- about oversight, as was Alberto Gonzales about habeas corpus.
Nowhere in the Constitution of the United States of America does the word "oversight" appear. Nowhere. In fact, nowhere in the Constitution is a procedure or even a general doctrine spelled out from which one can infer an ongoing oversight role for the legislative branch over the executive branch.
(Also available at My Left Wing)
Remember when our esteemed Constitutional scholar, Alberto Gonzales, said there is no guarantee of the right of habeas corpus in the Constitution? Well, he was right: nowhere in the Constitution does it say, "Americans have the right of habeas corpus," or words to that effect. What the Constitution does say is that habeas corpus may not be suspended, except in a couple of particular circumstances.
Now, one might argue that a rational human with a basic understanding of the English language would infer from that provision that, in fact, the right of habeas corpus pre-exists the Constitution; otherwise, it would not be possible to suspend it.
The same logic holds true for Tony Snow's comments on oversight. As I mentioned above, "oversight" per se is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution.
However, what Mr. Snow is well aware of - and, similarly, what Mr. Gonzales was equally aware of, with respect to habeas - is that another provision of the Constitution shows - by inference - the oversight role of Congress over the executive branch, and indeed over the judicial branch as well.
And Tony Snow - and everyone in the White House - knows damn well what that provision is. And it is this:
Article II
Section 4
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
There's your oversight. Tony Snow knows it, George Bush knows it, Karl Rove knows it, Dick Cheney knows it, and Nancy Pelosi knows it.
What Tony Snow's breathtaking litany of defiance as described in Devilstower's story illustrates is that this adminstration has absolutely no intention of observing the traditionally observed role of Congress in the oversight process. Snow's repeated "F-you's" are the White House's way of saying, "There's only one way that you Democrats American citizens will ever hold this administration to account."
Only.
One.
Way.
If anyone still has any doubts about that after hearing Snow's stunning, repeated, shows of defiance, I don't know what to say.