Springtime for Conyers

David Weigel | March 21, 2007

The House Democrats are bringing the hammer down:

A House panel on Wednesday approved subpoenas for President Bush's political adviser, Karl Rove and other top White House aides, setting up a constitutional showdown over the firings of eight federal prosecutors.

By voice vote, the House Judiciary subcommittee on commercial and administrative law decided to compel the president's top aides to testify publicly and under oath about their roles in the firings.

All that's needed is for Chairman John Conyers to approve the subpoenas. Feel the suspense!

For his part, Bush remained resolute.

Would he fight Democrats in court to protect his aides against congressional subpoenas?

"Absolutely," Bush declared Tuesday.

Democrats promptly rejected the threat. The Senate Judiciary Committee planned to approve subpoenas for the same officials on Thursday.

In this, the White House is apparently taking advice from Tom DeLay. So, how about that 25th Amendment?