The Democratic Congress is flexing its muscles, no doubt about it, and beyond Gonzales, Halliburton, Niger yellowcake, there's always Karl Rove.
Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and former counselor to President Clinton, said he believes in the importance of protecting executive privilege, but that Bush can't use it "as a shield to protect 1,100 White House employees from all forms of accountability. Not under oath? With no transcript? That's a cocktail party, that's not an investigation."
Careful, guys! Wouldn't want to trot out there looking for the rattlesnake wearing nothing but your gardening gloves.
Paul Light, a professor at New York University's Wagner School of Public Service, said the Democrats' takeover of Congress, combined with Bush's waning power and the administration's exceptionally centralized control of federal agencies had created a tinderbox for Rove.
"Especially if you lose a midterm election and start running into strong-willed Democrats who want to do aggressive oversight in advance of a presidential election," Light said. "The dotted lines all lead to Karl Rove."
Indeed. But be careful. In trying to simplify the battle, you may miss a battalion of well-armed, carefully protected enemies -- among whom are George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and a host of corporate and other supporters.
NB: A wiggly dotted line connecting Randy "Duke" Cunningham with Dick Cheney can be found here.
