Glen Greenwald: Congressional oversight is a linchpin of how our democracy works

[babylonsister]

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/03/25/oversight/index.html

Sunday March 25, 2007 10:55 EST
Congressional oversight is a linchpin of how our democracy works

(updated below - updated again)

It is so inescapably clear that Alberto Gonzales repeatedly lied about what occurred with the U.S. attorney firings that the national media and even many Bush supporters are clearly acknowledging that fact. But what needs to be constantly emphasized is that there is nothing aberrational in any way about Gonazles' behavior in this case.

There is one thing and one thing only distinguishing this U.S. attorneys scandal from all of the others over the past six years: namely, because Democrats now have subpoena power and seem willing to use it, the administration is forced to disclose actual evidence and documents -- rather than simply issue unscrutinized and uninvestigated denials of wrongdoing -- and that evidence demonstrates that their claims are false. In the past, this is how every scandal transpired:

1. Questions about administration conduct are raised.

2. Administration denies wrongdoing.

3. Administration officials selectively and voluntarily disclose exculpatory documents, appear before Congress, assure everyone that safeguards are in place, deny wrongdoing, and claim the conduct in question is used only for proper purposes (e.g., protecting country again terrorism).

4. Administration followers -- led by those controlling Congress -- insist that no investigation is needed because Official X made clear that there are safeguards in place protecting us and everything is being done for proper purposes.

5. Congressional Republicans block Congressional investigations, compel no disclosure of evidence, do nothing to investigate administration claims.

6. Scandal ends, unresolved.

That pattern has repeated itself over and over and over for six years now -- from controversies over secret and illegal surveillance programs to torture, black sites and rendition. In the U.S. attorneys case, everything proceeded according to script -- Alberto Gonazles did what he and other Bush officials always do: namely, issue false statements about what they did in order to conceal their wrongdoing and mislead everyone about what our Government is doing.

more...

[Bitwit1234]

1. Explain this republicans

Gonzales said he did not fire the attorneys.
Rove said he had nothing to do with it.
Bush said he was not at fault. And I know damn well, I didn't.

So who fired the attorneys. After all the law says the president of the United States is the only one who has the authority....congress should investigate that. Oh oh FLASH FLASH...President Clinton did it...they'll blame him next.

[maddezmom]

3. I think they are trying to say, Battle, Sampson, Mercer and McNulty

did all the heavy lifting but someone signed off. I think it goes down like this, Karl(speaking for *) gives Miers the greenlight, she passes the info to Sampson. He tells Gonzo and the plan goes into action.

[Donnachaidh]

2. k&r!

kick this up there please!