I don't see how they could stop him. he wasn't an adviser or council. no real grounds for privilege.

why do i have the feeling if all else fails, the white house will just make something up? they'll put him on double secret probation or something.

All they have to do is play out the clock. Nothing will come of this.

GaryPDX: All they have to do is play out the clock. Nothing will come of this.

obstruction of justice is a criminal charge. they aren't talking about impeachment, they're talking about PMITA prison.

GaryPDX: All they have to do is play out the clock. Nothing will come of this.

You think they'd have Scotty arrested if he decided to talk anyway?

That would sell some books.

burndtdan: obstruction of justice is a criminal charge.

Yes, but Bush will pardon Cheney 2 days before the end of his term, resign the next day and then Cheney will pardon him.

burndtdan: GaryPDX: All they have to do is play out the clock. Nothing will come of this.

obstruction of justice is a criminal charge. they aren't talking about impeachment, they're talking about PMITA prison.

Whatever is legally appropriate, if there be law breaking..great. I just think it's a bad idea to make a circus spectacle out of it. Just handle it and move on as a nation.

Just declare him a terrorist and lock him away.

GaryPDX: All they have to do is play out the clock. Nothing will come of this.

This, and they'll play it out on 'legal' pretenses. Which is one reason we'll need the next president to be willing to have Bush co. investigated.

jenniferwillow: we'll need the next president to be willing to have Bush co. investigated.

It would better to just make sure it doesn't happen again. The 28 percenters would scream bloody murder about librul persecution.

HansensDisease: It would better to just make sure it doesn't happen again.

yeah, that's a fantastic idea. bravo, really.

bales: yeah, that's a fantastic idea. bravo, really.

my sarcasm meter is trembling for some reason

HansensDisease: burndtdan: obstruction of justice is a criminal charge.

Yes, but Bush will pardon Cheney 2 days before the end of his term, resign the next day and then Cheney will pardon him.



That's an exploit. The Devs will not like it...

GaryPDX: burndtdan: GaryPDX: All they have to do is play out the clock. Nothing will come of this.

obstruction of justice is a criminal charge. they aren't talking about impeachment, they're talking about PMITA prison.

Whatever is legally appropriate, if there be law breaking..great. I just think it's a bad idea to make a circus spectacle out of it. Just handle it and move on as a nation.

calling for testimony is a circus spectacle? i guess if the honorable p.t. barnum is presiding, but otherwise i doubt it.

HansensDisease: burndtdan: obstruction of justice is a criminal charge.

Yes, but Bush will pardon Cheney 2 days before the end of his term, resign the next day and then Cheney will pardon him.

ahh, but that is what civil litigation is for. remember? OJ learned it the hard way.

GaryPDX: Whatever is legally appropriate, if there be law breaking..great. I just think it's a bad idea to make a circus spectacle out of it. Just handle it and move on as a nation.

Oh I am all for moving on in the sense I dont think impeachment should be pursued and criminal prosecutions should.

Vigorously.

Gods, could you imagine the shiatstorm if he were to get into a car accident or something? It'd be real hard not to reach for the tinfoil.

Gods, could you imagine the shiatstorm if he were to get into a car accident or something? It'd be real hard not to reach for the tinfoil.

What if someone blows up a bathroom while he and Obama are in connecting stalls playing tap foot together and they both die? Then who the hell gets the blame?

srhp29: Gods, could you imagine the shiatstorm if he were to get into a car accident or something? It'd be real hard not to reach for the tinfoil.

What if someone blows up a bathroom while he and Obama are in connecting stalls playing tap foot together and they both die? Then who the hell gets the blame?

Isn't it obvious? You'd have to be blind not to see that it w

Tomorrow's headline: McClellan Sent To Gitmo Suspected Of Being A Terrorist

Jeremy Bates: I can haz Fitzmas?

Coming this winter....

Fitzmas II: Electric Boogaloo

I don't understand what the big deal is. No sex was involved, as far as I know. Why should I care?

HansensDisease: burndtdan: obstruction of justice is a criminal charge.

Yes, but Bush will pardon Cheney 2 days before the end of his term, resign the next day and then Cheney will pardon him.

And the Republican Party as we all know it would cease to exist. Sounds okay to me.

lexslamman: And the Republican Party as we all know it would cease to exist. Sounds okay to me.

I'm getting the feeling that there is a race between the Clintonistas and the Bush administration to see whom can tear apart their respective parties general election chances first

delux247: Just declare him a terrorist and lock him away.

THIS but not as a terrorist but as a "enemy combatant"

Actually, the landslide victory for McCain this November will not only prove that the Republican party is alive, but it will also signal the end of a Democrat's being elected to the Oval Office for perhaps forever.

Some of you think that Obama is going to waltz into offivce and "fix Bush's mistakes." This couldn't be farther from the truth.

Next un-surprising headline:
"Scott McClellan found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning...Suicide note found near garage."

"McClellan's body was nude and sterilized when he was found in a car parked in a garage of a man who claimed he never knew McClellan, and wondered how the car got into his garage since he didn't own one."

"The suicide note was written in Arial font, printed from a laser printer, and unsigned, though it did bear his name at the end, mis-spelled."

"Police called it 'the most clearcut case of suicide they'd ever encountered."

UberDave: HansensDisease: burndtdan: obstruction of justice is a criminal charge.

Yes, but Bush will pardon Cheney 2 days before the end of his term, resign the next day and then Cheney will pardon him.



That's an exploit. The Devs will not like it...

Even worse, press secretaries are going to be nerfed in the 2.5 patch.

Scott McClellan should stay out small aircraft for the next... uh, rest of his life.

I've heard a lot of theories why Scott McClellan came out at "this time"... Here is mine:

McClellan came out because of the guilt of what he watched go down. He wants the Administration to answer these questions in the public arena. Perhaps he knows, the only chance that will ever happen is if a Democrat wins this year and McCain loses.

/If Colin Powell balled up and came out before this election, he would totally redeem himself and he restore his "hero" status.

Neurochemist: I've heard a lot of theories why Scott McClellan came out at "this time"... Here is mine:

McClellan came out because of the guilt of what he watched go down. He wants the Administration to answer these questions in the public arena. Perhaps he knows, the only chance that will ever happen is if a Democrat wins this year and McCain loses.

/If Colin Powell balled up and came out before this election, he would totally redeem himself and he restore his "hero" status.

Guilt? Nah. I don't buy it.

Scott wanted to sell his book, and maneuver himself into a safe position should the harsh light of justice be shown on the Bush administration. I think many of the things he wrote were probably true, but I have no illusions about some sort of virtue on his part.

Neurochemist: I've heard a lot of theories why Scott McClellan came out at "this time"... Here is mine:

McClellan came out because of the guilt of what he watched go down. He wants the Administration to answer these questions in the public arena. Perhaps he knows, the only chance that will ever happen is if a Democrat wins this year and McCain loses.

/If Colin Powell balled up and came out before this election, he would totally redeem himself and he restore his "hero" status.

Mine was that he wanted to make damned certain the book got physically published and he got firmly into the spotlight before Cheney's boys could blackbag him.

You've got to admit, unless his book is a complete and total fabrication, it takes a set of brass ones to out someone with such broad and sweeping powers. Under the current set of what passes for laws, he could easily be snatched up and buried in an undisclosed location for an infinite period of time with zero external contact. And that's just what's legal.

I like McClellan and he explained, very clearly, why it took so long for him to come forward during his interview with Olbermann. Regardless of the differing opinions though, I'd hope we could all agree that his testifying could be a terrific thing.

"Executive privilege" is something which has little to not basis in legality.

Guilt? Nah. I don't buy it.

Scott wanted to sell his book, and maneuver himself into a safe position should the harsh light of justice be shown on the Bush administration. I think many of the things he wrote were probably true, but I have no illusions about some sort of virtue on his part.

I was an executive assistant to a Republican who was very high up in state government. I know exactly where he is coming from and how he feels. I watched them sack state workers for their party affiliation. I watched them manipulate the public. They were actually grooming me to run for office... While working their, I came to the conclusion that at some point, every elected official sells their soul. They deliberately present information to the public, as if it is unbiased common sense decision, without ever presenting the alternative theories. At some point, they decide that their vision is "right" and they must do everything in their power (ethics be damned) to push their agenda. I know why he stayed so long and I know why he ultimately left. In hindsight, I'll bet you he would take the years back in exchange for this stupid book. This book isn't mainly about making money, it is about educating the public. If you watched Fox News, CNN and MSNBC and seen the barriage of Bush lackys criticing and tearing him down, saying his actions were "puzzling", parroting the same talking points.... Then you sees the very point of his book... They were doing exactly what he said they would, trying to rewrite history.

First question to him at the hearing: "Mr. McClellan, given the contradictions between what you said at the time you were White House Press Secretary and what you have alleged in your book -- are you lying now or were you lying then?"

Occam's Chainsaw:
You've got to admit, unless his book is a complete and total fabrication, it takes a set of brass ones to out someone with such broad and sweeping powers. Under the current set of what passes for laws, he could easily be snatched up and buried in an undisclosed location for an infinite period of time with zero external contact. And that's just what's legal.

Responding to this gives me a headache. There is absolute zero probability anyone in Justice will pick up Mr. McClellan. Is it possible he someone may try to shut him up through extra-legal persuasion? Possible.

I have a Ph.d. in Political Science, and I can not recall a case where a willing executive branch civilian adviser was prevented from talking to Congress. Unwilling, yes. I could not imagine any Court in the US granting some sort of injunction to prevent McClellan from testifying before Congress, if he is willing to talk.

It absurd a priori.

skookum:

Please proceed to the nearest exit and kindly remove your traitorous ass from my country.

Step 1


Step 2


Step 3


Thank you.

Have a nice day.

Neurochemist: If you watched Fox News, CNN and MSNBC and seen the barriage of Bush lackys criticing and tearing him down, saying his actions were "puzzling", parroting the same talking points.... Then you sees the very point of his book... They were doing exactly what he said they would, trying to rewrite history.

I think the best part is that no one has come out saying, "The book is false. The following information is patently false. This section here? A lie. That whole paragraph? Completely false."

They act like nobody understands that if you're doing nothing but attacking the messenger, you've got jack shiat on the message itself.

GardenWeasel: Please proceed to the nearest exit and kindly remove your traitorous ass from my country.

American psychologist Gustave Gilbert on the Nazi war criminal Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg Trials:

We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

robbiedo: Responding to this gives me a headache. There is absolute zero probability anyone in Justice will pick up Mr. McClellan. Is it possible he someone may try to shut him up through extra-legal persuasion? Possible.

I didn't say it was probable that the above scenario would come to pass. Only that it was possible, and far too easy for comfort.

robbiedo: I have a Ph.d. in Political Science...

In that case, I'll take two double cheeseburgers, and my kid wants a Happy Meal. ;)

The so-called "Scott McClellan" is said to be a secret Muslim, working for Iraqi insurgents and Osama bin Laden because he hates America. Also his friends say he's a rapist who's into child pornography.

Suck it, Fox News. I just scooped you guys BIG TIME.

Obvious tag gets weekends off?

The problem is that all the crap Bush has done has set Presidential precedent. No matter if the next President doesn't follow his path, a future Pres could cite Bushes actions in trampling the Constitution.

Just look at the precedent set by Nixon getting off for what he did. He skated for all his illegal actions and I think that has alot to do with why the current Presidency feels so secure in their actions.


Better to go after this stuff after the new adminstration is in so there can be no pardon.

The executive branch needs to checked again like our forefathers wanted.


/sorry had to fix that. I've been drinkin

GaryPDX: All they have to do is play out the clock. Nothing will come of this.

Yeah nationally televised congressional hearings from July to November with a former Bush Administration insider airing their dirty laundry will not effect the election bit.


/Not
//Come on down Karl Rove! You're the next constest on The Price is Right!

Hey GOP farkers, first and foremost, fark you!
Your entire organization is the laughable Pink Floyd pig flying away...treasonous jerk offs.

GardenWeasel: skookum:

Please proceed to the nearest exit and kindly remove your traitorous ass from my country...

I laughed, but why Paraguay?

HansensDisease: jenniferwillow: we'll need the next president to be willing to have Bush co. investigated.

It would better to just make sure it doesn't happen again. The 28 percenters would scream bloody murder about librul persecution.

Plus, an administration actively persecuting a preceding administration for the actions executed under the position's authority is a REALLY BAD IDEA. That's like letting the guy who takes your job after you're out decide your retirement benefits.