DOJ Doesn't Want to Say Whether It Agrees that Karl's "Official Duties" Include Witch Hunts

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emptywheel
I have to conclude that Peter Carr doesn't want to say whether or not DOJ advise Fred Fielding that Rove's "Official Duties" involve witch hunts against Democrats. I wonder why that is.

Meet the Bloggers Tomorrow at 1ET

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emptywheel
Brave New Foundation--the folks who put together all those videos on why Fox News sucks--is launching a cool new show tomorrow: Meet the Bloggers. The goal is to grow the show into something that will rival Meet the Press and the other Sunday shows, but feature bloggers. And tomorrow, it will include me! We're going to be discussing Kontemptuous Karl--and ways to make sure Congress actually does something this time after
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Bush Doesn't Want to Be Forbidden to Torture, Even If You Don't Tell the Terrorists

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emptywheel
There seems to be a lot of discussion about classified provisions in the Intelligence Oversight Bill of late. I wonder what's in there?

Waxman's Investigation

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emptywheel
Unlike HJC, Oversight does not publicly release subpoenas when they serve them. So Mukasey's cowardly letter begging Bush to invoke executive privilege so he doesn't have to go to jail for shielding Dick Cheney's role in outing Valerie Plame is one of the first hints of the scope of what Waxman was after.

Wilson Statement on Bush's Invocation of Executive Privilege to Protect Cheney

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emptywheel
Wilson says their civil suit against Cheney and others may be the only way Americans will learn the truth of Cheney's involvement in outing Plame.

Bush Invokes Executive Privilege to Shield Cheney's Role in Outing Valerie Plame

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emptywheel
I'm receiving word that Bush just invoked executive privilege over Cheney's interview with Fitzgerald during the CIA leak case.

"Library" Rhymes with "Bribery," Ted Stevens Edition

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emptywheel
Not only is President Bush a fan of corrupt donations to his presidential library, but so is Ted Stevens!

Turdblossom's Still a Lying Sack; AP Journalists Are Still Suck-Ups

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emptywheel
Eight years after Ron Fournier's "breezy email" to Rove, the AP continues to let Karl Rove walk all over them journalistically.

Dougie Feith Visits HJC

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emptywheel
Before Nadler's Subcommittee. I'll liveblog until Levin shows up at FDL--note, there's an 11 ET vote scheduled in the Senate, so Levin's likely to show up closer to 11:15. Nadler speaking now: "Perhaps there's something in the WH drinking water these days that causes amnesia."
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Helgerson and Cheney

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emptywheel
It's going to be a busy day for me, but one thing I'm hoping to do is nick down to Borders (hey, this branch is unionized, and Borders is local to Ann Arbor) to buy Jane Mayer's new book. If for no other reason then to find out more about the meeting between John Helgerson, the CIA Inspector General, and Dick Cheney. One of the lingering mysteries in Washington has been what

Waxman Notes: "Bribery" Rhymes with "Library"

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emptywheel
Almost like clockwork, Henry Waxman wrote his letter to find out more about Bush's Library and bribery.

Five Years Later--and the Attorney General Still Maintains the Cover-Up

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emptywheel
There are still a number of unexplained aspects of Novak's column. But the Attorney General seems determined to make sure we never explain them, since he's refusing to turn over the Bush and Cheney interview reports.

Fannie and Freddie's Turn at that Taxpayer's Trough

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emptywheel
News reports suggest we may be in for another Sunday night taxpayer backed bailout.

Does Ray Hunt Do This Kind of Fund-Raising, Too?

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emptywheel
Why is it that the State Department keeps doing favors for those funding Bush's library?

The FISA Loss: Recommendations for the Future

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emptywheel
We did a superb job in the FISA fight, on what was the netroots first concerted attempt to change public and mobilize public opinion. But here are some things that I think we can do better.

DOJ Apparently Doesn't Know Whether It Told Fielding that Rove's "Official Duties" Include Witch Hunts

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emptywheel
Now why do you think the DOJ is having such a tough time answering a very simple question: whether or not they did--as Fred Fielding has claimed--tell the White House that Karl Rove's alleged actions in the Siegelman prosecution were part of his "official duties" while at the White House?

The Significance of the "Official Duties" Claim

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emptywheel
Up until the moment when Fred Fielding claimed Rove's actions in the Siegelman affair were part of his "official duties," those actions, by themselves, may not have been illegal. But as soon as Siegelman made that claim, they became clear Hatch Act violations.

Why Absolute Immunity Is So Audacious

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emptywheel
In which I continue to harp on the differences between executive privilege and absolute immunity.
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