Rove’s Rather Uncooperative Cooperation

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Remember how Bob Luskin told Murray Waas that Rove had gotten all cooperative?

Well, it will surprise none of you that that’s a load of horse puckey. In a letter to Luskin, John Conyers reveals that Rove is stalling on the February 23 deposition he agreed to in two ways: by insisting on bracketing off the Don Siegelman testimony, and by begging for (yet) another delay.

Though staff, I understand that you have offered to have your client testify voluntarily, but only on the Siegelman matter, and that in any event you have requested a further delay in the deposition. I cannot agree to either of these requests for a number of reasons.

With regard to the request to unilaterally limit Mr. Rove’s testimony to the Siegelman matter, as we have previously discussed, I do not believe it is acceptable for the Committee to allow witnesses to unilaterally determine what they can and cannot testify concerning, again absent assertion of a valid privilege. Moreover, the proposed distinction between the Siegelman matter and the U.S. Attorney investigation generally does not appear to be a tenable or viable distinction. They are part and parcel of the same serious concerns about politicization of the U.S. Attorney corps and the Justice Department under the Bush Administration.

[snip]

Finally, conducting a voluntary deposition under these circumstances could simply serve to further delay matters beyond the nearly two years I have been waiting, since the Committee could not then be in a position to utilize contempt or other enforcement mechanisms in response to any improper refusal to answer questions.

I also cannot agree to your request for a delay to accommodate Mr. Rove’s schedule. As you know, the deposition was originally scheduled for February 2. On January 29 I in good faith acceded to your request for a delay since you were scheduled to be out of town at the time and requested more time to prepare. I also notified your office of the new February 23 date at that time. Thus, absent an actual commitment by Mr. Rove to comply with the subpoena, I am not in a position to agree to yet a further delay. In essence, given Mr. Rove’s public statements that he does not intend to comply with the subpoena, I am puzzled as to why Mr. Rove needs a mutually convenient date to appear.

You get the feeling Conyers is itching to find out whether or not Holder’s DOJ will enforce contempt of Congress?

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37 replies
  1. Peterr says:

    You get the feeling Conyers is itching to find out whether or not Holder’s DOJ will enforce contempt of Congress?

    Yes.

    This has been another edition . . .

  2. readerOfTeaLeaves says:

    If he’s not itching by now, the man would have to be brain dead.
    But I do think Rove has stupidly overplayed himself long ago; this latest bit of fig-leaf covering is just thicker icing on the cake that prompted:

    since the Committee could not then be in a position to utilize contempt or other enforcement mechanisms in response to any improper refusal to answer questions.

    And with Gallup results showing a majority of Americans want the Bush administration’s activities investigated, it seems like a remarkably idiotic moment for Rove to further piss off Conyers and Committee.

  3. bmaz says:

    Ooooh. Looks like somebody paged Captain Renault. Here I am to say that I am shocked, shocked to hear of Rover’s uncooperative cooperation. Who could have expected this would be the case???

      • sojourner says:

        Now, I realize that this is a family-type place and all even though we discuss stuff like TurdBlossom et al, but I just have to ask: What is the Blue Parrot? I have this image of BMAZ as a neat, quiet man who knows law backwards and forwards… I fear that your mention of the Blue Parrot implies that he might have a hangout or something. Please tell me that I am wrong!!!

        Just as an aside, I wonder what it would take to get Obama’s attention and get the job as Secretary of Commerce? I have paid all my taxes, I have no big ideological differences with the man, and I have no scandals haunting me (that I know of…).

        • readerOfTeaLeaves says:

          Sounds like you need to rent “Casablanca” ;-))

          The line, ‘Round up the Usual Suspects‘ was Claude Raines great line in that movie when he hung out at Rick’s Place, which was Bogart’s bar. And Raines’ characer was always shocked, shocked! to learn from the Nazi’s that anyone in Casablanca might be cutting illicit deals. But to please the Nazi’s, he’d ’round up the usual suspects’ to appear to be following Nazi orders, thereby keeping them off his ass.

          The dive bar, the grotty, pathetic place down the road was the Blue Parrot.
          I was just dishing dirt at bmaz, implying that he was hanging out in a dive spot.

          When you watch it, note early in the movie there’s a spot where the camera shot is of a large public building (I think the Germans may just be taking over government in Casablanca) and the tripteche reads: Egalite, Fraternite, ? – anyway, it’s just a lovely little visual contrast to whatever goes on in that scene.

          I have a friend who speaks ‘Fluent Casablanca’.
          My kids, OTOH, speak “Fluent Princess Bride.”

          Sorry to confuse ;-))

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casablanca_(film)

          • sojourner says:

            Not a problem! It has been a VERY long time since I watched that movie, so I will take your advice and go rent it

            However, I note in #28 above, BMAZ has admitted to having a hangout… and I do NOT think it was in “Casablanca”…

            • readerOfTeaLeaves says:

              I also doubt bmaz’s hangout is in ‘Casablanca’, but I hope like hell it plays ‘Sweet Caroline’, a song that he once posted he **detests**.

              But that hangout’s between bmaz and his missus ;-))
              However, I’d guess probably a sports bar that has a feed for Formula One races and a fair amount of class.

              Certainly oodles more class than the Blue Parrot.

  5. drational says:

    Why doesn’t congress enforce inherent contempt of congress. They have a sergeant-at-arms and a jail room. Instead, the endless delays and a new scapegoat for continuing to do nothing in the Holder DOJ.

    • emptywheel says:

      Uh, first of all, bc they do NOT have a jail room. It got converted into something else some time ago.

      Mind you, I’ve helpfully suggested they just get a shipping container and plunk it down in front of the Capitol building and keep him in there (they would heat it and put in a cot and toilet, of course). But so far they haven’t taken my suggestion up.

      That said, I nominate the Senate Sargeant at Arm to do it. He was in charge of the inauguration, and maybe, just maybe, he can dream up some kind of purple ticket hell for Turdblossom.

      • perris says:

        Uh, first of all, bc they do NOT have a jail room. It got converted into something else some time ago.

        marcy, house arrest would be fine, “room” arrest would be fine, “office arrest” would be fine, let rove attempt an escape from congressional arrest.

      • bobschacht says:

        “Uh, first of all, bc they do NOT have a jail room. It got converted into something else some time ago.”

        I’m sure they can, if desired, convert the old room back, or designate some windowless room somewhere else in the basement to serve as Rove’s living quarters. I’m wondering, for example, about that dreadful room that Conyers was obliged to use for his unofficial impeachment hearings that led to Conyers’ book on that subject.

        Bob in HI

        • JTMinIA says:

          Rumor has it the 4th branch of gov’t is the proud owner of a man-sized safe. If Congress could borrow it (and maybe, if inclined, drill some airholes), then wahlah! you have a new Contempt-of-Congress jail-cell.

      • bmaz says:

        The district has plenty of pre-trial detention facilities. It is where they keep their crack heads and mayors. One of those will work just fine for Rover, Miers et. al

    • perris says:

      your snippet from conyers;

      absent assertion of a valid privilege

      is flat out wrong, even with assertion of valid privilege, rove MUST appear and assert said privilege and conyers opened the gate otherwise

      me no likey

  7. perris says:

    You get the feeling Conyers is itching to find out whether or not Holder’s DOJ will enforce contempt of Congress?

    it would have been better if congress took it upon themselves to claim their equal power and simply jail the man, along with Meir’s

    if Obama’s DOJ enforces the subpoena it will be far too late, the process would have become political regardless

    in fact, I hope they do not ask the DOJ to enforce, I was hoping they would use their own power to enforce

  8. Neil says:

    Karl Rove has plenty of time to opine on presidential politics from his position as a resigned adviser to the former Bush administration. His alleged interest in good government is undermined by his stubborn refusal to cooperate with official business. It’s time to turn up the heat.

    Axelrod said he was “disappointed” by former Vice President Dick Cheney’s comments regarding the planned closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison and the suggestion that it would increase the likelihood of a terrorist attack; he described himself as “surprised” by former White House chief of staff Andy Card’s remark that not wearing a jacket in the Oval Office was disrespectful. (Make sure to read the Post’s Dan Eggen’s terrific piece on the variety of criticism from former Bush aides toward the Obama White House.)

    But, Axelrod saved his strongest condemnation for the man who held his job in the Bush White House: Karl Rove. Of Rove’s criticism of Obama’s economic stimulus plan, Axelrod said: “The last thing that I think we are looking for at this juncture is advice on fiscal integrity or ethics from Karl Rove — anyone who’s read the newspapers for the last eight years would laugh at that.”

    Rove did not return an email seeking comment. But, he did pen an op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal in which he starkly criticized the way Obama has gone about addressing the financial crisis and heaped praise on congressional Republicans for how they have handled the matter.

    “Mr. Obama, for all his talents, has already re-energized the GOP and sparked a spending debate that will last for years,” wrote Rove. “The president won this legislative battle, but at a high price — fiscally and politically.”

    White House officials have generally been loathe to criticize the Bush administration directly — believing that the American people want to move forward, not look backward.

    But, Axelrod’s comments show the disdain that he clearly holds for some within Bush’s inner circle.
    link

    • freepatriot says:

      if the repuglitards want to take a look at reality, they might read the comments in the wapo posts about kkkarl

      the comments run about 70% or 80% on the “Hey kkkarl, fuck off and die” side of the scale

      and half of those comments actually use the words “Fuck Off And Die”

      • freepatriot says:

        here’s one of the posts that is family rated:

        dbeins wrote, “Remember, when you wrestle with a pig you both get dirty, …”

        While agreeing with the writers call for civility, I sincerely beg to differ with metaphorically equating those referred to as “angry right” with pigs.

        Despite their disregard for outward appearance, pigs are noble, intelligent creatures, quite tasty from snout to pigtail and undeserving of such disrespect.

        Rank-and-file right-wingers, on the other hand, fail to measure up; gloating when they prevail, explosively angry when they don’t and apparently lacking the intelligence to see through the deceptions by which their ideological leaders manipulate them into supporting catastrophic policies and agendas such as those the country has had to suffer the last eight years.

        In short: more civility and more respect for pigs.

        hey kkkarl, I think America is on to yer little scam …

  9. PJEvans says:

    In essence, given Mr. Rove’s public statements that he does not intend to comply with the subpoena, I am puzzled as to why Mr. Rove needs a mutually convenient date to appear.

    You missed something: the original letter says ‘a mutually convenient date to fail to appear‘. Much better level of snark, and Conyers sounds even less happy.

  10. Leen says:

    EW I hope your feeling about Conyers is right. Wondering if AG Eric Holder will stand by what he said during his nomination hearing…”no one is above the law” We know he allowed Marc Rich off the no one is above the law claim.

    How many times are they going to draw the line for Rove and the rest. Here’s the line….no here is the line…no hear is the line. Send out the Sergeant at Arms all ready. Rove just keeps snickering. I really think Jane Hamsher was right Rove and Limbaugh are brothers.

    I am tired of hearing Obama say “no one is above the law”. While the Bush thugs are so far walking free for false WMD intelligence, torture, etc etc.

    No one is above the law …right! The regular folks out here are laughing!

  11. Mary says:

    9- I agree that using shipping containers is Bush, and now Obama, SOP for questioning, but please God in heaven tell me though won’t be stripping him and sending tourists through to take pictures.

    • emptywheel says:

      We will not let tourist take pictures of him stripped (if we did, then my twolf graphic of Rove and his fig leaf would become much less valuable).

      But letting tourists take pictures? I suppose we shouldn’t under the Geneva Convention. Should we check ROve’s comments first on the applicability of GC and then decide?

  13. acquarius74 says:

    You kids quieten down up there! I’m tryin’to connect these dam dots. Gonna lay that magic bullet story in the shade.

    An whoever took my collander, get in here with it RIGHT NOW!

  14. acquarius74 says:

    HEAR YE ! HEAR YE ! James K Galbraith has a diary up over at Oxdown! A real economist has come to call. You kids remember your manners now, and say thank you, and DIGG IT.

    (((thanks)))

  15. Gerald says:

    Well, I got to say that there are a lot of people all worked up about Karl Rove, but he must have a Teflon coating cause nothing seems to stick.

    It would be nice to know what and who he knew and when he knew it but I think we got a better chance of blowing nice concentric smoke rings into the teeth of a gale.

    And bmaz, you rolled me off the deck with that comment ”plenty of pre-trial detention facilities. It is where they keep their crack heads and mayors.”

    As for the ”Blue Parrot” that sounds like a place I might frequent, along with the ”Green Lantern” and like establishments, though not the one in DC.

    And as for songs, a favorite of an old sailor:

    ”Brandy”

    ”There’s a port on a western bay
    And it serves a hundred ships a day
    Lonely sailors pass the time away
    And talk about their homes

    And there’s a girl, in this harbor town
    And she works, laying whiskey down
    They say ”Brandy, fetch another round”
    She serves them whiskey and wine”

    …

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