Executive Privilege

[Gaspar]

Ok, let me get this straight.

President Obama has just invoked Executive Privilege over the release of documents that Eric Holder claims he knows nothing about and were not generated by the White House.

I understand the need for and use of executive privilege, I just don't understand it's application in this matter.  The only justification for EP in this case would be if the documents contained direct communications with the White House or the president.

It looks like this may evolve into an investigation of the White House rather than just the Justice Dept.

[Hoss]

Ok, let me get this straight.

President Obama has just invoked Executive Privilege over the release of documents that Eric Holder claims he knows nothing about and were not generated by the White House.

I understand the need for and use of executive privilege, I just don't understand it's application in this matter.  The only justification for EP in this case would be if the documents contained direct communications with the White House or the president.

It looks like this may evolve into an investigation of the White House rather than just the Justice Dept.

So why didn't you ask the same questions of the times GWB invoked it (6 times)?  This is the first time that I'm aware that this administration has.

Wait, what?

[heironymouspasparagus]

So why didn't you ask the same questions of the times GWB invoked it (6 times)?  This is the first time that I'm aware that this administration has.

Wait, what?

Come on....you know that isn't in "The Script"!!

[AquaMan]

Good thing Congress didn't play politics with the mess and proceed to force the president's hand.

What would Congress do in an election year without someone, something, or some issue to threaten investigations over?

[erfalf]

So why didn't you ask the same questions of the times GWB invoked it (6 times)?  This is the first time that I'm aware that this administration has.

Wait, what?

Not defending Bush necessarily, but does it really justify what this administration is doing.

Like I've said before, bad behavior does not justify bad behavior.

[Hoss]

Not defending Bush necessarily, but does it really justify what this administration is doing.

Like I've said before, bad behavior does not justify bad behavior.

Wrong question to ask; I wasn't saying what Bush did was bad or wasn't bad.  I am asking why there was no criticism of him from Gas when he did it?

But I think we all know the answer to that.

[RecycleMichael]

I agree with you erfalf. Executive privilege was wrong before and it is wrong today.

But it is hard to read gaspar's one-sided rants without bringing up the other side, however. He fails to remember when republicans do bad things. It is called selective outrage.

[Gaspar]

Wrong question to ask; I wasn't saying what Bush did was bad or wasn't bad.  I am asking why there was no criticism of him from Gas when he did it?

But I think we all know the answer to that.

Bush did invoke several times, and Reagan, Clinton et. al. even more.

The point is that when the Executive Branch invokes Executive Privilege it is to safeguard information and communications related to the Executive Branch and the president.  

The difference here is that the Executive Branch, who claims to have no knowledge or connection to this Justice Department program is now invoking Executive Privilege beyond the Executive Branch.  This is an 11th hour reaction, which means that the release of these documents represents significant political damage to the White House.

It doesn't look good.

[erfalf]

I agree with you erfalf. Executive privilege was wrong before and it is wrong today.

But it is hard to read gaspar's one-sided rants without bringing up the other side, however. He fails to remember when republicans do bad things. It is called selective outrage.

Fair enough, but Obama is President now. I'm a little green (I only started really being interested in the later Bush years so I only have my perspective. And my perspective is that politics is too political, if that makes sense. I guess what I mean is that we have representatives to do specific things, and all they seem to want to do is play politics and get re-elected. It is just maddening. Eventually, regardless of which party is in office, the hammer is going to come down on someone for all the nonsense that goes on. I guess they just have to be careful not to be to egregious.

[Hoss]

Bush did invoke several times, and Reagan, Clinton et. al. even more.

The point is that when the Executive Branch invokes Executive Privilege it is to safeguard information and communications related to the Executive Branch and the president.  

The difference here is that the Executive Branch, who claims to have no knowledge or connection to this Justice Department program is now invoking Executive Privilege beyond the Executive Branch.  This is an 11th hour reaction, which means that the release of these documents represents significant political damage to the White House.

It doesn't look good.

Ah, so now you claim to be clairvoyant.  You've obviously missed your calling.

[erfalf]

Ah, so now you claim to be clairvoyant.  You've obviously missed your calling.

I don't know about past examples of invoking Presidential Privilege, but in this case in particular, the Attorney General is asking for Presidential Privilege to protect documents he claims he didn't know existed. See the problem?

[Hoss]

I don't know about past examples of invoking Presidential Privilege, but in this case in particular, the Attorney General is asking for Presidential Privilege to protect documents he claims he didn't know existed. See the problem?

And do you think Cheney et al didn't ask for the same during those instances?  This was a formality.  Either way, it's wrong to do.  But keep straying from my question as to why Gas didn't bring this up during the Bush administration.

Bush did it four times inside of six weeks in 2007.  Where was the outrage then?

And why was Rove claiming EP from this article?

http://articles.cnn.com/2008-07-10/politics/rove.subpoena_1_robert-d-luskin-subpoena-longtime-political-guru?_s=PM:POLITICS

[erfalf]

And do you think Cheney et al didn't ask for the same during those instances?  This was a formality.  Either way, it's wrong to do.  But keep straying from my question as to why Gas didn't bring this up during the Bush administration.

Bush did it four times inside of six weeks in 2007.  Where was the outrage then?

And why was Rove claiming EP from this article?

http://articles.cnn.com/2008-07-10/politics/rove.subpoena_1_robert-d-luskin-subpoena-longtime-political-guru?_s=PM:POLITICS

Maybe somewhere in 2007. Let's live for today how about.

[Hoss]

Maybe somewhere in 2007. Let's live for today how about.

That's obviously what some here want to do.  But ignore that fact that the outrage wasn't there in the past.

That was my whole point of replying.

[erfalf]

That's obviously what some here want to do.  But ignore that fact that the outrage wasn't there in the past.

That was my whole point of replying.

You mean like this outrage?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bpwYh9TD6Nc#!

Just sayin...