Justice rears its beautiful head as Karl Rove is subpoenaed by Congress!

House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers has followed through on a promise last year to continue an investigation into the role the Bush administration played in the decision to fire nine federal prosecutors and the alleged political prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman by subpoenaing a key figure believed to have played a role in both scandals: former White House political adviser Karl Rove.

“I have said many times that I will carry this investigation forward to its conclusion, whether in Congress or in court, and today’s action is an important step along the way,” Conyers said in a prepared statement. “Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it’s time for him to talk.”

The subpoena demands that Rove appear before Congress for a deposition on Feb. 2, at 10 a.m.

In addition to Rove, Conyers’s committee has been pursuing testimony and documents from White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers about their involvement in the decision to fire the federal prosecutors, a move that a senior Justice Department official said was designed to remove U.S. Attorneys who were deemed not “loyal Bushies.” It is believed subpoenas will be issued for their testimony as well in the weeks ahead.

God have I waited a long time to see the word "subpoena" next to Karl Rove's name!

And now turblossom cannot hide behind his buddy George Bush and this time will have no choice but to comply with this legal demand of his appearance before Congress.

I will be riveted to my television on February 2, and can hardly wait to see Rove grilled by John Conyers and the other members of the Judiciary Committee. Now THIS is "must see tv"!

Update: Here is a response from Rove's lawyer: "It's generally agreed that former presidents retain executive privilege as to matters occurring during their term. We'll solicit the views of the new White House counsel and, if there is a disagreement, assume that the matter will be resolved among the courts, the president and the former president."

So in other words Karl Rove is saying "Hey not fair I was touching base, you can't tag me it when I am touching the base!"

However Mr. Conyers and President Obama do not see things that way: "Mr. Rove has previously refused to appear in response to a Judiciary Committee subpoena, claiming that even former presidential advisers cannot be compelled to testify before Congress," Conyers' office wrote in a release. "That 'absolute immunity' position was supported by then-President Bush, but it has been rejected by U.S. District Judge John Bates and President Obama has previously dismissed the claim as 'completely misguided.'"

Oh oh, it looks like Karl Rove's big bad protector is not going to be able to help him with this one.

And just wait. Today it is Karl Rove. Tomorrow it may be Dick Cheney, or Donald Rumsfeld, or even George W. Bush himself. Oh be still my beating heart.