Blank Check (Ellen Ratner)

[struggle4progress]

Given the weeklong 24-hour coverage of President Reagan's death, it is quite likely that most missed Attorney General Ashcroft's Senate testimony. It is a shame that the testimony did not get more air time or print time because it clearly revealed spreading bacteria in the body of our democracy.

Ashcroft effectively told Congress to buzz off. He invoked "executive privilege" – a phrase and concept this administration is quite fond of. He claimed that the advice that is given to a president in a time of war is privileged information.

The other phrase this administration is fond of is "war" or "war on terror." We have heard the term war used many times in order to justify the unjustifiable by this administration. The war on terror allows the government to hold citizens without evidence; to establish constitutional- and Geneva Convention-free zones, to pre-emotively strike other nations (for this first time in our history) and, now, according to leaked memos, to torture terrorist suspects.

If we have learned anything, we have learned that to be in a time of war means that our government is no longer accountable to the principles of the Constitution. These principles include, a balance of power within our government, due process, right to privacy and a unswerving commitment to the principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty – to name a few. George W. Bush wrote himself a blank check with the "war on terror."
<snip>

http://www.talkradionews.com/news/article.php?articleID=229

[flewellyn]

1. Actually, part is incorrect.

Ashcroft did NOT invoke executive privilege. He specifically denied it, in fact, saying "I am not invoking anything." His only explanation for withholding the memos was that he believed the President needed to be able to get confidential information from the Attorney General. But he denied that he was invoking executive privilege.

This was on the Daily Show, even. Jon Stewart's response: "Dude, you've got to invoke something! Executive privilege, Fifth Amendment, uhhh, Writ of Douchebaggery...you gotta invoke something here, you can't just sit there!"

Senator Dick Durbin, (D-Illinois) responded to Ashcroft by saying "With all due respect, your personal belief is not a law, and you are not citing a law, and you are not claiming executive privilege. And frankly, that is what contempt of Congress is all about."

Ashcroft would not be in such trouble if he did claim executive privilege. At least then he'd have an argument. One that would be shot down in short order, but, as Jon Stewart said, he wouldn't be "just sit there".

[struggle4progress]

2. You're absolutely right!

:)