This is the place where I go out on the limb with my Pointy Stick of Cynicism and burst the bubble.

There will be no arrests, no shackles or jumpsuits, no dungeons in the sub-sub-basement, no hardened crust of bread & slop buckets, and no Harriet Miers with a footlong beard squinting at the sunlight.

There may however, be a few of our politicians doing a soft shoe with their straw hats & canes before it’s over.

Sadly, you are probably right. I am dealing in the realm of what is legally possible (ie what they could and proably should do) rather than the realm of what is politically likely.

What would happen if the accused contemnor refused to show up to their trial and instead took refuge, say, in the WH, under shrub’s protection? Would the sergeant at arms have to fight the secret service? :P

I don’t think we have precedent for that, but I assume that the contemnor could be tried in absentia and a fugitve warant issued. So, the contemnor would effectively have imprison him/herself in the WH

selise @ 190

i don’t think national security was threatened by the comments i saw.

heh. “National Security” isn’t threatened by much of anything. MOST things classified under “national security” grounds are absolutely bogus. I have NEVER EVER seen much by way of secrets (TS/SCI) when I was in the AF, for instance, that fell into the realm of “national security” that really was. It was potentially embarrassing, potentially “ugly” for our view of ourselves but a threat to “national security” if the cat was let out of the bag? Nope.

I don’t trust the “national security” claim. There is truly very very little that can honestly be claimed to fall under that rubric. Most of that crap hides unconstitutional, unethical, or flat-out illegal acts or plans by the government. Period. As such it is invalid to keep it secret.

I am not suggesting that national security is compromised by this leaking. I am suggesting that the leaker is compromising his own integrity, and nmore importantly–that the leaker is ignoring the rule of law.

In order to be read into the prgram, this leaker would have had to sign executive agreements swearing to keep this information secret until it is declassified.

The leaker has an absolute right to take any legal means to have declassified including starting a lawsuit, but cannot just decide he doesn’t feel like being bound by his oath. it makes him no better than Libby–though clearly his motives are nobler.

You cannot have everybody out there free lancing and making up their own rules as they go along–THAT is a danger to national security.

They know that the Talking Monkey in the White House has NO intention of co operating what so ever and holds this Congress in complete CONTEMPT, so I ask when they issue the contempt citations why isn’t the Sgt. of or at Arms their to take them IMMEDIATELY into custody. I am pretty sure a 45 cal pistol placed to the temple of the Gutless Spineless Coward and Traitors head will be a very strong persauder in making them go to jail.

Apprehension can be done at their home work or enroute there of, this GAME that Congress is playing is just that a game and I for one am very tired of it.

One last thing if they resist can that be justification for a KILL shot as they are dangerous and should be treated as such. Call it resisiting arrest and escape and evasion boy some of these Scumbags being killed while resisting arrest would definetly raise the moral in this Country.

jacqrat @ 252

BigMitch @ 200
Bullshit.

I call BULLSHIT on your BULLSHIT. Everything LIEberman does is tainted by his wishes to help Bush bring on the Apocalypse… and you know how that story ends…

Why would Lieberman want the apocalypse? That doesn’t really add up.

Oh? Read this.

Sometimes one has to read between the lines.

And wouldn’t George W. Bush, in general, be guilty of “incoherent contempt,” too, but in his case for butchering the English language?

As far as Harriett Miers, we’ll have to wait to hear her “forced” testimony before Congress to determine whether she’ll offend all of us (and Congress) with either “incoherent contempt” or something closer to that which Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld display, “coherent contempt” with a snarl and sneer thrown in for good measure.

What? What was the subject again? Inherent contempt?

Why, a little stem cell research should be able to clear that up, being inherent, and all. Unfortunately, it’s a little too late for all the Republicans with this affliction, since their “inherent contempt” for our democracy, our Constitution and for the truth is so ingrained.

I used to work about 2 blocks from there. We had a view of the bridge and the Minneapolis skyline behind it. Crazy.