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Obama Asserts Executive Priviledge Again In Fast and Furious case. Does this POTUS think he is a King?

schjaz 2012/06/20 16:39:13
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WASHINGTON — In a mounting confrontation with congressional Republicans, President Barack Obama invoked executive privilege Wednesday to withhold documents a House committee is seeking. The panel neared a vote on citing Attorney General Eric Holder for contempt.


Comments rapidly grew more heated. A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner suggested administration officials had lied earlier or were now "bending the law," while Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings said the committee's GOP chairman "had no interest" in resolving the issue and was trying to pick a fight.


In a letter to the committee chairman, Darrell Issa of California, a Justice Department official said the executive privilege applies to documents that explain how the department learned there were problems with a Mexican border gun-running investigation called Operation Fast and Furious.


At the start of a hearing, Issa called the president's action "an untimely" assertion of the privilege. The committee was later to vote on whether to cite Holder for contempt of Congress for failing to turn over the documents. If the panel approved that action, the contempt citation would then go to the full House. Eventually, there could be a federal case against Holder, but past examples suggest the matter won't get that far.


"The president has asserted executive privilege," Deputy Attorney General James Cole said in the letter to Issa. "We regret that we have arrived at this point, after the many steps we have taken to address the committee's concerns and to accommodate the committee's legitimate oversight interests."


House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, raised another question after the president invoked the privilege.


"Until now, everyone believed that the decisions regarding `Fast and Furious' were confined to the Department of Justice. The White House decision to invoke executive privilege implies that White House officials were either involved in the `Fast and Furious' operation or the cover-up that followed," said Boehner's press secretary Brendan Buck. "The administration has always insisted that wasn't the case. Were they lying, or are they now bending the law to hide the truth?"

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  • NPC 2012/06/20 16:43:02
    This adminstration is covering something up because they are all in it together
    NPC
    +4
    Watergate 2.0 ? Why don't the Democrat AG Holder release all the documents now ? Who is Barack protecting ? This is not going to help his re-election. Bush did not start Fast and Furious. Sheila Jackson Lee is a liar and wacko left wing nut job.

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  • Ambassador II 2012/06/20 19:56:06
    None of the above
    Ambassador II
    +1
    It is likely that what was done and how it was done should remain private and not revealed to the drug cartels or the Mexican authorities who were entrapped or uncovered by these actions. If Republicans are successful in disclosing how our government seeks to inflitrate enemies of our society, we will have to stop such actions and just surrender to them. Obviously, Issa and his crew are making this an "issue" only for political purposes and would sacrafice whatever success it might have had for their personal gain.

    Maybe Issa would like to reveal how we infiltrate Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan and Iran?
    The "enemies from within" are probably more dangerous than the terrorists from without.
  • schjaz Ambassa... 2012/06/21 15:35:09
    schjaz
    Covert operations are a consideration but not in this case. The operation is suppose to be over so I don't think it applies.
  • Cidlvj4 schjaz 2012/06/21 16:03:17
    Cidlvj4
    Rove, Cheney and libby were involved in this leak but Libby was the one who had his neck on a butcher block. Cheney and Rove slipped conviniently from any responsibilty. Having said that Bush did remove some of the suffering from Libby's sentence but he could not totaly clear Libby with out risk of raising questions. Was this a fair case Schaz?

    Following the disclosure, on September 16, 2003, the CIA sent a letter to the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), requesting a criminal investigation of the matter.[15] On September 29, 2003, the Department of Justice advised the CIA that it had requested an FBI investigation into the matter.[15][16]

    On September 30, 2003, President Bush said that if there had been "a leak" from his administration about Plame, "I want to know who it is... and if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of."[17] Initially, the White House denied that Karl Rove, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Chief of Staff of Vice President Dick Cheney, were involved in the leak.[18]

    Attorney General John Ashcroft referred the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel, directed by Patrick Fitzgerald, who convened a grand jury. The CIA leak grand jury investigation did not result in the i...








    Rove, Cheney and libby were involved in this leak but Libby was the one who had his neck on a butcher block. Cheney and Rove slipped conviniently from any responsibilty. Having said that Bush did remove some of the suffering from Libby's sentence but he could not totaly clear Libby with out risk of raising questions. Was this a fair case Schaz?

    Following the disclosure, on September 16, 2003, the CIA sent a letter to the United States Department of Justice (DoJ), requesting a criminal investigation of the matter.[15] On September 29, 2003, the Department of Justice advised the CIA that it had requested an FBI investigation into the matter.[15][16]

    On September 30, 2003, President Bush said that if there had been "a leak" from his administration about Plame, "I want to know who it is... and if the person has violated law, the person will be taken care of."[17] Initially, the White House denied that Karl Rove, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Chief of Staff of Vice President Dick Cheney, were involved in the leak.[18]

    Attorney General John Ashcroft referred the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel, directed by Patrick Fitzgerald, who convened a grand jury. The CIA leak grand jury investigation did not result in the indictment or conviction of anyone for any crime in connection with the leak itself. However, Libby was indicted on one count of obstruction of justice, one count of perjury, and three counts making false statements to the grand jury and federal investigators on October 28, 2005. Libby resigned hours after the indictment.

    [edit] United States v. Libby

    The federal trial United States v. Libby began on January 16, 2007. On March 6, 2007, Libby was convicted on four counts, and was acquitted of one count of making false statements.[19][20][21] Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison, a fine of US$250,000, and two years of supervised release after his prison term.[22][23]

    After the verdict, Special Counsel Fitzgerald stated that he did not expect anyone else to be charged in the case: "We're all going back to our day jobs."[21] On July 2, 2007, President Bush commuted Libby's jail sentence, effectively erasing the 30 months he was supposed to spend in jail. The federal felony conviction, probation and fines still remain.

    In March 2008, the Government Accountability Office revealed that the investigation had cost $2.58 million. The GAO also reported that "this matter is now concluded for all practical purposes."[24]
    ouse dear? Do you work for the republicans directly?
    (more)
  • schjaz Cidlvj4 2012/06/21 17:23:55
    schjaz
    You are wasting my time here....Rove?! oinker...can't stand the guy. You want to point at the behavior of the past administrations to justify the illegal actions of this crooked POTUS. I am not buying it. Transparency....yeah, right. Lies. Lies. Lies.
  • Ambassa... schjaz 2012/06/21 18:39:09
    Ambassador II
    I don't think that what you don't think should or will direct covert operations of the U.S. Government to any noticable extent. Just thinking.
  • cm 2012/06/20 18:30:54
    Obama thinks he is a King
    cm
    +1
    All hail King Obummer
  • D Hanes 2012/06/20 18:28:24
    Obama thinks he is a King
    D Hanes
    +1
    He does seem to think he is King. King A sshole, that is. This is so wrong and against our constitution.. Americans have the right to know what in hell this illegal and corrupt government is doing..

    This is unbeleiveable.. he should be impeached.
  • schjaz D Hanes 2012/06/21 15:35:45
    schjaz
    +1
    He SHOULD be.....Nixon was.
  • Cidlvj4 schjaz 2012/06/21 16:21:52
    Cidlvj4
    Looks like Bush Jr wanted dictatorship. What did you post while Bush Jr was trying to do this? Why did the republicans not appose this stupid move? After completely ignoring the true responsible people that brought down the twin towers Bush Jr wanted complete control of country. In his own words he said he would want this. Don't be blind dear, look at the facts below.

    Bush's Martial Law Plan Is So Shocking, Even Congress Can't See it
    Executive über alles as member of Homeland Security Committee barred from viewing post-terror attack provisions

    Paul Joseph Watson
    Prison Planet
    Monday, July 23, 2007
    President Bush's post-terror attack martial law plan is so shocking that even sitting members of Congress and Homeland Security officials are barred from viewing it, another example of executive über alles and a chilling portent of what is to come as constant reminders of the inevitability of terror attacks reverberate.

    Congressman Peter DeFazio (D - OR) was asked by his constituents to see what was contained within the classified portion of the White House's plan for operating the government after a terrorist attack.

    Since DeFazio also sits on the Homeland Security Committee and has clearance to view classified material, the request would have appeared to be routine, but the Congres...
































    Looks like Bush Jr wanted dictatorship. What did you post while Bush Jr was trying to do this? Why did the republicans not appose this stupid move? After completely ignoring the true responsible people that brought down the twin towers Bush Jr wanted complete control of country. In his own words he said he would want this. Don't be blind dear, look at the facts below.

    Bush's Martial Law Plan Is So Shocking, Even Congress Can't See it
    Executive über alles as member of Homeland Security Committee barred from viewing post-terror attack provisions

    Paul Joseph Watson
    Prison Planet
    Monday, July 23, 2007
    President Bush's post-terror attack martial law plan is so shocking that even sitting members of Congress and Homeland Security officials are barred from viewing it, another example of executive über alles and a chilling portent of what is to come as constant reminders of the inevitability of terror attacks reverberate.

    Congressman Peter DeFazio (D - OR) was asked by his constituents to see what was contained within the classified portion of the White House's plan for operating the government after a terrorist attack.

    Since DeFazio also sits on the Homeland Security Committee and has clearance to view classified material, the request would have appeared to be routine, but the Congressman was unceremoniously denied all access to view the documents, and the White House wouldn't even give an excuse as to why he was barred.



    "I just can't believe they're going to deny a member of Congress the right of reviewing how they plan to conduct the government of the United States after a significant terrorist attack," DeFazio told the Oregonian on Friday.

    "We're talking about the continuity of the government of the United States of America," DeFazio says. "I would think that would be relevant to any member of Congress, let alone a member of the Homeland Security Committee."

    "Maybe the people who think there's a conspiracy out there are right," DeFazio concluded.

    The article also quotes Norm Ornstein, a legal scholar who studies government continuity at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, who told the paper he "cannot think of one good reason" to deny access to a member of Congress who serves on the Homeland Security Committee.

    "I find it inexplicable and probably reflective of the usual, knee-jerk overextension of executive power that we see from this White House," Ornstein said.

    The only plausible reason DeFazio was barred access to the documents is that the plans for a post-terror attack continuity of government scenario are so abhorrent that to reveal their true nature would cause a public outcry and lead to a major repeal of what is contained in the documents.


    Congressman Peter DeFazio (D - OR)

    What we already about Bush's recent spate of executive orders, and in particular PDD 51 , is bad enough - the provisions outline preparations for the implementation of open martial law in the event of a declared national emergency.

    New legislation signed on May 9, 2007 , declares that in the event of a "catastrophic event", the President can take total control over the government and the country, bypassing all other levels of government at the state, federal, local, territorial and tribal levels, and thus ensuring total unprecedented dictatorial power.

    It is important to understand that, although these powers have been on the books for previous presidents, Bush is the first to openly brag of the fact that he will utilize them and officially become the supreme emperor of the United States in the aftermath of a catastrophe that the government itself has said will happen on innumerable occasions.

    According to columnist and author Jerome Corsi , the power grab assures that "The president can declare to the office of the presidency powers usually assumed by dictators to direct any and all government and business activities until the emergency is declared over."

    Also in May, it was reported that a high-level group of government and military officials has been quietly preparing an emergency survival program named "The Day After," which would effectively end civil liberties and implement a system of martial law in the event of a catastrophic attack on a U.S. city.

    Last year we also exposed the existence of a nationwide FEMA program which is training Pastors and other religious representatives to become secret police enforcers who teach their congregations to "obey the government" in preparation for a declaration of martial law, property and firearm seizures, and forced relocation.

    The documents that Congressman DeFazio was blocked from seeing likely interlock with both these programs and detail the overarching agenda to effectively nullify what's left of the U.S. Constitution and firmly ensconce George W. Bush as a supreme dictator.

    Only by putting enough pressure on the media and in turn the White House to be transparent about what the secret martial law provisions are can we lead an effort to repeal them before the next terror attack, whether real or manufactured, takes place.
    (more)
  • schjaz Cidlvj4 2012/06/21 17:25:45
    schjaz
    I don't care about Bush. I am not a Republican. You are working from a wrong premise. This POTUS said he was different and he turned out to be the worse of them. I cannot wait to see him doing the second grade lecture circuits with Van Jones.
  • mwg0735 2012/06/20 17:27:37
  • schjaz mwg0735 2012/06/21 15:36:07
    schjaz
    I like it.
  • Sparky 2012/06/20 16:51:58
  • schjaz Sparky 2012/06/20 17:12:39
    schjaz
    +2
    he is going to lose a lot of them with this. they may not pull for romney but they WILL stay home.
  • Sparky schjaz 2012/06/20 17:13:08
  • schjaz Sparky 2012/06/21 15:36:41
    schjaz
    That's what its looking like.
  • Cidlvj4 2012/06/20 16:50:41
    None of the above
    Cidlvj4
    Bush Jr did the same with Alberto Gonzales. But if you dig a little more he also did it with Karl Rove. Let us not become lazy and pretend republicans have a perfect record.
  • Quietma... Cidlvj4 2012/06/20 16:55:39
    Quietman   ~PWCM~JLA
    +2
    Didn't you mother ever teach you that 2 wrongs don't make a right!! Stop talking about the Repubs and deal with the issue!
  • schjaz Quietma... 2012/06/20 17:08:07
    schjaz
    +3
    That was my thought as well.....well Bobby did it and Billy did it, why can't I do it too? Besides, this POTUS has signed 128 executive orders in a little over 3 years! Crazy stuff.
  • Quietma... schjaz 2012/06/20 17:25:50
    Quietman   ~PWCM~JLA
    +2
    That's what drives me crazy about the Libs. They never seem to want to deal with the issue but would rather blame some conservative/Repub that may have done something similar even if it was a thousand years ago!
  • Cidlvj4 Quietma... 2012/06/20 19:20:00
    Cidlvj4
    Then if you could answer me this friend, why did the republicans want to take credit for your President of the United States Obama having killed Osama Bin Laden? The Bush family business partners.
  • Quietma... Cidlvj4 2012/06/20 19:48:36
    Quietman   ~PWCM~JLA
    +1
    Ask them not me, they're not mine!
  • schjaz Quietma... 2012/06/21 15:38:14
    schjaz
    +1
    Yep, then they say its the Repubs that are holding things up....just not true. The Dems are the ones stonewalling and dragging their feet at every turn.
  • Cidlvj4 schjaz 2012/06/20 19:12:24
    Cidlvj4
    And republicans have held any progress to get us out of this mess.
  • schjaz Cidlvj4 2012/06/21 15:42:12
    schjaz
    See now, that is the Liberal line but if you watch C-Span and some other outlets instead of MSM you will find out quickly that its the Dems dragging their feet and stonewalling and buying time at every turn. The Repubs ideas and compromises get shot down by the Dems then the Dems call foul to the media and point fingers at the Repubs. Its a good political tactic if dirty but it seems to be working.....hey....you're buying it.
  • Cidlvj4 schjaz 2012/06/21 16:22:58
    Cidlvj4
    Hello! Are you blind too?
  • schjaz Cidlvj4 2012/06/25 15:25:11
    schjaz
    aren't you late to watch that goofy rachel madcow?
  • Cidlvj4 Quietma... 2012/06/20 19:11:30
    Cidlvj4
    Did your mother teach you to learn from your mistakes too? It seems you play this very well as republicans do. If it is something we did wrong we do not talk about it.
  • Quietma... Cidlvj4 2012/06/20 19:49:38
    Quietman   ~PWCM~JLA
    +1
    You don't know anything about me to make that kind of statement so don't go away mad just go away!!
  • Cidlvj4 Quietma... 2012/06/20 19:56:50
    Cidlvj4
    I do not mean any insulting here but you do not know a thing about me either. Do not do what everyone does and look at things with a onesided eye because there has been a lot of wrong doing for many years that has messed up our country and no one said anything until now and what bothers me is that people conviniently forget everything and then try to plow down our President now with a 30 year old in the making problem.
  • schjaz Cidlvj4 2012/06/21 15:44:47
    schjaz
    He has to go because he has made it clear that he is not up to the job...he just can't do it and is a lousy excuse for a president. America is imploding and this guy is good at partying and maybe a little schmoozing but thats it. He is just not presidential material and the American ppl were idiots for putting a man with his crappy credentials into office.
  • Cidlvj4 schjaz 2012/06/21 16:26:03
    Cidlvj4
    Oh and Bush Jr was a good president I suppose? You dear need to wake up.
  • schjaz Cidlvj4 2012/06/20 17:02:39 (edited)
    schjaz
    +3
    And Gonzales was called to be investigated for what? A dead American?
    Seriously? Bush? He asserted executive privilege how many times in 8 years? 6? and this POTUS has did it how many times? 128? But nothing is fishy here....hmmmm
  • Cidlvj4 schjaz 2012/06/20 19:17:16 (edited)
    Cidlvj4
    The point dear is the abuse of executive privilege as the bush administration did. Bush Jr asserted executive privlige 6 times and Clinton 14 times. Your being clueless about it is either lack of reading or plain and down right careless commenting.
  • schjaz Cidlvj4 2012/06/21 15:52:39
    schjaz
    +1
    I don't give a damn about Bush....I couldn't stand him.
    Romney is not Bush. Bush, Bush, Bush. Its a stale arguement because this POTUS is out of his league.
    My hopes are with the new blood in the Republican party. The young guns like Cantor, Rubio, Christy, Ryan, Pawlenty, etc. I was raised Dem before going Independent. But ... that party has turned into a bunch of squeaky, dinosaurs...they remind me of the old Republican party....its like the parties have flipped and the Fat Cats are mostly in the Dem Party now.
    You are correct....I misspoke....I was having 2 conversations at the same time and and confused my typing as a result. Obama has signed 128 executive orders and this is the first time he has invoked executive privilege. Please accept my apology.
  • Cidlvj4 schjaz 2012/06/21 16:36:11
    Cidlvj4
    No Apology needed. This is fantastic to me...sharing our differences.
    The young blood you are speaking of are not what they seem. Their plans are too far out and will hurt many poor, old, sick and children not to mention schools teachers police and fireman plus much more. It is not all what it seems dear.
  • schjaz Cidlvj4 2012/06/25 15:28:57
    schjaz
    I disagree...the country cannot sustain itself as it is now. we have to stop borrowing and spending. We will find a way to take care of our poor, old, sick and the children. We have to....it will just have to be differently than we have in the past.
    I know too many ppl who have no business collecting welfare nor medicaid nor SSI. People have to go back to work...we need jobs.
  • D Hanes Cidlvj4 2012/06/20 18:30:41
    D Hanes
    +1
    So what you are saying is that you loved G. Bush? How stupid are you.. did you not expect this prresident to be a little better than Bush. All we heard from you bleeding heart liberals is that Obama would bring honor back to the white hosue. Well, look again..he is a bigger crook than even Bush was. And he is putting all of us in danger .

    Stupid, stupid man!
  • Cidlvj4 D Hanes 2012/06/20 19:10:25
    Cidlvj4
    Complete deniel of events that misled this country into the worst time of our lives since the great depresion in the early 1900's is not an answer. Learn is the main objective. Republicans seem have selective amnesia when it comes to their major screw ups and wash it off as, "Oh well".
  • whigamore Cidlvj4 2012/06/21 15:46:36
    whigamore
    "...misled this country into the worst time of our lives since the great depresion in the early 1900's."

    A commonly heard charge, but please explain the process by which the GWB administration did that. How did Bush lead us into the worst economic conditions since the great "depresion.?"

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