For the second time, John Conyers Jr. has issued a subpoena for Karl Rove to testify before Congress. Before, Karl Rove claimed immunity due to his status as a former presidential adviser. However, U.S. District Judge John Bates has rejected that claim. Now without George W. Bush and Mukasey to protect him, Karl Rove is looking mightily vulnerable. Mr. Conyers wants answers involving the politicization of the Justice Department, especially in regards to the firing of U.S. Attorneys for their refusal to prosecute Democrats and for the issues swirling around once-imprisoned former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman.
The question next becomes, how far are the Democrats willing to go? Then, how far will the Republicans go to protect Karl Rove? Might the events of November 4th, 2008, leave Rove even more vulnerable than the Democratic-landslide of 2006? These are questions worth asking, because Karl Rove is running out of maneuvers to dodge Mr. Conyers' tenacity. He may have far less friends than we thinks.
The biggest question of them all, however, is how supportive or non-supportive President Barack Obama be? He has already hired some of those fired U.S. Attorneys. He was adamant in his denounciation of Rove during the Democratic primary and the general election. Will he stay out of this, ask that we all move on, or say, "go get 'em, Conyers!"
The money quote from Mr. Conyers;
"Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it's time for him to talk."
UPDATE:
I take pride in knocking the Honorable Senator Russ Feingold off of his lofty perch atop the recommended list, even though his proposition is one that I firmly agree with. On a more substantive note, here is a copy of the subpoena. The date will be February the 2nd, which is one week from now. Groundhog Day.
Also, a lot of people are curious about the timing of this due to the fact that Mr. Holder has yet to be confirmed. I believe Mr. Holder will probably be confirmed this week, as the votes do exist. If the Republicans were bring up this issue during his confirmation, they would be committing political-suicide.
Lastly, join me in adopting Mr. Conyers' money-quote as a sigline.
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