Ain’t we got fun:

Senators joined the House on Thursday in approving subpoenas to force President Bush’s political adviser and other aides to testify about the firings of federal prosecutors.

His committee, by voice vote Thursday, gave Leahy authority to issue subpoenas for Rove, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and her deputy, William Kelley. The House Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., was given that same authority a day earlier.

But neither chairman appeared in a rush to issue the subpoenas to White House officials and provoke a showdown.

Eh, provoke away. But looks who’s working to give Teh Leader an out:

Specter’s plan would grant one of Bush’s key demands — that the officials named in the subpoena authorization testify without being sworn. But the proposal dismisses other White House conditions by suggesting that Rove and the others testify in public.

So Specter wants Rove, et al, to testify in public - but not under oath? And then you realize he’s actually the upstanding Republican because Teh Leader has magnaninmously “offere” to permit Rove & Co. to talk - “in private, off the record and not under oath. ”

Where, you know, I’m sure they’ll tell the truth. Or maybe that’s what the president is afraid of?