David Iglesias speaks out. He tries to set the record straight. On thing that would point out is that intelligent men (women) can disagree over a particular case. I’m not sure that is reason enough to fire someone. There should be cause. Yes, the US Attorneys can be hired and fired by the president. That’s not the point. The president should take more care to appoint who he really truly wants. Removal just cuz should come at the end of a term not 2 years into his second term.

From Iglesias’ OpEd: Good has already come from this scandal. Yesterday, the Senate voted to overturn a 2006 provision in the Patriot Act that allows the attorney general to appoint indefinite interim United States attorneys. The attorney general’s chief of staff has resigned and been replaced by a respected career federal prosecutor, Chuck Rosenberg. The president and attorney general have admitted that “mistakes were made,” and Mr. Domenici and Ms. Wilson have publicly acknowledged calling me.

President Bush addressed this scandal yesterday. I appreciate his gratitude for my service — this marks the first time I have been thanked. But only a written retraction by the Justice Department setting the record straight regarding my performance would settle the issue for me.

The president looks like he is going to fight to keep Miers and Rove from testifying before Congress. Why? The evidence seems to stacked against him. There is a time to draw a line in the sand. Is this the time? Clinton drew his line and lost. Nixon drew his line in the sand and the Supreme Court said, “nope, nix, nada” (Ok, I’m loosely paraphrasing.) Executive privilege ain’t going to hold water this time but then again, if this ends in the Supreme Court. Who knows how this will go.

Bush spoke to the nation earlier today. He explained that he was bending over backwards to be accommodating. I was laughing when he said this. It sure seems like he is complying with something that he will have to do anyway but what do I know. BTW, why did Senator Domenici call Iglesias at home? If he wasn’t trying to influence Iglesias then why call? He could read the papers. He would know when it was announced if the indictments were coming down. Why did Representative Wilson call Iglesias and ask about what was in a sealed indictment? Ain’t it time for some Ethics committees to get cranked up?

Update: Rep. John Conyers and Senator Pat Leahy have an answer for the president. I’m not sure that Bush is used to working with Democrats who have a backbone. Look for subpoenas to come down later on today. This is interesting.

Update II:  Oh, look brand new subpoenas from the House.  The subpoenas are for Rove and other top administration aides.  As the White House is trying to tell us that this is a partisan effort by a few Democrats, please notice the bipartisan vote to repel a portion of the Patriot Act yesterday and a few Republicans have stood up.