The plot thickens

The latest claim from the White House is that Bush can invoke executive privilege whenever he wants, and that this will nullify any attempt to pursue contempt charges against anyone in the White House.

I'm curious... do they just make these rules up as they go along? Have any of them even read the Constitution?

Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday in the dispute over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, saying that the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House officials once the president has invoked executive privilege.

Somewhere out there, Nixon is giggling (until Lincoln chases him around the Oval Office again, kicking him in the shins.)

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly, added: "It has long been understood that, in circumstances like these, the constitutional prerogatives of the president would make it a futile and purely political act for Congress to refer contempt citations to U.S. attorneys."

Mark J. Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University who has written a book on executive-privilege issues, called the administration's stance "astonishing."

"That's a breathtakingly broad view of the president's role in this system of separation of powers," Rozell said. "What this statement is saying is the president's claim of executive privilege trumps all."

Basically Bush is saying 'if I don't want to give it to you, you can't have it, I am the decider!' Then he beats his chest a few times and spits.

Sigh. Another temper tantrum in the White House.

What will Conyers do next? The people vs. King George the Unelected. Film at 11.