Executive Privilege

Obama invokes executive privilege to shield Holder in the Fast and Furious investigation.

Sen. Grassley has a question:

Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked how Obama could assert executive privilege "if there is no White House involvement?"

A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner said Obama's move "implies that White House officials were either involved in the 'Fast and Furious' operation or the cover-up that followed."

Brush on your Watergaqte and everything after! My quick read of this 2008 Congressional Research review of executive privilege (re: Espy) seems to indicate that the President or his top White House staff need to be involved to assert executive privilege:

Turning to the chain of command issue, the court held that the presidential communications privilege must cover communications made or received by presidential advisers in the course of preparing advice for the President even if those communications are not made directly to the President. The court rested its conclusion on “the President’s dependence on presidential advisers and the inability of the deliberative process privilege to provide advisers with adequate freedom from the public spotlight” and “the need to provide sufficient elbow room for advisers to obtain information from all knowledgeable sources.”101 Thus the privilege will “apply both to communications which these advisers solicited and received from others as well as those they authored themselves. The privilege must also extend to communications authored or received in response to a solicitation by members of a presidential adviser’s staff.”102

The court, however, was acutely aware of the dangers to open government that a limitless extension of the privilege risks and carefully cabined its reach by explicitly confining it to White House staff, and not staff in the agencies, and then only to White House staff that has “operational proximity” to direct presidential decisionmaking.

Well, litigating this should kick the can past November, which is surely the key Admin objective. The CRS has more:

The District of Columbia Circuit’s 2004 decision in Judicial Watch, Inc. v. Department of Justice110 appears to lend substantial support to the above-expressed understanding of Espy. Judicial Watch involved requests for documents concerning pardon applications and pardon grants reviewed by the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney and the Deputy Attorney General for consideration by President Clinton.111 Some 4,300 documents were withheld on the grounds that they were protected by the presidential communications and deliberative process privileges. The district court held that because the materials sought had been produced for the sole purpose of advising the President on a “quintessential and nondelegable Presidential power” — the exercise of the President’s constitutional pardon authority — the extension of the presidential communications privilege to internal Justice Department documents which had not been “solicited and received” by the President or the Office of the President was warranted.112 The appeals court reversed, concluding that “internal agency documents that are not solicited and received by the President or his Office are instead protected against disclosure, if at all, by the deliberative process privilege.”113

This seems to favor Grassley, but I am not a Constitutional lecturer like Obama.

Comments

[BumperStickerist]

Tom,

as these events unfold, let us all recall that Scooter Libby was convicted for less.

Remember Scooter!

[sailor]

But, Bumper, Libby was convicted by way of Fitzgerald, a SP.

[Jim Eagle]

Not according to Ken Klukowski at Breitbart and he has written extensively on EP. I posted this on the other thread and it should be read by all before inserting too much confusion on the matter.

Holder Will Lose Executive Privilege Fight

[lyle]

Thanks for the link, NK. But I have to quibble at this:

Beyond that several factors weigh in favor of Congress and against Holder here. This was domestic policy (not foreign), in an operation out of an agency (not the White House), where crimes may have been committed, and none of the president’s constitutional prerogatives are implicated by the case.

How could this not have some foreign policy angle?

[lyle]

Sorry. I meant JiB.

[Ranger]

OT, but things that make you go Hmmmm:

Egyptian presidential election result delayed

Sounds like a big showdown is comming soon.

[Beasts of England]

Perhaps Obama meant opaque, not transparent - happens all the time.

[iqvoice]

lyle: You mean it was Obama's foreign policy decision to export illegal weapons to Mexico?

Impeach!

[Sue]

JIB,

Thanks for linking that. I must have missed it on the other thread.

[centralcal]

Issa committee voting now on amendments.

[Ignatz]

--A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner said Obama's move "implies that White House officials were either involved in the 'Fast and Furious' operation or the cover-up that followed."--

I'm pretty sure early on there was at least one memo from DOJ to some WH staff flunky.
Doesn't seem like WH involvement of some sort is new. Presidential involvement obviously would be.

[daddy]

Henry,

This Wisconsin recount story says " Wendy Christiansen, the Racine County Clerk, said the same-day registration forms will not be reviewed in the recount. They are looking only at the number of ballots cast and the number votes tallied on the voter logs."

I thought same day registration was illegal, which was the problem with finding those pre-certified ballots behind the Chavez Community Center. Am I correct that same day registration is illegal, and if so, it appears that that part of the recount fraud process will not be dealt with.

Can you verify please.

Also, Cavuto watchers turn the channel from FGOX quick. Next segment will be a video of Kate Upton in a bathing suit with a garden hose.

[centralcal]

All dem amendments voted down.

Voting now on contempt.

[Threadkiller]

Contempt vote now.

The ayes have it!

[Fortyniner Dweet]

Holder now has been caught telling almost as many lies as Teh Won. Does this mean he has higher ambitions?

[Threadkiller]

Boehner better wring out the cry towel.

[centralcal]

GOP Oversight ‏@GOPoversight

23-17: We just sent the #EricHolder #contempt resolution to the full US House of Representatives

[lyle]

iqvoice: Did or did not guns pass over an international border into another sovereign nation whose AG claims she had no knowledge of?

[centralcal]

Getting out of Dodge...

Ed Henry ‏@edhenryTV
Justice press release: "AG Holder will depart for Copenhagen TODAY, WED, JUNE 20, 2012, ... return from Berlin on FRI, JUNE 22, 2012"

[daddy]

Thanks for your 4:04 link Jack.

[daddy]

Drat,

Kate Upton overtaken by the contempt vote on Cavuto.@#$%

[Jane]

What stops these people from destroying the docs and erasing their hard drives. If they are this desperate, I don't see them giving in even if ordered to.

[Porchlight]

Am I correct that same day registration is illegal, and if so, it appears that that part of the recount fraud process will not be dealt with.

Not henry, but I believe same-day reg is legal in WI. For the moment.

The legal issue with those pre-signed ballots may be that the ones that were used were never certified according to same-day reg rules. IOW the voter may have come from out of state and could not verify their residence. But with a pre-signed reg form, voila! No problem. You can envision the scenario - bus pulls up to (or near the polling station), pre-signed reg forms are distributed to passengers, who fill them out with local addresses supplied to them. Poll worker(s) would have been complicit (which is why the empty ones were found in the polling place dumpster).

However, in the recount, my understanding is that all ballots will be recounted regardless of whether they may have been cast fraudulently. I think it will take more than a recount to address the possible fraud.

[rse]

But I will miss page 8.

Please don't tell KK where we all went.

I guess I will have to listen to dear diane tonight to hear what we are now to believe about F&F.

[Porchlight]

The legal issue with those pre-signed ballots

s/b pre-signed registration forms, not ballots. Sorry.

[daddy]

Richard Nixon: "If I had a son with Tawana Brawley he'd look like Barack Obama."

[daddy]

Thank you Porch,

That makes sense.

[lyle]

"That's our broadcast for this evening. On a final, lighter note, Our Benevolent King Obama stepped into a minor squabble between his Dept. of Justice and a handful of hard right congressmen today, claiming his constitutional right of executive priviledge to adjudicate a minor dustup. I'm Brian Williams and thanks for tuning in tonight, Wed., June 20. Good night"

[centralcal]

Only in California - illegal immigrant (entered as child) attends law school, passes bar exam on first try (what legal ID did he use to take exam?) in 2009, and has been working as para legal since (what legal ID did he use for employment?) until he can become lawyer. California now wants to allow illegals to be admitted to the bar.

[narciso]

'You have become tiresome;

http://washingtonexaminer.com/matthews-fast-and-furious-investigation-is-racist/article/2500160?custom_click=rss

[Sara]

I was going to ask what Susan McDougal and Judith Miller think about the vote by the Committee to recommend contempt charges to the full House, but those were both civil contempt and according to "da judge" Napolitano, Holder faces criminal contempt. Either Holder goes under the bus for the remaining few months of the Obama Administration or we could have an AG operating from a jail cell. Is Holder willing to fall that far on his sword to go to jail for the Once?

[narciso]

I would say, look squirrel, but she may not know, in the first place;

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/06/20/sheila-jackson-lee-this-ff-debacle-started-under-bush/

[derwill]

"What stops these people from destroying the docs and erasing their hard drives. If they are this desperate, I don't see them giving in even if ordered to."

Jane, this is why I suspect Issa already has copies of the incriminating docs. He (and through him, the entire GOP congress) is in the act of declaring war on the White House with this contempt hearing. I find it hard to believe they would go there if they didn't already have the kind of proof that would pass muster in a court of law.

[Porchlight]

I just don't see Holder being arrested. I see him resigning first.

[Sue]

I'm trying to figure out if Pelosi is dumb or if she thinks we are dumb. Probably both. Her House held Rove in contempt in 2008. She seems to think we don't remember that.

[Buford Gooch]

Narc, Jackson Lee is dumb as a stump. It's likely that she actually believes all the claptrap that spews from her piehole.

[Janet]

I put this link on the other thread.
The POTUS chewing gum like a madman & wandering around other world leaders...just watch the first 30 seconds.

[Sue]

Janet,

That is what happens when they lose the fear of our leader. Disrespect on full display.

[lyle]

That is what happens when they lose the fear of our leader. Disrespect on full display.

Yep. And the only people left standing with this fraud are the progs in this country.

[centralcal]

Obama looks so pathetic and completely out of his element in that video, Janet.

How addicted is he to Nicorette, anyway?

[Janet]

I didn't know it was that bad, Sue. I read about it, but the video is something. Obama looks like a goof.

[Sue]

He was treated like a goof, too. Putin did a number on him. All that bowing to other leaders finally caught up with him.

[Porchlight]

Even without the gum chewing he looks like an ass circling around with everyone avoiding his eye. It's very embarrassing for the country.

[rse]

Centralcal-that makes sense if you think about the law as public policy advocacy.

Three guesses on what areas of public policy an illegal immigrant with bar privileges would be interested in.

[Jane]

He (and through him, the entire GOP congress) is in the act of declaring war on the White House with this contempt hearing.

Derwill,

I hope you are right, but I'm not sure they have it in them - a few do, Gowdy, Chavetz, but not all of them.

[Jim Eagle]

Sue,

But, but, he won. Didn't he?

Did you hear that Breitbart's crew have already found 38 lies in Dreams as a contradiction of the Maraniss book. By the time they are done it will be over a 100.

He is what I continue to call - A Made-Up Man.

But who made him up? Whoever it is he has pulled off the greatest scam in history.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

I'm trying to figure out if Pelosi is dumb or if she thinks we are dumb.

She just thinks she's smarter than we are. From that, the second follows.

[Danube of Thought]

"What stops these people from destroying the docs and erasing their hard drives."

The fact that they can't be certain no one else will know about it, and that someone who does may be asked about it under oath. You'd have to believe that everyone will risk a felony conviction to cover for you.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

The POTUS chewing gum like a madman & wandering around other world leaders.

Nicorette. Betcha a buck.

[Threadkiller]

If Issa already has in his possession documents, that Obama is trying to suppress with Executive Privilege, will those documents be considered invalid if Privilege is upheld?

[daddy]

Janet,

Thanks for that gum chewing video.

What a Jackass is our president and boy do they despise him.

[Dave (in MA)]

At least he didn't face-block any Mongolian Presidents this time around.

[Danube of Thought]

Susan McDougal and Judith Miller were in contempt of court, not of congress. I don't know whether or to what extent that makes a difference.

[Porchlight]

Nicorette. Betcha a buck.

Yeah, we talked about that this morning. Agree but I still don't understand why he doesn't use a patch.

[Threadkiller]

Hannity just asked Rep. Gowdy what would be Holder's fate if the full House finds him in contempt.

Gowdy said the case would get handed over to a US Attorney for prosecution.

Ugh..

[henry]

Daddy, Porchlight is correct- same day registration with valid proof of 28 days residence in voting ward is legal in WI.

The recount assumes all votes cast are legal.

The fraud is being investigated by the Racine County Sheriff and DA. Two sets of problems, both tied to same day registration (and by extension early / absentee voting): pre signed registration forms point to a lack of any verification of residency, and use of hand written rental receipts ( not a valid form of proof) and use of utility bills addresses to "occupant" point to a failure to enforce residency requirements.

After the recount (due no later than July 2), the GAB certifies, then the candidates have 3? weeks to file a challenge in court. The fraud will come into play here.

[sailor]

Being the eternal pessimist, I do not think anything will come of this. Holder will skate and also O. The Republicans will be painted as being on a "witch hunt," and some of the wimpy ones will fold.

[Jane]

The fact that they can't be certain no one else will know about it, and that someone who does may be asked about it under oath. You'd have to believe that everyone will risk a felony conviction to cover for you.

It seems to me that is less of a risk in Chicago politics than in Washington politics. And I have no doubt he is playing Chicago politics.

[Comanche Voter]

Saying that Sheila Jackson Lee is as dumb as a stump is an insult to honest stumps in every forest.

[Danube of Thought]

When Gowdy first showed up in congress I recognized him right away from a couple of Forensic Files episodes about cases he prosecuted in S. Carolina. Liked him then and now.

[Clarice]

Correction, narciso:Sheila Jackson Lee, B.A. Yale ;J.D. Univ of Va.

[Stephanie]

((If Issa already has in his possession documents, that Obama is trying to suppress with Executive Privilege, will those documents be considered invalid if Privilege is upheld? ))

Release to the public then throw yourself on the mercy of the people. Then it's up to the judge to say "disregard those documents you saw on the Internet or tv or heard about on the radio or read in the paper". Yep that works well. ACME Inc is sure to blow the response.

[Porchlight]

Thanks, henry. You always write with such clarity.

[Gus]

Folks the Fast and Furious RAT HOLES go from the DOJ to the WHITEHOUSE and BACK.
This was a PLAN. It was POLITICAL from start until it finishes. It was OBAMA and Holder working together for a common goal.
GUN CONTROL.
Obama CANNOT throw HOLDER under the BUS.

If you smell what I'm cooking.

The end of Obama's reign is near.

[GMax]

OK vacation almost over and I am back in DFW. Is Holder and Obama both out of their minds? I guess they might believe that somehow they are going to brand this a witchhunt and make it stick, but I doubt it. Looks awful dumb to me, these are potential criminal charges and obstructing justice got Scooter Libby a jail cell for an address so its not beyond the pale...

[Rick Ballard]

"But who made him up?"

It appears Howard Dean spent the Soros, Bing, Lewis dough on ACME Candidate Design Consultants.

The current Just Us Bruthas play seems straight out of the ACME Political Strategery Manual. There is no way this works politically for Obama or for Attorney General My People.

[Porchlight]

Via HotAir:

The family of ICE agent Jaime Zapata, who was also killed with a gun involved in Fast & Furious, announced today that they’re filing a wrongful death suit against the DOJ and other federal agencies.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-57457277-10391695/ice-agents-family-files-claim-against-doj/

[centralcal]

Welcome back GMax, hope the vacation was restful and you are returning here soon to keep the optimism flowing.

[centralcal]

Who is it who watches Ann Curry and Matt Lauer every morning (due to their wife)? Brian Stelter is saying Ann Curry is getting the ax before July.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

I think the litigators on the thread will recognize the Holder ploy as a variation on the tactics of big firm defense lawyers in class action, mass tort and anti-trust cases.

DOT is right that the antidote to such tactics is fear of the mole, or the document which is already in the plaintiffs' hands.

Just after I left the service, I defended a case in which there was a damning letter that was sent by an alleged perp to one of my client's high ranking officials. I was advised by some of the more devious lawyers in my firm (none of whom were trial lawyers, but all of whom were senior to me) that the letter should "...never see the light of day". Having prosecuted several hundred cases in the army, I ignored that advice, dug into the facts and came up with contextual evidence that significantly lessened the impact of the letter. Good thing, too. The letter was opposing counsel's Exhibit 1. The alleged perp's secretary was a friend of his client, made a copy of the letter and passed it on. We won the case, but would have surely lost it had I not had enough trial experience to ignore the bad advice.

[Jim Eagle]

What this does is now make it national news on the legacy media even if apologetic and reassuring. That has not been the case for the last 2 years.

This.Story.Did.Not.Exist

So, how does this help Obama with a sympathetic media and a confused, unknowing electorate or how does it help Romney by showing a US sponsored terrorism campaign?

Terrorism is the targetting of innocents with weapons like those in F&F.

I disagree with some on the right - this will not end well for Obama and Holder.

[GMax]

Thanks CC.

[daddy]

Thank you Henry.

OT---If anyone cares, Not Everybody Loves Whales.

Local paper says that the Ted Danson/Dru Barrymore Alaskan Whale flick "was also something of a flop at the box office" so it is now coming out on DVD.

Paper sez it coast in the mid 30 millions to make and took in just over 20 million, and it also tells us that the Ted Danson bad guy character was based on real Alaskan bad guy Bill Allen of Ted Steven's infamy.

[derwill]

Jane, that's why I think Issa's already got the goods. I don't think he and the committee would have dared to go ahead and hold a hearing and then vote to hold Holder in contempt without Boehner's pre-approval, because once that hearing was held and the vote was taken, it became too late to turn all squishy and back down. And I just can't imagine that Boehner would have given the green light for that hearing today if there was even the remotest chance that there's no smoking gun at all in those documents. Because they've got to know the Dems and their lapdogs in the media were going to scream racism and witch hunt right on cue. Rather, this whole thing has seemed orchestrated to me, like Issa never expected to get the docs in the first place, because he already knows what's in them, and it's so bad that even with the MSM in Obama's pocket it can't be ignored or spun away.

[Danube of Thought]

"Well, litigating this should kick the can past November, which is surely the key Admin objective."

Clinton made his executive privilege claim on behalf of Blumenthal and Lindsey on March 18, 1998. The District Court for D.C. denied it on may 6.

[Gus]

Did Valerie Plame die when Richard Armitage, Colin Powells boy, leaked that she "worked" for the CIA?
Did Scooter Libby give thousands of guns to MEXICAN DRUG cartels,then refuse subpoenas from Congress?

Obama is toast. He cannot dump Holder, Holder has him by his tiny balls.

[GMax]

Did Obama think the inevitable comparisons with Tricky Dick Nixon was going to run to his advantage?

Rasmussen has the congress generic to be +7. I see no way this helps the Democrats, both Republicans and Indys think they are hiding something, and at least a few still hanging around Democrats will throw up in disgust.

[Stephanie]

This will not be seen as a republicans taking their eye off the economy as Beckel claims either. The contempt vote will come next week and it will move back to page 10 in the papers after that.

Unfortunately for Obama, if something isn't on the front pages doesn't mean it isn't happening.

This isn't like Clinton's impeachment with the 24/7 hearings and claims of 'just sex.' There won't be any 24/7 broadcast of hearings since it is 'just murder' and the media dares not go to wall to wall coverage of 'just murder.' Can't spin that. No way no how. Not when you can't control what the witnesses may say and the families brought in to sit in court.

Obama may well wish that it goes 24/7 to take the heat off him vis a vis the economy claiming it is the republicans taking their eye off the economic ball, but there is no upside to this 'sideshow.' It is not of ACME's manufacture and it reeks of a mole that will blow up in their faces should they try to manage it. Somewhere there is a Woodward or Drudge waiting to make his bones...

[dublindave]

The black man just can't seem to catch a break in these here America's.

Trayvon Martin=shot dead by Whitey

Barrack Obama=hunted down by White birthers

Eric holder=held in contempt on some ginned up charge by White politicians.

Rodney King=beaten up by White cops

Martin luther King=shot dead by White racist

It's just skin color guys.It's nothing to be frightened of.

[Gus]

GMAX, Obamateteur has stepped on his little ameteur dick. He bit off more than he could chew. He and HackHolder decided that WE as AMERICAN citizens, could not be trusted with certains guns. He set out to prove that, by asserting that OUR GUNS were killing MEXICANS. Nice political ploy, that was ill concieved and spun WAY out of control, including the death of at least 2 AMERICAN L.E.O's. This shit is DEAD SERIOUS, and Obama is at the center.

[matt]

This is being played on two or three different battlefields. First there is the executive vs. legislative; then, it looks like it may edge into criminal law; the third is of course the political, which is where Obama and Holder want it to stay.

That way Jackson Lee and the Left can play the angles politically and maybe even win.

Much harder will be the criminal. Holder will do his best to taint anything he can get his hands on if he hasn't done so already.

There is sealed Grand Jury testimony involved as well, which can never see the light of day unless ordered so by the presiding judge as far as I know.

Then there is the stuff passed by moles and others wanting to bring Holder down.

Issa's file is extensive, but he had better have a few master prosecutors looking over his shoulder.

There are federal employees who are accessories to murder in the Terry case and Holder has been withholding critical evidence. The stakes could not be higher. depending upon how deep Holder is in this mess he may well serve time when it is all said and done, but that is a huge if.

Imagine a bumper sticker, though with a picture of Holder and a simple phrase "150 Mexicanos muerto con Fast y Furioso".

[daddy]

Shades of Fitzmas,

Reading this Daily Caller story about Nancy Pelosi saying that as House Speaker she could have had Karl Rove arrested any day and stuck in a Capitol Prison, it brings to mind Lawrence O'Donnell's promise that Karl Rove would be "frog marched out of the White House."

Googling "lawrence o'donnell frog marching karl rove" the first site that popped up was this one, Valerie Plame from Source Watch.

Have no idea what blog that is, but in Para 2 is a link to Just one Minute of September 27, 2003. That's where TM apparently first tagged Corn as "starting the scandal". Viewing the JOM comments, the only regular I recognize is Narciso.

Anyhow, I wonder if O'Donnell was always just blowing smoke out his arse or if he was talking to delusional Nan?

[henry]

Thanks Porchlight. My work life has been flow charts for 30+ years, clear presentation of dull topics pulled from conflicting narratives is easy. Actual prose is a challenge.

[GMax]

Boy I was looking for some fresh stupidity and was coming up empty but Double Douchebag shows up and fills up the bucket to overflowing...

A federal agent died and AG Holder never even called his next of kin Double Douche.

[Rick Ballard]

Gus,

Please don't forget the hundreds of Mexicans killed by the narco-terrorists armed by Obama/Holder. You can dig up numerous photos of Mexican victims beheaded by the narco-terrorists.

How does Obama choose which terrorists to arm and which ones to hit with a Hellfire?

Darts?

[Captain Hate]

Who is it who watches Ann Curry and Matt Lauer every morning (due to their wife)? Brian Stelter is saying Ann Curry is getting the ax before July.

That would be me. Good riddance; even Mrs H doesn't like her.

[Captain Hate]

How does Obama choose which terrorists to arm and which ones to hit with a Hellfire?

Darts?

Smoke rings.

[Stephanie]

Something else that occurs to me:

There was no facebook when Clinton was being impeached.

Even if they (either the WH or LSM) try to bury F&F post contempt proceedings, the info will leak out via facebook postings. Even to those in your timeline that post nothing more than family/funny/music and don't watch 'the news' it's gonna end up in their timelines... for most of those low info voters, facebook is the news. And they ARE going to see it.

[GMax]

Gus

Zero has stepped into a steaming pile and has it all over both shoes and its stinks to high heaven. Why would he inject himself, when he has been claiming he knew nothing about it? I think there just might be a very explosive connection here. Issa is extremely bright, he would not go off half cocked. Some chicken is stewing in a pot, just waiting for serving by the Chairman.

[Janet]

Obama is toast. He cannot dump Holder, Holder has him by his tiny balls.

Known as 'Chiclets'...staying with the Obama gum chewing motif.

[Chubby]

I'm surprised that there are any documents left to protect. I would have thought they'd have destroyed all incriminating evidence long ago.

[Neo]

Speaking of coverups ...

Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett (R), who once flirted with the idea President Obama wasn’t born in the United States, now says he thinks the president lied about being born in Kenya in order to get into college.

Said Bennett: “Now, I know there’s a lot of people that are very skeptical as to whether he was born in Hawaii. Personally I believe that he was. I actually believe he was fibbing about being born in Kenya when he was trying to get into college and doing things like writing a book and on and on and on.”

Bennett also said he thinks Obama has spent as much as two million of dollars to cover it up.

[GMax]

Is Zero becoming radioactive? I would assert this says "yes indeedy"

At least half a dozen Democratic officials have said in recent days that they won't attend the Democratic National Convention this September in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the president will formally receive the party's nomination for a second term. The latest: New York Democratic Reps. Bill Owens and Kathy Hochul, both of whom won special elections in recent years – in 2009 and 2011, respectively – that were heralded by party leaders.

"I guarantee that my time will be better spent meeting the farmers, small business owners and other people who put me here," Hochul told The Daily today.

A spokesman for Owens gave a similar explanation.

"He just has a packed schedule back home," he said.

This comes on the heels of Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Critz saying he'd opt out, and a trio of West Virginia Democrats — Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Sen. Joe Manchin and Rep. Nick Rahall — all doing the same. Even though most of the convention-skippers have claimed they'd simply rather spend time back home, the political undertones are clear. After all, these Democrats share one thing in common: They answer to a conservative-leaning electorate that, at best, views Obama with a great deal of skepticism.

So skipping a late-summer convention that doubles as a love-fest for Obama is something of a political no-brainer, especially considering the fact that a week full of extravagant parties doesn't make for the best optics with the country still in the midst of a fragile economic recovery.

[Gus]

GMAX...BINGO. If Obama shits on Holder, Holder shits on Obama.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave".

Btw. I'm, so proud that my WeeWeeDouchebagDave moniker has taken root. What a blithering waist of Sperm and Egg.

[Gus]

Neo, the firm that tried to get Obama published may now claim that THEY ACCIDENTALLY OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE, BY ACCIDENT, WITHOUT ANY NUDGING FROM OBAMA, MADE A TEEEEEEENY MISTAKE, by stating that Obama was born in Kenya. WTF believes that now? It dove tails with his MADE UP BIO, as written and by Bill Ayers. His fake girlfriends etc etc etc, his briefcase and suit at his first job etc etc etc. All of it is manufactured to AID Obama. To think Obama wouldn't lie on FINANCIAL AID APPS, is beyond NAIVE. Obama is an effing liar, thru and thru.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

matt:

There are at least two Republican "master prosecutors" on Issa's committee, Pat Meehan and Trey Gowdy. Meehan was DA for Delaware County (Suburban Philadelphia) who then served as US Attorney for the Eastern District of PA (Philadelphia area) from 2001 until 2010 when he was elected to Congress. Gowdy was an experienced federal and state prosecutor with 16 years trial experience before he was elected, also in 2010.

I suspect there are others on the committee staff who have some prosecutorial experience.

[narciso]

That was probably among my first appearances,
on this blog, daddy, the Sourcewatch conveniently doesn't note that Novak's column was responding to an earlier Spencer 'throw them to a plate glass window' Ackerman and Judis piece. Also note in the related links, Larissa Alexandrova, one of Kimberlin's associates, who sounds like she should be played by Scarlett Johanson, but not really.

[Gus]

Hello Jim. Gowdy, and Meehan aren't soaking their hands in Palmolive liquid. They know the ropes, and they must be involved up to their eyeballs. Holder is in WAY over his head. I hate to say it, but I firmly believe it. Holder is/was/and has been AFFIRMATIVE ACTION his entire career. He isn't competent, he works ONLY from a position of power and authority. From Marc Rich, to Phillie Black Panthers, to Fast and Furious, to Pigford and on and no, ALL of his participation has been for POLITICAL purposes. District Attorneys, and U.S.ATTORNEYS don't get a pass for the most part. Produce, be competent or BYE BYE.

[Sara]

Issa says they have received 7000 of 80,000 documents. The 80,000 figure comes from the IG, or so it is reported. Does this mean the IG has seen these 80,000 documents?

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

What has happened to Jill Abramson's reportage on F&F? IIRC, she was the only member of the MSM covering it in depth.