KING KARL

KARL ROVE ISN'T the only one with contempt for Congress. We're getting pretty contemptuous ourselves as we watch members of House huff and puff and produce only "strongly worded" letters in response to clear defiance of the law.

Last week, Rove's lawyer said Rove would defy a subpoena to testify today before a House Judiciary subcommittee investigating the allegedly politically motivated firing of several U.S. attorneys.

Rove, now a political commentator for Fox, claims "executive privilege." This is ludicrous. Rove no longer works at the White House. Besides, even if he were covered by the privilege, he still is required by law to show up at today's hearing to assert it.

But why worry? President Bush and his minions have consistently ignored legitimate requests and demands from Congress - and they continue to get away with it.

It's time for Congress to stop talking and start invoking "inherent contempt" - a kind of congressional bench warrant - to arrest Rove. It's a rarely used - some would say extreme - procedure, but it's Congress' duty to show that no one is above the law. Not even Bush. Nor his "Brain." *