10 days ago, Vermont Senator Leahy grilled Alberto Gonzales on the question of a Canadian citizen we kidnapped, transported to Syria, and tortured. Gonzales demurred and said he would provide information to Leahy in one week. Leahy granted the week and threatened further hearings if Gonzales did not respond within the week.
On the 29th, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reminding of her delinquent homework from the 11th:
...I asked, "Is it the position of this administration that it possesses the authority to take unilateral action against Iran, in the absence of a direct threat, without congressional approval?"
At that time you were loath to discuss questions of presidential authority, but you committed to provide a written answer. Since I have not yet received a reply, the purpose of this letter is to reiterate my interest in your response.
This is, basically, a "yes" or "no" question regarding an urgent matter affecting our nation’s foreign policy. Remarks made by members of this administration strongly suggest that the administration wrongly believes that the 2002 joint resolution authorizing use of force in Iraq can be applied in other instances, such as in the case of Iran. I, as well as the American people, would benefit by fully understanding the administration's unequivocal response.
Ah, Jim Webb. Dreamy.
Now Leahy is back in the act (can't let that freshman get ahead of the dues weary) along with Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA), hitting Gonzales again but this time on the same question being asked of Condi.
Which brings us to the question, what happens if they don't answer? Can we start indicting them for Contempt of Congress?
What if they give inadequate or, worse, wiseass answers?
Will they be spanked?
Will the Administration be stopped?
With Americans wishing the Bush Presidency was please please please over already at 58%, will the Democratic Party successfully execute the will of the people and shut them down for insolence?
2 comments:
These punks don't like answering questions & boyoboy are they in for a tough 2 years.
btw: i'm seeing the online firestorm created by Joe Biden's rather unfortunate comments & I'm wondering: Does anyone really think that even under the best circumstances Biden will be in the race beyond Memorial Day of 2007?
Over the past few years, with quite a bit of help from the weekend gasbags, Biden has managed to rebrand himself (sort of) as an elder statesman (which sadly says more about his colleagues than him). Yet, anyone with any kind of memory knows that Joe, while a seemingly nice & kinda fun guy, is a nincompoop. In fact: he's almost a US Senator out of central casting.
Expect him to weather today's storm, but understand that there are a million more comments like today's percolating inside his spacious skull, waiting for the most inopportune time at which to pop out.
-m
I have to say I've always had a soft spot for Joe Biden, maybe because when he's on The Daily Show he seems like a guy I'd want to have a drink with. And I think he's right about defacto partitioning as well.
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