Welcome Back From Recess, Jerks

So much for the pleasantries...

July promises plenty of conflict between the White House and congressional Democrats as the two sides continue to spar over Iraq, fired U.S. attorneys and the extent of presidential powers.

The open combat started early Monday and should continue for the rest of the month as both sides appear to have stocked up on fireworks during the week-long Fourth of July recess.

As expected, President Bush invoked executive privilege Monday morning to prevent two former aides from testifying before House and Senate panels in the ongoing investigation of nine fired U.S. attorneys. White House counsel Fred F. Fielding notified the chairmen of those two committees in a terse note that was released to the media just as the 10 a.m. deadline expired for the administration to provide Congress with documents regarding those firings.