With a contempt of Congress vote looming by Rep. Henry Waxman’s (D-CA) House Oversight Committee, President Bush asserted executive privilege this morning to block the committee’s subpoenas for documents relating to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to reject California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to override scientific recommendations on ozone standards.

Waxman’s committee had scheduled the 10 am business meeting to hold contempt votes for EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and White House Office of Management and Budget regulatory administrator Susan Dudley. On May 20, Johnson appeared before the committee, without the subpoenaed documents and evading questions about Bush’s involvement.

Stephen Johnson has been compared to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for his mishandling of the EPA. Susan Dudley and her husband Brian Mannix, an EPA administrator, are products of the Mercatus Center, a right-wing pro-industry think tank.

UPDATE: From TPMMuckaker, Waxman’s blistering response:

I don’t think we’ve had a situation like this since Richard Nixon was president. When the President of the United States, may have been involved in acting contrary to law and the evidence that would determine that question for Congress, in exercising our oversight, is being blocked by an assertion of executive privilege. I would hope and expect this administration would not be making this assertion without a valid basis for it, but to date I have not seen a valid instance of their executive privilege.

UPDATE II: Waxman’s written statement from the committee website: “Today’s assertion of executive privilege raises serious questions about Administrator Johnson’s credibility and the involvement of the President.”

Don’t you think that’s interesting? All the hysteria and drama that raged over the telcom issue, only for the Dems to just quietly give in?

I do.
peace, neocon

Senator Boxer asked to see the redacted portions of the report. When a letter was sent to President Bush asking for clarification on the redacted portions of the testimony, Boxer claims she received a letter back from White House Counsel, Fred Fielding, refusing her request claiming….you guessed it — Executive Privilege.

The full report was later leaked and you can see what the WH edited out. Quite alot…

Speaks volumes…that should be enough info for you to find the rest. Don’t get your depends in a bunch now, Keefer.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/GlobalHealth/Story?id=3775766&page=1

Once again neocon, way to stay on topic.

Democrats side with Republicans to shield Telecom Companies

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/19/democrats-side-with-repub_n_108162.html

Let’s have some links to proof, ‘kay? Don’t come here playing with the big boys when you’re wearing Pampers…

Hey Mark, you’re gonna have to cut down the number of topics; I’m five hours ahead of EST, and don’t get the chance to intermingle with the regulars. When I’m on in the a.m., the libbies are all sleeping it off, and the good guys are getting ready for work. When I’m on in the afternoon, the good guys are still at work, and I’m stuck with the unemployed libbies. When I do check on a thread I’ve posted on, it’s usually one of the last ones on the page, so my responses go unanswered.

Actually, what I’m trying to say is for those who do choose to “back-and-forth” with me–can’t say that I blame you if you don’t– please check older threads.

Just kidding about reducing the number of threads, Mark/Matt. It’s your blog, after all, and it’s been pretty successful so far. Cheers!!!

Those most worried were more likely to have a degree, be in social classes A or B, have a higher income, said Phil Downing, Ipsos MORI’s head of environmental research.

In other news : propaganda is more effective on the uneducated.

As Bush was visiting the Missippi valley ravaged by floods, his hanpicked “Climate Change Science Program” committee released a report.
“We know global warming over the last 50 years is primarily due to human induced increases in Greenhouse gases:in conjunction with this increase in global tempatures, we’ve observed in North America a number of changes in extreme weather and climate events.
We expect these changes to continue into the future as gases continue to accumulate.”
In 2002 Bush dismissed a panel that made a similiar finding. I guess after Katrina, standing around a once in 500 year weather event that happened only 15 years ago denying the obvious doesn’t make much sense.
But let’s say for a moment global warming isn’t because of us: What advantage is there to tying our future to fossil fuels. What is wrong with creating a basket of energies: wind solar, fuel cells, biofuels, nuclear, and fossil. Get them all going.
Chrysler built a turbine car in the early 60’s that could run on any flammable liquid. The then president of Mexico got a chance to drive one fueled by Tequila. Tank up or get tanked.
In any case the cost of energy comes down.
Oil, no matter where it is produced, will not come cheap. Not while there are cash rich customers like the Asians who are able to pay 130.00 a barrel. Price isn’t dictated strictly by supply and demand. It’s also dictated by the ability of custimers to pay.
If you’ve got customers who are able to pay 130.00 a barrel for your entire supply, your gonna sell it to them. Period. That’s the free market. There is no shortage. There’s plenty for all who want it, as long as your wiling to pay what the best paying customers demand.
The market is driving the price, and will continue to drive the price till we develop alternatives.
No doubt we will. But there is something else happening that may ease our need for overpriced energy. Conservation. You put up a post dedicated to conservation.
Many people who commuted to the same workplace in seperate cars now go together. The amount of fuel consumed by senselessly pursuing solitude in an automobile is astounding.
This market change alone may finally shake people out of complacency in reguard to our dependence on fossil fuels, maybe even make them realize our precarious relationship with the people we buy oil from simply isn’t worth it.
One things for sure, Bush will be percieved as responsible for driving us to look for alternatives.
Good going!!
Have a nice day!!