Karl Rove has been the Teflon presidential adviser, so far avoiding a contempt of Congress charge and dodging subpoenas by arguing that former presidential advisers cannot be compelled to testify to Congress. Yesterday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers issued another subpoena, demanding that Rove testify under oath on Feb. 2 about the firing of US attorneys in the Bush Justice Department.
Conyers says this time things are different. He argued that the "absolute immunity" position:
has been rejected by US District Judge John Bates and President Obama has previously dismissed the claim as "completely misguided". . . Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it's time for him to talk.
Do you agree that it's time for Rove to give a deposition? No matter what you think, it should be interesting to see whether or not President Obama supports Rove's executive privilege claim.
No Romeo
Pedro Garcia
Givenchy
I was under the impression that refusing to show up when you have been subpeonaed (sp?) qualifies as contempt of court. Yes he should have to testify. I believe his refusal to do show just shows his guilt.
1Rove is no longer "the executive" and immunity doesn't apply anymore. Therefore he should be made to testify. I don't get how people think they're above the law, everyone should be held accountable for their actions.
2Yes, he should be forced to testify. That is very arrogant of him to think he's above the law. And I agree with Brandynico, avoiding the courts just implies guilt.
On another note, that picture of him makes him look very condescending. Oh yeah, and that tie is hideous!
3Latte, i couldnt agree with you more, his glasses also make him look guilty and that hairstyle , woooo, screams "I am hiding something!"
4I can't believe he's actually using that. There is no such thing as "Executive immunity". That was something that Truman and his lawyers came up with to avoid be called to Congress and I'm surprised that it stuck for as long as it did.
5
6"Rove is no longer "the executive" and immunity doesn't apply anymore"
That is true, and if he is called to testify on anything that happens after that ended, he should have to testify. He shouldn't have to testify on anything that he feels he has "immunity" for, especially concerning anything that happened during the Bush administration.
7I would think a patriot like Rove would be happy to work with Congress and testify. I hope that patriots in Congress are ready to see to it that he does.
8the only teflon guy I know of is the teflon president Obama
9I would think a patriot like Rove would be happy to work with Congress and testify. I hope that patriots in Congress are ready to see to it that he does.
10Huh, I've never seen a double post split itself.
11That's cool, you must've posted at almost the exact same time as chanc, but just a milisecond before.
12Stephley you are so right! I think that Bush set the teflon President standard with Rove and Cheney right along side of him.
13I understand the idea of executive immunity when its something that might have to do with national security. I don't understand how this should apply in this case, makes people seem above the law. I'm somehow reminded of Frost/Nixon.
14I really want their to be justice in the whole situation...but this is only the 7th day Obama has been in office! I think that the economy and foreign policy needs to be the focus right now. Let people slowly build their case, of course, but I think that showing your hand before all the Obama justice staff has been appointed is a bit risky, IMO. Let's not screw this up.
15well since barack has been in office for 7 days today calling him the teflon pres is a wee bit premature. Karl Rove is just something else, there are no polite words i can use to describe him but he isn't presideent so he shouldn't have immunity, he better be ready to open that fat gob of his and sing.
16This guy makes my blood boil
17Of course he should have to testify. Unfortunately, putting someone under oath doesn't guarantee that they'll be honest.
Cool Wren, then we add perjury to the list against him.
18Nyara, Teflon is used to describe someone that criticism doesnt seem to stick too. So it can be used for him regardless of how many days he has been pres.
19i know what the term is caterpillar lol i do speak english lol. I still don't see what Obama has done that's made him teflon that is illegal if it was people who were balanced in their views and weren't hard line conservatives accusing him of things or if they went about it in a better way, maybe then you would all get what you wanted but until they learn to criticise without looking looking or sounding like racist a-holes, obama will still smell sweet. Anyway it would be sweet to see Karl go down, really sweet, if eyes are the window o the soul then he has none.
20"Absolute immunity"? Now there's a euphemism for "above the law."
21I will say I love the term 'Roveian', just trips off the tongue.
22On this issue yeah he needs to talk. This is not a matter of National Security this is basically (office politics) on steriods and somebody played dirty. We need to find out who so we can officially slap their hand and make them look stupid, lol.
23>"Absolute immunity"? Now there's a euphemism for "above the law."
Agreed.
I adore John Conyers.
24"I would think a patriot like Rove would be happy to work with Congress and testify. I hope that patriots in Congress are ready to see to it that he does. "
It's not patriotic to go before a lynch mob. I don't see him getting a fair deal. Going before Congress would only provide legitimacy to the outlandish claims currently levied against him.
25Members of Congress are our elected officials with Constitutional duties to perform on our behalf. If the claims are outlandish, Rove should be willing to put them to rest. If they are not, he should proudly defend himself, IF he actually believes he behaved within the law and on behalf of the American people. Otherwise, he appears to be afraid of the truth.
26Problem is its a 'lynch mob' with a subpeona. So unless he is really above the law, the law states he needs to give a deposition.
27Karl Rove is a bad wannabe imitation of Lee Atwater. Lee would probably be so disappointed in Karl as his successor.
Rove will not respond to a subpoena - ever.
28"Members of Congress are our elected officials with Constitutional duties to perform on our behalf."
29I agree, and hope that they get performing those Constitutional duties. Prosecuting Rove is not one of those duties.
It is their job if laws were broken on his watch - back in September, Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the US attorney firings after a report by the Justice Department found "significant evidence" that several of the attorneys fired in 2006 were let go for partisan or political reasons.
That was Bush's third Attorney General and Justice Dept watchdogs in year six of the Bush Administration - hardly a lynch mob. If Rove is certain everything was proper, let him reassure Congress and the American people. We paid his salary, not Bush.
30Appointing a special prosecuter to investigate does not mean that any laws have been broken, even if they thin they have "significant evidence". When/if they have enough evidence to press charges, then, and only then should they have to answer for anything they have done.
31Interesting that you would suggest that a potential suspect refuse to cooperate until charges have been brought against them. One would think a person who claims to support law and order would want potential suspects to cooperate with authorities.
32Make him testify.
He is NOT above the law of the country, certainly not when he was part of this government, and the very fact he refuses, the very use of a phrase such as "absolute immunity" should make every single citizen's skin crawl.
If he hasn't broken any laws - then come on Karl - step up, you've got nothing to hide...right?
Right??
/crickets
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