Between the Bush administrations attempted disenfranchisement of the dissenting voices in the House and Senate and their complete dimissal of the voices of the American people (we're just focus groups), I think its fair to say that this administration is teetering dangerously close to the corupt.

Last week when asked by Senator Joe Biden (D) of Delaware for copies of the memos the Bush administration used to support loosening the reigns on military police and investigators interrogating suspected terrorist/enemy combatant/Iraqi civilians - which could possibly place an unfavorable light on the Bush administration and their tactics - Attorney General John Ashcroft refused. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/ny-usash093841802jun09,0,1796069.story?coll=sfla-newsnation-front

Yes.... he actually refused to give the United States Senate Hearing, documents that they asked for. He then made a weak attempt to site executive privilage...but he's not the President (Our government is made up of three branches Legislative/Congress, Judicial/Supreme Court, and Executive/President).

Confused by Mr. Ashcrofts refusal to do as he has been instructed by the US Legislative branch, I watched and read and waited to hear about the legality of Mr. Ashcrofts disobediance. It turns out that unless President Bush does actually invoke executive privilage the "General" is obligated to follow through on the requested information or it could be considered "Contempt of Congress".

Refusing to do so is illegal, (but who's going to prosecute the prosecutor?) and if the Senate chose to they could make some legal moves to force the issue. But alas, our elected officials have chosen thus far to accept the slap in the face, bow their heads and tuck their collective tails between their legs and sit patiently, hands crossed, for their re-elections campaigns to begin.

This seems to be yet another example of the abuse of power wielded by the White House going unchecked. Who revealed the name of the undercover CIA agent? Who exaggerated the claims of WMD and terrorist connections in Iraq, prompting Americas loss of credibility world wide? Why is it that OPEC is accused of not producing enough oil to sustain a decent price structure, when information provided by Congressmen Waxman of California points out that its actually American oil companies who're price gaouging.

Interesting questions but we'll never know the answers because of the secrecy and seeming coruption that has diseased our Executive branch.

"Absolute Power Corupts Absolutely."

First off there is no such thing as absolute power unless you are the supreme being.

Ok, now to your post, Ashcroft has a right under the constitution to plead the 5th and turning over these memos might be in conflict of that right.
Now I am not a proponent of his or anyone elses who uses deceptive practises to escape prosecution.
Until we can determine if the memos violate his right to not incriminate himself we should with hold judgement.

The idea that Ashcroft was attempting to protect himself from prosecution by pleading the 5th or something similar is completely unfounded. When asked Ashcroft said to release the memos his response was: "This administration rejects torture" and then went on to other topics. Had he been in a protectionist mode I'm sure that would have been the subject of many political debates in this room as well as many other "debating societies" across the country since the hearing.

The truth is that just as he had done throughout the hearing, Attorney General Ashcroft simply refused to adequately answer the question as to why he wouldn't release the documents.

At this point it is irrelevent if his rights could or will be violated by releasing that information to the Senate. Our right to the truth trumps any legal defense strategy he may have been attempting. But again I haven't read anything stating or even insinuating that that is what is going on here. Have you?

Not yet I havent, but our right to the truth can not trump anyones rights under the constitution.
I will reserve my comments on Ashcroft until I can explore all of it more in depth. As I said when the abuse scandal broke if he is wrong I will say so, if he is only exercising his 5th amendment protection then he is entitled.
I agree that the memos are important and we need to see them but at what costs?