I guess that whole idea of Congress being a co-equal branch of government doesn't apply anymore.  I bet Madison would be pissed off if he heard about this.  

According to Josh Marshall, Snow modified this to mean that Congress has no oversight over the White House, just over the rest of the Executive Branch.  Still indefensible, just marginally less outlandish.

WHAT?! I guess that whole Checks and Balances thing has been misinterpreted for 221 years...

shakes head in disbelief

I'm wondering if Tony Snow was merely trying to "one up" the onion, which had a rather histerical article on a similar topic.

Breathtaking. Pure hubris. Chutzpah.

It's hard to believe he said that so baldly. My head is spinning from reading that. He really could have added "so fuck you," and it wouldn't have been any more shocking or in-your-face.

For a good primer on Congressional Oversight and related Supreme Court decisions, go to this link:

http://www.rules.house.gov/archives/comm _gp_cong_oversight.htm

Tony is blowing smoke. Somebody hold his feet to the fire.

Isn't there a single journalist in the White House Press Corps who has done some research on these issues? White House correspondents who care about doing their job are going to be needing this kind of historical context every day from now on.

Posted by: FMArouet
Date: March 22, 2007 03:42 PM

Tony Snow's tenure as Press Secretary has been laughable, to say the least. He's an articulate version of George W. -- he says stupid things, but you can at least understand what he's saying.

Fleischer realized pretty quickly what he was going to have to deal with and got out early. Scotty hung in there as long as he could and then finally bailed. I don't think either of them were stupid, just wrong.

Snow on the other hand is a flat out idiot.

You know, I'm trying to figure out-- has there ever been a successful use of executive privilege to prevent Congress or anyone else from compelling testimony, anytime in the entire history of the United States? When I look up its history, I see nothing but failures. The concept was first used by Jefferson to claim he shouldn't have to turn over some private letters. The Supreme Court overruled him. It was most famously used by Nixon, and his use was overruled too by the Supreme Court unanimously. Bill Clinton attempted to use it a couple times, never successfully, not even on the question of whether Secret Service agents should be able to testify against the President.

If executive privilege doesn't protect Presidential correspondences, taping of Presidential business, or Presidential bodyguards, what does it protect? Has any Presidency ever successfully shielded itself from subpeona before?

I almost lost my lunch when I heard Tony Snow say this to Harry Smith.  I think that's when Smith became, shall we say, a wee bit annoyed and ripped Snow a new one (ending the interview with "Yep - You owe it to me, Tony" in response to Snow's question about wanting to get at the truth).  I have no idea what country Snow thinks he's living in ... the arrogance and hubris of this administration is breathtaking, even after 6 years of hearing this crap.  I think the more backed into a corner they get the more they're going to be spouting this nonsense.

No the best view of oversight was given by Democratic Congressman from Wisconsin David Obey in the supplemental debate, who said the US government was like a corporation with the president CEO and the Congress was Board of Directors, what can't even comment on that.

"Remember this.  When an exterminator starts using scare tactics, it's time to get off the phone.  Or throw the bum out.  This is the sign of a disreputable exterminator.  There is never a reason to scare anyone.  These are the worst methods they use to separate you from your money - and then laugh at you later - back in the office.  Don't let it happen to you.  When they start to scare you, be warned why they are doing it.  And don't fall for it."

don't make no decisions when scared or angry.
something-something-something is best served cold.

During the Clinton Administration the Rupublican Lead Congress continuely talked about the responsibilitiy of Congress to exercise strict oversight. They carried this to the point of shutting down the United Staes Government.

The arrogance of this President and his Administration has gone beyond any measurable articulation in a Blog.

President Bush has abused his office. America now sees that.

America is demanding the withdrawal of "combat" forces from Iraq.

The 2008 incoming Democratic President, probably John Edwards will bring sanity and respect back into the White House.

http://www.americanchronicle.com/article s/viewByAuthor.asp?authorID=1092

I worked in Iraq for three years. Part of that as a US Diplomat in the Embassy in Baghdad.

The supplemental bill to extend funds for Iraq Military operations will not change what is occuring there.

Yes there needs to be a supplemental.

Yes, The Democratic Congress is responsible for the articulation of that supplemental to ensure those funds are being used to finance the withdrawal of Military Combat forces from Iraq.