Torquemada on the hot seat

After a dull 5 years, the Senate hots up:

Gonzales forcefully repeated the administration's defense of its wartime powers, and expressed a willingness to listen to the ideas of Congress but otherwise refused to acknowledge that any change to the 1978 law was necessary.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, responded that Gonzales was advancing a "radical legal theory" that means "the president's power to defend the nation is unchecked by law."

Feinstein also asked if the president had used these powers to bypass other laws.

Replied Gonzales: "Senator, the president has not authorized any conduct, that I'm aware of, that is in contravention of law."

But, Senator, don't you know that there is NO law that Bush can't bypass using the War Powers act? He's the war president, for chrissakes.

This classifies as "out of control" in my book. But, then, we knew this already.

Leahy, Senator from Vermont, said it best:

"Under our Constitution . . . we make the laws," Leahy said. "If you believe you need new laws then come and tell us. If Congress agrees, we'll amend the law. If you do not even attempt to persuade Congress to amend the law, then you're required to follow the law as it's written. That is as true of the president as it's true of me and you and every American. That's the rule of law."

Amen.

(And Torquemada wasn't even under oath, damn.)