Oh please! Tell me we're in for another 18.5 minute gap in the tapes.

Karl Rove got a little testy when a reporter asked him about the possibility of a replacement for Alberto Gonzales. Accompanying George Bush on a tour of auto assembly plants in Kansas City, Rove fended off the reporter with his usual diplomatic flair:

Besides his considerable security contingent, the chief executive was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and Press Secretary Tony Snow.

A reporter approached Rove to ask him what he thought of rumors that former Missouri Sen. Jack Danforth could replace embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. “How about you go over there and do your job,” Rove replied, pointed back to the media pool.

Now, Rove has never been known for his lack of arrogance, but he seemed a tad over the top in that exchange.

Perhaps, this is giving him a migraine.

Conyers, Sànchez to Issue Subpoenas for White House Officials

(Washington, DC)- Today, House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. and Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sànchez called a meeting to authorize subpoenas for five current and former White House and Justice Department officials. The Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law (CAL) will meet TOMORROW, March 21st at 10:15 am in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building to consider subpoenas for Kyle Sampson, Karl Rove, Harriet Miers, William Kelley, and Scott Jennings, as well as White House and Justice Department documents, which have not been provided to date.

It looks like there may be a battle brewing.

A defiant President Bush vowed Tuesday to fight any effort by Congress to compel the testimony of top White House advisors about the firing of federal prosecutors, setting up a potential constitutional showdown and the first major direct confrontation with the new Democratic majority on Capitol Hill.

When they start claiming Executive Priviledge and "separation of powers", you know they're dirty.

Incredible coincidence: Update: CC in comments pointed out this. It seems Josh Marshall posted his information about a gap in the released emails concurrently with the post I did above. Man, the Republic Party really needs to get a new script for events like this.

Another blast from the past! Skdadl in comments pointed out another link to the Nixon era. This time it's Fred Fielding who is now the White House counsel, having replaced Harriet Miers. Fielding was associate counsel to Richard Nixon and deputy to John Dean during the Watergate hearings.
Not only is it starting sound like the same old script, but now it's looking like the same old actors.