Now that we have the power is it possible to force open Cheney's secret energy plan?

[gatorboy]

Inquiring minds want to know how much we got screwed.

[stop the bleeding]

1. I think that will be one of the first investigations

:D

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Didn't that go to the Supreme Court and they ruled the papers

from his secret energy meetings did not have to be released?

[H2O Man]

13. That covers all situations

except one. Previous Supreme Court rulings make clear that the House of Representatives can access any executive paperwork in the case of an impeachment investigation. Even the President's ability to claim executive privilege is reduced; those under the president have no such claims.

[bigtree]

15. What about repealing the 1972 law that they use for cover?

the one that draws a distinction between public and private individuals who attend these meetings? Right now the law protects them if no other government official is present (besides them, I suppose).

[H2O Man]

17. You can't change

a law and then enforce it retroactively. There are issues relating to VP Cheney that could relate to that in a way that has the potential to open those records up. If the House were to investigate the lies that led us to war in Iraq, and were to consider what might have influenced the VP to manipulate intelligence, they would surely want to consider discussions he had with the energy boys that included plans for Iraqi oil.

[Gwerlain]

19. Yeah, there's a prohibition against it in the...

Constitution. It's called an ex post facto law. Like, you can't make something retroactively illegal, so that something you did two years ago that wasn't illegal then is illegal now and you can be prosecuted. I've been wondering about that prohibition with regard to the Military Commissions Act making torture legal- it's relatively clear that the Reprehensibles wanted to cover Shrubya's and other administration figures'- Rummy?- asses for having ordered torture, and possibly for Abu Ghraib as well. But if it was illegal when they did it, can Congress make an ex post facto law that makes it all of a sudden retroactively legal? I think there might be a serious argument there.

[H2O Man]

21. You are right about

ex post facto in terms of criminal offenses. I think the VP used the idea of executive privilege to keep his meetings secret. That's based on another area of law, and there are cases that actually go back to the days of Jefferson. Changing those laws before the end of this administration is not a possibility. I'm sure the bill, if it ever passed, would be vetoed. For sake of discussion, even if it weren't, the SC already has made a decision based, at least in theory, on past decisions.

The House has the most power in cases where they are investigating in the context of impeachable offenses. The previous case law is pretty clear there.

[bigtree]

24. I like that route

I'm in the back seat on this one until there's a clear plan of attack

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. Wonderful.

They are in so much trouble...:rofl:

[H2O Man]

18. Did you hear Chris Matthews tonight?

Why, you might think he's familiar with some threads on DU! Because he knows that at least one representative is considering looking mighty close at VP Cheney's actions leading up to the war.

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. Yes I did!

If he doesn't read DU, I'll eat my shoe! If the MSM latches onto this story, Cheney and Bush are finished. Once they're exposed, THE PEOPLE will be insisting they be Impeached. This is going to be a fun 2 years.

[H2O Man]

22. Why, he sounded

like he recognizes the same circumstances that a heck of a lot of DUers have been saying are just cause to investigate the corruption in the Office of the Vice President!

[Virginia Dare]

3. It was a SCOTUS ruling....

they'd have to overturn themselves. Impeaching Scalia might be a start.

[enuffs_enuffs]

4. One would hope!

That one issue has many inquiring minds from both sides. And would seem to have MUCH traction. Maybe even a reveal the REAL interests inre: Iraq...

[porphyrian]

5. Let's try and see what happens... - n/t

[oldtime dfl_er]

7. I agree!

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/2069440

[madokie]

6. about three bucks a gallon for quite some time for starters

but yes inquiring minds want to know

[bigtree]

8. there you go, We should trash the entire Energy bill also

reverse the forest bill, investigate the New York air quality mess . . .

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

12. All we will be able to do is investigate and get the info out there. The Shrub

has veto power and we won't have 2/3 to override it.

[bigtree]

14. yet, we can trash the existing legislation and get our own on the docket

with precedence for the next presidential election cycle

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

25. Yes, we can have it waiting for when our new Democratic President is elected!

whispering 3 times to make it happen "Al Gore, Al Gore, Al Gore, our 44th President!"

[ProgressiveEconomist]

9. IMO one new route to finding out who was in the meetings is bottom-up

The huge tax giveaways to Bib Oil in Dubya's Energy Bill cry out for investigation.

While CEOs of Big OIl companies are on the stand, it will make sense to ask them:

Did any of your employees participate in Cheney's Energy Task Force?

Were tax giveaways promised to you there?

Were invading Iraq and divvying up its #2 in the world proven oil reserves and possibly huge unproven reserves on the agenda?

What else was on the agenda during those meetings? You are hereby ordered to produce all internal corporate memos that discussed what went on in Cheney's Energy Task Force meetings.

[onethatcares]

10. yes, yes, yes

those are the questions, and as far as the supremes ruling that we the people have no right to know, WTF???? It is we the people that are getting screwn on that one. Personally, I would luv to see vice under supeona, or however you spell it. That man has nothing but disdain for the people of the United States of America.

[napi21]

11. You beat me to it! As I was reading through these threads, I was

trying to think like any good investigator does. If you are blockedby a dead end on one avenue, try another one! It shouldn't be too hard to take an educated guess who at least some of the attendees were. Subpoena your suspects. If you find the right one, they'll crack the armor. Once there's a crack, lots of info leaks out!

[greenman3610]

23. the white house has visitors logs

you find out who visited during that time,
swear em in, and find out what went on.
right?