So here's what we learned today in the Kyle Sampson hearing:
- No one wants to give us the real timeline surrounding the final decision to fire 7 USAs. Both Sampson and Abu Gonzales (earlier in the week) refuse to be specific about that. I wonder if that has to do with the still-existing gap between the time DOJ supposedly made the final decision, and when the White House emailed Sampson to say it was a go? And I wonder if the skittishness about this detail has to do with Bush's travel schedule, since he got back into town just a few days before the final okay from the White House?
- Karl Rove may have been involved in the decision to briefly float Patrick Fitzgerald as a great candidate to fire. Sampson's not much help there, though.
- One of the other potential firing candidates, Anna Mills Wagoner, is from the sort of swingy North Carolina. Sampson has been instructed to go get the list of the other three possible firing candidates. I'm guessing (wildarsed guess) that we might find a USA from Wisconsin on the list.
- Arlen Specter tried, with only marginal success, at trying to absolve himself of any responsibility for allowing a bad faith amendment into the PATRIOT act.
- Chuck Schumer seems to have certain suspicions about what Monica Goodling did. In particular, it seems that he may have well-grounded suspicions that she was administering loyalty oaths to Assistant USAs, a career position. I wonder if that's one of the reasons she has gotten so quiet of late.
- No one called Carol Lam to tell her to straighten up her immigration act. But hey, that's still reason to fire her, right? Now Sampson says he doesn't remember anything about the Dusty Foggo indictment. I wonder if he remembers when the Cunningham investigation moved to encompass Jerry Lewis?
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I’m not worthy.
Chucky back.
Schumer asking about the ‘lengthy record’ on Iglesias that is curiously missing… other than reports praising him.
I am late to the game – Sampson just mentioned the voter fraud lie – will anyone chase that down?
Let’s figure out how he (Iglesias) managed to get on the hit list. GO CHUCK!
Schumer digging in the weeds as to how Inglesias got on the list, despite glowing reviews.
Great summary, ew. thanks
go chuck!
Just one other thing: as Sampson said repeatedly, there was no file and no paper record of any of the various permutations of “the list.” Does anyone seriously believe this?
Schumer: So, Mr Aggregator, what did you aggregate?
Schumer confronts Sampson with his own assessment (written memo) that Iglesias was an up and comer, solid. Did he say that? May have. Did he mean it? May have meant it at the time that he said it. Oh, lordy, lordy.
IDR uh IDR uh IDR but I remember in my mind that he was a fellow USA and had negative views? WTF?
Reading Sampson’s words back to him – What date Inglesias added? Unclear.
EW: can you clarify what this means to us non-lawyers?
Hmmm…this might be uncomfortable for Domeneci & Wilson, even though Schumer just tried to throw the focus off of them…
Funny about those ’specific dates’ memories of Karl Jr.
1) With regards to Lam.
2) Not after the election.
Why does my cspan cut out every time Schumer is up?
ask him if he has an email account since he’s been fired, go on…then if he’s ever had another non gov email account, go on…
So… will Chuck ask:
Did Sampson review any of this positive performance evaluation information when considering Iglesias?
Freud alert-When I switch to Round VII, I initially read Sampson Hanging, VII.
Is this guy prosecutable for anything hhe has said today?
I hate to say it, but I get the impression that Sampson has covered himself fairly well today via a combination of artful dodging and inartful questioning by several of the Dems.
This is the problem with cracking omerta: if the players know each other well enough never to put anything on paper, and never talk, then it often _can’t_ be cracked.
Cranky
watch the hand slide
RonD @ 21
He WILL be when they can prove the lies…
Rove is shoving tin foil in the tubes
Hearing Schumer, I suddenly have changed my mind about torture. It’s great.
Unwise Brinkmanship In Iran
Veterans Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS)
http://noquarter.typepad.com/m…..l#comments
The following memorandum by the steering group of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity is signed by Ray Close, Princeton, N.J.; Larry Johnson, Bethesda, Md.; David MacMichael, Linden, Va.; Ray McGovern, Arlington, Va.; and Coleen Rowley, Apple Valley, Minn.
The frenzy in America’s corporate media over Iran’s detainment of 15 British Marines who may, or may not, have violated Iranian-claimed territorial waters is a flashback to the unrestrained support given the administration’s war-mongering against Iraq shortly before the attack.
landofthefree @ 14
In his last round, Chuck seemed to be asking very pointed questions about whether AUSAs were asked questions about which political party they belonged to. He specifically mentioned Monica Goodling.
eCAHNomics @ 26
Listening to Orrin Hatch was torture. It was not great.
landofthefree @ 14
She may have asked career employees questions she has no business asking them; Are you a Republican? Did you vote for GW Bush in the last election? Do you donate to the Republican Party?
npr
spector on
spector-ag did know
spector-patriot act-sequences of emails over 3 month period of time relied on it and ag likely knew about it
want to hear from ag under oath…….not prepared to make judgement, he’s scheduled to appear before committee
npr-you confronted sampson…….inclined to be charitable or faulty memory
spector-inclined to be factual, key point atty gen not in discussions, email suggsts he was involved…….atty gen has to explain that…….
npr-typical or disengaged———spector-problems in past, last week, nat’l sec letters…..mueller in earlier this week, problems, atty gen responsible as well……..
just realized how hard it is to live blog………my apologies to all who i kept saying “live-blog more” today………not so easy………thanks to those who did
Ya think former USA Lam might have had something to do w/ this successful prosecution?
“SAN DIEGO — Sentencing was scheduled Monday for a former Customs and Border Protection officer who admitted allowing hundreds of illegal immigrants to be smuggled through his inspection lane in return for cash and gifts.”
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/113850…..d=10101581
just a drive-by… but did you-all already see this from war and piece:
Capital J @ 29
I mean torture for our enemies, not for us. Isn’t that they way W uses it?
It’s amazing how names just magically find themselves on The List. Is there any documentation of The List? Did he keep it in his little head?
Sampson throwing Goodling under bus now…
EPU’d from prior thread:
PatVA, I just called a friend who works for DOJ in Admin (i.e., Human Resources aka Personnel) and he says the USAs and AUSAs are considered ‘Civil Servants’ and covered by OPM regs.
selise @ 32
He had to know the call would be coming. Patriot.
selise @ 33
Geez, that was quick.
Senator, they wiped my memory when I resigned…
…as well as Wilson and Domenici…
EW @ 28 – thank you! I was out and missed that exchange. Wow. I assume Kyle couldn’t (i.e. wouldn’t) provide any answer/information to corroborate or extinguish that notion?
Wow.
> It’s amazing how names just magically find
> themselves on The List. Is there any
> documentation of The List? Did he keep it in
> his little head?
That’s an example of inartful questioning IMHO: someone has to tie that together and ask that question: “where did the list come from? Did it just float out of space? Did you choose names randomly?”
Cranky
will someone give the guy behind sampson a tie clasp- the tie hanging left look is a bit too casual for this hearing and only accentuates the lopsided pompador of sampson’s locks.
Notice the way he says “I” didn’t have any conversations with members of Congress about IGlesias, doesn’t know about ROve, though.
one more driveby, this time from Josh at TPM:
Damnit, this guy is just a clerk. We need the grocery manager.
RonD @ 40
Certainly seems that way, doesn’t it?
landofthefree @
14
Violation of the Hatch Act – You cannot ask an employee of the Federal government as a condition of hiring to support the GOP.. Or The Emperor’s Fascist Club.
emptywheel @ 45
that was “curious”.
I just don’t know . . . I don’t remember.
I just don’t know . . . I don’t remember.
I just don’t know . . . I don’t remember.
I just don’t know . . . I don’t remember.
I just don’t know . . . I don’t remember.
I just don’t know . . . I don’t remember.
I just don’t know . . . I don’t remember.
I just don’t know . . . I don’t remember.
I don’t remember.
I don’t remember.
I don’t remember.
I think there needs to be a new hit list of people utterly unqualified for their “jobs.”
I don’t remember . . .
Blah, blah, blah.
selise @ 45
Been asked, but not pursued hard.
So then. How do we prevent ouselves from getting into this kind of a mess again. Saying that we need to elect better politicians is one way. But that’s variable and subjective. I’d like to have a more meaty explanation of what to do.
Iglesias’s so-called performance problems…Prez specificly cited NM…Were you aware of this? A: Yes, AG informed me of complaint from Karl…On voter fraud? Yes. You know he taught this DoJ instructor? No…Well, if he was so bad, why was he one of two instructors? No clue…
Are we getting a clear picture of this guy’s job responsibilities? Do we know what Goodling’s job entailed?
S: “AG received a complaint from Karl Rove about voter fraud”
Okay, let’s be sure to ask the AG in what form he got that complaint.
Yay, Chuck – asking about Iglesias teaching how to pursue voter fraud. Sampson stumped…
Judge Sirica did it by giving a bunch of people 20 years for BS’ing him.
Puesto @ 49: this tells you where my head is. When I read “administering loyalty oaths to US Attorneys”, I was guessing EW meant she was swearing them in, and they had to be loyal to the Constitution. What a silly thought. I should know better by now – it’s all about politicial loyalty to these folks.
Oh gawd, now he’s being to the I’m just the aggragator/vator BS…Sgt Schultz could learn from this guy…
Ut oh, Kyle just realized someone kicked the chair out from under him.
*And where is the record of this fucking aggregated information, pigboy?*
He just said “aggregator” again. Hold me back so I don’t destroy my computer screen.
KS: I was just following orders.
Shorter KS: I was only following orders.
I remember . . . oh.my.dog. He just said “I remember” re Kevin Ryan’s name added to list.
I keep having to remind myself this guy was the freakin’ Chief of Staff to the freakin’ AG of the USA. He speaks of his role & recollections like he was an intern at the local bank branch.
It strains credulity that he didn’t know more or understand the issues.
Is there an “artful” way to push through this veil?
Schumer is exploring the difference between managing complaints versus requests for terminations.
emptywheel @ 61
Please explain a bit further – thanks!
Complaints out of nowhere, you’ve not been able to identify the people, and they are fired. DOesn’t that trouble you.
I just relied on the information from the people taking complaints from party hacks.
KS: Blink, blink, blink. Squeak. Twitch. Blink.
Deputy Attorney General put Kevin Klein on the list. No research done after “somebody” in the department put a name on the list (to be purged)?
No written documentation of problems with voting fraud?
Border enforcement problems? NM ranks 2nd in terms of enforcement?
Kyle: Don’t know, but no reason to doubt that.
*xyz @ 69
Said he had no idea that Iglesias had been teaching Voter Integrity issues, even though Kyle said he got fired for that reason.
Schumer: When you heard complaints about USA’s, did you ever check? they say no…did you ever do any independent research?
S: uh, no…
Schumer: So these people were fired without any independent verification?
S: sir, I’m just the aggregator, took complaints from senior leadership, Margolis…
Schumer: So name me an example of a senior leader who made a complaint, and what did you do when you handled it.
S: duh…
—
Jeebus. He uses the “I’m just an aggregator” line again — where’s all the sh*t you aggregated, you little piker?
Senator, I want a mulligan…
Wrappin’ it all up in a Puuuuurty bow!
If they dint do anything wrong…why does sampson have regrets?
Senator, I wish we hadn’t done this so my ass wouldn’t be in this wringer…
Sampson sounds like Rammesh Ponnoru.
-GSD
KS: Waaahhhh!!!
But Chuck–didn’t you hear Orrin say that Iglesias was on the media too much?!?! That’s enough of a reason to fire him.
when i fell regret it is because i fell like i did something wrong or know i did
CS: Looking back, OK to fire Inglesias?
KS: I’d do it all over differently; would not fire Inglesias in hindsight.
Schumer is going to let Specter go as long as he wants since he reminded him every second that he went over? What…..is that for real?
Was the admission that Schumer got out Sampson–not to put Iglesias on the list if he knew then what he knows now-meaningful?
Schumer got him to say:
Firing Iglesias was a mistake.
“In hindsight, in hindsight, in hindsight…”
It sounds like Kyle Sampson wishes he had eyeballs sticking out of his ass.
ok i mean feal not fell
Nice – Schumer got Kyle to admit that knowing what he knows now, he would not have put Iglesias on the list to be fired.
Basically an admission that they had no defensible reason for firing Iglesias.
Not to say that they didn’t have their own reasons – I’m sure they did.
Let’s face it this guy know’s he’s finished as a lawyer, ambition trumps common sense every time, except if you’re a democrat, imho
Arlen’s back…
The way to crack this nut is to indict Evil Radar for misleading Congress. Possible?
Schumer: “Your lack of awareness doesn’t prove that it didn’t happen.”
KS: “Yes.”
Bingo!
Hmm. Schumer doesn’t sound to happy with Specter’s nagging.
Way to be petty, Specter.
Your lack of awareness didn’t prove it didn’t happen, correct?:Schumer
Kyle: correct
Specter 9 l/2 minutes over to be put in record
It’s possible that these firings happened for political reasons but you don’t know about it.
Arlen giving him a little reacharound now…
Kylie admits that it “could” have been politically motivated and directed by the WH.
eCAHNomics @ 85
I think so, because it undermines the idea that Sampson was doing any kind of quantitative assessment or making any proper judgement on performance.
Specter just said Kyle’s responses have been “reasonable”. Gag.
Was that a torture joke by Spector?
Specter: Calm down kiddo, relax, drift away on the soothing drone of my voice for a few moments.
Specter: Bye Abu.
God, Specter, cut the f*cking long wind up, cut to the chase and spit out whatever it is you are chewing on.
dakine- a double reach, both hands, up to the knuckles
Are we close to the point where Schumer sez: “Oh, by the way Mr. Sampson, just one more question.” And then does the best zinger of all?
Specter:
Mr. Sampson, meet me in the Senate Spa, I’ll loofah your stretchmarks. You must be exhausted.
-GSD
Specter has a record of being prickish about procedural stuff. Never mind that one of his boys managed to slip the provision into the PATRIOT re-auth.
I think Schumer wanted to be able to take more ground against Kyle so having Specter nip at his heels every three minutes was aggravation.
Barney Rubble @ 106
still not as bad as the ones Hatch was giving earlier…
I wonder what he is going to do to clear his name of the monkeybusiness with the patriot act. Come on Arlen watcha got???
…..and Sampson can’t go home and have a stiff margarita……..
Even in jest, Spectre (sp) says the Senate Committee has exacted cruel and unusual punishment on Kyle Sampson by making him answer questions about unprecedented firing of sitting US Attorneys!
Specter is apologizing, exempting Sampson from liability, and blaming “process”?
Janus had two faces. Sen. Spectre’s is up his ass.
Whoa! CSPAN (TV) is LIVE now
The only thing we learned today was: AG Gonzo had knowledge and participated, contrary to his previous statements, and that The USAG office was being managed by imbeciles that could not remember anything about their jobs. I hope this administration is proud of the caliber of individuals they have serving.
dakine- but he still has to worry about bacteria!!!!!!!!!!
Sampson looks like he’d welcome a hammer blow to the temple at this point
Specter
I don’t care taht you’ve trashed the independent judiciary. But you made me look stupid. THAT ticks me off.
EPU’d from Part V:
If they are considered “civil servants” they cannot be summarily dismissed, they do not serve “at the pleasure of the president.” Neither Reagan, nor Clinton nor Bush could have fired the whole lot of them at one time.
This is why one of the senators was asking Sampson earlier if he knew of any pressure from anyone for career jobs. A career job is safe. A political appointment is not. It’s obvious why someone in a “pleasure of the president” position would want to convert to a career employee.
I don’t know how to prove this but tomorrow I’ll see what I can find. But it’s logical. And it’s something I’ve heard and witnessed with every administration going back to Reagan.
I don’t mean to “fight” with you because you and I are both on the same side in these hearings, but I am certain that political employees are not provided the protections that civil servants are. Your friend at the DOJ needs to research “political appointees” specifically.
Brisingamen @ 292
and th-a-a-a-a-ts all folks…
No final Schumer zinger. Bwaaahahaha.
next……………………..
Specter: Bad puppy. Come here and I’ll give you a hug.
IrishJim @ 116
Oh, I’m sure they are very, very proud of this dreck who covered their asses for them by playing ignorance.
Dang, what do we get to watch tomorrow?
landofthefree @ 59
The main point is administering the loyalty oaths to assistants, not USA’s. I believe this is what the dialogue is on – assistants. Not USA’s themselves. You can’t have “Political affiliation? __D__ R__ on the federal job ap for a civil service position. However, legislation give the Pres authority to appoint USA’s only. IMHO, but I am far from an expert.
Regards
emptywheel @ 45
What’s with that he mentions Domenici downthread complaining about Iglesias. To who? Abu? Then there’s Margolis. And I could have sworn Sampson said Karl complained about Iglesais. Obviously Karl had conversations with congress members. Sampson seemed to imply that Abu/Sampson did too.
If there’s ever a transcript of this testimony. I should think it would reveal how shaky Sampson is.
Schumer: For your sake, I hope we don’t have to call you back. lol
After the official adjournment, did someone near a mike say, “This was fun”?!
Three days from now Kyle Sampson will be found still in the committee chamber because he forgot where the door was.
I can’t believe we ever thought that Sampson would be at all forthcoming. I hope that there are records proving that he consulted with others before his testimony. But, fat chance now that we know for sure how they cover their lying asses 6 ways to Sunday. The Bushies are nothing if not expert at covering their tracks and they’ve taught it all around.
Will we be hearing anything about the unauthorized emails?
Nothing on the use of non-.gov emails to discuss things with Scott Jennings of ‘Karl’s Shop’.
Perhaps that’s for Waxman to rake over the coals.
Tithonia @ 113
is that a mormon thing?
8pm ET to watch the entire hearing on Cspan.
O.K, now for Iglesias: *Poor guy* to have all these creepy people like Rove targeting him.
the camaras cut away from Sampson, so we don’t see him try to stagger to his feet, have to be helped out of the room: hoisted under the arms and dragged rigid out the door
Thank you Moderators for the great work today! And Christy, a big Hug and Thanks!!
Ew, Great post today @ the next hurrah!
Cheney Does NOT Have Authority to Declassify at Will
Anyone get a look at how short Sampson is?
I swear, no offense to DC, but it is a city cursed by short man syndrome. I betcha money that’s why Sampson targeted Fitz. He was just jealous of a guy who has 9 inches on him.
(No, you perverts, I was talking about height.)
FOX is reportiong on the hearing.
“What did George Stephanopolus know, and when did he know it?”
I live blogged some of Schumer, etc., on last thread just now, because I didn’t see new thread, because I was outside in the rain…
carmen @ 132
What we got today though is when Rove says jump, Abu says how high?
*xyz @ 69
I think he said earlier he had no idea who the 3 were on the list who were subsequently removed from the list… except for Fitz.. Now he seems to say he remembered Ryan (WI ?) was on the list and removed at the last minute.. I think.. BMIF (But, memory is fading) Old Hippie..
Specter on C-SPAN to press journos: there are more questions to answer.
It strikes me how much Spector and his protege,
the Aggregator, have in common: Neither knew what dirty tricks were being played on their watch. Spector with his Patriot Act slip-in,
and the Aggregator in the words of Sen. Schumer, “Your lack of awareness does not mean that it did not happen!”
But what about Orrin Hatch?
What is he “unaware” of or thinks he can put one over on us?
emptywheel @ 140
Height is correlated with the other thing, I think they’ve proved.
As for DC-Mormons (or is it Mormen?) & short men. WOW. No wonder it sucks.
Specter: today ‘reinforced’ need to get testimony from Rove and Miers.
EW @ 140. Good one EW. I couldn’t believe it when Kyle talked about Fitz on the list. Did he say it was his own idea? That must be a lie. This guy testified all day that he was a secretary talking orders from others unnamed.
emptywheel @ 140
Using the simian model of Darwinian politics, Sampson’s success model as the short man is the nit-picking chimp who grooms the powerful big chimp.
Which big chimp is he grooming? Is that why he’s so willing to throw short man/little chimp Abu G under the bus?
Did Sampson actually say that Rove complained about voter fraud in three districts??
Barney Rubble @ 90
Not so naive, Barney, mi amigo.. He can get a job in the Great Theocracy of Utah… compliments the Mormon Mafia
I love the smell of accountability in the afternoon.
Unless the Billionaires for Bush suddenly lose their assets when the Saudi King is dethroned, Mr. Sampson will spend only a few minutes in obscurity. He will quickly reappear at the AEI or a friendly Republican law firm – after all, his resume now reads U. of Chicago Law and Chief of Staff to the US Attorney General. The next Republican administration, he’ll be a USA, at Main Justice or a federal judge.
The reality is that he’ll remain aloof from the consequences of his acts and continue to prosper. As will be true of most of the President’s Men.
Francis @ 151
Yes!
ok kiddo at 53
hi ok! was just thinking the same thing, even the ’so then’ feeling………..so then……….hmmmmmmm…..now what…….hmmmmmmmm………and this is supposed to do…what?……..
and………..let down. now what.
and your chess analogy earlier…….think it’s more of a surround before the check, and before the checkmate………
or a surrounding of the game by indians, but all are not in place yet to kill the buffalo, could still have a stampede before the kill……..
hate to say it, but i’m still waitin’ to see the rage from those who have been waitin’ in washington for 6 years to get their chance to supine the hags that brought us here. i don’t see them speaking or using their outrage, i’m waitin’ to see it expressed in some tangible way…………
and p.s. i didn’t get it when you left the other night so abruptly
Not only does Sampson have a terrible memory but he seems to be one of the least curious creatures on the planet. All of this list keeper and aggregator stuff. How did names get on or off the list? Who contributed to it and how was this tracked. Somebody said something sometime somewhere about someone doesn’t pass the smell test. He was involved up to his eyeballs in all of this yet questioned none of it. He’s like a guy shooting into a crowd but in a benign way nothing sinister about it, no sir.
Well, I got absolutely nothing done today, again. I can’t stay away from these hearings.
I was disappointed no one drilled him on Karl Rove. At one point earlier in the day. I think it was Schumer who questioned him on the letter he wrote denying any knowledge of Rove’s involvement. When confronted with his email in December asking about “Karls” office signing off on it. He indicated he just assumed Karl was involved. Why did he suddenly, no longer assume Karl was involved when directly asked by Congress??? No one asked this hack about this.
Hugh @ 157
I think he want to be truthful, but he is absolutely terrified of these people.
No one ever asked who he (KS) is employed by now.
Bummer.
nevermind
PatVa @ 120EPU’d from Part V:
If they are considered “civil servants” they cannot be summarily dismissed, they do not serve “at the pleasure of the president.” Neither Reagan, nor Clinton nor Bush could have fired the whole lot of them at one time.
for career governmental positions — read
assistant u.s. attorneys — questions about
their party affiliation may be a loyalty oath.
loyalty oaths are prohibited by federal
statute. and, i believe it is a criminal
offense. . . so. . .
seems like maybe monica was asking about
career employees’ party affiliations.
thus her fifth. just a guess. . .
but more here on it, soon. i’ll
verify that it is in fact a criminal
statute — that would begin to fill in
the puzzle, at least one version — re
ms. monica goodling.
Francis @ 151
I believe he did admit that Iglesias was a Karl complaint…That was before Schumer caught him on all the praise that Iglesias had received including being one of two DoJ instructors on combating voter fraud…
Neil @ 149
All day I was trying to figure out what I would have seen if I were a fly on the wall. Obviously a lot was omitted. But from what was apparent, there are these hot shot younguns going around doing whatever they think they should do to advance their careers and the cause. They come up with brilliant thoughts, like gumming the process to death, or putting Fitz on the hit list. No doubt they come up with these ideas from what they hear-trying to suck up by imitating their elders & betters. But they’re not bright enough to know not to say it. Most of the agenda is enacted by implication-not written, not spoken-but very well understood. The point at which Sampson said he suggested Fitz for the list sounded very much like he was looking for a pat on the head & had NFI that he had pooped on the rug. They’d never get rid of Fitz by talking about it. Much more subversive measures were called for, and apparently Rove’s brain couldn’t figure out how to fix it.
Which also explains why there’s no documentation. The little we have is owing to the carelessness of the younguns.
Brisingamen @ 163
LS @ 160
short memptywheel @ 140
short man syndrome = Napolean complex, right?
Someone upstairs called Sampson the stock boy (& so he wanted the committee to view him, I’m sure). Time to hear from the store managers, Rove, Meyers, Alberto. God, I feel lousy about these diligent USAs fired for political reasons, especially Lam & Iglesias.
BTW, what happened to Leahy? I doubt he would have let nitpicking Specter ride him about going overtime like Shumer did…
Mr. Sampson’s testimony was well-staged theater. Whatever he really is professionally, it is not the gentle, chipmunked voiced, hail-fellow-well-met, Mormon bishop he appeared as today.
Mr. Sampson didn’t rise to the bureaucratic heights he has without being able to read and remember precisely what his bosses wanted and why, nor by being unable to provide it. Which would include, by the way, leaving as little paper trail as possible. That he left as much as he did is testimony of the administration’s too self-satisfied pride more than Mr. Sampson’s indiscretion.
Off topic, but still it’s part of the corruption of our judicial system…. I see that John D. Bates will hear the oral argument of the defendants’ motion to dismiss Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson’s lawsuit on May 17th. This is his decision on the Cheney task force records. If you read his bio it doesn’t give me great confidence that justice will be served.
Dee @ 168
Too funny. And here I was wondering if they deliberatly made the witnesses table high and the chair low to make people feel short and stupid and uncomfortable.
It would not be a surprise if Monica DID ask about political affiliation. That’s considered part of teh problem in Iraq as John O’Beirne only hired approved Republic/Bushies for the Iraqi occupation work, no matter the skiil sets needed.
And just in case you might have missed it, yes, he is Kate O’Beirne’s husband (talking head who shows on Tweety’s show most nights…)
Durangodave @
9
But earlier in the day didn’t Sampson say that information was coming in, that they/he compiled information? It seems to me that names are distinct from information. It also seems weird that you would pass around names without reasons, and you could be removed from the list for no reason. Is it possible that they intentionally added too many names, so they could claim they all fell into a generic group, then they just vote off the fluff? Kind of like the leprechaun tying ribbons around every tree to hide the treasure.
Sharon Eubanks on Hardball, Tweety’s grilling her
No one can be taller than the King.
emptywheel @ 73
Kyle is such a grocery clerk. Of course he knew nothing. It was all going on above his head. He didn’t gather analysis, he was just the keeper of the hit list. I don’t care how many times that’s denied: it walked like a hit list, it quacked like a hit list. The way Iglesias’ fate was decided is a clear proof of this to my mind.
dakine01 @
165
He testified that Gonzales told him Karl complained to Gonzales about Iglesias re: voter fraud.
Sharon Eubanks, former DOJ prosecutor (who prosecuted the still-born tobacco case) on Hardball – slashing DOJ, naming names.
Word is Sampson and Rove are working on a rap album.
RunDC and the Pasty Plump Aggregators.
-GSD
Brisingamen @ 163
Appointees is not the key word. I was appointed to my job. Political appointee is the issue.
If political employees were afforded the protections of civil servants, they could not be fired which, as we know, Reagan, Clinton and Bush have done. Bush1 probably fired some, too. Political appointments are in not limited to just USAs.
Yeah, you nailed it.
Evidently no one at the WH, knows how to work an an intranet site. For this project, that’s all they needed, some place where the “deciders” could record their decisions. How much were the taxpayers paying in salary to Kyle to be a “temp,” who couldn’t even keep a decent file?
Hugh @ 157
He’s Mr Aggregator and Mr Suggest Canning Fitz.
Funny how he squares those roles.
PatVa @ 181
Firing political appointees in order to obstruct justice is the issue. IMHO
A Light Just clicked on:
If Goodling was searching around and interviewing ASSISTANTS — career fed employees – to be considered to replace the fired USA’s (serve at the pleasure of the Pres) she would likely, and illegally, ask them their party affiliation, voting, donations, etc.
If this is criminal, then BINGO
If this is the case this is WONDERFUL! Because Joe Sixpack is not going to be into all this complicated stuff. He IS going to notice something this simple: Are you a GOP faithful (Mr.Ms. Assistant)? If so, would you like to be considered for this great promotion.
AND, didn’t LAM’s office have an assistant take over those heavy-hitter investigations on Foggo, Wilkes, etc. If so, before they fired Lam, perhaps they asked the one to take over their party affiliation…
Perhaps key questions here..
John Casper @ 183
Would have meant an electronic record that could be too easily requested.
pseudonymous in nc @
184
Uh, yeah. Kyle: from whom did you “aggregate” the Fitz suggestion?
WRT controversy about whether Sampson knew a lot & was play acting, or whether he was just a DFI, I vote with the latter. I’ve seen lots of these 30-something hotshots on Wall Street, and in the end they’re almost all DFI. Sampson would stack well below the worst of these on Wall St.
Loyalty oaths– where have we heard that before?
http://www.firedoglake.com/200…..e-60-grit/
Mr. Ole 60 Grit.
(I see that dakine01 beat me to it!)
LOL GSD @ 180!
Pat:
Schedule C is for positions that are of a policy-determining nature or that involve a close personal relationship between the incumbent and an agency’s head or key officials…In addition, agencies need clearance for the proposed incumbent from the White House Presidential Personnel Office.
All of you were just great! I had C-Span on, but I paid much more attention to the dialog here. Much more intelligent, insightful (or inciteful!) and funnier.
Thirty years ago Sampson would be skewered by MSM. Now, since the MSM can’t find their butt with 2 hands and a flashlight, they will simply act as stenos for Repub spin. Sampson survived.
If they want to get serious, why can’t the Dems give their time to someone who knows cross-examination — like Whitehouse or Leahy? Let ‘em sweat under 4-5 hours of Pat asking ALL the questions. I’d bet this dipshit would prefer water tourture — and we’d get better results!!!
So, have replacements been hired for the dismissed USAs? People doing the job in interim or acting capacity? Who?
eCAHNomics @ 188
You don’t get out of law school by being obtuse. Read the e-mails. This guy was well caoached to be obtuse.
So, how many times did Sampson state, “to the best of my knowledge I do not remember”? His selected memory seem to falter when questioned by Dems and improve under question by Repugs!
ironranger @
158
eI got up and vaccumed when my ‘toobz’ seemed to be clogged. Constantly clicking and getting no movement was killin’ my wrist. So, dishes still dirty, no lunches prepared, but the floors are clean! LOL.
Fern @ 193
Oh yeah — they had their replacements lined up and waiting. Hadn’t you caught that Tolman (the guy who slipped the necessary language into the Patriot Act) got one of the available jobs?
Tony Blair isn’t getting a lot of sympathy for his POW sailors.
Idiot.
The world thinks you are Bush’s poodle, and EVERYBODY hates Bush.
At least the Iranians aren’t stripping the UK sailors naked and sending pics out.
-GSD
Fern circa 193:
My understanding is that the replacements have NOT yet been appointed.
Jim Clausen @ 194
The DFIs on Wall Street go the Harvard Business School. Going to a good school, even a law school, is no guaranty of smarts in all situations. I agree that the “I don’t recalls” were coaching-dont’ even need to be a lawyer to know that, but good coaching would have provided a coherent story of why the 8 were fired, one that would stand up to criticism. And as you saw from the pitiful Hatch attempts, they didn’t give their allies much to work with.
Michael @
195
That’s because hatch and Sessions especially were stroking him and jerking him off.
My conclusion is that Sampson has an awfully poor memory to be entrusted with the task of keeping all of the DOJ’s records in his tiny little head.
Bush went to Harvard and Yale and I wouldn’t let him run a sausage cart on my property.
The scum also rises.
-GSD
emptywheel @ 188
Uh, yeah. Kyle: from whom did you “aggregate” the Fitz suggestion?
I have a scenario for that based on the junior clerk: seeing all the political shenanigans going round, he pipes up with his own smart idea, which is quickly shot down by the real players. Who are then confirmed in their view that Kyle is a very useful fool indeed.
pking @ 202
Every time he said “In my mind,” I thought the questioner should respond: “Assuming facts not in evidence.”
Brisingamen circa 197…
There must be a disconnect. I heard a report on NPR that numerous (over 20 but “I can’t recall” exactly) US attorneys positions are vacant. Did I just dream this????
fyi new thread
bookwoman @ 172
You’re right. Judge Bates looks like an older Kyle Sampson. Unimpeachably loyal and submissive to Republican administrations. Note that Chief Justice Roberts also named him to the FISA court, too. Makes me think of that old Allstate Ins. company advert – “You’re [civil rights] are in good hands with Judge Bates.” Not.
As more of these mid but still relatively high up players are forced to testify before various oversight committees, it will become increasingly clear that the rot and incompetence aren’t just at the top but extend well down the chain of command throughout the Bush Administration.
A Chief of Staff as bumbling as Sampson tried to portray himself today wouldn’t even be able to keep track of office supplies in a small office. That’s the disconnect. A senior position executed with all the responsibility of a 14 year old.
emptywheel @ 140
I noticed the same thing in law school. Short guys everywhere.
That may have been skewed a bit by geographic location – Boston, and there are lots of tall lawyers here in Texas, but plenty of short ones , too.
And I gotta tell ya, when I was practicing, I just LOVED looming over some 5′6″ oppo lawyer (I’m 5′9″). Course, you can carry that too far and get the backlash.
Hugh @ 131
Whispering “mommy, mommy, mommy, I’ll be good now…”
OT: Over at the State Roots Project site, Marcy feeds me some questions via email for a local Virginia activist to ask Tom Davis (R-VA) at one of his town hall meetings. Check it out.
The local is our very own Redshift.
>
Dayum . . .
eCAHNomics @ 200
You don’t get out of law school by being obtuse. Read the e-mails. This guy was well caoached to be obtuse.
The DFIs on Wall Street go the Harvard Business School. Going to a good school, even a law school, is no guaranty of smarts in all situations. I agree that the “I don’t recalls” were coaching-dont’ even need to be a lawyer to know that, but good coaching would have provided a coherent story of why the 8 were fired, one that would stand up to criticism. And as you saw from the pitiful Hatch attempts, they didn’t give their allies much to work with.
“Going to a good school…is no guaranty of smarts.” Were you thinking of Mr. Bush’s Harvard MBA? Or, just his A.B. from Yale?
I would not assume that a “coherent story” is what Mr. Rove wanted today. Good theater manipulates the audience; so does good politics.
How would you want this theater to play if you were Mr. Rove’s defense lawyer? A clear, easy narrative, with obvious, discrete gaps? Or, would you want as many conflicting narratives as possible? With inconsistent holes, Ms. Nobody’s taking the Fifth, etc., etc., etc? Confusion, distraction, multiple possible conflicting explanations. The goal is to avoid allowing twelve people to agree on anything beyond a reasonable doubt.
The theater that played out today was just fine for Karl. We don’t have much more than we started with. We’re already exhausting the public and even the Senate. And if anybody has a target painted on their bald head, it’s not Karl.
opps “syndrome. I betcha money that’s why Sampson targeted Fitz. He was just jealous of a guy who has 9 inches on him.”
Fitz is DA MAN!!
Dee @ 169
short man syndrome = Napolean complex, right?
Not just in DC., also in every Statehouse across the country. It’s a prerequisite to becoming a politician. That may be changing tho. We’ve been growin’ ‘em big since the 80s when hormones and steroids were and still are introduced into the food supply.
pach-went to the site you linked………..nice comment
all i could think about was i want a t-shirt with the roots project on it, with a website address……..i know my 74 yr old father would wear one too, his favorite earth day t-shirt is getting worn out……..i mentioned this in your roots post, but am mentioning it again, it would make a great t-shirt……….my vote is to have it on the back…..with the common quote on it…………..and i repeat, i am NOT a t-shirt wearer, but i would wear one with that on it…….
Michael @ 195
The BEST quote:”To the best of my recollection, I do not recall…”!
Pachacutec @ 212
What a team, Pach and Marcy. I bet Marcy has a few choice words for T. Davis!
Let’s all try to remember how utterly important these hearings are. It is a great chance to show the American people just how vital it is to have accountablity in gov’t.
Sad but true, sad but f*ckin true…”
mbbsdphil @ 154
Geez, phil…I wasn’t ready for a cold shower yet!
A major point that he refused to answer was how (or who was responsible for) names got put on the list. He claims he just kept the list.
Mr. Sampson, meet Ms. Doan, our whizbang GSA director with a faulty memory like your own. Ms. Doan, Mr. Sampson.
What Happened To Grassley?
For me, perhaps the most interesting thing that happened today was the mysterious way that the hearing was shut down by the Republicans.
This happened immediately after John Kyl produced the strange revelation that he had gotten a personal call from Gonzales on Dec 7, and just as Chuck Grassley was beginning what seemed to be a major Republican defection.
Leahy said that Grassley would resume after they returned, but when they came back Grassley was gone. He did not return.
What happened to Chuck Grassley?
Was Grassley the reason for the unprecidented interuption to the proceedings?
Something smells really fishy?
media freeze @ 224
That is precisely what I thought. I was at work and at first I thought I had missed something.
But your post confirmed for me that my own questions were valid.
I’d love to hear the answer to this query.
Neil @ 149
Will they try to undermine McNulty’s investigation ? Cast a cloud?
Sorry if I repeat anything, haven’t read all posts yet.
One of the more amusing moments for me in the hearings was when Feinstein or Schummer (I think) was questioning Sampson and was asking him about why he thought Fitz should have been fired. Then someone handed Feinstein a note, she read it and then asked if Karl Rove had suggested to him to ask that question, then you see another piece of paper flying towards her and she picks that up, reads it and ask if anyone else suggested to him about Fitz’s firing. I just thought it was amusing. You could tell that’s the one question EVERYONE wanted an answer to.
For the record, I don’t think Sampson told the truth on that question. He never would directly answer no.
Capital J @
130
I had JUST gotten my video back up, at about half way thru the last interrogation . . . . so I had it on screeen, and YES, I heard that.
I been wondering about them cameras and mic’s, and how well schooled both sides of the aisle are to ‘it’s HOT, it’s ALWAYS HOT so take it OUT of here’ . . . . . . .
(hi raspy and growling falsetto voicing)
Little red light . . . .
Little green light . .
Little red light . . . .
Little green light . . .
Stop on the red
N go on the green
Doncha mess with the mister in between!!
-VanRonk, bless his soul
follow up on question about whether or not the positions of the USA have been filled, for CA go to:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/can/press/index.html
and yes they have been filled. See list for all states at
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/offices/index.html
this site also lists press releases, such as resignation announcments
Clarification: they are serving on an “interim” basis.
and it turns out Ryan was in charge of the Balco steroids cases, and who used to own a baseball club?
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/can/…..press.html
this guy tried one criminal case where do they find em/???
In reading the “Mormon Mafia” piece, this one item jumped out at me:
Unfriggingbelievable! More proof of the Christian Ryche running the country.
Sorry wayyyy EPU’d, but we were gone all eve.
[p.s.,LandOfTheFree - CLE playing Symphony Fantastique, Gil Shaham playing Beethoven - WOOHOO! - sweet dreams tonite ;->]
I’m still(?) filling tape with lil ole Sampson’s torture, thanks to you dear guys who got the station & time correct for me to set our VCR – THANKYOU!
Wanted to share a link, in case it’s escaped unnoticed in all the hubbub today.
Salon.com has a dandy article on the Sampson hearing. What little I’ve read so far – don’t know whether to cry or 707!?!
http://www.salon.com/news/feat…..0/sampson/
There is no question that firing political appointees to obstruct justice is the issue and is outrageous and is the basis for these hearings. All I am saying is that political appointees are not entitled to the abundance of protections civil servants enjoy. Some here don’t get that.
LS @
185