White House Brings in Nixon-Era Counsel

[cal04]

In his first job as a White House lawyer, Fred Fielding, barely in his 30s, broke the news to President Nixon about the Watergate break-in.

In 1981, when President Reagan was shot and lying on an operating table, it was Fielding who helped settle a dispute about who was in charge of the nation. A few years later, Reagan's counsel stood at the president's bedside, making sure he was competent to reclaim his authority after cancer surgery.

Now, more than two decades later, President Bush has brought the veteran lawyer back to handle legal fights the White House expects with the new Democratic Congress.

In an Associated Press interview, he is so soft-spoken that some of his words are drowned out by heat blowing from a register across the room. But Fielding, who has defended huge corporate clients, is no pushover.

Still, he insists he has no interest in stonewalling Democrats, who plan to investigate the Iraq war, suspected government fraud and White House decision-making on environmental policy, secret surveillance and other matters. The White House could erect roadblocks to congressional subpoenas and requests for information.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6433425,00.html

[Benhurst]

1. Reagan compitent? Fielding sure knows how to call 'em.

:rofl:

[Prophet 451]

2. Seems apropos

Since the Bush admin is the worst since Nixon and possibly the worst ever and Bush seems to be inviting impeachment, this just seems entirely appropriate.

And Bush doesn't have any interest in stonewalling Congress. He intends to just ignore them instead.

[snappyturtle]

3. K&R V_E_R_Y interesting!!! eom

[AndyTiedye]

4. No Interest In Stonewalling Democrats? That Would Be a Change

"I don't give a shit what happens. I want you all to stonewall it, let them plead the Fifth Amendment, cover-up or anything else."

Nixon said it, acting on Fielding's advice. We can expect that he will be giving similar advice to the Bush** regime.