In this case, I mean the term wacky in an affectionate manner.  Yesterday a House Committee voted to "endorse the criminal prosecution of President Bush's chief of staff, Joshua Bolten, and former White House Counsel [and abortive Supreme Court Candidate], Harriet E. Miers for refusing to cooperate with a congressional probe into the firings of U.S. Attorneys last year."  This according to today's LA Times article: "House Panel OKs contempt proceedings".

(Is it just me or shouldn't it be "okays"?)

As background, the White House was heavily involved in the firing of several U.S. Attorneys in 2006.  Firing U.S. attorneys midterm is not unusual in and of itself.  What does appear to be unusual about the firings is they seemed to target those attorneys who were pursuing cases of political corruption against Republicans.

The question behind yesterday's move by Congress is whether or not it's just a political ploy during election season...or if a criminal contempt charge has the power to force the issue of "executive privilege"--that all encompassing cloak behind which this administration has been hiding since 9/11 became the far-fetched justification for invading Iraq.

The question isn't moot.  Dem's in congress are more than capable of cynical ploys.  And, as was pointed out yesterday, the contempt citations would need to be prosecuted by the Justice Department (you know, where non-loyalists are targeted for firing).  Not surprisingly, Justice has already said they won't prosecute.

However, the contempt citations are a way of applying pressure to the White House.  I'm also encouraged by the speculation that the House might take the unusual step of filing a civil complaint against Miers and Bolten.  (Miers didn't even bother to show up for her hearing...speaking of contempt.)  It's a long shot to hope that a civil court would take on parsing the legal nuances of executive privilege...but sometimes the dark horse wins.  In this case, it would be a win for all of us if it clarifies what qualifies (strategic decisions in legitimate wars?) and what doesn't (political hacks firing "non-partisan" attorneys?) as executive privilege.

Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary and former Fox News commentator, said yesterday that the contempt citations were "pathetic." 

No.  What is pathetic is that we have sacrificed our national honor on the altar of Dubya's failed foreign policy while our domestic economic situation has been mortgaged. 

Snow went on to ask why congress was pursuing the citations instead of "doing the people's business?"  The best answer to his question is that pulling in the reins on this out-of-control administration is the most vital aspect of the people's business right now.

Go, you wacky Dems!

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