Chuck On MTP

Senator Chuck Schumer calls for Alberto Gonzales to resign.

by Hubert G. Locke

Published on Friday, July 27, 2007 by The Seattle Post Intelligencer

When you have Tony Snow spinning wild accusations against Democrats to distract from the news that Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee has requested a Special Prosecutor to look into   more...Alberto Gonzaless conflicting testimony before Congress, who else better to have on than a former Reagan official? After all, its not like Saint Ronnies man could be accused of a partisan witch hunt.

Chris Matthews talks to Stan Brand, former US House Counsel and Bruce Fein, formerly part of Reagans DoJ. Not surprisingly, Fein sees parallels in what is happening with Watergate.

MATTHEWS: How can Tony Snow come on the show as the Presidents spokesman and deny seeing and hearing what we just heard and saw?

BRAND: Well, hes not a grand jury and hes not a prosecutor

FEIN: Hes Ron Ziegler during Watergate. And you remember all the equivocations that were made by Mr. Nixon that these are just concocted allegations and John Dean is lying. Well, John Dean wasnt lying. One of the ironies there about this attempt to split hairs right now is what its a reminder of for Republicans: its President Clinton with the meaning of the word is is, whats the meaning of the word alone? This is not games when youre under oath and testifying with regard to an oversight function of Congress.

MATTHEWS: Okay, let me ask you this, the toughest question in the world: so what? Can those guys on the Hill, Chuck Schumer, etc. and Patrick Leahy for judicial or political reasons, or Constitutional reasons, really bring the case to this White House and this Attorney General? Can they really put him in jail for lying?

FEIN: They cannot, because they cannot enforce the law and initiate a criminal prosecution. What they can do and what they would have to do is begin impeachment proceedings. The President has a duty to faithfully execute-not sabotage-the law
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