By Chuck Baldwin
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
That Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez lied to Congress now seems obvious. It is also clear that now Congress wants Gonzalez, Karl Rove and others to testify under oath about the matter.
At issue, of course, is the White House firing of eight U.S. attorneys. While everyone (especially Republicans) seems preoccupied with the fact that U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President and may be fired at his discretion, they conveniently overlook the circumstances surrounding their dismissal.
While President Bill Clinton fired all the U.S. attorneys almost immediately after taking office, Bush's White House apparently fired these U.S. attorneys after they had faithfully served his administration for some six years. The cloud of suspicion rises even further when it appears that at least some of these U.S. attorneys were engaged in cases involving government corruption and secret national security grand jury investigations.
At the heart of the firings seems to be U.S. Attorney Carol Lam of California who was reportedly conducting testimony regarding espionage and prostitution/pedophilia sex rings. Clients are reputed to be U.S. senators and congressmen, news reporters and high government officials.
Readers will remember that it was Lam who successfully prosecuted former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham on corruption charges. Apparently, the Cunningham and Jack Abramoff convictions were only the tip of the iceberg. Some suggest that as many as twenty to thirty legislators, numerous high-profile media celebrities, and at least one foreign head of state are involved in what were, before the firings, active investigations.
In addition, the tentacles of these investigations also reach out to include the Valerie Plame affair, which, at its heart, involves evidence that the White House deliberately manufactured evidence regarding Iraq's war capabilities and intentions that ultimately led to the U.S. invasion of that country in 2003.
If any of this is remotely accurate, it is very conceivable that the White House is guilty of obstruction of justice, at the very least.
Now that Congress is threatening to issue subpoenas to White House chieftains forcing them to testify under oath about the matter, President Bush has drawn a defiant line in the sand. He is adamantly refusing to allow his lieutenants to testify. He calls it a matter of "executive privilege."
However, I am reminded of both Bush's and Gonzalez's response to critics of the draconian Patriot Act, and other policies highly invasive to the private lives of American citizens, when they arrogantly replied, "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about." Well, now the shoe is on the other foot. If Bush and Gonzalez have nothing to hide, they have nothing to worry about.
Contrary to the claims of many Republicans, this is no constitutional crisis. The only crisis to the Constitution is the fact that for far too long both major parties have ignored it. It is the duty of Congress to hold the Executive branch in check. The truth is, the Executive branch of the federal government (especially under this President) has accrued more power and authority unto itself than is constitutionally permissible, and it is past time for Congress to rein it in.
Congress, more than the President or Supreme Court, represents the American people. As initially prescribed, the House of Representatives was to directly represent the people, while the Senate was to represent the States. Absent this constitutional safeguard, the presidency would quickly become a monarchy. And, unfortunately, that is what President Bush is attempting to turn the presidency into.
Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzalez should go to Capitol Hill and honestly answer the questions of Congress. If there was any attempt to obstruct justice or hide criminal conduct, the guilty parties should be duly prosecuted, no matter who they are.
Will Congress pursue their duty to the Constitution? Will they sincerely probe for the truth and prosecute the guilty parties? Don't count on it.
Remember back to the Clinton impeachment days: the GOP was just as culpable in hiding damning evidence as were the Democrats. The reason? Too many of their own would be victimized by the fallout if the truth were to get out. The same thing will happen here.
Democrats will use the firing of the eight U.S. attorneys as little more than a political sideshow to try and posture themselves for the 2008 elections. However, they will not seek to uncover the truth and to prosecute the evildoers, as too many of their own would also bite the dust. It is the old "Potomac Two-Step" in motion, once again.
Perhaps, one day (soon I hope) the American people will wake up and wise up and start replacing these two corrupt political parties with some honest, independent men and women who will work to restore honor and integrity in Washington, D.C. In the meantime, enjoy the sideshow.
(c) Chuck Baldwin
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