Miers in the firing of federal prosecutors.
Mr. Bush has used his executive powers to block Congressional requests for executive branch documents and testimony from former aides. But investigators hope that the Obama administration will open the filing cabinets and withdraw assertions of executive privilege that Bush officials have invoked to keep from testifying.
“I intend to ensure that our outstanding subpoenas and document requests relating to the U.S. attorneys matter are enforced,†said Representative John Conyers Jr., Democrat of Michigan and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. “I am hopeful that progress can be made with the coming of the new administration.â€
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/washington/13inquire.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
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They really don't want to open this "After Office" can of worms, do they?
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Well now, why are the Democrats threatening to investigate the administration?
It's like drilling a dry hole, and drilling a dry hole where one already knows there's nothing there.
In my whole entire lifetime, the administration of George Bush has been the cleanest, the most ethical, the most honest, presidential administration.
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Well now, why are the Democrats threatening to investigate the administration?
It's like drilling a dry hole, and drilling a dry hole where one already knows there's nothing there.
In my whole entire lifetime, the administration of George Bush has been the cleanest, the most ethical, the most honest, presidential administration.
The difference now Frank, is that we have Moonbat Dems running things. They will use this to deflect any questions that may arise about the Big Zero.
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Truman's position was rock-solid. Hopefully Bush will emulate it instead of making another disappointing attempt to
be a patsy, uhhh, "reach across the aisle."
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Notice its the usual suspects--Conyers, et al. Maybe someone should remind the good Rep. Conyers that the sword cuts both ways.
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If the Libs REALLY want to go down this road...then we can take another peek into Whitewater...TravelGate...illegal fundraising from the VP's office...illegal fundraising inside a Buhddist Temple...John Huang...Charlie Trie...Hutchenson Wampoa...illegal poession of FBI files...
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This is actually very interesting. I was not aware of this tidbit in history.
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Well now, why are the Democrats threatening to investigate the administration?
It's like drilling a dry hole, and drilling a dry hole where one already knows there's nothing there.
In my whole entire lifetime, the administration of George Bush has been the cleanest, the most ethical, the most honest, presidential administration.
They are addicted to Moonbat Money.
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Remember, gang . . .
The pendulum always swings back.
As they try to investigate President Bush, the Big Z's people just might have to undergo a sigmodoscopy in about four years. I'd lay any amount of money that more of them will wind up in a Federal penitentary, than members of the Bush Administration.
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All the better to deflect from the Big Zero's incompetence.
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Clinton defeoce "I,I,I REALLY CANNOT REMEMBER THAT....EXACTLY. No, I don't recall that conversation, nor do I recall typing that e-mail. Don't you remember, you have said that I'm stoopppiiidddd?""