Fieldlings Letter Regarding Rove

There is an excerpt from this letter, published by newsweek yesterday that I find surprising. This letter attempts to define how a new Justice Department does their job? After the administration that called for writing it, is being investigated for attempting to corrupt that same agency. Interesting..

Rove is being brought forth to testify about a bizaareseries of moves by the former Administration to remove top Attorney Generals from their offices in each state, and replace them with Partisans. Rove maintains the rollodex of contributors, oilmen, the numerati , etc. - anyone who would have paid to play. Although it was stopped before it went full scope, it still hit the person who inspired the movie "Top Gun" and removed him from government. This action was unprecedented in scope, attempting to replace Attorney Generals multiple states. When they were caught they vaguely defined 'Homeland Security' provisions to attempt to keep those involved from reporting it to the press.

Looking at the letter, its date of origin is January 16, 2009 - four days before President Obama came to office we see how strangely this former Administration operates - the letter contemplates legal action +after+ Obama takes office but it is invoking Presidential Authority... regarding that action

The president continues to direct him not to provide information .. to the Congress ... and consistent with the President's exercise of Executive Privilege .. not to appear before Congress

The edict is supported by the concent of Executive Prilege , where having Rove testify would supposedly be "requiring the president himself to appear before congress regarding his constitutionally appointed functions". However, the President would be out of office

No immunity was granted to Rove, upon the former President's departure of Office - we all watched for the 11th hour pardons, and Bush chose not to sign any. For a former Presidency that had seen fit to commute legislation with signing statements, exercise 'pre-emptive self defense' when attacking countries, and in all cases behave in a manner completely and constitutionally inconsistent with the traditions of its forebears - It should come to us as little surprise that counsel for the White House would attempt, even today, to see that Presidential Authority extend beyond term of office. After all the former presidents policy of "Pre Emptive Self Defense" was pretty innovative, if you ignore the fact that it was tried in 1457and didn't work then.

A President places his hand on the bible and swears to execute his Office to the best of his ability. That office is not always tightly defined. The Unitary Executive - that is, an Office of an all-powerful president - may or may not be an agenda item of change. The work that Cheney and Rumsfeld did to help create the Unitary Executive shows best in letters like Fieldling's - the pervasive idea that basic constraints on a president's power should be ignored. This is ultimately the decision of one man.

Once Senator Biden, debating Sarah Palin said that Cheney was the most dangerous Vice President in American History. This is why. Of course, Palin unequivocally agreed with Cheney's policy decisions to empower that Office. She also happens to be a guest of honor this year at a secret dinner that the Obama's will be attending. Now that Obama has power, will he , as Biden stated he would with his Office, return it to its constitutionally designed role?

The fallout of the former administration is settling. Perhaps Obama's decision to break with the former Presidents point of view, would help underscore that he is inheriting a mess left for him - created by the type of policies that such a letter as this implies.

The only way you or I will know that Rove is being brought to Justice, and the new Department being built by Eric Holder, is connected to democracy (I should say, re-connected) - is if or when Rove is brought before Congress to testify. Thanks to the fifth amendment, this will give him a chance to publicly snivel about his dealings and then likely just leave. Rove is an intelligent, if morally challenged person. He also knows that this testimony would give him a chance to help redeem himself - history may yet look kindly upon the former president. Stranger things have happened. But we, as public, rarely get our mittens on the stories we really need to know about and the decision as to whether or not the strange activity of a former President is going to be continued behind the scenes, on a matter of a behind-the-scenes person .. will likely remain... you get the picture ..

We shall see, said the blind man.