Bush, Out of Office, Could Oppose Inquiries

[The Master]

When a Congressional committee subpoenaed Harry S. Truman in 1953, nearly a year after he left office, he made a startling claim: Even though he was no longer president, the Constitution still empowered him to block subpoenas.

“If the doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of the presidency is to have any validity at all, it must be equally applicable to a president after his term of office has expired,” Truman wrote to the committee.

Congress backed down, establishing a precedent suggesting that former presidents wield lingering powers to keep matters from their administration secret. Now, as Congressional Democrats prepare to move forward with investigations of the Bush administration, they wonder whether that claim may be invoked again.

(Excerpt) Read more at NYTimes ...

[The Master]

Bush needs to impose his powers already. We all know that he will be slammed once he is out of office, just like he is now. Impose the powers he has and cause some ruckus already.