Bush Pushes Back

President Bush, in response to congressional pressure to allow his top aides to testify in the investigation of the firing of eight federal prosecutors, made an offer. He vowed to oppose any subpoenas, in court if necessary, but he would allow his aides to testify before Congress in a closed private session, without taking any oaths and would not allow any transcripts of the session.

The House of Representatives Judiciary subcommittee promptly rejected the President's offer and authorised Democratic Representative John Conyers of Michigan, the chairman of the full Judiciary Committee, to issue subpoenas for the following:
Karl Rove, Former White House counsel Harriet Miers, Deputy White House counsel William Kelley, Rove aide Scott Jennings and Kyle Sampson, Gonzales' former chief of staff. The President can claim executive privilege to try to prevent his aides from testifying to Congress. But it can be challenged in court. The Senate Judiciary Committee was expected to authorise subpoenas of its own as part of the widening investigation of the firings.

"We have worked toward voluntary cooperation on this investigation, but we must prepare for the possibility that the Justice Department and White House will continue to hide the truth," said the panel's chairwoman, Democratic representative Linda Sanchez of California.

This could get difficult for the President, who can always claim executive privilege, and have it turned over to the courts, but it begs the question: What does Bush have to hide and why not just let his aides testify?
Keith Olbermann examines the presidential motives behind what looks like the beginnings of a battle between the White House and the Congress:

Part 1

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=haVAZYXSMBM]

Part 2

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=cO3KdYZs40I&mode=related&search=]

Kenneth Eng - A Positive Response

In response to the race-hatred espoused by Kenneth Eng, Maurice Carver of Black Men Screaming hosted a discussion with panelists: Author Adin Kahisi, Jeff Kimble of BDPA and Floyd Mori, National Director Japanese American Citizens League. The discussion focused on how to improve race relations and race sensitivity among Blacks, Asians and other ethnic minorities. Maurice Carver sent me both segments which I highly recommend. We need more cooperation of this type to explore ways to ease racial tensions and promote racial harmony in America. Please watch both segments below:

Part 1

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYckgdoR8NI]

Part 2

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqShFjk6BoE]

The Karl Rove Factor

Karl Rove seems to be involved in everything Republican and now his name is appearing in every Republican scandal. From Scooter Libby to Alberto Gonzales, Karl Rove is there. He is the Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bush and has been credited with both Bush elections. He is the face of Republican politics and is as ubiquitous as the air we breathe.

So it is no real surprise that Karl had a hand in, or at least knowledge of, the firing of the eight Attorney's General that has landed Alberto Gonzales in hot water with Congress. The Karl Rove factor is explored by Keith Olbermann in this two part video clip.

Karl Rove Part 1

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=fMqLrcnHGnE]

Karl Rove Part 2

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=O3Q2l8tbL04]

Gonzales under Pressure

The Attorney General, Alberto R Gonzales, head of the Department of Justice, has brought both the integrity and impartiality of the agency which he heads into question. His chief of staff D. Kyle Sampson has resigned. A growing number of both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have called for his resignation and even President Bush gives him luke warm support. The Senate Judiciary Committee cleared the way for subpoenas compelling five Justice Department officials and six of the U.S. attorneys they fired to tell the story of the purge that has prompted demands for the ouster of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. His job is now in as much danger as the jobs of the eight federal prosecutors who were fired, for what increasingly seems were political reasons.

This all began back in Jan 2005, even before Gonzales was Attorney General. In e-mails recently released it was found that Gonzales, his chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, along with Karl Rove and Harriet Miers both from the White House discussed the matter among themselves. At issue was a suggestion to fire up to 20% of the US Attorneys for "under performing". This was apparently a code word for not being as pro-Bush as Gonzales would have liked. Eventually the eight prosecutors were fired and now Congress is looking into whether the firings were politically motivated.

Gonzales has been forced to admit that during the Congressional hearings into this matter, the Justice Department had not been completely open and honest with Congress.

Gonzales acknowledged his department mishandled the dismissals of eight U.S. attorneys and misled Congress about how they were fired. He said he was ultimately to blame for those "mistakes" but stood by the firings.

"I acknowledge that mistakes were made here," Gonzales told reporters at a news briefing after he canceled an out-of-town trip. "I accept that responsibility." He promised changes "so that the mistakes that occurred in this instance do not occur again in the future."
"I believe very strongly in our obligation to ensure that when I provide information to the Congress that it's accurate and that it's complete. And I am very dismayed that that may not have occurred here," he said.

For nearly two months, Democrats have accused the Justice Department of playing politics with the prosecutors' jobs. They suggested some of the U.S. attorneys were fired for either investigating Republicans or failing to pursue cases against Democrats. Several ousted prosecutors have told Congress they were improperly pressured by Republicans on pending cases.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., renewed his call for Gonzales to resign:

"This purge was based purely on politics, to punish prosecutors who were perceived to be too light on Democrats or too tough on Republicans," Schumer said. "Attorney General Gonzales has either forgotten the oath he took to uphold the Constitution or just doesn't understand that his duty to protect the law is greater than his duty to protect the president."

Schumer, who also accused Karl Rove of complicity in the case, was joined by a host of other Democrats, including national party chairman Howard Dean and presidential hopefuls John Edwards and Hillary Clinton. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., predicted Wednesday that Gonzales would soon be out. "I think he is gone. I don't think he'll last long," Reid said in an interview with Nevada reporters. Asked how long, Reid responded: "Days."

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ak) also calls for Gonzales to resign amid an uncovered plot to get approval for new appointees by deceiving Senators including Mark Pryor himself. See this two part video Part1 and Part2.

Republicans also joined in the criticism.

One Republican, Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire, has publicly urged President Bush to fire Gonzales. Still another GOP lawmaker, this one in the House and not ready to speak out publicly, said Thursday he planned to call next week for Gonzales to step down. And Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., said Thursday Gonzales had lost the confidence of Congress. "The senator believes it would be helpful to have an attorney general that Congress can have more confidence in," said Smith's spokesman, R.C. Hammond.
"Let's give them a chance to respond before we get tough," said Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee. "I'm prepared to get tough, but I want to get tough with a basis for doing so."

An Atheist in Congress

Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) has admitted that he is an atheist. Until recently such an announcement would make it virtually impossible for you to get elected to any political office in the United States. Pete Stark is however in a fortunate position. He has been continuously re-elected to Congress from his district since 1973. He has a safe seat and is in no danger of losing it.

All this came about after The Secular Coalition for America "the only organization in the nation whose primary purpose is lobbying Congress on behalf of atheists, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheistic Americans." offered a $1,000 prize to the person who could identify the "highest-level atheist, agnostic, humanist or any other kind of non-theist currently holding elected public office in the United States." A member of American Atheists California nominated Stark. He was asked to fill out a survey and responded with the following e-mail statement clarifying his views:

"When the Secular Coalition asked me to complete a survey on my religious beliefs, I indicated I am a Unitarian who does not believe in a supreme being. Like our nation's founders, I strongly support the separation of church and state. I look forward to working with the Secular Coalition to stop the promotion of narrow religious beliefs in science, marriage contracts, the military and the provision of social services."

Pete Stark has been listed as Unitarian in previous Congressional religious tabulations. For a religious breakdown of all of the members of Congress, up to and including the 109th (2005-2006) check out this site

The 110th Congress has even more diversity with the inclusion of the first Muslim, Keith Ellison, two Buddhists, Mazie Hirono and Hank Johnson and now the first declared Atheist Pete Stark.