Rawstory: Legal expert: WH stonewalling may force Congress to charge president w/criminal offenses

[npincus]

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Law_Scholar_Wiretap_subpoenas_may_open_0627.html

Can we say "impeachment", boys and girls?

Keith Olbermann announced on Wednesday's Countdown that the White House is refusing on grounds of executive privilege to honor Senate subpoenas and release documents relating to its warrantless wiretapping. In addition, Vice President Cheney's chief of staff, David Addington, has sent a letter to Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) saying Cheney's office will not comply with oversight by the National Archives because it is not "an agency."

Olbermann then turned to law professor Joanathan Turley, who agreed tentatively that the administration might move slowly enough to "run out the clock" on its time in office. "But there is one thing that might concern them about the court," Turley said, "and that is, you know, for many years, since we first found out about this program, some of us have said that this was a clearly criminal act that the president called for. ... If we're right, not only did he order that crime, but it would be, in fact, an impeachable offense."

"Both sides, both Democrats and Republicans, have avoided this sort of pig in the parlor," Turley continued. "They don't want to recognize that this president may have ordered criminal offenses. But they may now be on the road to do that, because the way Congress can get around the executive privilege in court is to say, we're investigating a potential crime."

[jasmeel]

1. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!

[Jackpine Radical]

2. The existence of an impeachable offense

does not necessarily lead to impeachment.

[Lerkfish]

3. however, the lack of one will certainly lead to impeachment, if you're CLinton

[npincus]

4. if COngress "recognizes" the commission of a crime

I don't believe they have a choice. Would they have the votes to impeach the Thing back to Crawford is another matter.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Nobody can MAKE them impeach if they don't have the guts to do it.

[OzarkDem]

12. Might offend campaign contributors

Not likely, they're too afraid of losing a few dollars.

[aquart]

5. Goodness, what is that thing George is putting on the table?

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Oops--I think Nancy just knocked it off again.

Clumsy of her, what?

[OzarkDem]

11. Sorry, Dems aren't interested...move along, nothing to see here..

The squatters currently occupying leadership positions in MY Democratic party are not inclined to pursue any remedy, legal or otherwise, against the Bush administration.

They would much prefer to let Bush wreck the Constitution than let that messy pig into their nice clean Congressional meetings.

[Bitwit1234]

8. AND---------------

the constitution allows an impeachment even after a president or vice president leaves office. Now when they allow the impeachment they can also call for imprisonment. By impeaching a president and vice president, in office, the chances are they would not call for them to be jailed. BUT after they leave office now that's a different story.

[Imagevision]

9. Hey! now that's a plan!!

[Hissyspit]

10. Video of interview here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=36957&mesg_id=36957

[Kurovski]

13. K&R. (nt)

[radfringe]

14. key word; MAY

it MAY force congress to do something...

[Phredicles]

15. Here's where it could help to let them know we're paying attention,

I mean, if it ever will.

[progressoid]

16. Okey Dokey. Lets get it going then.

[orleans]

17. well, how nice to know if there was an impeachment vote

obama would vote against it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1203523&mesg_id=1203523

[npincus]

18. Thom Hartmann talking about this now on AAR

[yodermon]

19. Idea: Indict all the lackeys at the NSA who actually carried out the illegal wiretapping

then get them to testify against dubya for ordering them to do so.
Then, return an indictment against him outright (or "unindicted co-conspirator"), thus FORCING the Dems' hands wrt impeachment.
Muahaha.
:crazy:
:evilgrin: