House Judiciary Chair John Conyers and subcommittee Chair Linda Sanchez have written Monica Goodling's lawyer saying they don't think she has a good faith basis for invoking her 5th Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. First off, they say Goodling has to appear and invoke the privilege on a question by question basis.

Then, they write,

The fact that a few Senators and Members of the House have expressed publicly their doubts about the credibility of the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General in their representations to Congress about the U.S. Attorneys' termination does not in any way excuse your client from answering questions honestly and to the best of her ability. Of course, we expect (as we are sure you do) your client to tell the truth in any interview or testimony. The alleged concern that she may be prosecuted for perjury by the Department of Justice for fully truthful testimony is not only an unjustified basis for invoking the privilege and without reasonable foundation in this case but also so far as we know an unwarranted aspersion against her employer.

More...

Law Professor Doug Berman at Sentencing Law and Policy and Capital Defense Weekly believe there is a de facto policy underway by Bush and Alberto Gonzales to suspend federal executions. Prof. Berman writes:

Does the Bush Administration or some DOJ officials seriously question the constitutionality of its lethal injection protocol? If it doesn't, why agree to these stays? It is quite puzzling that the same administration and Justice Department that so steadfastly defends its procedures for GITMO detainees is not actively defending its procedures for executing convicted murderers.

This is the way to step up:

The Feingold-Reid Bill helps Congress finally put the brakes on the Administration's failed Iraq strategy, and serves notice to the President in terms he can't ignore. "It sets forth a new direction that will require the Iraqis to take responsibility for their future by mandating the safe, phased redeployment of US combat forces from Iraq, with a hard date for completing that redeployment. It also very responsibly provides for a continued, very limited role for US troops who remain in Iraq -- equip and train Iraqi security forces, carry out limited counter terrorism operations and protect US personnel and infrastructure. I am pleased to join with Senators Feingold and Reid as a co-sponsor on this important legislative initiative. I would urge the President to embrace the new direction set forth in the bill.

Thank you Senator Dodd. Senator Clinton? Senator Obama? And how about some statements of support from Edwards and Richardson?

Senator Russ Feingold reminds us:

The amendment offered by Sen. John McCain on Oct. 15, 1993, would have eliminated funding for operations in Somalia immediately, except for funds for withdrawing troops or for continuing operations if any American POWs/MIAs were not accounted for. The mostly Republican senators who supported the McCain amendment were not disregarding the safety of our troops, or being indifferent to their need for guns, ammunition, food and clothing. They were supporting an appropriate, safe, responsible proposal to use Congress' power of the purse to bring an ill-conceived military mission to a close without in any way harming our troops.

Think the Media will include THAT in its reporting? The point is simple, when the Congress believes a military operation should end, it is well within its rights, indeed, it is its duty, to NOT FUND said military operation. Whether it is Somalia, or Iraq.

On March 23, Stephen Griles, former Deputy Secretary of the Interior during Gale Norton's tenure, pleaded guilty to providing misleading information to Senate investigators about his relationship with Jack Abramoff.

Now, Italia Federici, Griles former girlfriend who "co-founded CREA, a conservative-leaning environmental-advocacy group, in 1997 with Gale Norton, who became secretary of the Interior Department in 2001" has received a target letter.
CREA stands for Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy,

“The investigation is focused on the allegedly illegal manner in which you operated the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy,” wrote Stephanie Evans, a trial attorney in the department’s Tax Division.

Griles acknowledged at the time of his plea,

... that because of his romantic relationship with Federici, he “gave Abramoff more credibility as a lobbyist” and “distinguished him from other lobbyists.”

Federici is under investigation for potentially violating five statutes:

More...

Update [2007-4-3 12:44:16 by Big Tent Democrat]: See also Glenn Greenwald on Dictator Rudy, who also believes the President has the power to imprison American citizens without due process. A dangerous lunatic is Giuliani.

Via Matt Yglesias, Rich Lowry describes Rudy Giuliani endorsing dictatorship:

Rudy . . . began to muse about, after a veto, "would the president have the constitutional authority to support them [the troops], anyway?" . . . He seemed to suggest that Bush could fund the Iraq war without Congress providing funding. . . [He] said, since the war had been authorized by Congress, the president has "the inherent authority to support the troops." But he added, "You have to ask a constitutional lawyer." . . . I asked Rudy whether he was saying Bush could veto the supplemental and, in the absence of a deal with Congress, fund the troops in Iraq under his own authority. "If he vetoes it, he's going to have to find a way to support the troops," Rudy said. "They have given him the authorization to fight the war," and "Bush has the power to redirect the money and time to work something out" with Congress. . . .

This is blatantly unconstitutional. It advocates for dictatorship in wartime. It is a great example of what Rudy Giuliani is.

I watched President Bush's press conference and there is a lot to think about from it. (Full text here.) For example, Bush said he needs a bill by May. The idea of the money running out April 15 was obviously nonsense. He reiterated he will veto all funding bills that "set an artificial timeline."

I think that the Obama idea of "ratcheting up pressure" is a silly nonstarter. Bush has ignored the 2006 elections, the Iraq Study Group, nonbinding resolutions and he will ignore any Congressional initiative that attempts to tell hm how to run the war.

Specifically about the Reid-Feingold bill, Bush said it was a legitimate exercise of Congressional power but that he just disagrees and he will veto it too. End of the story right? Wrong. It is the beginning of the story.

More....

Tennessee goes for its 7th NCAA women's championship against Rutgers.

I am not well versed in the women's game, but I do know Summit is a legendary Wooden-like coach and Candace Parker is the Oden of the women's tournament.

The high level athleticism the women bring today is incredible. There was always great shooting.

The Cult of Obama is screeching at the criticism their hero is receiving. He can fix it with one statement.

I endorse the Reid-Feingold bill. I am co-sponsoring the Reid-Feingold bill.

How hard is that? Apparently, it is too hard for Senator Barack Obama at this time. Till then, the Obama Cult needs to suck it up.

As Senators, what makes Senator Obama different than Senator Hillary Clinton? Nothing.

Any top tier Presidential candidate want to prove their mettle? Endorse the Reid-Feingold bill.

P.S. Senator Harry Reid is NOT Dennis Kucinich. He is the leader of the Senate. This is the MAINSTREAM Democratic position now.

The Florida Gators become the first team to repeat as NCAA mens' basketball champions since the Duke Blue Devils won the title in 1991-92.

Three top flight starters, Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer, turned down the riches of the NBA for a chance to repeat as champions.

The Mighty Gators are a great TEAM. Greg Oden was the best player on the court. Florida was the best team we've seen since at least Duke.

Let's Go Gators!

I'm at the airport, heading back to Denver (slowly, having to change planes in Chicago) from rural Connecticut where I've spent the last five days with Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake and her three big poodles, Kobe, Lucy and Katie.

Jane is amazing. She is an eternal optimist and determined to get as much joy out of every day as she can, despite her cancer, which I'm convinced she is going to beat. We walked up and down the long winding hilly road to her house for 60 minutes every day. We cooked and ate only the freshest fish, greens, fruits and vegetables. She looks as gorgeous as always, has a strong appetite, laughs a lot and was great company. If I didn't have a day job, I would have stayed longer.

The dogs are incredibly smart, sensitive, respectful and loving. I'm going to miss them.

We didn't see much news, the days just kind of flew by, so here's another open thread to bring us all up to speed.

I should be back to regular blogging Tuesday or Wednesday.

Kudos to New Mexico Governor and presidential hopeful Bill Richardson who has signed the state legislature's medical marijuana bill into law.

New Mexico now joins Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington in protecting medical marijuana patients from arrest. Richardson, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, actively lobbied for the bill's passage.

"Governor Richardson's action is the clearest sign yet that the politicians are finally catching up with the people on the issue of medical marijuana," said Aaron Houston, director of government relations for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) in Washington, D.C. "Support for medical marijuana is overwhelming -- 78 percent in a national Gallup poll -- and backing from the medical community is solidifying as new research continues to document marijuana's medical benefits. Support in Congress keeps growing, and this could be the year the federal government finally ends its cruel attacks on the sick in states where medical marijuana is legal."

As more and more states pass medical marijuana laws, and they will, thanks to the great work of Marijuana Policy Project,NORML and patients' rights groups, it's time for a change in federal enforcement policies.