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2007's Biggest White House Whoppers

Slate runs down the Bush team's most dubious legal claims

By J. Kelman,  Newser User

Posted Jan 1, 2008 4:10 PM CST

(Newser) – In her second annual roundup of the Bush administration's most egregious legal arguments, Dahlia Lithwick of Slate offers her top 10 doozies:

  1. The United States does not torture
  2. State-secrets privilege used to shield almost anything.
  3. Almost anything Alberto Gonzales said.
  4. The nine US attorneys were fired for cause.
  5. Anyone who talks to the president is barred from congressional testimony by executive privilege.

  1. Waterboarding is not exactly torture.
  2. The Guantanamo Bay detainees enjoy more legal rights than any POWs in history.
  3. The vice president's office is not a part of the executive branch.
  4. Scooter Libby's sentence was commuted because it was excessive.
  5. The NSA's eavesdropping was limited in scope.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales takes part in a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington on Feb. 27, 2007.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales takes part in a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington on Feb. 27, 2007.   (Associated Press)
Former White House aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, leaves federal court in Washington in this March 6, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Former White House aide I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, leaves federal court in Washington in this March 6, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)   (Associated Press)
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