Bush: Not So Big on the Separation of Powers

The White House has been twisting arms to ensure that no Republican member votes against President Bush in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation of the administration's unauthorized wiretapping.

Congressional sources said Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove has threatened to blacklist any Republican who votes against the president. The sources said the blacklist would mean a halt in any White House political or financial support of senators running for re-election in November.

"It's hardball all the way," a senior GOP congressional aide said.

The sources said the administration has been alarmed over the damage that could result from the Senate hearings, which began on Monday, Feb. 6. They said the defection of even a handful of Republican committee members could result in a determination that the president violated the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Such a determination could lead to impeachment proceedings.

Via Steve Gilliard.

You see, if Congress did its job and actually provided a "check" or "balance" to the White House, then Bush could be impeached. Instead, the Senate needs to be broken to the will of the Executive.

Um... anyone else smell the putrid bouquet of late-Republican Rome?