WOW! Leahy sounds like he's asking for a complete surrender from WH

[kpete]

Leahy also sent a terse letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey asking whether he planned to rescind the legal memos based on the theory of blanket executive privileged that the judge dismissed today.

Please advise me by no later than next Thursday, August 7, when you will withdraw the erroneous (Office of Legal Counsel) opinion from Stephen Bradbury relied upon by the White House to justify its non-compliance with congressional subpoenas since that opinion has been repudiated by the court.

In addition, please inform me whether the court's decision will cause you to re-evaluate your memos and those from (Office of Legal Counsel) in support of overbroad and unsubstantiated executive privilege claims not only in the U.S. Attorneys investigation, but also in other matters, like the claims used to block Congress from investigating warrantless wiretapping, the leak of the name of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame for political retribution, and White House interference in the Environmental Protection Agency's decision-making. Which of these do you now intend to withdraw?

Leahy sounds like he's asking for a complete surrender in this ongoing battle over White House officials' testimony. But there's a lot of litigation still to go in this case.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/senate_reacts_to_judges_ruling.php
http://judiciary.senate.gov/

[Warpy]

1. "A lot of litigation to go" is the problem

because this thing will be dragged out until it is dragged before the corrupt and partisan USSC.

I will expect Scalia to write a near duplication of his justification for the 2000 election theft, that his ruling not be taken as a precedent for any following (Democratic, of course) administration.

It's coming to this and we all know it. The only question after that is whether or not a new Congress with a bulletproof Democratic majority will have the cojones to get Scalia off the court.

[hisownpetard]

2. FAN-F'ING-TASTIC. I love Leahy. (Wish I could make the letters bigger than caps!).

[rzemanfl]

3. He could have just as well written "Fuck you! Strong letter to

follow." BushCo will run out the clock or get the Supremes to whore out an opinion in his favor if the 5 of them can quit fighting about who gets to tongue Bush's asshole next long enough to do that.

[rosesaylavee]

4. Resistance is futile

Patrick is a defender of the Constitution. He takes his vow to uphold it seriously. They have violated the Rule of Law and have committed High Crimes and Misdemeanors. They will have to pay the piper now or spend a lot of money and time and pay later. But they will pay.

[malaise]

5. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz is on Abrams with David Iglesias

right now

[mopinko]

6. at least it is a good strongly worded letter.

any time you are ready to actually do something, y'all let us know, k?

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I hear that

[bluesmail]

8. It's b/c he was anthraxed. He's seen no progress, publicly.

I have a peeve about anthrax. I am still mad about it. I work for the P. O. and collectively we took a hit. I stand firmly behind Leahy's anger.

[bleever]

9. Leahy is playing the pieces he has, and I think

he's playing them well.

Of course, it's not enough; but nothing is when it comes to bringing the rule of law to bear on these guys.

But I'll be hopeful about where this is headed.

[aquart]

10. Well, no rush.

[Individualist]

11. Another strongly worded letter...

that'll do it!

:sarcasm:

[cali]

13. and what should he do? It makes me ill to see people attacking the few

in Congress who actually fight for the people and the Constitution. It's not like he can pick up a Ruger and march rove et al into the dock.

[jazzjunkysue]

12. Ok. Some noise, at least. that beats silence, Let's see some action

by the judiciary and Pelosi's office.

I'm more than ready.
K&R

[tblue37]

16. I read this morning that Nancy might actually let the

Rove contempt motion come to the floor for a vote. That would be great--but I am sure they won't do it unless they have the votes to win.

[barbtries]

14. i like leahy

and i like this letter. hope something comes of it. ya never know.

[Ian_rd]

15. I don't buy this shit for a second

Strongly worded letters are the limits of Democratic courage. If any of the innumerable past examples are a guide, this letter will be met with noncompliance, which will in turn be met with absofuckinglutely nothing - no action whatsoever.

The same thing will happen with Karl Rove. If any thinks he's going to be compelled to testify in a meaningful way, or for that matter ever see the inside of prison cell, then they have a very short memory.

[snappyturtle]

17. Kick!

:kick:

[spanone]

18. they will stonewall, stonewall and continue to stonewall.