WHITE HOUSE SAYS SUBPOENAS NOT APPROPRIATE IN LIGHT OF LARRY “BUD” MELMAN’S DEATH

A House Judiciary subcommittee authorized subpoenas Wednesday to force several of President Bush's closest aides to testify about the firings of federal prosecutors. But President Bush told Democrats, “I already made you an offer to interview my folks off the record. Take it or leave it. But if you leave it, I’ll see you in Supreme Court.” After the President stormed out of the meeting, Tony Snow elaborated. “Calvert DeForest, best known for his dead-pan appearances as the pudgy, bespectacled everyman Larry "Bud" Melman on David Letterman's late-night TV show—who had also performed at the pleasure of the President—has died. Under these circumstances, the President feels that subpoenas are unacceptable and that an interview with Karl Rove and Harriet Miers off the record and with no sworn testimony is appropriate.”