Bush and White House confirm it: There will be no compromises whatsoever with Congress over Iraq War.

Senate Democrats ask Alberto Gonzales for documents related to the U.S. attorney in Wisconsin.

It’s a busy day.

House Democrats issued a subpoena today for Justice Department documents.

Congressional Dem leaders respond to Bush: You must negotiate over Iraq.

I mentioned earlier that in addition to the no-senate-confirmation provision in the revised USA Patriot Act, there’s also a new provision allowing the Attorney General to waive the residency requirements for US Attorneys. So the US Attorney for, say, Omaha can do his job from Washington, DC. This prompts me to ask, let alone what they did before they passed the bill, since the Purge story broke, has anyone actually gone through the Patriot Act to put together a list of all the last-minute provisions that were dropped in to change the way that Main Justice interacts with US Attorneys across the country?

Greg Anrig, Jr. warns: beware of conservatives saying nice things about universal health coverage.

White House reiterates: Congress will do our bidding on Iraq. Now. End of story.

Update: Now that Bush has invited Dems to meet about Iraq, let’s not forget that Congressional Dem leaders repeatedly invited Bush to sit down and compromise with them on Iraq — without getting any responses from the White House.

Is this the ultimate irony? Is the Gonzales Justice Department going to fight congressional subpoenas on the basis of a right to privacy?

The Dems on the Hill are also getting curious about what’s been happening in the Milwaukee (Eastern District of Wisconsin) US Attorney’s office. Here’s the letter they sent today.

TPM Reader TA on Al Gonzales’ stonewall games …

It simply doesn’t matter what the real substantive basis for any objection is, this is an old, old litigation tactic that is helpful in any number of broader strategies. And the strategy that the Administration is playing is Delay and Stonewall Until the Clock Runs Out. Dan Bartlett has a clock on his desk that counts down the months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds (or so I read in the Washington Post). I suggest that many other officials keep a similar clock, at least in the back of their mind. If this goes to court, Gonzalez stays in the position until it is resolved.

But wait: each litigation shield has an opposing sword. The Senate will and should swear him in next week, take his testimony, and note that they are reserving the right to call him back on these issues if and when they get those documents. An old litigator’s play. Keeps the pressure on.

The document delay may limit the damage Gonzalez faces next week, but it is probably not enough. They pulled their shield out too late. I am sure they’ve served only to irritate the Senate with this latest stunt.

Months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds. Tick tock, tick tock.

I think time is about up for the Attorney General.