In theory, Congress could try Miers directly (Inherent contempt)...

Junkdrawer

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Fri Jul-20-07 10:11 AM
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In theory, Congress could try Miers directly (Inherent contempt)...

Whisper that to me again, Rep. Conyers...
by Elwood Dowd
Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 04:41:13 PM PDT
... you're getting me excited.

You know what I mean, Congressman. The words you said yesterday in your letter to Harriet Miers, after she announced she would refuse to appear today. She's refusing to respond to a Congressional subpoena, on the orders of the President. Your letter told her:

A refusal to appear before the Subcommittee tomorrow could subject Ms. Miers to contempt proceedings, including but not limited to proceedings under 2 U.S.C. � 194 and under the inherent contempt authority of the House of Representatives.
"Inherent contempt." My heart fluttered.

In recent decades Congress has relied on having contempt of Congress cases handled in the federal courts. Inherent contempt charges are not: the House casts a majority vote to find the defendant in contempt, and the convicted defendant is then taken into custody by House employees and confined for up to the remainder of the session (that is, until January 2009).

....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/12/192250/035

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Warren Stupidity

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Fri Jul-20-07 10:26 AM
Response to Original message

1. In theory

Congress could have cut off funds for the war, but didn't.

Congress could start impeachment proceedings against many executive branch officials including Bush and Cheney, but won't.

Congress could assert its co-authority over the governance of this nation, but seems unwilling to do so.

There is a lot at stake here, the republic is at risk, and we are stuck with Congressional leaders who are more comfortable with theatrics than with actual risk taking. Too bad for us. Too bad for what is left of our republic. We had a good run.

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