AlterNet: Bush is Bluffing: The Farce of 'Executive Privilege' - The Diigo Meta page

• 02 Jul 07
  

  Dusty Taylor

  ExecutivePriv BushLies

• 

  Larry Keiler

  executive_privilege us_law us_politics

  • n its ruling on the Nixon tapes, the Supreme Court noted "the valid need for protection of communications between high government officials and those who advise and assist them in the performance of their manifold duties." In other words, while rejecting Nixon's particular claim of executive privilege, the court left the door open for future claims by future presidents. And there's a key distinction to keep in mind: The Nixon case was part of a criminal investigation; the current case involving the Bush administration is not.
  • No president has mounted a court fight to keep his aides from testifying on Capitol Hill.

  • Why has executive privilege been such a contentious issue?

    Because it is at the fulcrum of a very delicate balancing act -- between a president's right to candid advice and Congress' right to information. Also, executive privilege is a power that political parties tend to support when they control the White House, but abhor when they're out of power. For that reason, neither party is eager for a definitive ruling from the Supreme Court. For its part, the high court seems to be in no hurry to wade into such contentious constitutional waters.

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