Miers, Bolten contempt filings delayed (possibly until October)

[seriousstan]

Source: politico

House Democratic leaders have decided to postpone a vote on a criminal contempt resolution against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers for several weeks, and possibly longer, according to top lawmakers and aides.

---cut--

But Pelosi decided to delay a vote until at least late September, and possibly into October. Democrats said they are not yet ready for such a vote because they have not briefed lawmakers on what it would mean and how the controversy would play out, both legally and politically.

“I don’t think anything is going to happen on that for a while,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.). “When you decide to do that, you have to make your best case. You want everyone to understand what’s happening and why.”

Emanuel said Pelosi and other top Democrats have not begun those consultations yet — and he was unsure when they would.




Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0907/5750.html

[tsuki]

1. Gotta prosecute those war protestors first. n/t

[spotbird]

3. They don't want to look

partisan.

[niceypoo]

38. They don't want to look like a democracy

Who gives a rats ass if they, "look partisan?" We didn't vote them in to worry about how they might look.

[quiet.american]

2. This is terrific news! This is why I voted for a Dem majority! -- NOT! n/t

:mad: :puke: :eyes:

[brentspeak]

12. You'd prefer that Alberto Gonzales remain the Attorney General?

Because if it wasn't for a Democratic majority, Gonzales would still BE Attorney General.

[quiet.american]

18. Please read the last word in my subject line - you and I are on the same page. n/t

[brentspeak]

23. I apologize if I misunderstood your post.

[quiet.american]

24. Actually, upon reflection, I don't think you misread it! :)

I apologize if I misread *your* post.

I'm just venting frustration at the Dems. I'm sure you can guess why. :)

[niceypoo]

39. Bush has a history of replacing with someone worse

Gonzo in the atty generals office turned out to be a gift for the democrats. The replacement will be worse, as always.

[tularetom]

4. Possibly until fucking never

Especially if they've let that weasel Emanuel in on the decision.

He's right below Joe Loserman on my list of assholes who never should have been Democrats.

[asjr]

5. More BS! Everyone understands what

is happening but not the Why. Consultations my royal fanny! Where have Pelosi and Emanuel been? Are we going to kick that cat down the road until all nine lives have been expended?

[peacetheonlyway]

6. will someone please explain what's going on

is pelosi afraid for her life?

why wouldn't they proceed other than perhaps, i'm thinking optimistically, they have to time to explain to all the senators that if they continue to not cooperate there will be arrests and to prepare the senators for a full metal showdown with the whitehouse.

that's my optimism, me fears something far more sinister like
a. pelosi has NO FUCKING BACKBONE
b. pelosi is being threatened for her life by the white house.

either way, it sux to prolong this, the longer we wait to prosecute the faster we enable them to go into iran.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. No one could have predicted this!

It's such a stunning surprise!

[hisownpetard]

8. This falls under the "Be Careful What You Wish For" heading, i.e. I thought I'd be happy when

the Dems had the majority. I thought I could stop grinding my teeth to stumps
at night over what the Repubs were doing to our country. I thought I'd
be able to sit back and take a deep breath for the first time in years, knowing that,
at last, we were in good hands.

WRONG, wrong, wrong. Now I'm gnashing my teeth every night, cursing every additional
day that goes by with more people getting killed, with Bush smirking in the oval office
at the latest devious ploy he got away with, as the Dems call for postponement after
postponement and equivocate over how many votes they do or do not have, instead
of going headlong into the fight and doing what's RIGHT - not what expeditious.

Opportunists, all. Woe is us.

Edit:sp

[villager]

9. Gotta keep that powder dry!

(hand me a "Sacrcasm" icon...)

[brentspeak]

10. Politico is now a valid LBN news source???

Notice that, except for an old Pelosi quote from months ago, there's no direct quotes in the article. And there's no identification of "legislative aides and lawmakers".

How stupid must someone be to blindly accept a Drudge-type piece like this as "truth"?

[grasswire]

14. good point

I don't consider them a valid news source.

Disinformation.

[seriousstan]

25. I guess blindly stupid enough to miss this.....

“I don’t think anything is going to happen on that for a while,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.). “When you decide to do that, you have to make your best case. You want everyone to understand what’s happening and why.”

[aggiesal]

29. What about Congressman Emanuel's quote? ...

“I don’t think anything is going to happen on that for a while,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.). “When you decide to do that, you have to make your best case. You want everyone to understand what’s happening and why.”

[acmavm]

11. Worthless, worthless, worthless. Friggin' less than worthless.

This is just almost too much. If they don't want to do their damn jobs they need to get the hell out of Washington.

Worthless.

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. AAAAA GGGG HHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!!!

[hisownpetard]

15. \dupe

[hisownpetard]

16. //dupe (stupe!!!) Sorry.

[brentspeak]

17. .

[hisownpetard]

19. That was stated in the OP. eom

[brentspeak]

22. You're right, it was.

And apparently, the only source for this story that's making its way around the Web is...Politico. There's absolutely no independent confirmation from any other news source. And Politico is a known Drudge-lie internet rag, which leans RW.

But even if this story is true, Emmanuel's explanation for the delay makes sense: why not take the time to do it right, rather to dumbly rush in an screw everything up, like some DUers feel they should?

[Toots]

37. Do what right?

What is there to consider? Did they refuse to obey a subpoena or not? If they did then there must be action. What is so difficult about that? They are afraid to death of any confrontation because they might lose. They don't want to be forced into Impeachment and that is the only reason they are willing to look away at the Crime Spree that is happening to our nation.

[quiet.american]

21. We've sang that tune for years - and are still waiting for the brilliant use of all the dry powder.

[cui bono]

20. What the fuck are they waiting for???

GOD DAMMIT!!!

:grr:

[Frisbee]

26. how the controversy would play out, both legally and politically.

The Hell with doing what's right, or what you were SENT THERE to do. Worry about how it will play out politcally. I have a pretty good hunch how it's playing out with your base. <grrr>

[Vidar]

27. Run away! Run away!

[aggiesal]

28. "... you have to make your best case ... " Say whaaaaat? ...

Here's the best case:
We subpoenaed each, and they each ignored the subpoena.
That's a crime, period. What better case do they need?

They are both laughing at congress.

[Caretha]

33. Thank you

I was waiting for someone to point out the obvious

[aquart]

30. And what does Drudge say?

Since we're taking rightwing reports as gospel?

[seriousstan]

31. So you think Pelosi will have a vote on a criminal contempt resolution before October?

Want to bet a donor star? Or is that too rightwing for you?

[aquart]

32. So you think Politico is an honest, reliable source?

That's my question.

[seriousstan]

34. I read all kinds of news and make my own determination. In this case....

Politico quoted a source, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.). I doubt they misquoted him. I also know that Pelosi has backed down repeatedly, on a myriad of topics. I also understand odds of any Attorney General issuing a warrant on Miers or Bolton, especially since Gonzales has resigned. The wind is out of the sail.

Most importantly, I understand the hesitation to take it to the level of both inherent contempt and having a court decide executive privilege. I don't think Pelosi wants to enter into either arena. Nobody has or does want a precedence set. They also don't want a court clearly determining executive privilege when an election is coming that could put a Dem in the White House.

So in my case, and I am sure many others around here, we are adult enough to take source, reporter and opinion into account when gathering our news.

Here are some current Politico headlines....

Waxman to probe Clinton files
Craig's lobbyists left leaderless
Arizona seats show GOP difficulties
Full text: Petraeus and Crocker testimony

Which of these should we not read?

The bet stands.......want to bet.....Pelosi will not have a vote on a criminal contempt resolution against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten OR former White House counsel Harriet Miers before October. (I even gave you an edge by using or instead of and)

[aquart]

35. So you're saying it's a good and honest source?

One which we can depend on? Which was the entire scope of my comment.

I don't recall saying one damn word about Pelosi or anything she might do.

Now take your juvenile bets back to the kiddie playground.

[seriousstan]

36. Obviously I said whatever you want me to say. Your right, adults never bet.

I going to Vegas tomorrow to inform people.

[htuttle]

40. Yeah -- they're going to be too busy INVESTIGATING CLINTON AGAIN!!!

I couldn't make this crap up if I tried:

Waxman agrees to investigate Clinton White House.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1790365

[TankLV]

41. how the controversy would play out, ...politically.

That's it in a nutshell.

To hell with doing what's RIGHT - damn the consequences...

Spineless is to mild a term...

[ShortnFiery]

42. Right, GUTLESS WONDERS is an more apt term. Damn, we all lose when the Dem Leaders sell out

to the plutocracy headed by the CEOs of the mega-corporations controlling the military industrial complex.

It's going to get ugly - FAST! :grr: