Synecdoche a-go-go

I'm all for metaphorical language, but sometimes it goes too far, like in this AP story:

"The Senate subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney's office Wednesday, demanding documents and elevating the confrontation with President Bush over the administration's warrant-free eavesdropping on Americans."

What you see there is an example of synecdoche* gone wild. Sometimes it kinda makes sense to call the president and his posse "the White House," but when we're talking about appearing at a hearing, it smacks of absurdity. This post has been an unneccessary service of the National Grammar Cop Society.**

*yes, I subscribe to Word of the Day. There's nothing wrong with it.

**No, there's no such thing.