Obama seeks delay of Rove Deposition…Good Old Boy Network survives

Published on February 17th, 2009

Former Bush Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove has a new president urging Congress not to force him to testify next week. President Barack Obama.

In a court brief quietly filed Monday, Michael Hertz, Obama’s acting assistant attorney general, said it was necessary to delay an effort to force Rove to be deposed in a congressional investigation into the firing of nine US Attorneys and the alleged political prosecution of a former Alabama governor. Hertz said an effort was underway to find a “compromise” for Rove, and requested two weeks to broker a deal before proceeding in court. The House Judiciary Committee sued the Bush Administration to force Rove to testify last year, saying that Rove shouldn’t be covered by executive privilege. They won. But their case has been held up by an appeal, and Hertz’s filing was the Obama administration’s first legal weighing-in on the matter. Obama’s Justice Department has supplanted the role of Bush’s Justice Department in the case, and their position will likely inform the terms under which Rove is questioned by Congress.

Hertz’s statement mirrors a statement from Obama White House Counsel Gregory Craig published Saturday.

“The president is very sympathetic to those who want to find out what happened,” Craig told The Washington Post. “But he is also mindful as president of the United States not to do anything that would undermine or weaken the institution of the presidency. So, for that reason, he is urging both sides of this to settle.”

This deal was probably cut before the election. I hope everyone is enjoying all this change.

Found by Ian Warner

63 users responded in " Obama seeks delay of Rove Deposition…Good Old Boy Network survives "

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# 1 Derek said, on February 17th, 2009 at 10:08 am

Yep. Good job Obama voters. This is completely different than past presidents. You really voted for change this time, didn’t you. Ah well, at least you had your feel good moment.

# 2 Dallas said, on February 17th, 2009 at 10:12 am

While our country burns down in economic collapse, the last thing Obama needs is a war with the criminal element in this Congress – the Republicans.

I hear you. Obama needs to swiftly prosecute before they flee to a foreign country without extradition. Note that in Vermont, Cheney is to be arrested on sight. So, not even in the 50 states are these criminals protected.

Sadly, Obama has to deal with a congress filled with criminal republicans.

# 3 Named said, on February 17th, 2009 at 10:25 am

Mark,

“I hope everyone is enjoying all this change.” When all the cash has been given to Wall Street, all the Americans have left is the spare change…

And that’s not very much.

# 4 Improbus said, on February 17th, 2009 at 10:40 am

I can wait for the long knives to come out … as long as they do come out eventually. If it gets bad enough (economy, et al) we will need some scape goats to lynch.

# 5 Mike said, on February 17th, 2009 at 10:49 am

I think Obama will do more damage to the country with his porkulus bill than Rove could have ever done. Dallas, by the way, you are an absolute retard. Mike

# 6 Thermo said, on February 17th, 2009 at 10:49 am

“Change we can believe in”.
All you believers have now been changed into suckers.

# 7 Ah_Yea said, on February 17th, 2009 at 10:57 am

Ok, Obama first said:
“By continuing to act as the most secretive White House in modern history, the Bush Administration has once again placed itself above the law in order to hide its abuse of our justice system from the American people. On the first day of an Obama Administration, we will launch the most sweeping ethics reform in history to shed sunlight on the decisions made by government and put the interests of the American people at the center of every decision that’s made.”

But now Obama’s guy says:
“he is also mindful as president of the United States not to do anything that would undermine or weaken the institution of the presidency”

So now holding people responsible for what they do, no matter what position they held, could “undermine the Presidency”.

Hummm….

# 8 9yo said, on February 17th, 2009 at 11:04 am

Can I get a wooden nickel with that change?

# 9 Alfred1 said, on February 17th, 2009 at 11:07 am

It is naive to believe a deal was made with “the old boys…” Obama is watching out for number #…if executive privilege doesn’t protect Rove…neither does it protect Emmanuel Rahm or David Axelrod…

Make our day…open the door for us…Rove is guilty of only a little…, the same probably won’t be true of Emmanuel….

# 10 Troublemaker said, on February 17th, 2009 at 11:12 am

Change You Can Believe In

LOL…

Suckers!

# 11 Named said, on February 17th, 2009 at 11:17 am

You got it. I relate politicians and their institutions (Parliament, Senate, Congress) as a thieves den. Everyone is guilty of something… so long as you don’t point a finger, everyone will talk big words and when the time comes rally round the family and protect your wrongdoings. Idiots like Mark Foley always get sold out from the outside, even though the Pols will still support them.

It’s almost a forgone conclusion. If politician X is vehemently against child pornography, he’s probably got the largest collection of it ever.

# 12 Ah_Yea said, on February 17th, 2009 at 11:40 am

“It’s almost a forgone conclusion. If politician X is vehemently against child pornography, he’s probably got the largest collection of it ever.”

Truer words were never said! (Larry Craig, anyone?)

# 13 jbella said, on February 17th, 2009 at 11:41 am

I think the most annoying thing of all is the fact that for the next 4 to 8 years, we are going to have to endure snarky comments about change every time the Obama administration does not do something some interest group wants.

We’ve heard it from the immigration folks, from the pot legalization advocates, the fiscal conservatives AND the fiscal progressives.

I know everyone had some sort of hope that Obama would do a 180 on just about everything, but thats just not realistic. It’s naive to think a sitting president would cavalierly start prosecuting members of his predecessors administration. Such an action would have far reaching effects on executive power. I’m not saying that some members of the bush administration should not be prosecuted. I’m saying that it has to be done carefully with careful consideration of what kind of precedents it is setting.

# 14 Thomas said, on February 17th, 2009 at 11:54 am

“we are going to have to endure snarky comments about change every time the Obama administration does not do something some interest group wants.”

Do you know the difference between what we want and what was promised? Was he not elected based on promises, that are falling by the wayside one by one.

When will he bring the troops home? Change WAS his message…not mine.

# 15 George W. Bush said, on February 17th, 2009 at 11:56 am

Karl Rove’s legacy will be his courageous act of eliminating the world from the devil incarnate, Saddam Hussein.

The world today is safer today thanks to Mr. Rove.

Now, someone give him a blowjob.

# 16 stopher said, on February 17th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

“I think Obama will do more damage to the country with his porkulus bill than Rove could have ever done. Dallas, by the way, you are an absolute retard. Mike”

I guess you don’t count that 3 trillion dollar war as spending.

# 17 Derek said, on February 17th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

“I think the most annoying thing of all is the fact that for the next 4 to 8 years, we are going to have to endure snarky comments about change every time the Obama administration does not do something some interest group wants.”

And everyone supported Bush for every decision he made. Cry me a river. If he’s the president, he deserves every bit of criticism he gets. The buck stops here, so if he’s going to make it a regular practice of lies, then he’s going to get “snarky comments” at the least.

# 18 Named said, on February 17th, 2009 at 12:06 pm

15,

Are you too busy to accommodate with Dick in your mouth?

# 19 bobbo said, on February 17th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

“Change.” Yes, the bumpersticker that captures the width and breadth of the thinking of the American voting illiterate.

Post on dittoheads.

On point, it doesn’t matter what Obama might want for his own self==congress and the courts have their own mission and fiefdoms. Basically, their roles ARE to diminish the Presidency. I wish them well since it appears Obama is turning to the dark side.

# 20 Ah_Yea said, on February 17th, 2009 at 12:19 pm

#19, Bobbo.

Good analogy, “Turning to the dark side”.

Isn’t it funny in an ironic way that Obama is helping Rove, the Emperor Palatine himself!

Does that mean Obama is the new Vader?

# 21 EvilPoliticians said, on February 17th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

It’s easy to throw stones at the king of the hill – until you’ve become king of the hill.

Obama is an extremely smart and calculating person. He’ll find someone to sacrifice to his constituency. But he will do everything to protect his own.

Unrelated topic – why have we been waiting until now for Obama to sign the stimulus bill? Shouldn’t he have done so Friday night? Why the wait over a holiday weekend? And why put on a show in Denver? Just sign the damn thing and get the recovery started!

# 22 pedro said, on February 17th, 2009 at 12:35 pm

#2 What a sad apologist.

#6 Hilarious. For an example, see #2.

# 23 bobbo said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:10 pm

#20–Ah Yea==I think “something” is going on. Some metamorphosis, some influence, some “change,” and its not good.

I can see NOT wanting to initiate an investigation into President Bush’s war crimes, but I can’t see INTERFERING into an investigation about interference in the operation of the Dept of Justice. He should support such an investigation or at least be neutral for the very same reason some think he should be against it==no reason to encourage his administration to be corrupt==he is wasting resource/credibility by wasting that energy on anyone but himself. Even the corrupt need lessons.

I would agree he is showing his “Vader” persona–not the Emperor. He remains hidden.

# 24 MikeN said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:15 pm

Yeah and Bush didn’t want to weaken the pardon power either by trying to undo Clinton’s pardon bribery.

Don’t you think if there were a real grand criminal conspiracy, that Bush would have issued pardons?

# 25 Mr Diesel said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:27 pm

#2 Dallas

Pretty stupid comment, even for you.

The Messiah does not have to deal with anyone in Congress from the Republican side. Obomba and the Democrats won the elections and it ALL hangs on them now.

# 26 bobbo said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

#24–Mike==”Don’t you think if there were a real grand criminal conspiracy, that Bush would have issued pardons?” /// hah, hah. BushtheRetard wasn’t “in” the conspiracy, he was merely the meatpuppet. No, the evil of Rove and Cheney will remain hidden as Bush clung to his born again christian charity agenda by being “tough” on criminals.

I was on the fence about Bush when he first ran until I saw him smile when talking about Texas having the highest execution rate in the Nation.

There is quite simply something not right about that boy. Booze leading to Cocaine leading to Religion leading to Republican Politics. Don’t know who is worse==him or the idiots voting for him.

Definitely the worst are those still thinking well of him.

# 27 And Now for Something Completely Different said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:39 pm

So…er…if Obama did press hard to get Rove (and Bush) for all their illegal activity, the Republicans would THEN be cheering? Er…no. The Republicans are mocking this decision, but if Obama did the opposite they’d mock THAT decision. Golly gee!!!! It’s as if Republicans are going to criticize Obama no matter what? SHOCKING! I didn’t see that coming!

After totally fucking our country into the ground in EVERY sense in the last 8 years (military, economic, domestic) the Republicans have to shut the fuck up for 4 solid years before we allow them to comment on ANYTHING. They’re insanely bad at governing and should just go away in shame for a few years.

# 28 MikeN said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:41 pm

Bobbo, then why didn’t they get their puppet to issue pardons?

It’s not like they needed to keep things a secret. The accusations were already out there.

# 29 bobbo said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

#28–Mike==”Bobbo, then why didn’t they get their puppet to issue pardons? ///

Sorry to bury that answer in the second second of my response, so here it is again in the first sentence:

“Bush clung to his born again christian charity agenda by being “tough” on criminals”

# 30 MikeN said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:48 pm

EP,
Obama promised sunlight, and that all bills would be on his website for 5 days of public comment before signing. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

# 31 Rabble Rouser said, on February 17th, 2009 at 1:53 pm

Letters, e-mails and faxes are going out, right this minute to all of my Federally elected officials.

Investigate Bushco, Inc., and if it is warranted, prosecute them. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Justice delayed, is justice denied.

I knew we would have to keep Obama and company’s feet to the fire, and this is the best way.

# 32 bobbo said, on February 17th, 2009 at 2:03 pm

Chris Matthews is setting up a report on this very issue right now.

# 33 James Hill said, on February 17th, 2009 at 2:16 pm

Liberals fail at life.

# 34 EvilPoliticians said, on February 17th, 2009 at 2:20 pm

#27 – And Now for Something Completely Different

It’s not criticism. It’s amazement that Obama is seen a bit in defense of Rove. That’s just incredible.

There will be many other broken promises to criticize Obama for. This isn’t one of them yet.

# 35 Li said, on February 17th, 2009 at 3:29 pm

Obama needs to stop being afraid of the neo-fascists (i.e. neo-libs and neo-cons) the bankers, and the globalists, if he hopes to accomplish anything in his presidency beyond the dissolution of the United States into some global fascist order, which is where we are going on our current trajectory.

With all of the states declaring Sovereignity, he’d better get his courage on soon, or he’ll be rendered irrelevant by the other forces that are on the move. . . Even so, I am still confident that Obama is less likely to respond violently to the coming collapse than McCain would have. The nightmare scenario I was trying to prevent by working with the O campaign was a collapse followed by a nuclear/civil war designed to paper over the massive fraud that got us here. We’ll see whether it is so, but the forces that would prefer some sort of horrible end to this civilization are still too strong for my tastes.

# 36 Ah_Yea said, on February 17th, 2009 at 4:05 pm

#23 bobbo

“I would agree he is showing his “Vader” persona–not the Emperor. He remains hidden.”

Succinct and insightful.

# 37 k.g. said, on February 17th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

“porkulus” lol. Go back to MichelleMalkin.com, losers.

# 38 Podgorney said, on February 17th, 2009 at 4:46 pm

In some dictionary somwhere…

Democrat: see Republican

Republican: see Democrat

# 39 Alex said, on February 17th, 2009 at 5:04 pm

Bush didn’t pardon who?

Oh you mean Scooter Libby? The guy who was supposed to serve a 30 month federal prison sentence but, thanks to Bush, now will never have to?

That guy he didn’t pardon?

Please. Let’s call a spade a fucking spade.

# 40 Shubee said, on February 17th, 2009 at 5:06 pm

This news is very disappointing.

# 41 pedro said, on February 17th, 2009 at 5:12 pm

#27 Defending Obamas by attacking the republicans who were sleezebags in the previous admin. Only problem is, it is Obama who’s playing nice, the the Repug’s.

Nice try. Not good enough a rationalization that Obama is not screwing. Keep trying.

#35 So now Obama is afraid. The apologies kkep coming with each new one being more laugh-ripping than the previous one.

# 42 MikeN said, on February 17th, 2009 at 5:16 pm

So his puppets can make him commit crimes, but they can’t make him issue pardons for those crimes.

# 43 bobbo said, on February 17th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

#42–Now Mike==we had a good run there for a while, don’t go stupid on me just because I’m disagreeing with you.

Did/are BushtheRetard’s puppetmasters pulling his strings? Yes. But no man is completely under control==that was my point that you I must think just stubbornly refuse to admit.

For instance, I doubt anyone could get Bush to drink a beer on Sunday. He is born again and liquor is a sin.

Same with pardoning the guilty. He doesn’t like that. Given he was “on the inside” of the conspiracy, or more simply Dick told him all about it in order to “justify” the pardon, Bush does indeed KNOW that Scooter was a fellow pawn. Maybe he is actually jealous of Scooters proximity to Dick’s Ass instead of just being Gods Avenging Angel of Judgment?

Always hard to tell with those religious types==true belief, or just brain damage.

But rest assured, the human spirit will find ways to triumph Just as BushtheRetard has done in this case over Evil Dick.

# 44 right said, on February 17th, 2009 at 6:14 pm

#33 James Hill doesn’t even know what a liberal is.

# 45 deowll said, on February 17th, 2009 at 6:33 pm

Look guys you don’t have to worry about the economy.

The Dems are playing it safe and copying CA and Sweden. What did you expect? That is where the speaker of the House comes from.

In fact Obama’s economic plans are pretty much the same thing good old George Bush was doing. We all know how well that worked.

Pretty soon everybody will have job working for the Feds and all our problems will be over except how to pay for it.

# 46 Mister Mustard said, on February 17th, 2009 at 7:08 pm

#43 – Bobo

>>I doubt anyone could get Bush to drink a beer
>>on Sunday. He is born again and liquor is a
>>sin.

Knock it off with the religion-bashing, Bobbolina. Nothing about being “born again” says you can’t enjoy an ice cold brew with your barbecued ribs on a Sunday afternoon, after a hard day of brush-clearing.

Bush is an alkie. That’s why he won’t drink a beer on a Sunday afternoon. He does, and next thing he knows, he’ll wake up in Toronto in the back seat of a VW microbus with some girl he doesn’t know, wondering how he got there.

# 47 Greg Allen said, on February 17th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

>> This deal was probably cut before the election. I hope everyone is enjoying all this change.

For what possible reason would Obama cuts such a deal?

So that the Republicans would ONLY call him a terrorist-loving, Muslim, communist, non-American?

And not something worse?

# 48 MikeN said, on February 17th, 2009 at 10:10 pm

Well Bobbo, it loos like you contradicted yourself again. If they can get him to pardon Libby, then why not everyone else?

I suppose we can say that Libby had a commuted sentence, and he drew the lines at pardons.
The more likely explanation is that no pardons are needed.

# 49 righteous indignation said, on February 18th, 2009 at 3:11 am

Nobody will ever get prosecuted because once the ball started rolling, everybody would be guilty and the government would topple over like dominoes. If there were a majority of guiltless politicians they would have fried the guilty ones a long long time ago.

As for Obama and his road show, check out his voting record before the election. He was a no show, worst election attendance of all the candidates. He only made an appearance when it was to promote black something day/week/month of some sort, never around for anything of real issues. He’s a showman.

# 50 Mr. Fusion said, on February 18th, 2009 at 5:51 am

Why are the right wing nuts such nimrods? They can’t even take the time to read the effen article.

Obama is not, let me repeat that, NOT giving immunity or stopping the testimony of Rove. He has asked the court to delay, let me repeat that word, DELAY the proceedings so they may come to a compromise.

It is in Obama’s interest to protect the White House from an overly obtuse Congress. It is also in his interest to see justice done. The idiots on the right that lost the election are so familiar with the White House not putting any thought into what happens, it is no wonder they got their lace undies in a knot.

Rove will testify and, in my opinion, he will be forced to before the end of March.

# 51 Mr. Fusion said, on February 18th, 2009 at 5:53 am

#5, Mike,

Dallas might be a retard, but he is still 80 IQ points above you.

# 52 Paddy-O said, on February 18th, 2009 at 5:55 am

#50 Basically correct. Obama doesn’t want the court to rule on a limit to exec privilege right now.

# 53 pedro said, on February 18th, 2009 at 6:11 am

#49 But he was present for FISA. Add this delay and it makes you wonder.

# 54 pedro said, on February 18th, 2009 at 7:06 am

For those in need for fertilizers to grow your vegetables at home, take post #50. That’s a freebe. Take it.

# 55 Mr. Fusion said, on February 18th, 2009 at 9:00 am

#54, ‘dro,

Your home town in Cuba called. They would like you to come home.

# 56 MikeN said, on February 18th, 2009 at 9:13 am

What’s with Obama’s secret executive orders? Not on the White House web site, or in any press briefings. The only way people found out was because bloggers went through the Federal Register. I thought Obama was going to be less secretive than Bush?

# 57 Mr. Fusion said, on February 18th, 2009 at 9:32 am

#56, Lyin’ Mike,

What “secret executive orders”? Please try to be a little more specific.

# 58 AlgoreIsWorseThanHitler said, on February 18th, 2009 at 9:39 am

#9 was the first one to get it right. Too many criminals in the Obama administration already that will need protecting in a few years.

# 59 bobbo said, on February 18th, 2009 at 9:56 am

#50–Fusion==compromise? At first, I thought you had a good thought there. Obama dealing with an obtuse Congress. Kinda like trying to get Mike to apply the plain meaning of words in a short sentence. What though is “obtuse” about what Congress is seeking?

Seems to me Obama is FAILING in his own executive duties to prosecute the many frauds of the prior administration and now he wants to “compromise” the efforts of Congress to give it a try?

We all recognize self dealing when we see it?

# 60 pedro said, on February 18th, 2009 at 10:05 am

#55 You might be mistaking me by you. Unlike you, I neither like to defend leftist terrorist nor bend reality to defend my lodge, which you do ad nauseum.

Stop talking to mirrors.

In the end, what your replies show is that thrut hurst you big time. No wonder you wanna make excuses to avoid it.

# 61 MikeN said, on February 18th, 2009 at 10:45 am

http://tinyurl.com/af6er4

# 62 MikeN said, on February 18th, 2009 at 10:49 am

>#5, Mike,

Dallas might be a retard, but he is still 80 IQ points above you.

So how do you reconcile that with even mild retardation classified as IQ below 70?

# 63 Mr. Fusion said, on February 18th, 2009 at 1:38 pm

#61, Lyin’ Mike,

Most of the documents were posted to the White House web site Tuesday night, after Politico inquired about their absence. “It was a simple oversight,” a spokesman, Ben LaBolt, said.

#62, Lyin’ Mike,

Dallas might be a retard, but he is still 80 IQ points above you.

So how do you reconcile that with even mild retardation classified as IQ below 70?

I’m sure you can do the math on that one.

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