I wonder what took congress so long to start doing SO LITTLE in the way of checking the run amok abuses of the executive branch (King Bush and Co.)?

Anyway, the following, while late in coming, is still a positive sign for checks and balances in our nation—pray that it is only the tip of the iceberg!

This from the American Freedom Campaign (Feb. 14):

Dear [Paul Bear],

It is a crazy day here at the American Freedom Campaign, but I wanted to share some great news with you.  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the contempt resolution against White House officials Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers!  As you know, the American Freedom Campaign — backed by all of you — has been pushing for this vote for months.  Congress has taken a stand in support of our system of checks and balances and we all have reason to celebrate.

I would personally like to thank everyone who took the time to send an email to Congress, urging passage of this contempt resolution.  Over the past few months, AFC supporters have sent about 19,000 emails on this issue.  This caught the attention of the popular Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, which this morning cited these 19,000 emails as part of the reason the resolution made it to the floor.  We are a young organization, but we are having a serious impact in Washington!

As my time is limited, I thought I would paste below much of our press release we sent out today.  It provides some additional information about the vote along with our reaction to it.

As always, thank you for all of your support.  If this victory inspires you to help support our organization financially, please click on the following link.

https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2165/t/2629/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2644

Best,
Steve

Steve Fox
Campaign Director
American Freedom Campaign Action Fund

=================

 American Freedom Campaign media release, February 14, 2008

WASHINGTON - Today, by a margin of 223-32, the U.S. House of Representatives, through the adoption of a self-executing rule, passed two resolutions related to the refusal of two White House officials to comply with congressional subpoenas to testify before Congress last year.  The first resolution directed the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. to bring criminal contempt charges against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers to a grand jury.  The second resolution authorizes the House general counsel to bring a civil suit against the White House to settle the question of whether the testimony of Bolten and Miers should be covered by executive privilege.

 "After months of frustration, we are pleased that the House has finally passed these important resolutions," said Steve Fox, campaign director for the American Freedom Campaign.  "In order for our system of checks and balances to be effective, Congress must have oversight over the executive branch.  When Bolten and Miers — with the encouragement of the President — refused to comply with the congressional subpoenas last summer, they were tacitly saying that this oversight power no longer existed.  If they are not held in contempt — and prosecuted in the courts — our Constitution will have been defiled."

While the American Freedom Campaign is pleased by the outcome of the vote, it is disappointed by the fact that only three Republicans voted in favor of these resolutions.  Worse, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) stood on the floor of the House and asked members of his party to walk out of the chamber and skip the vote entirely.  All but 34 Republicans complied with this request.

"This should not have been a partisan issue," Fox continued.  "This is an historic dispute between two branches of government.  Both Democratic and Republican members of Congress should stand up for the American people and for the institution in which they serve.  Any Republican who failed to vote in favor of this resolution has expressed his or her support for an impotent Congress during an Obama or Clinton administration.  Such a development would be just as damaging for our nation as an impotent Congress under President Bush."

"Those members of Congress who walked out on this vote, have turned their back on the Constitution itself," Fox added.  "They have violated their oath to 'support and defend the Constitution' and do not deserve to represent the American people.  Again, this is not a partisan matter.  We would say the exact same thing if Democrats walked out on a vote to defend the oversight powers of Congress under the Constitution."

The American Freedom Campaign has been one of the most aggressive organizations in the country pushing its members to stand up for our system of checks and balances.  Since November, nearly 19,000 emails have been sent from AFC supporters to their U.S. representatives, urging them to pass the contempt resolution.

For more information, visit the American Freedom Campaign Web site - http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org

V!

Posted by Paul Bear (www.RonPaulite.com)