Billions for defense companies
Billions for the oil industry
Billions for Wall Street

Unless, you know, he was lying. And there’s no way he would ever do that.

Bob in HI

Padilla’s detention was upheld by the 4th Circuit and he appealed to the S.Ct. They took the case and then the government got it dismissed on mootness grounds when they indicted Padilla in Miami, and later convicted him in a civil trial. That was perhaps the best result for the government, because the 4th Circuit’s decision saying a President can snatch you off the street and hold you incommunicado in a military prison without charge still stands as “good law” – i.e., precedent which has to be obeyed. It was never reversed by the Supreme Court.

so the fact that the case was made moot doesn’t affect the appelate rulings in the case ???

common sense would say if the case wasn’t resolved the appelate rulings should be moot too

If Bush is issuing a letter granting immunity is he stating that Rove was operating on his behalf in both the USA firings and the Seligman case?

Bushies wanted to say Congress had NO oversight powers. Of course, that’s awfully convenient when your purpose is to do vile awful criminal things and you don’t want Congress to see it.

But, if the primary immunity from having to testify is based on the President’s need to have his adviser available to him, then Bush has nothing, since Rove isn’t his adviser any more and Bush isn’t President any more.

If the immunity from having to testify is based on the need for a President to have private advisers and private discussion or debate in the White House, then it would make sense for the next president to continue the immunity.

Where it’s murky is what Bush might be asking for or offering Rove. Since Rove never showed up to testify (that I recall) he never actually claimed anything before Congress. He needs to actually go before Congress and claim immunity based on something or other. Then it can be hashed out.

In response to emptywheel @ 9 (show text)

I don’t THINK he’ll do the latter for two reasons. 1) because given all teh TV time Rove has done on tihs, it would seriously diminish EP, and 2) because Bush doesn’t want to get close to the Siegelman stuff at all.

an observation: amongst quick electronic keyboard typists, it’s my observation that the *e* in the seems to move a slot towards the front-of-the-line w/surprising frequency. In fact, I do it all teh time myself!!!

You must be new around here, where the spelling “teh” for “the” is a bit of snark. I’m not sure about the origin, but it is often not a typo.

Bob in HI

But then, that presser’s topic (TARP, “stimulus” particulars etc.) seems remarkably uncertain and in flux, so what’s a Prez Press Sec to do?