"Our government has not faced such a dilemma in more than two centuries"

Was anyone expecting President Bush to enter on Rep. Bill Jefferson's (D-La.) side in his corruption case? That's what just happened, in a big way.

President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in an FBI raid on a congressman's office be sealed for 45 days.
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"Our government has not faced such a dilemma in more than two centuries," the president said. "Yet after days of discussions, it is clear these differences will require more time to be worked out."

Constitutionally, this isn't a huge surprise from the president who signed McCain-Feingold. Politically, what's the use? Does it drag the Jefferson scandal out longer? Is it a bone thrown to House Speaker Denny Hastert?