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Subscribe to RSSObama White House officials mounted a swift counter-offensive Thursday over a congressional vote to subpoena internal emails relating to the Solyndra loan, calling the vote by the House Energy and Commerce committee an unprecedented and unjustified intrusion on confidential executive branch communications.
The subpoena "is a fishing expedition {and} a political stunt and which is designed to tie up White House staff," one senior administration official told NBC News. Officials signaled they are prepared to invoke executive privilege, if necessary, setting up a potential political and constitutional showdown between the president and the GOP controlled House.
The committee’s 14 to 9 vote follows a months-long investigation into a problem plagued Energy Department loan that has cost taxpayers $535 million. It also came just hours after the White House released more embarrassing emails relating to Solyndra, indicating that officials were well aware of potential problems with the solar maker well before the company filed for bankruptcy.
On Nov. 3, 2010, for example, Kenneth Baer, a senior Office of Management and Budget communications official, forwarded an email to senior officials throughout the administration containing a trade press story with the headline: "Solyndra Spells Disaster for DOE Loan Guarantee Program."
Six minutes later, Rod O’Conner, Energy Secretary Steve Chu’s chief of staff, replied: "Great day all around. Want to kill someone."
"You are not alone," Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change policy, replied four minutes after that.
Last September, Solyndra filed for bankruptcy and its offices were raided by the FBI, part of a federal probe into the firm’s dealings with the government. Republicans say they want to know whether the decision to grant the loan was influenced by political cronyism since one of the lead investors in Solyndra was a prominent political donor to the president, Tulsa billionaire George Kaiser, who had multiple meetings at the White House.
"It's time we get to the bottom of his whole mess," said Rep. Fred Upton, the chairman of the House panel, during today’s committee vote.
But White House officials say they have already turned over thousands of pages of documents containing communications between White House officials and the Energy Department. None back up the "political influence" charge, they say. They also say they have tried without success to negotiate a compromise with House Republicans over those documents still being sought- internal White House memos and emails, including those sent from the president’s BlackBerry, that mention the word "Solyndra." One official said that the material being sought could involve "tens of thousands of pages" but that most of them are press clips and routine communications among the president’s advance staff involving President Obama’s visit to Solyndra in May 2010.
Still, the subpoena could put Obama in an awkward position since he had sharply criticized President Bush for invoking executive privilege. (At the top of their press release Thursday announcing the subpoena vote, House Republicans recycled a quote from President Obama the day after he took office: "The government should not keep information confidental merely because public official smight be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears.")
But Obama officials noted today that the president’s previous criticism of Bush’s executive privilege claims was restricted to cases where documents were being sought for investigations looking into serious wrongdoing involving the Bush administration.
While acknowledging that Solyndra may have been a "bad loan," one White House official said: "Where is the evidence of wrongdoing?"
Although they wouldn’t address the question directly, White House officials appeared to leave little doubt they are prepared to make an executive privilege if House Republicans won’t compromise. A recent letter from Kathryn Ruemmler, White House counsel, described the request for documents as encroaching upon ng "longstanding and significant institutional Executive Branch confidentiality interests" -- standard language that precedes executive privilege claims.
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Ya think?
If only Mr. Issa and his merry band of nitwits were as zealous on JOB creation as they are at chasing pink unicorns!
As far as executive privilege goes... if it was good enough for 'W' & the 'Dick then by gosh, it's good enough for President Obama!
You can thank the 'dynamic duo' for setting the precedent!
While they are busy voting down jobs for 1.9 million jobs and making sure we don't lift up the economy;
GOP has plenty of time to go fishing.
Under GOP auspices, they work 3 days a week, 2 weeks on and one off in the House. So, about 9 days a month.
These sheisters should stay at home and hang with Daddy Norquist till the cows come home and just stay out of the Senate, because they are not helping the electorate or the economy...... they are useless to the American people. DEFUNCT.
GOP IS DONE & DONE. USELESS EXCEPT TO THEIR BENEFACTORS & THEMSELVES.
To the tune of $174,000 per year!
Probably soon to be sitting under "executive privilege"
Feisty, good point, Bush and Cheney could claim executive privilege and that was ok, fine and dandy. What about the secret Cheney meetings with big oil and coal to write the energy plan? What about "slam dunk" on Iraq? What about WMD's that never were? What about warrantless wiretaps? ETC ETC ETC.
Backhouse, you and I are thinking alike. I mentioned 9 days a month not too long ago.
John, Tucson, then they better ask for the Bush 43 e-mails as well. The same GOPers on the committee voted to approve Solyndra in 2005.
Backhouse -- Let's hope these a$$holes lose their job in the next election. Disgusting and shameful bunch of do nothing part-time overpaid idiots, otherwise known as the senate GOP. When you step on the middle class you step on the majority. Did they forget we vote??? Re-posted. ; )
Fiesty -- You are correct and if Issa and Upton pushes this issue they better run and hide because the Executive Privilege will be breached and all those records under Bush will be subpoenaed one day.
Jody,
9 days a month at $174K a year as Feisty points out -
Does not seem real to almost anyone.
Neither does saying No over and over again to 1.9Million jobs for Americans when we are recovering from such a downturn. It is as though GOP Congressionals are doling out punishments over & over again.
It is disgusting form of abuse to many families and their children who are going without today. And were hoping for good news from the people they elected.
GOP IS USELESS.
Thanks once again Don't,
Good to hear from you & remember all the good hearts out there, that have nothing to do with the cold, dead fish Norquistians in Congress.
Not to mention they DO NOTHING while working those 9 days a month, other than naming post offices, waging war on women's reproductive rights & any bill involving God!
It's obscene!!!
PS: DCIA - they better remember that once the genie is out of the bottle there is NO stuffing it back in! ;o)
Aw, the the White House ought to be thanking Issa on this - it'll just get them all ready and practiced up for Fast and Furious.
See gang, the House, where Issa sits has passed 16 jobs related bills.
So see, he's got plenty of time to look into the small matter of the loss of $535 million. Or are you all against that? The loss was A OK in your books?
You all are good with the fact that the contracts were re-drafted to give priority to George Kaiser, a political crony and bundler?
So you are in fact cool with crony capitalism, is that it?
Good to know.
Oh and Don't - in applying your logic to the Senate, Reid who has passed no jobs bills, cannot even get his own guys in line, and who has passed no budget absolutely must go.
Right Don't? You want to appear to be somewhat consistent, eh Don't?
Look at the above post (Spanky's) and **Flush**
LOL!
Given the size of the load he left - that would require a **double flush** & some air freshener! ;po)
Feisty, "once the genie is out of the bottle there is NO stuffing it back in!"
Give me a minute,
And I'll be abracadrabra-ing the MeMEMEMeMeMe-ers out to the unemployment lines themselves,
to play brand new roles
where they have no choice,
but to take what the Do-Nothing-But-Kill-Party is dishing out to us.
Life lessons are unpredictable for everyone.
Do you feel better after going to the bathroom Don't?
That's great, but really, you don't have to announce your bowel movements.
So Don't how about the executive privilege comment form Obama? It should be a great campaign commercial once he invokes the privilege on this, eh?
Say Don't - if there is no wrong doing, why do you suppose they don't want to produce the documents?
Kinda odd, right Don't. In fact, would you say it makes them look 1. dirty, and 2. like silly gooses in light of what they said about the privilege when Bush invoked it?
You know that whole goose and gander thing.
Oh and Don't if you gotta go back to the can rather than respond in a thoughtful manner I think we will all understand.
You gots to know your limitations.
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
When is First Read gonna do a story on the investigation into Koch Industries and their subsidiaries doing business with Iran...ILLEGALLY!
WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Spanky WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I certainly hope that this teaches Obama how the game is played. He played nice with Bush and Cheney once taking office. Let em' off Scott free. Besides, didn't Issa say he was going to issue subpoenas once ascending the throne? Is anyone really surprised? Stunned? Shocked?
These republikans are about to take the Democrats to school again and teach them the meaning of offense, obfuscation, and obstruction. They're about to make the Democrats wish their Mommies never met their Daddies,....and they're going to milk this, and the American political system for all it's worth!!!
A paltry little $500 million? Chicken feed!! The repubs blew $4.3 trillion for the 10 year cost of their Iraq and Afghan dalliances, and they're complaining about a mere $500 million? And the repubs get off Scott free? Hell. Didn't Panetta get a medal for his part in it?
These orgiastic contributions to the military/industrial complex, this Welfare for the Well-off should have ended in 1946, but every kid in America has to give up their college diploma or medical care so that we can keep a military base in Turkey, or Japan open.
What a freakin' country!! Realistically folks,...AMERICA REALLY NEEDS TO GO DOWN THE TUBES!!
Your health is bound to be affected if, day after day, you say the opposite of what you feel, if you grovel before what you dislike.
No wonder Obama is looking so rough.
Aha,
The start of the massive Solyndragate cover up. More ammunition to use in the attack ads against the Obama regime.
Open and Transparent....... RIGHT!
ABO 2012
GOPisextinct,
I think you nailed it. Bush and Cheney (and particularly Cheney) were never personally investigated for all those no-bid contracts to Haliburton and others, even when the corporations were over-charging. That was "executive privilege" taken to an extreme.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Democrat Ilk,
Tell me how you are OK with this provision that put private investors interest ahead of the American Taxpayer. You folks are all about anti-corporate greed, right? So where is the disdain for these fat cats?
Don't you find it a little stinky that your man Obama is knee deep in this one (or is he head deep? we shall see).
Fess up, Fisty. What happens when we find out how many campaign bucks came back to Obama as a result of these loans to his pet projects.
carrot top must have had a profitable night of truck drivers and boilermakers, she's in gutter form this morning.
The White House will do anything to postpone and push back any comprehensive investigations of their slolyndra payoff until after the election, why not? Cant afford to lose a wonderful gravy train pretending to 'run the country', what a joke that group is! I understand at least one other solar company that rece'd money from obama has also filed bankruptcy! Surprise Surprise Gomer Pile, the annoited one isn't stopping!
Just Announced (more trouble for corruption in DC:
Declaring that the “time for talking has passed,” organizers of a peaceful rally scheduled for Veteran’s Day in Washington are demanding the resignation of Barack Obama along with other members of his administration.
The rally is being assembled around the issues contained in a Declaration to Restore the Constitutional Republic, which sets out the goals of the organizing groups, which include the Veteran Defenders of America and its parent organization, The United States Patriots Union.
The events are scheduled to begin at the Washington Monument at 6 a.m. and continue at points around Washington, D.C., throughout the day. How many people are expected isn’t being released, nor is the membership information for the “member-only” organizations.
I can guarantee this rally will be different than Soros' funded OWS: these Vets will know exactly what they're protesting, and they'll clean up after themselves!
Crickets from the Left wing as they have not been given their talking points on this subject.
This is one f'd up country. Too bad we couldn't give Bush a third term...not sure how much more we can handle from the Candy Man.
The economy started tanking in 2007. Bush signed in TARP in September/October 2008.
By the fourth quarter of 2008, the GDP had sunk to minus 8.9% (-8.9%) and not (-3.9%) as we thought.
By the time President Obama was sworn in, we had lost EIGHT MILLION JOBS.
President Bush gave tax cuts to the wealthy during war time....unpaid for....never been done before.
President Bush started two wars, both unpaid for....never been done before.
Enough sweet candy for you?
so backhouse why didn't you mention the tax cuts that bush also gave the poor and middle class? You know, the tax cuts that obama extended to 2013. BTW - while you are trying to scratch your azz across the carpet in deflecting the lefts and the general populaces responsibility in the past recession why not just acknowledge that government policies enacted prior to 2009 were bipartisan in nature?
Fact of life backhouse, recessions create job losses, and recoveries create jobs. Interesting that obama couldn't maintain focus on the economy long enough to create a sustainable policy. Seems that he always was willing to float from issue to issue like a butterfly but never could sting like a bee, except when it came to assassinations.
It's true. this isn't just the Obama resession, This is the Great Obama Depression.
This is getting really Historical. (And Hysterical) LOL
Bush gave peanuts to the poor and crumbs to the middle class. He gave hundreds of thousands to those already wealthy enough to go to bed each day worrying about their assets. Like any of us could really take our money to the grave...Greed is the culprit here, as for some, it is not enough to live a comfortable life-style, they have to rob others blind, and rob them of any and all opportunity to make a better living. I am a big fan of capitalism, but the ethical way, not this way! If we ever again have a Republican president, God forbid, and if he or she would address the nation like, "Fellow Americans!" I will switch off the TV and throw up. None of the current candidates are my fellows, and I doubt they are the fellows of the majority of Americans. They are fellows of banks and large corporations which try to screw each of us on a daily basis, while making shameless profits. And Freddie Mac and Fannie May, which we bailed out already by paying them billions, now want to get more than 16 Million from tax-payer money, again.
The Bush tax cuts cost America $11.6million an hour.
Every hour of every day.
Government Shutdown #1: GOP held us all over a barrel last Christmas and held unemployment benefits and extending the middle class payroll tax hostage to a government shutdown (the first of 3 hostage-takings, or is it 4?):
And That is why the Bush tax cuts were temporarily extended by President Obama.
They were extended temporarily because they were held hostage to a government shutdown.
Yesterday, for the third time, the Abuser Party allowed no discussion, no debate on millions of American jobs for the same reason....
Again, GOP protecting their benefactors as per their Norquist agreement.
And no,
This is the Bush Great Recession.
"DemocraticUnderground.com, September 29, 2011" Biden said Americans have "good reason to be upset" because they lost jobs because of the recession, "something they didn't have a thing to do with
creating."
"Even though 50-some percent of the American people think the economy tanked because of the last administration, that's not relevant," said the vice president. "What's relevant is we're in charge." Biden said Americans have "good reason to be upset" because they lost jobs because of the recession, "something they didn't have a thing to do with creating."
Yet, as it appears, the GOP is responsible for Biden saying this!!!!!!!!!!
Good for the White House, point out the truth. This is just more time being wasted by the GOP. While the GOP House continues its focus on Solyndra, it means they can't do anything on jobs. Why don't they ask George Bush, why don't they ask their own GOP committee members who voted YES in 2005 to approve the loans to Solyndra? Where's their e-mails? The truth is that if Bush was still in the White House, there would not be a peep from the GOP.
Ah, Jody I love how you just keep on with the same tired lies.
Jody dear what date did Solyndra get the money? And who was president then? In 2005, how much had Solyndra lost? What did the balance sheet look like?
See Jody, the House has already passed 16 bills. All chilling in the Senate.
So Jody, what's this with the 'wasting time' meme?
How about this - you admit that you are all good with this, that Kaiser got priority and we can move on.
Jody - since this is the "Most transparent Administration in history" how come they don't immediately release all the info?
They do know what transparent means, don't they Jody?
The White House knows what "Transparent" means, kind of like Liberals on this site know what the ignore button means.
They just don't get it, but they like to brag about it.
They didn't "get it" when so many Dems lost their seats last November. (How soon they forget)
And Solyndra was passed to President Obama as a Recommended Investment from "W" . And was approved by many Republican congressmen
The Bush Admin said No. The Obama Admin knew they shouldn't but did anyway in a misguided attempt to appear as if they actually knew how to govern.
Piper's played....time to pay.
Hey August is that what the confidential executive branch memo reads, wheres navy I'm sure he has the think progressive link to the memo lmao. Get on board the blame game train. I guess if someone had of told barry he was running for President after George W. Bush he would have admitted he wasn't up for job, I guess he didn't get the memo huh, LMFAO.
Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew
Cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two
Obama Man, Oh Obama man can
Obama Man can cause he mixes it with love and makes
the world taste good
If you did not have any thing to hide you should welcome the Solyndra subpeona. But we already have a pretty good idea of the lies and cheating and stealing you are trying to cover up.
Impeach Obama NOW! Before he destroys the rest of America.
OWS Obama's World Sucks!
Impeach him for what? Continuing what Bush and the GOP started in 2005? Get real and pull your head out of the sand.
Excellent advise Jody.
Hey, Jody, you wouldn't happen to have a mirror?
No mirror needed here; my head is above ground, Spankster, but you need a shovel to dig yours out. What part of Bush and his backers pushed Solyndra do you not understand.
Mr Park , I only have one to said"STUPIDITY IS A DISEASE BUT IT CAN BE CURE IF CAUGHT IN TIME"
MSNBC's Michael Isikoff, an actual real investigative reporter; the skunk at the NBC Obama Garden Party....
You of all people know a thing or two about skunks...
Except the stripe down your back is YELLOW!
this from the master of cut and paste, with never a lucid thought, hiding behind a computer typing with a stick between their teeth....LMAO!
I smell smoke.......and believe that's a glow on the horizon.
Obama is the worst kind of politician. The one who blatantly repays his cronies and tells the rest of us "**** you, I'm king and I'll do what I want."
How's that guest list coming.......right.....he told us **** you on that one too.
[I smell smoke.......]
...you must be thinking again...
...Priceless mickey did fiesty send that one to you...
Why is the WH pushing back on the Solyndra subpoena? It's quite obvious....guilty! You have nothing to hide if you're innocent. Even a child understands that. I would bet Barack and Eric and others in their party are up to their necks in Fast and Furious. What does one expect out of corrupt Chicago thugs.
the funny part is that Dont was flushing his movement of spanky down the potty did he get that sry for no .s or proper spelling not worth it GOP sucks and they know it thats the sad part
you know i voted for bush TWICE and i feel bad for that because i was part of that crap president then went the other way voted for obama for the change the messed up part is that the GOP dont want change
Sure you did ;)
This is going to cost the Repubs dearly. They are now losing their OWN long-time supporters! The roads are crumbling, the bridges are unsafe, and the people need jobs. It doesn't take a college degree to figure out these 60 Billions (which is less we have been, and continue to be spending on the wars a month) would have been a wonderful combination to take care of three important things in one. But the naysayers prevented it from happening. How very proud they must be feeling right now of themselves, these true American patriots! I am particularly disturbed by the two Democrats turning their back on Pres. Obama.
Dont we already pay a gasoline tax per gallon to take care of these roads and bridges? Why not use that money?
Oh, I forgot, we spent it on other things.
So if that was earmarked for roads and bridges, and did not get spent on such, why believe this $60B would be spent on it?
ABO 2012
ONLY THE GUILTY have reason to withhold evidence
Case closed Obama guilty
May be Darrel...but its also not necessarily true all the time.
There is a reason why confidentiality matters in WH communications or other such office. Yes it is true, there needs to be accountability. But what is puzzling to ONE is how do you prioritize...whether in CONGRESS, JUDICIARY or WHITE HOUSE? What is more important to citizens, to be able to feed their kids and tummies, or be full with satisfaction in their minds ALONG PARTY LINES, while starving to death?
To my knowledge, ONE subpoena is enough to open can of worms as the petition can be cross-petitioned to include many in the past as a scope, that will never end while citizens starve. Under such circumstances and scope, some may lead to national security issues ... at which point all this drama is simply a mute and silently slipped under the rug, leaving rags around.
Always a puzzle, and why only election time matters. Why this wasn't brought up earlier, even before there is any JOBS bill at hand? (Sorry, haven't followed ALL dates fully and thought its a waste of citizen's energy and resources, for the time being)
LOVE & RESPECT YOU ALL, yours.
I am surprised that, since there is nothing to hide in this deal, that Obana doesn't simply give the House the emails and stuff that they want to put this issue to bed and get the focus back onto jobs and reelection.
He has told us there is nothing to the claims of malfeasance or impropriety so he should provide the material and make Rep Issa put up or shut up
Unless??
Robert, may be Mr. President will who knows and at what scope.
The real issue now is how much time do ONE expect the CONGRESS spend dwindling in thousands of documents, while they have no time for any that matters to CITIZENS immediate priorities. Applies to ALL in CONGRESS, not just any party. Timing is the key, and chosing a time for what appears to be a purpose solely with election in mind, and not citizen is just a waste of time. All deserve to be best kept @ homes.
Per constitution & subsequent LAW derivatives; executive privilege, executive actions and even veto have a place in administration...and having a precedent makes them diluted either ways resulting in a potential higher risk. But its not time for ONE ARM challenge the other in Government, hopefully there is at least ONE RATIONAL out there in Government (apologizies for the honest souls at work).
Yours.
A Citizen
Not sure what your bottom line point is
The White House should comply with the request or assert executive privilege and pay the political price for that in the coming campaign
Boy, isn't it great how TRANSPARANT the obama administration is! This guy covers things up way more than Richard M. Nixon. He is probably who is really obama's hero!
What are they trying to hide? What happened to that promise of the most transparent administration ever?
It's so in your face that our voice has been silence by big money .It's a win win for the rich pockets of politicians, when rivers of money flows like rivers through our Government on Auction system on both sides.99% will have no say until we get our great government back to the people.Don't be fool by the distraction tactics,educate yourself and be heard.This is where the conversation begins knowing we are all Americans and nobody is listening to us.Lets not leave our children this fight,get the money out of our government,get the lobbyists out of the ears of our elected officials.Make it where you don't have to be rich to run for office!
"But Obama officials noted today that the president’s previous criticism of Bush’s executive privilege claims was restricted to cases where documents were being sought for investigations looking into serious wrongdoing involving the Bush administration."
Mr.President, WE, the American People , think there is "serious wrongdoing" here too !
You said the Obama administration was the most "TRANSPARENT " ! ( the biggest LIE to date )
Couple of observations:
---put no stock in anything Michael Isicoff (sp) write: remember it was he who made up the story of American servicemen burning the Koran at Gitmo and then wrote the story as fact....this man is not to be taken seriously.
---"...Redhead...." clearly needs a job or something to do. Maybe she's oike the "Acorn" crowd who don't work but live off the government. How else would she have time to write all the drivel she pens?
---Me: I actually work and pay taxes to support the OWS crowd, Acorn, and the rest.
Isn't it a great country?:)
If you work in the private sector and pay taxes, you are a tax contributor. If you are paid from taxes collected, your a non-contributor...wisdom is knowing that difference and that wisdom is what is needed to turn the economy.
"fishing expedition" my ass you incompetent big eared skinny assed moron! Where's the $500 Million, Obummer??? Where's Eric the Red Holder with his subpoenas and indictiments? When's the impeachment going to start on this affirmative action president?????
That was taxpayer money, president empty suit.... where is it and how much did you get??? How much money did you make for your re-election campaign on the Fast and Furious debachale?? How much more of this moron can this country take??
So, when the Bush administration invokes executive privilege, it's not OK, but when Obama does it, of course it's OK! Can anyone say HYPOCRITE? Kind of along the same lines as Obama criticizing Bush for being "unpatriotic" because he spent too much. November 2012 cannot come soon enough. Get rid of this moron.
Bush invokes executive privilage to protect government security agents, Oblumbles to protect his crooked incompent disloyal ass from being sent to prison....go figuer!
hEY MR.PRESIDENT,
You said YOUR administration was the most "TRANSPARENT " !
THAT'S the biggest LIE to date.
You idiots pulled this same crap on President Clinton and all it did was cost a boat load of money and piss off most of America.
I was watching the movie Swing Kids last night. This is where America is headed of we let the tea party have their way.
To the GOP/tp:
God forbid you would try to actually work with the President to get the country moving. You do nothing, you contribute nothing, you are nothing.
My 2 cents. It's not the first time the Fed has loaned money to pet projects that went belly up. It just has to be Obama's turn. I agree something is not right. But they sent enough data to keep this commission busy. Why waste time when you work so little as a group in session. Brings me up to these bills sitting on the senate floor. Jobs bills. Not. Anti EPA bills, pro big oil bills. No jobs for the the average man in their proposals. Almost all had to do with de-regulation in favor of corporations. Any remember deep water. How about the coal ash spill just recently in Lake Michigan.. If I'm way off base, I'm sure someone here will set me straight. Just do it with facts!
@Mudsharktoo
Unfortunately you are correct. They seem to think that their precious corporations would never create another Love Canal after they completely gut the EPA, which is a stated goal. Personally, I don't care to test that theory. I guess we also don't have enough unwanted children in this country. They plan on fixing that. We're not back in a recession or depression again. Well, the plan is to deregulate again so wall street can finish what they started. Yeah, let's pass all of those not quite jobs bills and completely finishing screwing the pooch.
.
mudshark
You are correct and summing there is nothing untoward or unethical to be hidden, one would think that Obama would provide the documents requested by the House and get on with his life.
One wonders why he doesn't that IMHO is the point.