ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Dems subpoena Rove

Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2007 1:18 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro

Congressional Democrats subpoenaed White House senior adviser Karl Rove, and Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) charged that “political considerations factored into the unprecedented firing of at least nine United States Attorneys last year," the AP reports.

“E-mails released by the Justice Department show [Attorney General Alberto] Gonzales’ aides conferred with Rove” on the firing of the prosecutors, the AP reports.

NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reports, while not specifically addressing the possibility of Leahy issuing a subpoena for Rove, a senior WH official responded with another hit on congress:

"This is becoming an out of control Congress--calling for special prosecutors, launching investigations, issuing subpoenas and generally just settling scores--all while appropriations bills go unpassed and FISA modernization, energy and other important issues go unaddressed. It's unfortunate and embarrassing that this Congress continues to neglect the issues important to Americans, and Americans are taking note."

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Wow if democrats keep digging they might find out Bush was behind the firings, and boy they'll really have something then.
GoNzO-GaTe it just will not go away.Hi Karl !
You can run , but you can't hide !
Jerry-their is your proof!!!!!!!!!Emails from his own department saying that the firings were purely political. Throw the whole crooked bunch in jail starting with Rove and that little sorry excuse of an attorney general for pergury.What goes around comes around.
I think it's even more unsettling that we have an OUT-OF-CONTROL CRIMINAL, CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION that has defamed the pride and freedoms of America.
5,000,000 missing e-mails.Karl, do you possibly know where they are at ? "GONZO-GATE"
Rove (Turdblossom) says "It is a privilege to serve under Dubya, an Executive Privilege to be exact"....    
congress might as well do some investigative work because the obstructionist repubs won't let a vote be taken on any meaningful legislation, that's why it is important to replace your dead weight repub congress person with a dem so things can start moving in the right direction, it will also help the dem that gets put in the white-house in 08, it will take both to get this country on a path to recovery, not just nationally but internationally as well
HaHa! This bunch is getting exactly what they deserve. Watch the republicans squirm some more. They are their own WORST ENEMIES. They don't even need the dems to crucify them-they're doing it themselves!!Can it get any worse? YES!
They've basically wiped their asses with the Constitution. Impeach!
Nothing is going to happen. Leihy and that bunch needs to retire back to the convelescent home. They all lie. Every politician in Washington has skeletons.
Juan: What proof are you talking about? You are just looking for something to hold on to. Chill dude....Its only politics......
Boy that White House spokesperson doesn't remember very much does he?  How many appropriations bills did the Congress pass last year before the elections?  But then I guess the do nothing Congress prior to January 07 was actually working at doing nothing except rubber stamping what the president wanted, not bothering to question anything or do any checks and balances at all.  All the while neglecting the issues important to the American people.  
A Song for The Bush Administration:

"Oh you can take a whole lot of sand
And build a castle on the beach
And though you mold it and you plan
Still you got nothing in your reach

One little slip and it tumbles down
One wrong step and it crumbles all around
Like a house without love, that's sure to fall apart
A house of sand is an empty work of art

You can build a tower of clay
But if you ask my advice
Well it is worthless as I say
It got no heart its cold as ice

On little slip and it tumbles down
One wrong step and it crumbles all around
Like a house without love, thats sure to fall apart
A house of sand is an empty work of art

One little slip and it tumbles down
One wrong step and it crumbles all around
Like a house without lov, that's sure to fall apart
A house of sand its an empty work of art
A house of sand its an empty work of art
A house of send is an empty work of art"

"House Of Sand"-Elvis Presley
An out of control congress? It has been out of control of the American People. Now some are starting to do their Job. Criminal is criminal, so it is not a matter of political ideology. If a crime is commented, then the criminal should be prosecuted. No manner how high up or what political party the person belongs.
Dave-Sarcasm will get you no where. Big difference between firing procecutors at the beginning of your second term not when your hire them and find out they are not such loyal Bushies after all and would not follow the Rove game plan. ITS CALLED BEING BUSTED!You, Jerry and others can revert back to such and such did that....How old are you?
The Dems are just putting pressure on a WH that has had it's way during majority control. They went too far and know they could have trouble if everything is released. This is the Judiciary Committee's job, meanwhile the rest of congress will pass what it needs to. Unlike the Clinton impeachment scandal that had the entire Republican congress seeking the ouster of a sitting president. This is beltway procedure that nobody except talk radio(to stroke some talking points) cares about.
waste of time...the Justice department wont indict (they're owned). Congress has to go for Inherent Contempt and try Gonzales and Rove themselves.
Hey Jerry/Dave - at least the democrats are investigating something that affected real people (ie: the attorneys losing their jobs.)  The republicans investigated Clinton for three or was it six years? for getting a blow job - which didn't affect anyone but the two people involved.

Of course - it doesn't address the fact that Bush & co lied their way into Bush's war and thousands have died and many thousands more have been mained for life all so Bush and Co could keep getting bigger and better oil royalty checks.

Let's see.  Clinton games the system for personal pleasure.  Bush games the system for monetary gain.  Both are wrong morally. But which is more wrong?  The one that involves only two people or the one where butloads of innocent people are killed/mained and rights are stripped from anyone and everyone who might uncover the truth?
Yes, mr senior WH official, We American's are taking note & we are about to Take back Control of our Beloved United States of America from you renegades. Dave, just sit back & enjoy the show, pop ya some popcorn, put some new baterry's in the remote & get ready for the Firework's. I'm guessing You won't respond to the earlier post  about if it would be Ok for a Democratic President to pull the same Crap, this one . Your one line rhetoric is all you have, no Substance as usual." DELUSIONAL THINKING BY COMMON SENSE AMERICAN'S IS OVER"
America was started with convicts and cmiminals,the genetic structureis still the same today.The politicians are just staying true to form.mosley3.
America was started with convicts and cmiminals,the genetic structureis still the same today.The politicians are just staying true to form.mosley3.
I GOT A GREAT IDEA, LET'S SUPOENA BUSH FOR FUN TOO!
Bush has threatened to veto fully one third of all apropriations bills so I don't really think that saying Congress isn't passing them is a wise move. Especially when the majority of the country agrees that the USA purge was politically motivated. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041600422.html)

I think the best example of why these are crocodile tears the White House are crying is when Bush threatened to veto a pay raise for the troops.  The reason?  Congress wanted to give them 3.5% instead of what the White House asked for: 3.0%. (http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/05/military_payhike_whitehouse_070516/)

Support the troops!  Vote Democrat!
"To sin by silence, when we should protesct, makes cowards out men".
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
This is supposed to be a government of, by and for the People. It's time we take it back. Way to go democratic congress. I hope you are just getting warmed up
Arlen Specter just confirmed what I have believed all along. Specter said that Bush is sticking with AG out of 'personal loyalty' and that he isn't going anywhere. Well, there it is, folks. Bush puts loyalty above EVERYTHING including honesty and integrity.
Looks like this Bizzaro world the white house has crafted over the past 6+ years is finally crashing around them. I love it: Do-Nothing-Congress, they say. The people's business is EXACTLY what they were up to, ESPECIALLY if it was illegal.

Get 'em boys.
Congress continues investigate the issues important to Americans, and its about time.
I supported the (now we know) "which hunt of then President Clinton.  Only because If there was Crimes committed then they should be Prosecuted.  What a difference a decade makes.  Now there IS a President who has boldly committed numerous crimes and those same Republicans are crying foul.  Give me a break. SUBPOENA everyone in the Bush administration.  Let's save the Constitution from all these Money Grubbing Theives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good!  It's about time he sat in the hot seat.  I'm tired of Rove getting a free pass for the mess he's made.
it's all smoke and mirrors to keep the dems/libs/progressives/<insert label here> fired up and sending money.  

if it ever goes to court, the admin will say those prosecutors weren't pursuing the admin's goals and the judge will affirm the executives power to fire his own employees who don't pursue his goals.

grow up ya'll.  it's just politics.
it's all smoke and mirrors to keep the dems/libs/progressives/<insert label here> fired up and sending money.  

if it ever goes to court, the admin will say those prosecutors weren't pursuing the admin's goals and the judge will affirm the executives power to fire his own employees who don't pursue his goals.

grow up ya'll.  it's just politics.
This little house of cards is tumbling. Remember Kenneth Starr--$50,000,000 spent trying to dig dirt on Clinton. Nothing of National significance found! The 911 Commission spent a mere $15,000,000 which is roughly one hour's time our Armed Forces require in Iraq.
    The true agenda of this Administration must be revealed to entire American public, even the 27% still drinking the Kool-Aid. Please, will someone provide the Narcan to lift the Opium haze from their stifled brains!
How does the justice department investigate itself? Congress is finally starting to do oversight of the executive branch activities. Bush admitted that something was wrong about the firings. That should give even his most loyal supporters some food for thought about the honesty of his administration.
I liked seeing the AG squirm during the hearing, crossing his arms and holding his wrists. Boy he wanted to get out of there!

Tony Snow sure made a wrong turn when he joined in this mess! Don't believe anything from this admin or any of their "officials".
"Apopular government without popular information or the means of acquirint it is but a prologue to a farce, or a tragedy, or perhaps both."-James Madison
it's all smoke and mirrors to keep the dems/libs/progressives/(insert label here) fired up and sending money.  

if it ever goes to court, the admin will say those prosecutors weren't pursuing the admin's goals and the judge will affirm the executives power to fire his own employees who don't pursue his goals.  
if there are congressional hearings no admin people will speak due to the executive priviledge claim.  the best you can hope for there is a court saying 'talk' by 2010.

grow up ya'll.  it's just politics.
"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!"--The "Architect" of Oz
John Doe & Bubbarooni (word for word the same.  Is this a Vulcan mind meld or a conspiracy?), this'll be politics, until someone's convicted.  Politics kinda ends at the courthouse door.  Of course, on the OTHER side of the courthouse door, there's a pardon awaiting for all good little loyal Bushies!
As the white house said today, this seems to be a settling of political scores rather then a true investigation.  Everybody knows the democrats have been chomping at the bit begging to destroy the administration.  Now it makes the democrats look like they want revenge more then dealing with the issues.  Juanito; Better hold your glee amigo, this is all about nothing.  Hillary will be just as grilled if she fires the attorney's in january 2009.  All this is going to show that if Hillary wins in 2008, she will be the most watched, written about and torn apart president in her four years.  ALl you libs are doing is setting her up for a fall.  
Bush and Cheney make Hitler look like a PTA home room monitor.Bush and his entire administration is nothing more than than a bunch of criminals defiling the Constitution and the American people. IMPEACH NOW
Rove has been the puppetmaster since day one.....knowing that he may be accountable for his corrupt ways in the administration has certainly made my whole year.....time to take back our country!!
Molly Ivins said it right: This President hasn't grown up enough to be a "bush," he is just a "shrub!"

what a bunch of useless pud's. They whined and cried with the R's investigated Clinton (another big waste of time) but everything is OK when they investigate Bush.  Did you hear Schumer crying about how he has never heard anyone with as bad a memory as Gonzales in his whole career in Congress.  He should review the tapes of Hillary testifying before congress in the mid 90's: "I can't recall", "I can't recall" (repeat 100 times).
Out of control Congress?  This is coming from an out of control imperial and lawless administration who had a rubber stamp congress for the past 6 years.  The royalties' necks starts to itch when us peasants revolt.
Loyalty?  Baloney, Gonzales is the last firewall between the (hold my nose) President and his lies and crimes.  If Gonzales goes Bush and his cronies are toast.  
This is a tempest in a teapot. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. The administration should and will keep telling congress to take a hike.
Our little congress that couldn't.  The democrats in congress do not have the convictions of their own party and have been rendered "inept" at doing their jobs.  So they investigate instead of legislate which explains their approval rating below that of Bush.  The democratic party is a joke.  After launching over 600 investigations they have managed to only legislate a raise in the minimum wage.  Is this what you "liberals" call good government?  The best thing that has happened to the Republican party was the loss of the mid-term elections.  America now gets to see the inept Dems in action...assuring another GOP win at the White House in 08'

war is good business invest your son's or daughter's, the games the same today as it was 30 something years ago, it is not about morality it about monitary
You guys are wrong, Bush rocks.
If you don't think bush rocks then you need to watch
lil' bush.



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=292540

First Read e-mail alerts


Sign up for First Read alerts
The first place for key political news and analysis

Syndicate This Site

Add First Read to your news reader:
live.com xml
myyahoo msn
bloglines newsgator
google