Welcome to a community supported and guest-produced edition of the Best of the Left podcast.

With clips today from Democracy Now, The Young Turks, The Colbert Report, The Randeroads

Show, The Sam Cedar Show, and Ring of Fire.

A showdown is looming on Capitol Hill over the Bush administration's firing of eight US attorneys.

On Tuesday, President Bush rejected Democratic demands to question key White House aides under oath.

The president said he would only authorize private testimony before select lawmakers

and warrant he would fight any subpoenas in court.

In this case, I recognize the importance of members of Congress having the importance of Congress

have placed on understanding how and why this decision was made.

So I allow relevant committee members on a bipartisan basis to interview key members of my staff

to ascertain relevant facts.

In addition to this offer, we will also release all White House documents and emails involving direct communications

with the Justice Department or any other outside person, including members of Congress

and their staff related to this issue.

These extraordinary steps offer today to the majority in Congress demonstrate a reasonable

solution to the issue.

However, we will not go along with a partisan fishing expedition aimed at honorable public servants.

The initial response by Democrats unfortunately shows some appear more interested in scoring political points

than in learning the facts.

It will be regrettable if they choose to head down the partisan road of issuing subpoenas

and demanding show trials when I have agreed to make key White House officials and documents available.

I have proposed a reasonable way to avoid an impasse.

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