Leahy is an Idiot

While I don't agree with the politics of many Democrats, I have tended to be respectful of them as individual. I have tried to criticize their politics and actions while trying not to impugne their character. But I have simply come to the conclusion that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy is simply an idiot. The latest example of idiocy is the issuing of a subpeona to Karl Rove to give testimony related to the U.S. Attorney firings.

While Leahy is free to disagree with the President's actions and with the President's handling of the dimissal of the U.S. Attorney's, the reasoning for this subponea just strikes me a ludicrous:

“The evidence shows that senior White House political operatives were focused on the political impact of federal prosecutions and whether federal prosecutors were doing enough to bring partisan voter fraud and corruption cases,” Leahy said. “It is obvious that the reasons given for the firings of these prosecutors were contrived as part of a cover-up and that the stonewalling by the White House is part and parcel of that same effort.”

Color me shocked, the White House chief political advisor was concerned about the political impact of prosecutions. I would hope so--that is his job!!!! you idiot.

As I mentioned previously President Bush could have fired those attorney because he didn't like what they wore to the White House Christmas party. They serve at his pleasure and as the senior elected official tasked with enforcing the laws, the President makes the decisions about who works for him.

But the idiocy is compounded exponentially by Leahy's complete ignorance of the concept of executive privilege. So far, in my review of court cases on executive privilege, the only mitigating factor that could breach the privilege is testimony related to a criminal investigation. So far, there has been no evidence of criminal activity in the firing of the U.S. Attorneys. (and criminally inept handling of the whole matter does not count). So, what has Congress done, issued subpoenas for three of the President's closest advisors, the White House Chief of Staff, a former White House Counsel and his senior Political Advisor. If no one else in the White House is covered by executive privilege, certainly these three people would be. Current White House Counsel Fred Fielding must be laughing so hard he is crying with the complete ineptitude that Congress is showing on this score.

The worst part about it is that Leahy seems to think that by calling Rove to testify (which the White House won't allow), he can somehow convince that American people that this is an important issue. Outside of Washington, DC, most people don't care one whit. Even with a modest amount of civic education, Americans can understand that the U.S. Attorneys are in the executive branch and subject to removal by the President. Americans simply have more important issues on their mind, the war in Iraq, immigration, energy costs, housing costs, health care, education. I am fairly certain that if polled, most Americans would rank the U.S. Attorney firings so far down on the list of concerns that it would hardly be worth asking the question.

The Democratic pursuit of this issue highlights the failure of this Congress to do anything for the American public that Democrats claim gave them a mandate to change things. So far they have changed nothing but the tenor of partisanship in Washington.

So for the first time, I think, I must actually impugne the character of an elected official.

Senator Pat Leahy, you are an idiot and not worthy of holding the title or position of U.S. Senator. You should do the American people and the people of Vermont a favor--resign--now, before you embarass yourself or your state any further.