Obama blocks Fast and Furious documents from House investigation
The latest from the most transparent, accountable administration ever (via CNN):
President Barack Obama has asserted executive privilege over document sought by a House committee investigating the botched Fast and Furious gun-running sting, said a letter to the panel Wednesday from Deputy Attorney Gen. James Cole. The move means the Department of Justice can withhold the documents from the panel.
With that maneuver, Obama has guaranteed a story that has played out mostly under the radar of the mainstream press (including, I must acknowledge, on my own blog) will be thrust into the headlines. A House committee is holding a contempt hearing this morning over Attorney General Eric Holder’s lack of cooperation in its investigation of the operation, in which our government allowed hundreds of guns to be smuggled across the Mexican border. The guns subsequently were connected to the deaths of Mexican citizens and U.S. border agent Brian Terry.
Holder has been engaged in a standoff with House Republicans over documents related to the operation. The president has denied any knowledge of the operation, but his invoking executive privilege now puts the issue squarely at his doorstep.
Previous presidents from both parties have invoked executive privilege in the face of congressional investigations. It’s kind of like pleading the Fifth Amendment: In theory, it preserves one’s innocence, but the average observer is likely to infer the opposite and wonder what the administration is trying to hide.
For an idea of how Republicans might frame this issue in the election, check out this video by the American Future Fund (h/t: Power Line):
Expect this issue to pick up steam in the days and weeks ahead.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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310 comments Add your comment
The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers
June 20th, 2012
5:38 pm
.he made the choice to pull out on Bush’s timeline and also made the choice to surge in Afghanistan…
That’s because he can’t figure s@!t out on his own. Take his teleprompter away and see how smart you think he is. There’s a reason we haven’t seen his trancripts.
The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers
June 20th, 2012
5:38 pm
.he made the choice to pull out on Bush’s timeline and also made the choice to surge in Afghanistan…
That’s because he can’t figure s@!t out on his own. Take his teleprompter away and see how smart you think he is. There’s a reason we haven’t seen his trancripts.
iggy
June 20th, 2012
6:05 pm
“(CNN) — A new national survey indicates President Barack Obama has opened up a double digit lead.”
Consider the source.
md
June 20th, 2012
6:11 pm
Too funny…..every other poll shows mixed results but the side choosers jump on the one from bloomburg…..
I’ll wait till Nov when polls may actually have a bit of meaning……
Tiberius - Banned by Bookman and proud of it!
June 20th, 2012
6:13 pm
JDW, I’m sure the Terry family appreciates you referring the killing of their son through the reckless actions of this administration as a political stunt.
You really are a steaming pile of excrement.
Do you also spit on our Iraq and Afghanistan vets when you see them on the street?
saywhat?
June 20th, 2012
6:22 pm
The contrived blaming of the Justice department or the Obama administration for Terry’s death is more shameless rightwing poutrage exploiting the death of a federal employee, (whom the wingnuts don’t seem to like much anyway, when it suits their political purposes). The blame rests squarely on those who shot the man.
It is beyond idiotic because it purports that if the murderer(s) had not had a “fast and furious” gun they would not have had a gun at all? Because guns are that hard to get in Mexico if you are a drug criminal? Is that seriously what people here are suggesting?
stands for decibels
June 20th, 2012
6:23 pm
JDW, I’m sure the Terry family appreciates you referring the killing of their son through the reckless actions of this administration as a political stunt.
I’m sure they really appreciate right wing trolls waving that bloody shirt around as well. Goose sauce, meet gander sauce.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
June 20th, 2012
6:25 pm
Five pages of Obamabots making excuses and comparisons, none are valid.
1. Bush did it too. (Two wrongs make a right in Lib land?)
2. It is a stunt or witch hunt. (Then, why doesn’t he release the documents and make the witch hunters into fools?)
3. Executive Privilege has been claimed by all Presidents. (Yes, and you complain when it is a Rep President doing it, so what changed?)
4. Bush started F/F (wrong, Holder finally admitted that he had no proof of that, to Grassly)
Ya’ll got anything else?
saywhat?-Not banned by Bookman because I'm not a steaming pile of excrement
June 20th, 2012
6:27 pm
Terry’s killer(s) were going to stay home that day and watch some tv, do a little gardening, wash the car, but out of nowhere Obama handed them a gun, something which they had never ever had in their possession before, and so decided instead to go out and kill an American border agent. Great story bro!
stands for decibels
June 20th, 2012
6:29 pm
Ya’ll got anything else?
Well, you might look into the history of GOP-led house witch hunts, and consider the last big game expedition they went on, and how that turned out for them versus their prey.
Clinton’s Gallup approvals spiked at around 73% or so when that particular bit of silliness was being played out.
So you’ll excuse me if I’m not going to get all worked up over this particular band of GOPers acting like it’s their solemn duty when we all know this is just hardball politics.
stands for decibels
June 20th, 2012
6:30 pm
out of nowhere Obama handed them a gun, something which they had never ever had in their possession before
because they were incredibly difficult to obtain!
saywhat?-Not banned by Bookman because I'm not a steaming pile of excrement
June 20th, 2012
6:37 pm
The least popular governmental body in the entire 236 year history of the US (aka the current Congress) holding ANYBODY “in contempt” is laughable at best, and possibly even a badge of honor.
stands for decibels
June 20th, 2012
6:38 pm
the side choosers jump on the one from bloomburg…..
Yep, md. I agree that’s dumb.
Obviously there are going to be headline-grabbing outlier polls, lots of them, between now and Nov.
I prefer looking at a couple of amalgamators; RCP and 538, and figure that both are bound to have at least something of a house effect, no matter how much they try to play it down the middle.
stands for decibels
June 20th, 2012
6:39 pm
Anyway, my time here this evening is short. Don’t hold anyone in contempt while I’m away.
Still active on Bookman's blog because I conduct myself like an adult, not a baby
June 20th, 2012
6:40 pm
Going to be interesting to see what happens.
md
June 20th, 2012
6:41 pm
“It is beyond idiotic because it purports that if the murderer(s) had not had a “fast and furious” gun they would not have had a gun at all?”
I believe idiocy would be to rule out all “possibilities”, of which the above would be one.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
June 20th, 2012
6:41 pm
It is always the cover-up not the crime. Wish we could bring Sen Sam Ervin back from the great beyond, so once again we could hear him say. “What did the President know, and when did he know it?”
md
June 20th, 2012
6:46 pm
“What did the President know, and when did he know it?”
And that’s pretty much it in a nutshell……too bad we may never know…..just another entry in the Presidential “Holy Crap” Book of Secrets………..
saywhat?-Not banned by Bookman because I'm not a steaming pile of excrement
June 20th, 2012
6:49 pm
md
June 20th, 2012
6:41 pm
“It is beyond idiotic because it purports that if the murderer(s) had not had a “fast and furious” gun they would not have had a gun at all?”
I believe idiocy would be to rule out all “possibilities”, of which the above would be one.
______________________________________________________________
Let’s consider the possiblity that Ted Nugent stole one of the guns and planted it at the crime scene. Or skittle crapping unicorns. Or the monkeys that will soon fly out of my butt.
I’m so sure that the fast and furious weapons represent the vast majority of guns in Mexico, and without them, the drug violence of the past would never have taken place. In fact, here in Wingnuttistan, we believe there were no guns in Mexico, and no gun violence at all, until Obama and Holder launched their dastardly plot. Puhleaaase.
JDW
June 20th, 2012
6:55 pm
@Iggy…”Consider the source”
pssst…actually its a Bloomberg poll..you know the Republican Mayor of NY owns the company.
JDW
June 20th, 2012
6:57 pm
@Tiberuis…”You really are a steaming pile of excrement.”
And you are a F*&$ing moron…I referred to Issa and his political sideshow. You in your stupidity are twisting my words.
md
June 20th, 2012
6:58 pm
Sorry Saywhat, you get a buzzer on that one. It remains a possibility that that individual may not have had another weapon regardless of the fact that you may be full of monkeys……….
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
June 20th, 2012
6:59 pm
.just another entry in the Presidential “Holy Crap” Book of Secrets………..
md, I just wished he put the same emphasis on protecting our national security secrets as he does his and his regime’s secrets. New leak this AM, reporting on the new virus they have unleashed on the Iranians. Guess he has given up on the make them a friend strategy.
md
June 20th, 2012
7:00 pm
“pssst…actually its a Bloomberg poll..you know the Republican Mayor of NY owns the company.”
psst….Bloomberg is now an Independent after once belonging to both the R and D parties…….
md
June 20th, 2012
7:08 pm
Rafe…..and I guess we’ll have to wait for the guy to leave office before we ever see an independent special prosecutor appointed. Smacks of corruption when the entity in charge of appointing special prosecutors is the same entity that needs looking into. Although Congress can do it, the numbers are not there to do it. Must be time to allow the SC to do it if they see the others are hamstrung by politics….
JDW
June 20th, 2012
7:13 pm
@md…”Bloomberg is now an Independent”
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
June 20th, 2012
7:15 pm
md
Amazing how things run in circles, it is John Mitchell/Nixon all over again. You are right, it may take 20 years before we find out the truth about what really happened. Maybe a “Deep Throat” will appear, that is what blew the Nixon cover up. Unfortunately, he better not waste his time, with the WaPO this time, they would out him to the Oblamer regime, I’m afraid.
Just heard quote from Brian Terry’s mother, she said she was sad that we had an administration that was more concerned with covering up their involvement, than finding out the truth.
Soothsayer
June 20th, 2012
7:41 pm
This whole charade is nothing more than payback for Holder’s (among other things including DOMA) going after the RepugNOwecan’ts voting rights abuses. Nothing more, nothing less.
Even Bonehead thought it was a bad idea, but the Iceman couldn’t be dissuaded.
Just another idiotic waste of time and money on a witch hunt by the pathetic Fright-Wing who, pathetically, already know that they are going to lose in November.
Soothsayer
June 20th, 2012
7:42 pm
Kyle: it’s a good thing Bookman is on vacation this week. Maybe your post count will break 300.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
June 20th, 2012
7:44 pm
Kyle: it’s a good thing Bookman is on vacation this week. Maybe your post count will break 300.
Yeah and the average IQ will plummet into the negative numbers.
Soothsayer
June 20th, 2012
7:49 pm
Andy, bless yore little heart! See, you’re not a total outcast. You’re among people who love you here on Wingnut’s pathetic little blog. And, guess what? Come November, Mitt Dumbney is going to suffer the same fate as John McPain. Total defeat.
Why? Well, it’s really simple: they just ain’t that many old white guys and backwoods, bumpkin, redneck rubes. You’re in a minority, get it?
But, heck, don’t give up hope. They’s always 2016, when Hillary’s gonna kick yore ass again!
Soothsayer
June 20th, 2012
7:55 pm
Well, I done turned on the lights and the pathetic Fright-Wing roaches done run for the woodwork onced again. What a bunch of pathetic losers you all are. I just hope you don’t lose “the job” and end up in the unemployment line and find out what life is really like for all of the people you outsourced.
Still active on Bookman's blog because I conduct myself like an adult, not a baby
June 20th, 2012
8:06 pm
“Yeah and the average IQ will plummet into the negative numbers.”
yes when you post over at Bookman’s that is exactly what happens
Soothsayer
June 20th, 2012
8:13 pm
Strange that there were 3 iterations of “Fast & Furious” under the Bush administration, which theoretically, could have supplied the weapon that killed the Border Patrol agent.
Yet, that is conveniently overlooked by the Fright-Wing. Kinda makes one wonder, doesn’t it?
You might as come out from hiding, Fright-Wingers. I ain’t going nowhere. Either that or turn in early.
St Simons- island off the coast of New Somalia
June 20th, 2012
8:16 pm
“Obama Uses Executive Privilege in Holder Case”
get crackin’ Obama the Mammmmba (thwack!) owner of cons ebbywhere
you got to use that thing 20+ more times
to equal the Republican hypocrites.
doink
Mama Says
June 20th, 2012
8:16 pm
The fact is the government is refusing to reveal the facts that led to the death of a border agent.
You libs can yell about bush did this and bush did that but the fact is you are supporting something that contributed to the death of a US citizen.
Now if you are saying that bush instituted a policy whic ended up killing a citizen then you are right about him being wrong but either way NO government entity should be allowed to hide information from us.
In your contempt for bush you libs are now supporting the outright hiding of factual information which involves the us government supplying guns to the Mexican drug lords. Bush nor Obama should be allowed to hide issues of this importance. That’s the bottom line
Soothsayer
June 20th, 2012
8:21 pm
“The fact is the government is refusing to reveal the facts that led to the death of a border agent.”
He was killed by a Mexican national. The weapon that killed him was part of plan, begun under the Bush administration, to try to track guns being funneled to the Mexican drug lords.
The guns, by maligned fate, would up in the hands of the Mexican national who killed him. What is so hard to understand?
Dusty
June 20th, 2012
8:34 pm
WHEN IS BOOKMAN RETURNING??????????
Soothsayer
June 20th, 2012
8:37 pm
Dusty: I think he’s gone for the entire week.
Hey, Fright-Wingers, I’m leaving for a while. You can come out now. But I’ll be checking in again, so look out!
Still active on Bookman's blog because I conduct myself like an adult, not a baby
June 20th, 2012
8:37 pm
“WHEN IS BOOKMAN RETURNING??????????”
Ask him via email
Dusty
June 20th, 2012
8:40 pm
WHEN IS BOOKMAN RETURNING??????
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
June 20th, 2012
9:18 pm
I’m sorry, toothfairy, I started reading your comment and it made me sleepy. I dozed off. You’re going to have to do better than simply filling your diaper, like you’re over at kookman’s. Make an attempt at an original thought, man. We’ve heard all the Occupy gibberish and it was deformed the first time we heard it.
You libs
June 20th, 2012
9:18 pm
Oh how I long for the days when we had AG’s of character like Alberto Gonzales. When we just packed the federal bench and justice was just another arm of the executive branch.
Things were so much simpler then.
Soothsayer
June 20th, 2012
9:24 pm
Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens.
Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain.
Great personal attack, Andy, it’s easy to see why you were banned.
getalife
June 20th, 2012
9:30 pm
The cons think Holder is hiding a conspiracy to take their guns.
Even Andy is not that kooky.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
June 20th, 2012
9:30 pm
Hey toothfairy, I left a little note for you over at kookman’s.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
June 20th, 2012
9:36 pm
Imagine 2400 comments exactly like this-
barking frog
June 20th, 2012
9:31 pm
G Mare
i thought i misspelled.
your funny was good too.
the separated worked as
well.
Why would anyone want to be in the middle of that mind numbing nonsense?
getalife
June 20th, 2012
9:40 pm
President Obama 53.
willard robme cartel 40.
Landslide mandate.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
June 20th, 2012
9:44 pm
gitmo- Clinging to the same poll that has Americans favoring amnesty by 73%?
How sad.
md
June 20th, 2012
9:56 pm
Too funny sooth….the self proclaimed conspiracy theorist now siding with the corrupt ones in DC….