White House Seeks Lawyer Wise to Ways of Congress - by Jim Rutenberg at the NY Times

[applegrove]

January 6, 2007
White House Seeks Lawyer Wise to Ways of Congress
By JIM RUTENBERG
The New York Times

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 — President Bush is seeking a new chief lawyer with credentials as a proven combatant as he and his staff prepare for a potential raft of investigations from Democrats in Congress who have promised to challenge the White House’s conduct of policy and its assertions of executive power.

Republicans who have consulted with administration officials on personnel said the White House chief of staff, Joshua B. Bolten, was looking for a seasoned Washington hand to succeed Harriet E. Miers, the White House counsel who announced her resignation on Thursday.

Republicans said Friday in interviews that the White House was now, in essence, seeking a politically savvy outsider with ties throughout the capital and in Congress who might be called upon to become something of a public figure in potentially high-profile fights.

“They need somebody who can sit down face-to-face with an ornery committee chairman and work out a conflict over an oversight request,” said Bradford A. Berenson, a former associate counsel for Mr. Bush during his first term. “The job will require a certain minimum level of stature and a minimum level of political experience.”

...........SNIP"

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/06/washington/06counsel.html?ei=5090&en=19e27fd62e6ae6be&ex=1325739600&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[BOSSHOG]

1. Can't have no namby pamby harriet meyers

bush needs a classic republican hateful, spiteful, meanspirited son of a bitch to keep his worthless ass out of trouble. Cooperate with a committee seeking the truth? No fucking way. Good for bush that hateful, spiteful, mean spirited republican sonsabitches are a dime a dozen in dc and on your radio waves.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. That's why Harriet

was turned out to pasture. There is no way she could handle the coming legal battles Bush/Cheney are about to face.

[jimshoes]

3. How do you word the ad for that?

Wanted: Lawyer wanted, willing to subvert the US Constitution.

[John Q. Citizen]

This is very interesting especially in light of your Begala -"Strategy

of Massive Resistance" post.

It says the same thing in an entirely different way.

Which means anyway you slice it, this return to congressional over site period is going to be a major battle for the hearts and minds of the American people, if not a physical battle over various security forces within the US.

[applegrove]

5. Yes - I didn't know if I should post twice on the same subject but figured

it happens anyway on the DU..why not.

[John Q. Citizen]

7. I think it's important to get both stories out there because they are different

yet reinforcing.

People should think about getting organized for what is obviously coming.

I have a feeling that presence in the streets and activism through media/lobbying etc is going to be critical to the next 12 to 18 months. This could escalate to cancellation of elections, not that it will, but people need to be thinking about whether they will be sheep or participants in this looming struggle.

It looks as if bush see's what ahead and is going to try the passive/agressive "fuck you" to the people.

[Tellurian]

13. Why should people get organised?

And for what reason?

[John Q. Citizen]

14. To oppose the whole concept of the unitary presidency.

It looks like

bush may be preparing to completely ignore congress, and the will of the people, and rule as an autocrat.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=254996

If so, we need to be thinking about appropriate responses.

[Tellurian]

15. WE....do not have the power for appropriate responses..

Congress does...It is they who must work on repairing the Constitution FIRST.

Any public protest will be deemed a threat (to the president) by the Bush WH..

He will then play his TRUMP Card and declare Martial Law..suspending
the Constitution completely and all further elections..

If you don't believe me, read this:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/sep/29/the_star_chamber

[John Q. Citizen]

16. Well then we better get busy forcing his hand. I say make him declare

Martial law for peaceful public protest and dissent.

Taking to the streets, lobbying our congress critters, creating our own media, just saying no to the king. If we say no long and loud enough, we will win.

Hopefully, bush will play by the constitution, repaired or otherwise. But I'm not holding my breath.

[Tellurian]

17. uh...no, JQC..with your plan we're stymied..

I HATE being stymied!!!! Whats more, I REFUSE to be STYMIED!

We can do better..just be patient is all..

If we build it..it will come..

[John Q. Citizen]

18. Use 'em or lose 'em I always say! n/t

[Tellurian]

19. Your enthusiasm is duly noted..JQC

and appreciated. My emotional side agrees with you 100%.
The intellectual side rules on patience and deliberation as the
keys to a successful outcome for us.

There is always a remedy to a crisis. We just have to find the best
and right key to unlock the door * has so arrogantly closed on us.

I'm sure there are people as we type, researching a strategy to make it so.

Please have faith mankind prefers freedom of survival to slavery and/or cataclysmic destruction.

[John Q. Citizen]

4. oops self delete/dupe post

[applegrove]

6. Oh you weren't talking about the whole OP, just yourself. Yes I agree

looking at a story from multiple direction is the best way to go.

[monmouth]

8. Hmmmmm, Ken Starr??? Now there's a cretin..

[Demeter]

9. Bush Really Ought to Consider Johnny Cochran

Although I doubt he'd take the job....a man has to have some standards.

[madmax]

10. He died. n/t

[Demeter]

11. Well, That Explains Why It's Been So Quiet Out West.

My belated condolences to those who cared.

[applegrove]

12. and he passed away a few years ago.

[Rageneau]

20. Restorin' honor and decency to the White House is horde work!

Man ain;t got a lawyer ain't got nothin' on his side but the truth.

Which in this case, won't do the trick.