In his continuing quest to do his job and carry out the legitimate oversight functions of Congress, Henry Waxman has written to former White House chief of staff Andrew Card and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking them to appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

To Card:

"Mr. Fielding's position appears to be that it is appropriate for you to discuss these matters on 'The Daily Show' but not before a congressional committee," Waxman wrote to Card on Friday. "You will not be surprised to learn that I take a different view of this matter."

That is some dry, dry humor there. Jon Stewart should take note.

To Rice:

"I hope we can work together over the next week to schedule a voluntary appearance by you before the committee," Waxman wrote to Rice on Tuesday. "That would eliminate the need for the use of any compulsory process."

"Compulsory process"? That would be the subpoenas the Oversight Committee will vote on on Wednesday. White House counsel Fred Fielding continues to insist, of course, that for either Card or Rice to testify would be shocking and unprecedented. To which Waxman replied:

"I never found it necessary to issue subpoenas to either President Bush's father's Administration or the Reagan Administration," Waxman said in a statement. "We were always able to reach an accommodation that respected our legitimate interests. I hope that will continue to be the case with this White House" and the information will be provided voluntarily.

As Waxman almost certainly realizes, the interests the White House seeks to protect here are not legitimate, but the gauntlet is certainly thrown back toward the Bush administration on this one.