American monarchy watch

Bush says it's justice department won't prosecute any contempt charges Congress might make against people stonewalling the U.S. Attorney firing investigation:

Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday in the dispute over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, saying that the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House officials once the president has invoked executive privilege.

The position presents serious legal and political obstacles for congressional Democrats, who have begun laying the groundwork for contempt proceedings against current and former White House officials in order to pry loose information about the dismissals.

All you impeachment doubters: I told you so. There is no other mechanism by which to reign in this administration. They see themselves as above everything. The hubris of these people is absolutely disgusting. This is who Republicans are: supporters of unlimited authority for Bush and Cheney. What vileness oozes from these people. Their political movement must be destroyed. It makes me fucking sick.

UPDATE: Of course Greenwald has a detailed take on this. He's less outraged, because he's familiar with the umpteen previous times this administration has done exactly this sort of thing. I like what he says here:

At this point, the blame rests not with the Bush administration. They have long made clear what they believe and, especially, what they are. They have been rubbing in our faces for several years the fact that they believe they can ignore the law and do what they want because nobody is willing to do anything about it. Thus far, they have been right, and the blame rests with those who have acquiesced to it.

It has been six months since the Democrats took over Congress. Yes, they have commenced some investigations and highlighted some wrongdoing. But that is but the first step, not the ultimate step, which we desperately need. Where are the real confrontations needed to vindicate the rule of law and restore constitutional order? No reasonable person can dispute that in the absence of genuine compulsion (and perhaps even then), the administration will continue to treat "the law" as something optional, and their power as absolute. Their wrongdoing is extreme, and only equally extreme corrective measures will suffice.

Amen. Democrats: what is a majority for? Attack this president with everything in your power. Yes, the Republicans will obstruct and defend him. Let 'em do it. Let them stand up for their idol. Let the American people see who these people are. It's going to take more than a Senate sleep-over. You can't remove a tumor by giving the patient Tylenol. You have to do surgery. True, the Republicans probably won't let you, because they're married to the Bush administration, but at least you will be able to look the American people in the eye and say we did everything in our power to get rid of this atrocity of an administration. Who knows? It may even work.

Decades from now, people will scratch their heads and say "Why didn't anybody stop this guy? It was so obvious and blatant!"

Maybe it's time to send my representatives some more impeachment postcards...sigh.