After sitting through several more hours of the dodge and pony show from Alberto Gonzales, it occurred to me yesterday that every minute they drag this out is another minute of justice delayed for the nation and the Department of Justice. And it seems that Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse agrees with that sentiment. He has written a superbly crafted op-ed in the National Law Journal that needs to be read and discussed in full:
…
• The attorney general does not respect his own institution. Time-honored traditions and practices of the Department of Justice, vital to the impartial administration of justice, have been gravely damaged. At least three — respect for career officials; careful policing of the boundary between the White House and the Justice Department; and selecting U.S. attorneys from the home district with full Senate confirmation — are bulwarks. The man who didn't care about or didn't notice their destruction is the wrong person to rebuild them.
• Pettiness rules. A hallmark of incompetent leadership is excessive deference, and the tone of the Justice Department is sickening. A U.S. attorney promises he'll be "pleasant and respectful" to get a meeting with the deputy attorney general. Another assures Justice Department officials he's still a "company man." One is fired for asking for reconsideration of a death penalty decision. Another is fired for "poor judgment" in organizing a letter to the deputy attorney general that was "not welcome." It makes your skin crawl.
• White House political operatives were all over the U.S. attorney firing decision. The wall carefully bricked up over decades to block White House political influence within the Department of Justice has been knocked down. Based on sound experience, previous administrations narrowed the list of people at the White House and Justice Department who could talk about criminal cases to only four White House officials (including the president and vice president) and only three Justice Department officials (including the attorney general). Under Gonzales, it's now 417 and 42, and Rove is among the 417.
• This problem will linger. The "consensus" management practiced by the attorney general leaves no person responsible for any decision, perhaps deliberately. Who decided, when and why, will take extensive investigative reconstruction. It won't go away.
It may take a decade to repair the damage caused by Attorney General Gonzales, and every day that passes without his resignation is one more day before the repair is begun. But will he go? From the perspective of Bush administration officials, a wounded, grateful attorney general on a very short leash may be just what they want as they try to exit Washington without further indictments. But that's not the attorney general America needs to maintain the best traditions of the Department of Justice and assure the fair administration of justice in our country. (emphasis mine)
The administration of justice, under the principles of fairness and equal application of the law, should never, ever be an afterthought. Sen. Whitehouse is correct that every day Alberto Gonzales stalls is another day of justice denied. It is well past time for the Bush Administration to stop stalling, and to put our nation's system of justice ahead of their own petty internal protections. It is time that the needs of the nation were put ahead of the ass-covering needs of the President and his political minions. But with the current crowd in the White House? I'm not exactly holding my breath.
A huge thank you to Sen. Whitehouse for speaking up on this publicly. Would that more former United States Attorneys and former career employees of the Department of Justice would step forward and do so as well, from either side of the political fence. Our nation's system of justice and the integrity of those men and women who uphold the rule of law for all of us hangs in the balance at the moment — and people of character and courage ought to stand up put their weight on the side of justice, raising their voices publicly to put our nation's interests ahead of the craven self-interest of the folks in Rove's political shop who are using the Attorney General's stalling tactics as their personal shield from being held accountable.
Justice is not, nor should it ever be, an afterthought. But it requires that true patriots stand up for what is right, over and over again over the course of history. Will you stand for justice? Or will history see you as being silent when your nation needed you most?
UPDATE: Elizabeth De La Vega has a great article on similar grounds here.
(Gorgeous photo via James at 41. I just love this shot — the drape of our flag, the detail of the stitching in the stars. Lovely.)
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Christy! Whitehouse !
“Dodge & pony show” — love it!
Zed?
If Rover tries the same “I don’t recall” technique, it will be spectacular.
An exhibition of ultra Alzheimer’s.
Nola at 2 — Sometimes, a line just smacks you in the face as you write it. This morning it was “dodge and pony show.” Glad you liked it, too.
dodge and pony.
me three.
Gonzo ain’t going no where; he is a penatta. They hang him out there to be banged around while kkkarl continues to execute his evil.
What a great post!
Havent I read that this scandal, with Gonzo, may well be the one to bring down Bush? I feel so powerless especially over the War that this seems more manageable as new stuff comes out every day.
Each revelation would have been enough to “do in” a Dem.
good gaia, where doesn’t this apply ?!?!?
Levees
Food Safety
School Children
United States Army
United States Marine Corps
really, we don’t have the bandwidth . . .
Here is the Daily Muck with an article that goes along with this post.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003200.php
christy – thank you for bringing whitehouse’s op-ed to us… i would never have found that on my own.
i am so glad whitehouse is on leahy’s senate judiciary committee and i’m looking forward to watching him during next tuesday’s hearing, “Preserving Prosecutorial Independence: Is the Department of Justice Politicizing the Hiring and Firing of U.S. Attorneys? – Part IV “
anyone know who will be testifying?
Wow. What an article. That the best and most succinct portrayal of the reasons why Congress is so dogged in having these investigations. Bravo.
“every minute of dragging it out” IS a waste of time – time better spent working on ending the war and impeachment!
like klyde says, he is a pinata to be batted about, while the Bush crime syndicate rides out the clock.
Does the ABA and other groups like it have anything to say about what the Bush Administration and the AG have done to tarnish a proud profession? Good lawyers, which I belive most attorneys are, should, it is strongly felt, be on the front lines in stating their repugnance at the illegal (telling lies under oath) antics of Gonzales. Our Attorney General, our top law enforcement officer, is a liar and a buffoon.
wonk alert
Kos diarist and some volunteers analysis of WH/DOJ e mail traffic
hey Christy, how well read is the National Law Journal ?
Dodge and pony show. Perfection, Christy.
Came on to note on Scarecrow’s thread that Barbara Starr on CNN is giving sobering news this morning about the situation in Diyala Province. Desperate need for more troops. Look at the map and it’s a perfect access between Iran and Iraq. A choke point? Or a staging area? For either side, or for whoever wants to make mischief in this gawdawful clusterfuckery.
But it fits, too, with the dodge and pony show. Last night I heard, too many times, punditry about whether or not getting into Iraq was based on a mistake. Let’s make this clear for the weekend gasbags. It wasn’t a “mistake.” It wasn’t well-intentioned neo-conery. It wasn’t deficient intelligence.
It was a LIE. And that’s what dodge and pony show is, too.
Is gonzo due to return back to the Senate committee? I think I read that Leahy sent him a letter telling him to answer his “I doan know, doan recall, can’t remembers.” Between the probaly non-answers to these and the set-ups that the HJC was unable to close on, I have to believe that Sen Whitehouse and Leahy and the rest of the former prosecutors on the SJC would have enough information, combined with the close door interviews of the Kyle and such that they HAVE to be able to bring this dweeb down down down.
OKK at 13 — I believe that the ABA, as well as the NYFederal Bar Association, have issued statements on how deplorable this situation is. But I don’t have the links at my fingertips at the moment. (Am in the middle of finishing up some laundry and packing for a trip, so things are a little muddled for me today…sorry!)
Oh, FYI everyone — forgot to post this above: Howie will have a special chat today at 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT with Chris Van Hollen, new chair of the DCCC. It will be a great chat, so I hope you all can join us for it!
Thanks for a terrific post. The Whitehouse article demolishes the argument that I’ve heard from a surprising number of progressives: that it’s better for the AG to stay put, because the longer he stays the worse it makes Bush seem. And of course, who knows who his replacement would be? (Someone said Lieberman, sending a chill down my spine). In fact, things have gotten so bad that we can no longer afford the luxury of political considerations–we have to do what we can NOW for the sake of our nation. Get rid of Gonzales by impeaching him if Bush won’t fire him. And for that matter, let’s start the impeachment process for Bush and Cheney.
We practically need to hold a wake for DoJ.
It’s going to be like trying to bring back something from the dead.
It’s like they went in, and secretly did heart surgery, and they took out a healthy, fully functioning heart. And replaced it with a jury-rigged artificial contraption.
And I’m sick. Just sick over this. Grieving a “heart” I took for granted. That’s gone. And all I can do right now is rage alternating with numbness.
The Senate needs a 2/3 vote to impeach Gonzales.
What if the starting point is a series of resolutions to get the Republicans on record, including the ones who already said he should step down?
Something like, “The Senate finds from his own testimony that Gonzales is unfit for the job.”
I say let Abu stay. If Karl gets to appoint a new AG, my guess Ted Olson, then he gets to spin that the problem is fixed and it’s time to “move on and put petty politics behind us”… and nothing will change.
Judge puts a lid on phone record distribution…
snip
In a letter dated Sunday, Palfrey’s civil attorney, Montgomery Blair Sibley, had demanded that Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales conduct a special investigation into what Sibley described as an unfair prosecution of Palfrey’s business. Sibley said that he would release Palfrey’s phone records for all to peruse — including Internet bloggers — if Gonzales did not take action.
From Paul Craig Roberts at Antiwar.com.
Seems to me that Beltway Democrats are using their control of Congress to obstruct the people’s will to end the war, and shirking their duty to bring charges of impeachment for the numerous high crimes of the Bush regime.
Whitehouse for President!
That’s a letter from a real leader.
Thank you, Christy, for another great post!
“dodge and pony show” — good one.
justice delayed = justice denied. another good one.
We need Republicans to stand up and say the same things. Where is Comey? Where are the Republican former USA’s in Congress? This shouldn’t be viewed as a partisan issue (tho it will be painted as such if only Dems say it).
Maybe if Congress shoulders its responsibilities, it can coerce the Department of Just-Us into doing the same.
Gonzales has been taunting Congress with his apparent incompetence in hearing after hearing. His disrespect cheapens his agency and its mission, but–left unpunished–it cheapens Congress too. It’s hard for the people to respect a Congress that allows itself to be bullied by people who are plainly small and fearful.
What can Congress do? It can call incompetence and lying by their true names, but it can’t stop there. Gonzales has demonstrated that just because you see him doing wrong and call him on it, he has no intention of stopping. My guess is that he can’t imagine that Congress can operate the long arm of the law against him, since he and his fellow mobsters hold all the levers. Maybe he’s right. Maybe there is no way for a corrupted Department of Justice to tell its corrupters that it’s had enough.
But Congress can control the law and the money. Congress can pass laws that depoliticize the Justice Department and that make everything that is dubious simply and clearly illegal.
Congress can stop funding Justice Department activities that it does not approve. It can earmark funds to accomplish its objectives and enforce its laws, and it can cut off funds that go to other activities.
Congress can put Gonzales under oath.
Congress can put Gonzales on a strict regimen of reporting, requiring him to prove that he is following Congress’s instructions–as laid out in the law–and not wasting the people’s money.
Look at Gonzales. He is clearly maladjusted, with a puppy’s loyalty to his master that could catapult him into a future of opprobrium, lawsuits, fines, and imprisonment. Think of a congressional squeeze as the hug he needs. For the sake of his future here and in eternity.
Whitehouse just wrapped up a speech on the senate floor. He called for Gonzo’s resignation, as well as argued against giving AG expanded powers. Oh, he did the chart thing again, with another one thrown in showing 9000 people who could for political purposes tap your communications.
dakine01 @ 16
could be. leahy’s senate judiciary committee has a hearing scheduled for tuesday, “Preserving Prosecutorial Independence: Is the Department of Justice Politicizing the Hiring and Firing of U.S. Attorneys? – Part IV “
but no witnesses are (yet) listed…
Gonzales works for the American people, not for George Bush. Congress represents the American people. If George won’t fire him for incompetence, Congress can and should. It’s not only Congress’ right, it’s their job.
What I found particularly disturbing about Gonzales’s missing-in-action excuses yesterday was the Republic committee members dismissing any possibility of wrongdoing by Abu and actually cheering the thug on while accusing the Democrats of politicizing the hearings. Most of us understand this was the politicizing of the DOJ but it won’t stick if Gonzales and the Republics are allowed to obstruct the investigation this way.
TiredFed at 26 — Comey said a lot of this during his testimony in the House. It isn’t his fault that far too many of the members of the Committee failed to ask him the appropriate questions to get to these answers. When he was asked about these issues, he was up front and candid.
We need more of that, though — and I know for a fact that there are folks who know things and should be speaking up from their personal experience, who are hanging back and hoping that someone else will do the hard work for them. Now is not the time to cower in the corner and let someone else do the work. That was my point with this today. Patriots step up — they don’t hang back and wait for someone else to do their work.
Jay @ 22
Well, see, I am inclined to agree with that. It sounds good on the surface, but I confess to not having dug deep enough into an understanding of the long-term effects of this criminalization of DoJ’s way of doing business.
Seems to me what we have here is one side playing by the rules, slowly making its case, trying to gather evidence – meanwhile the other side is not playing by the rules, indeed is bending and rebending the rules (just as bush is reputed to have done playing some wargame in college!).
It’s hard to win a game when you believe in the rules and play by the rules – but the other side is busy playing by rules you’ve never heard of, while complaining that you are victimizing them by accusing them of breaking the rules!
“I listen to the Generals on the ground…” Well: Petraeus condemns torture.
1,512 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen Hardin Smith and the Firepup Patriots:
With all respect for your intelligence and fierce loyalty to our Constitution and particularly our justice system, I fear that there is no action that can be taken within our existing system that can force these people to do the right thing. Even if hundreds of former US Attorneys and career justice officials come forward, what can Congress do? We never achieved a justice system that the Founding Fathers envisioned… the IDEA of a democratic rule of law has lived and been carried forth by dedicated patriots like yourself over the years but has never been achieved. Now we’re faced with the reality that even if 100% of the Senate voted to impeach the lot of ‘em, the Commander -in-Chimp would jest stick out his tongue, cross his eyes and give us all the finger.
No sister Christy, the solution to this terrible mess is direct action to force the issue …when people realize that all the procedural niceties of our democratic system are powerless to remove this fascist oligarchy from power, then we’re where the rock meets the hard place and I don’t hold a lotta hope.
KEEP THE FAITH AND STAND UP!!
TheraP @ 34, well said.
You are correct, Mandrake but it seems that Abu’s notoriety keeps the light on the DOJ and Karl Rove
Oklahoma kiddo @ 13
I totally agree and have been wondering where the ABA has been on this since they did issue a report and publicly express concerns, a couple of years ago I think, about the unprecedented plethora signing statements.
Where are they indeed?
Dahlia Lithwick has written a good post on Gonzales’ performance at the hearing. http://www./slate.com/id/2165987/pagenum/all/
Basically, her take is he doesn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks.
My compliments also on ‘dodge and pony’.
It is so depressing to consider what this administration has done to FEMA, the DOJ and our military — These are the disasters we know about.
Can’t Garbonzo just be disbarred?
The definition:
Dodge and Phony?
Mandrake @ 33
If Bush(Rove) want Abu to stay, that’s reason enough for me to want him impeached.
bookwoman @ 42
My guess is that Abu is a member of the Texas Bar so I guess we can forget about anything good happening on that front..
NorskeFlamethrower @ 36
you may be right that more direct (nonviolent) action will be required… but we have a responsibility to work the system… and see if we can make the system work.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 32
I couldnt agree more. I sent Conyers a long list of followup questions for Comey. He and other former Feds ought to be saying more but arent. Let’s hope the flood gates open soon.
All that intensive prepping only to hone one’s internal time sense, the better to run out the question clock without truly answering…Tsk tsk
;>)
The funniest part of the hearings yesterday was near the end. One of the repugs, I can’t recall who, complained that the Dems were getting off topic questioning Gonzo about national security letters. This, after repugs talked about everything from internet gambling to what’s on the menu for dinner.
Lou Costello @ 35
not only that but the president CLEARLY, doeS NOT “listen” to the generals, he ignores the generals.
he had to friggin shop for ANY general to even ATTEMPT his strategy
the generals told him DO NOT invade Iraq, they told him DO NOT divert the resources from afghanistan, DO NOT invade with fewer troops, less equiptment, resources not nearly enough and the list goes on and on
Politically, I agree that it is probably advantageous to leave Gonzales where he is — every day he stays at the DoJ is another day of him screwing up, and shining a big fat glaring spotlight on the WH political hack job crew and their bungling, grabby, sweaty grope of departmental actions which should have been apolitical.
But, from the point of view of someone who has had to deal with requests to politicize a job that should not be so, knowing what so many of the career and USAs and AUSAs have been going through in trying to do their jobs — and do them well — in the midst of all this turmoil and chaos? They are breaking our nation’s system of justice as surely as their incompetent bungling in Iraq is breaking our nation’s military. And, at a time when we are facing enormous pressures and potential threats from folks who hate us even more today than they did six years ago? We cannot afford this. Political gain is not, nor should it ever be, worth the trade-off to the health of the nation.
Jay @ 38
See, I think you and I are of the same mind in that we are focusing on public perception and how that influences ‘08 voting. Perhaps I am being naive, but I feel if we kick these SOB’s out, we can start mending the damage done. By ‘08, Publicans may be so discredited that they will be damaged politically for years.
The WH is going down kicking and screaming and will use all their puppets and loyalists to protect them. Slowly, one hopes, these folks will start to cave, as is their duty to do so, as Christy expressed in her post.
Perhaps a slow burn is good, if the wick dies out at a convenient period at election time. I wonder how much the Dems are discussing this behind closed doors. Surely they are.
Thanks for the post Christy.
I still struggle to understand if these guys are criminals or incompetents. I think that having Boy Blunder Bush at the helm lulled most of the populace into thinking “How can a nice man have done all of these things on purpose?”
The other question is “How can such an evil man have done all of these things on purpose?”
Most Americans, for the first six years, could not imagine that real question was the latter. Think about it. Everything this administration touches that could be co-opted, stolen, or rendered inoperative — such was the result!
Bush is the political equivalent of Global Warming, and it must be slowed, stopped and reversed.
1,512 dayz and the killin’ goez on and on and..
Come on folks…these people have destroyed our system of government, bankrupted our public treasury and completely corrupted our private economy and now we are faced with the reality that there is no way to get rid of ‘em unless we physically throw them out!
The bluff of our constitutional system has been called and it is we who stand naked in the street.
Any organizin’ effort to try and convince enough congressfolks to do the right thing is jest pissin’ in the wind. The time for direct action is now and even then I’m afraid we have lost the moment.
KEEP THE FAITH WE HAVE NUTHIN LEFT TA LOSE!!
Christy @ 51
Well said! How else will be save our country.
In Washington, politicians constantly try to build themselves up to be perceived as something more than they are.
Gonzales has worked hard to convince everyone he is an evasive incompetent stooge.
Kinda makes ya wonder….
Cuewhiffle @ 19
No, it won’t be Lieberman — He’s a Senator and won’t be up for re-election until 2012. He’s not about to trade 5 years of power for 18 months helping to bail a sinking ship.
I suggested to folks during yesterday’s hearing that we try a mock hearing here at FDL in advance of the next big one (could be Gozo again next week). Then send the best set of questions to committee staff. I sent a compilation of Marcy’s and Mary4’s questions from yesterday to John Conyers, but I’m sure it was too late to make a difference at that point. Since the Dems just took over both houses of Congress, there is going to be a ramping up of abilities in staff work. We have an amazing array of folks here. Let’s see if we can help them ahead of time.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 51
But that’s really where we are, isn’t it? Repugnant as it may seem. Dems on the Hill are hamstrung by the fear of appearing too extremist too soon and are thus forced to try to appear somewhat accommodating to the president until his popularity rating dips to what, 5% or something?
I don’t know what it takes, but I know this much. The msm is dead responsible for the hamstringing. This is the reason Dems are moving so slowly and cautiously. Public perception.
Whitehouse for Attorney General in the new Dem administration!!!
Tired Fred @ 58:
What difference does it make what questions you ask if you never get any answers?
Question 1 -> blah, blah, blah
Question 2 -> blah, blah, blah
etc.
TiredFed @ 58
Great idea. Someone could even pretty easily create a “Abu-emulator” to “answer” the questions.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 51
I think Gonzo needs to go. He is the firewall to Rove. He needs to go. He can be impeached, even if not convicted by the Senate (altho it is looking better every day, every time he testifies). I don’t care who they put in after – Hatch or even LIEberman. Next step, Rove and Miers. Then the penguin, then l’il boots.
Tired Fed at #58, how ’bout faxing them to Leahy for next week’s hearing?
Not sure who’s going to be on the stand (Goodling?), but maybe it will help.
Christy,
Can you do an estimate of the amount of taxpayer dollars expended in the Senate and House hearings on Bush’s ag?
leftdcin72 at 65 — Absolutely no idea on that one. Sorry.
Judging from the comments above, I think I’m with everyone here in thinking that something needs to be done.
In the political realm, I don’t see how impeaching Gonzales has any bad consequences for anyone except Gonzales whereas by not impeaching him, the Democrats begin to look weak and will eventually give in to the Republican spin machine, which is already turning in Gonzales’ favor.
And in the world of actual wrongdoing, there is plenty of evidence that Gonzales has misled Congress, witheld evidence and displayed serious incompitence. That much is clear. The fact that he fired the AGs because they would or would not prosecute political partners or foes would come out of the proceedings. Right?
I’m behind you, TiredFed. Great idea.
I also think that the fact finding has reached the point of diminishing returns and it’s time to take action. Gonzales is not going to resign, so it’s time to start impeachment proceedings.
1,512 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Come on folks, our system is broken, hundreds of thousands are dyin’, our childrens’ futures are gone and we’re sittin’ around sippin’ lattes and directin’ the waiters to rearrange the tables on this sinkin’ ship. Good God is anyone awake out there??!!
Sigh…I’m goin’ ta get my last little one back from school before I run outta gas and she hasta walk home.
…meanwhile in a safehouse outside DC…
Y’all – don’t be interruptin’ mah prayers! That is, of course, unless it’s Karl, or Ms. Miers, or someone from the RNC. Oh, and don’t forget Pat either!
Momma! When’s that testimony coach gettin’ here? I am Soooo p-o’d that – now – I have to say something! Who do they think I am – Britney Spears?
David! If you’re so ‘always-there-for-me,’ then be a dear, will you, and get me a yogurt with nuts and sugar!
Why is it that NOBODY can do ANYTHING right without ME telling them what to do?
Bush Must Be Impeached And Convicted.
Gonzales is still where he is because Bush wants him there.
Gonzales is pleasuring the President.
This is a blow job that truly is a deserving cause for Impeachment.
Just do it.
TheraP @ 61
well-worded questions, with the right followups can be devastating. Nonanswers to yes/no questions, when called on it, can make it plain for everyone (even Republicans) to see that Gonzo is lieing.
The hearing yesterday was messy, and the Repubs managed to make it seem fairly unfocused, and they kept Gonzo fairly fresh so that he was never under sustained pressure. Big difference from the way things went in the Senate committee.
One intriguing moment that didn’t get picked up on, and I didn’t check to see how it played in the threads, was when Gonzo was being grilled about Paulouse, I think by Ellison. There were a bunch of questions about the career attys demoting themselves, working under a troubled USA, and how the DOJ and Gonzo himself was stepping in to try to help out the office and get things under control.
The questioning seemed to be going in an obvious direction, but didn’t get there with the time limits. Gonzo was set up perfectly–he was aware of a troubled office, he was completely aware of the issues, he and the dept. took steps to solve the problems–and there was no discussion of firing Paulouse or putting her on a list for performance reasons, etc. She has been and is being treated completely differently from McKay, Iglesias, Lam, Charlton, Chiara, etc., who were all summarily dismissed with no communication or reasons, or consideration.
Pretty easy to draw the contrast, make an important point, and ask specific questions, but it didn’t happen.
Brisingamen @ 64
I would have to rework them for a Delilah hearing. Much greater minds here than mine could do better. The Marcy/Mary4 qs were terrific (would have been even better if Marcy or Christy had been able to do the asking in person!) but were geared to Gonzo.
How far down will these bastards have to take us before impeachment becomes the reasonable consequence to this administrations criminality?
Christy, yesterday afternoon on our PHX Nova M-Air America station several callers on a couple of the shows where attorneys who called in to comment about the former LA USA Yang sign on bonus of $1.5 million.
They said that they thought that violated CA Bar ethics which should be reviewed. I have no idea if that would be true but would love to have someone who might know to comment.
In case you haven’t written to Judge Walton yet regarding Scooter’s sentencing:
Judge Reggie B. Walton
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
E. Berrell Prettyman United States Court
333 Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C.
Re: Sentencing of I. Scooter Libby
April 3, 2007
Dear Judge Walton,
Why haven’t they started impeaching Gonzo already?
TiredFed @ 58
Excellent observation, excellent idea. Who knows, FDL may play an integral role in saving our democracy! Yay!
It occurs to me that while the prevailing (official) facade of the US is “freedom, justice, et. al.,” and the claims of free speech and rights get trotted out in comparison to other nations, the real truth is that we can have all the laws in the world, but without enforcement or oversight with teeth, we have nothing.
The republicans are angry because we wish to disabuse them of their pretensions.
Their pretensions to compassion, power and patriotism. This is the most threatening thing one can do to a deluded individual. There is no depth to which the republicans will not resort to maintain their fiction.
This, unfortunately, is where enforcement/oversight dies. If they drain the gas tank of the cruiser, the police won’t catch many criminals. There should truly be a no-holds-barred oversight rule, where any agency in the people’s government can summarily be inspected without allowing the smoke and mirrors of the principles involved able to delay, misdirect and destroy. After all, it is our business.
Privacy for the likes of Rove and Cheney ends where their involvement in the people’s business and welfare begins. There should be no “request” for documents, there should be one order to produce all relating to any troubling conflict. Any deviation would be a felony. Otherwise, we have no power and no oversight/enforcement, only criminals who game the system, obstruct the process and drain the gas tank.
What is the provision for ousting a criminal organization from a Democracy? R.I.C.O.? Any such law is toothless when the criminals run the sheriff’s office. What constitutional provisions can be introduced to discourage this type of power grab, since we now know it is possible to infiltrate and compromise our government and enforcement capability?
Abu is a roadblock. Heavily fortified, but a roadblock none-the-less. “General” Leahy has so far conducted a slow, methodical, and careful advance. But now…..it’s time to pivot and maneuver.
I’d blow off questions to remove/don’t remove Abu. The towel boy ain’t going anywhere. Pivot! Monica will be interesting…but perhaps limited in usefulness.
NOW is the time for Leahy to pursue subpoena to Meiers and Rover. Get those in the system, and moving towards a federal judge. Seems to me there’s good arguements to be made: “Judge, we’ve trid to investigate the issue via Abu. But after repeated questioning, he has no idea how the firing list came about. We have no alternative. We must pursue Meiers and Rove.”
Co-ordinate with the House. Get Conyers to submit a letter in agreement. Attach pertinent testimony. Gather your brain power for briefing this matter. And then, hit them! Now. Pivot! Get the subpoenas working while you schedule Monica. Pressure the WH. Make them fight multiple battles. Now is the time.
Ghostman
TJ @ 67
Impeachment is a bad idea and won’t get rid of anyone in this admin. The fascists own the MSM and the general public is way behind the FDL reader. The Dems are going to have to keep doing what they are doing and grind out the yards one at a time. I have not yet seen the public opinion “tipping point” yet, and until that comes the Dems have to keep doing it the hard way. The Dems also have to make it very clear that “running out the clock” is not a way to stay out of prison.
tbsa @ 75
Far enough to where there will be no time to initiate impeachment hearings before the ‘08 elections.
kinda related o/t
DC Madame – still googling to get a timeline on this story – Indictment March 1st, but plenty of reporting out there that her assets have been frozen for some time now
lingering personal curiosity as to the nature of DOJ pursuit of this woman
Comey type – ’nuff said
or
Regent Grad/Loyal Bushie who saw it as a values gimme in time for 06 election
katymine – have been wondering at what point State Bar Associations were gonna step up and start investigating/disbarring some of the more egregious appointees
I posted the following (paraphrasing here, as I’m unable to find and retrieve) in a thread earlier this week.
I think the Left has let the Right appropriate the flag for its own purposes. The Stars and Stripes belongs to all Americans, and not just to Repugs and John Birchers. The origins of this appropriation by the Right goes back to the 1960s during the Vietnam War, when hippies in the anti-war and anti-draft movements (which overlapped considerably) burned the flag and their draft cards (disclosure: I was a teenage high-school hippie in NYC but never burned the flag). Since then, the Left has conceeded the use of the Stars and Stripes to the Right.
I for one would be glad to see leftists of all stripes carry the Stars and Stripes in future demonstrations all over the country. It’s time to take back the Constitution, the country, and the flag.
christy @ 51
Guess I agree with the other voices on the thread who say that Gonzales’ replacement would be worse. Olson, Orrin Hatch, whomever. With or without confirmation hearings.
There’s no hope even of beginning to repair the damage until these bozos are driven out of the WH and we have a veto-proof majority. What’s worse, every agency and department of government has very probably been subjected to the same depredations and derelictions. There isn’t time to uncover them all. The DOJ, central as it is, to exposing corruption & election fraud, is a solid representation of GWB’s practice of governance.
You are also right, 100% in my book, that the only hope of arousing attention of both citizens and the MSM is for organizations, judges, lawyers, of integrity to take a very public stand. Everybody with any standing has to make noise and organizing such a response is an undertaking worthy of a Howie Klein or a CTbob.
Watching the Republicans perform at the hearings yesterday I kept having the depressing thought that this arrogant little minion and his bosses were going to get away with it. Run out the clock, slip the handcuffs, and who knows? steal ‘08 like they stole ‘00 & 04.
Of all the fights that have come along, including the Plame affair, seems to me this is the most significant.
We’ve got to stop them– and the only way to do that is grab the public attention. But how?
As time goes by- we learn that the first Bush aid to jump ship- who referrred to the White House as “Mayberry Machiavellis” had it nailed.
They have no priniciples- and every policy decision is based on politics first and everything else second. Of course Gonzo should go- but short of impeachment there’s no way to make him go and his leaving won’t change the progress of the political cancer that has invaded the White House- for the you’ve gotta get rid of Cheney and the Clusterfuck- and that ain’t gonna happen. Let’s hope that when this band of criminals leave they take the cancer with em.
to dead last @ 53: The answer is ‘both.
The problem with the Bush Administration personnel is two-fold: By lowering the bar so that anyone–qualified or not–with an elephant lapel pin could work at DoJ, Inspector General offices, White House security, etc.; institutional safeguards guaranteed by competent bureaucrats disappeared. Meanwhile the nefarious characters (some, again, with elephant lapel pins) who are traditionally attracted to the Federal Government–grafters, entrepreneurs, lobbyists, etc.–figured out that nobody was watching wither the doors or checkbooks. They’d steal a little and not get caught, then steal even more and still not get caught. In such an environment, the schemes only get grander….
Wouldn’t Gonzo have joined the bar local to DC, to be WH counsel?
I think Tuesday is Libby’s sentencing-May 15th I read somewhere this morning.
Meanwhile, my morning LA Times states,
Whew! That’s a relief. No need to look any further, folks, some Repubs have backed AGAG up, so it’s all over.
NorskeFlamethrower @ 69
I am awake. What do you want us to do? I have been doing all I am emotionally, financially and physically capable of doing with my limited emotional capacities, resources and NO emotional support, no local compadres. Frankly, I’m worn out. I was the one hollering back in 2003. Nobody listened, nobody cared. I’m tired and broke, financially and emotionally.
woops, left out “professionally broke” since I can’t find a job.
Ghostman @ 81
Yes! smart, aggressive, clear. I’m with you, Ghostman
Mandrake @ 92
Your timing was just a bit off. Freedom’s just another word for nuthin’ left to loose… STAY STONG!
ccmask @ 90
I’m not sure about this, but i think the 15th is the deadline for filing some kind of sentencing papers (IANAL obviously) and the actual sentencing is June 5th.
(((((((Mandrake)))))))
Does anyone know, is it even legal to add language to a bill after floor discussion and deliberations are over? Wouldn’t insertion after-the-fact constitute illegal lawmaking?
Doesn’t the insertion itself represent a nullifying factor, because it represents wording not agreed upon during floor deliberations?
If not, it should be.. There’s a law worth writing, one that makes it a crime to serriptitiously insert language into a bill after arguments have closed…
Talk about simple justice…
Norske at 69 — Yep, you caught me. It’s all about sitting on my ass and sipping lattes for me.
1,512 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND ON..
Citizen Biodun:
“It’s time to take back the Constitution, the country, and the flag”
Too late…all three of those are IDEAS that have always belonged to us, the people. Now is the time to move forward against this evil on the power of those ideas. No more wasting precious time and energy tryin’ ta figure out how ta make our broken system work…the system is US, God damn it…and only we can impose it on those who would enslave us.
Now I’m goin’ ta pick the kid up from her last final before I run outta gas …I can’t afford another tank and she sure as hell won’t walk home!
KEEP THE FAITH AND USE IT…IT’S ALL WE GOT LEFT!!
OT, but at least oversight related… (16 words, niger forgeries)
on wednesday (may 9), Simon Dodge was supposed to appear for a deposition with waxman’s oversight committee (probably with staff?).
does anyone know if this happened? was condi able to prevent it?
[tinny cellphone ringtone: On-ward Christ-ian Sol-diers, March-ing As-to-War…]
Yes, Ms. Miers…
Darling? Here’s the plan…
Yes, Ms. Miers…
I sent you a text…
Yes, Ms. Miers, I got it…
And…
I transferred the names of the 8 Bad People to my files…
And…
and then I deleted your original text…
Very good, Princess! Now, here’s what we’re going to do…
Yes Ms. Miers…
I wish all mothers, including Christy, of course, a wonderful Mother’s Day.
I am only a kitty mom, but for all those pet moms, Happy Mother’s Day also!
Have a lovely weekend and try to forget all this crap for a couple of days. I know it’s hard, but everybody give yourselves a break if you can. We all seem to be very stressed out, for good reason of course. But I think all you caring, thoughtful people should give yourself a “Day Without Bush.”
Maybe, after all this is over, we can have nice “Day Without Bush” holiday. Think of the marketing possibilities!! ;)
Mandrake –
It may not mean so much, but my heart goes out to you!
It can be hard to remember, when the world (especially the world of “commerce”) seems to be telling you otherwise, but you are of immeasurable worth.
I hope there is a way for Lake dwellers to help in some way…can you mention here and on other threads what your line of work is? Folks here seem to have such amazing connections — varied and oftentimes surprising.
Christy, very important post and Sheldon Whitehouse is the MAN.
ccmask — Libby’s sentencing date is June 5th. There is a presentence investigation report due to be filed in the case on May 15th, that will be given to counsel on both sides of the case for their review prior to sentencing — standard procedure in a criminal sentencing matter in federal court, btw. Hope that helps clear things up.
Follow-up to Mandrake –
Because I’m not here anywhere near as often as I would like to be, please forgive me if you’ve already spoken here about your work and I missed it…
selise @ 97
Thank you, much! I think we all need it, we are so discouraged at this moment.
Sorry for the whinefest. But see me @103 for a change of perspective!
Peace!
First, let me say I don’t wish anyone ill, but —
What if the situation in Iraq goes drastically pear-shaped and the insurgents kill Petraeus?
Ghostman @ 81
This idea gets my seal of approval. Good thinking here. . .
Anyone notice that the individual who leaked the British memorandum on the meeting between Blair and Bush where Bush said that he was considering blowing up the Al Jazeera TV offices has been convicted of violating the Official Secrets Act?
http://news.bostonherald.com/i…..id=1000255
Of course, the WH said that
“We are not interested in dignifying something so outlandish and inconceivable with a response,” White House spokesman Scott McClellan told the Associated Press in an e-mail.
“Bombing in Qatar was never contemplated,” another former WH said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/…..01784.html
Well…apparently, it WAS! That is, unless the Brits convict people for “releasing” non-existent documents!
Steve @ 82
the tipping point will involve a lot of Republicans (enough to ensure a 2/3s vote in the Senate). got to appeal to them. Leahy is building a truly bipartisan case against Gonzales.
Mrs. K8 @ 104
Thank you, my dear. Please see me @103 because I regret the whinefest. I will be alright, I was just a little bit discouraged for a moment. But I’m going to see my mom for Mother’s Day and with a mom like I have, I have much to be thankful for and my heart is full thinking of seeing her.
I will be shutting down soon, so please have a wonderful weekend!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 106
Oh, yeah right. I guess I was too anxious :)
Mandrake @ 83
also a good point. timing. this has got to get going before primary season next year, or it will all be over. and I hate to break it to you, folks, but we wont be going back after Jan 09 to hunt these folks down. AFAIK, that has NEVER happened in our history before.
Russert is predicting that there will be an Iraq funding bill that will take us through september and that there will be some “benchmarks” included.
He thinks it will all come down to Paetreus and what he says in September. Goopers don’t want to go into another election cycle with this fucked up war on the agenda- so there will be a very critical congressional audience for the big showdown in September.
The generals have made it clear that their goal is to speed up the Iraq clock and slow down the Washington clock- which means that they want to “buy time” with congress and with the american people.. that means they’ll lie in September- well- ya know- stretch the truth.
If there are 10 measures of success- they’ll find the two or three that have improved and ignore everything else.
Should be interesting.
Russert is probably right about how this thing shakes out.
Jay @ 22
Only if it gets renamed to “The Department of Injustice”
MSM (NBC): *** Survivor? Alberto Gonzales got the kid-gloves treatment from House Republicans yesterday. It looks more and more like he will indeed weather the storm. Will anything change that?
That’s the perception out there. Guess Conyers gets a D- for yesterday.
Mrs. K8 @ 107
Well, I was a legal assistant. Again, I regret whining, because I DO have a job, it’s just not permanent and I have no benefits and I have real insurance issues b/c I had a small carcinoma removed and am receiving radiation treatments. But I’m really lucky, b/c of my prognosis and I do have an income so I’m ashamed of my bitching. So many people have it so much worse than I do.
Again, thank you for your kind concern! You’re sweet.
We’ve passed the moment where impeachment is not just ON the table.
It isn’t cancer on this White House. It is gangrene. It must be cut off. It is spreading.
It is spreading, and it’s killed the Republican Party already. If the Democrats and the remaining Republicans don’t cut off the gangrene, it will come for them. It is coming for them.
Gonzo stays as long as the Clusterfuck wants him. He’s a fuckin criminal and incompetent to boot- so he fits right in.
Clusterfuck has succeeded in kicking the Iraq can down the road for another year. There will be a gunfight at the OK Corral in September- and even if congress agrees to pull the plug- we’ll be there through most of 08.
Someone on teevee pointed out that for a lame duck with 28% approval he’s doin a pretty good job of gettin his way. I’d have to agree.
Mandrake –
If I can catch you before you go, I want to just say this:
Please don’t “regret” talking to us here about the tough stuff that gets you down. I don’t consider that a “whinefest” and hope that you won’t. People need an outlet to deal with their pain, a social one.
I’m very isolated, essentially a shut-in. At times the emotional pain can be almost overwhelming, and the Lake is a place where people are wonderfully supportive and for which I’ll always be grateful.
You know what types of people are “whiners” — we see a host of them in the morally bankrupt GOP. They are spoiled brats who seek to avoid all responsibility for problems of their own making. You can never, ever be considered a member of their ranks, my dear.
Enjoy your weekend with you mother! Will keep you in my thoughts, along with many other Firepups and others who deserve to have their heart’s pain eased.
If Clusterfuck can postpone “the decision” about Iraq until 08- then he can argue that the next president should make the decision.
Mandrake @ 108
I’m not discouraged. This tries our patience, but it is all moving inexorably in the right direction, and it’s accelerating. This regime will go down or be so thoroughly discredited as to be the same thing; and the Republicans will wear it for decades. Just keep the pressure on; every week has seen progress.
Oops, our comments crossed, Mandrake!
With so many legal eagles here, surely someone should be able to help out in getting you something more permanent.
If you haven’t tried that approach (asking for networking help here), wouldn’t it be worth a try?
Will now butt out….
Have a relaxing weekend!!!!
.
Criminals. And nothing will get better till they’re ALL gone.
Christy, thanks for this post.
Some days ago – I think it was the day Comey was kinda questioned before Congress – I posted a passionate comment asking the DOJ employees with knowledge of illegal acts (and false criminal prosecutions) to step forward.
My voice is very small.
I’m so glad to see you and your very influential voice calling for the DOJ career employees and attorneys (past/present) to step forward for the Constitution and the Republic.
And I hope they hear you.
ok. so I organized Marcy’s and Mary4’s questions from yesterday. If Gonzo comes back or goes to Leahy’s hearing next week, they will have them (I will send to both and to Waxman). I think we need a full set of questions for Goodling. Leahy and Co (WHITEHOUSE!!) probably dont need our help, but Conyers seems to. Waxman surely does not need us, either, but I’m going to send them anyway.
Does anyone know the trial date of Tom Delay?
I thought it would be earlier this year and just cannot find anything on a specific date.
I follow this blog for years when it was Juanita’s Beauty Shop and now found at this url
http://www.kissmybigbluebutt.com/
Go read the the schedule…..
Campaigns & Elections seminar
Here are a few choice seminars….
1. Diggin’ For Dirt!
2. Disaster Control; How to Manage Mistakes and Win (macaca anyone)
3. Selling an Elephant to a Donkey (ya right)
4. Stroking Your Enemies (quote – Reporters are human too)
All I can say…. OMG..
Brisingamen @ 57
Maybe a House member (Lundgren? NOOOOOOOOO!!!)…or a lame-duck Senator…when is Roberts up for election? Sounds like he might have a tough race against Sibelius.
JEP @ 98
That bothered the hell out of me, too. Slipped in by an aide, w/o any Senator knowing it’s in there! I figure I must have the story wrong — otherwise, it’s like there’s a fucking elephant in the room that only we can see.
So, now I’m going to take a nap, and when I wake up it’ll be gone… again.
Biodun @ 85
Yes!
Dumbest thing EarthFirst! ever did was burning the US flag.
What a stupid way to build a social change movement.
I’m so happy to see progressives carrying the flag.
Caring for our neighbors is patriotic.
in addition to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing next Tuesday, there is also a Business Meeting to consider more subpoenas on Thursday morning.
I am trying to stand up… but every time I try to contact my local rep, Adam Putnam, I get a condescending boilerplate response…
Addendum to me @ 85:
The Left has also conceeded the definition of patriotism to the Right.
Steve @ 82
I think that they should seriously consider “post-tenure” impeachment, even if they cannot remove these guys from office during their term. This removes from them the right to their “emoulements” of office. Thus they could have their gov’t pensions, offices, security, and any other government benefit removed – even their right to use their official title (without perhaps having the preface “impeached” standing before it).
Pete Bogs @ 135
How about phoning Mr. Putnam’s office and putting your two cents in where they HAVE to listen to you?
I take perverse pleasure out of making a general nuisance of myself to my obnoxious Gooper Congresscritter. And he has more than one office location for me to call and spout off (politely but very firmly and emphatically).
He’s supposed to work for ME, dammit, so his staff is going to HAVE TO hear my point of view, whether it tickles their fancy or NOT.
Ghostman @ 81,
I like that idea.
Christy, It is really heartening to read such a great post; especially after the empty testimony we endured yesterday. Thank goodness people like you and Whitehouse are helping to lead the fight back to justice and sanity.
OT: This morning on Democracy Now, they played snippets of testimony in front of Congress by Jeremy Scahill regarding mercenaries that occurred yesterday. It was pretty heated. I can’t find a link to the full testimony, but it sure sounded interesting. Does anyone know how to find a link?
Pete –
Oops I just re-read your comment which I responded too. And I think I haven’t had enough caffeine yet this morning — you didn’t indicate whether you had telephoned and I was just assuming that you emailed and then got the boilerplate response.
Let me amend my remarks — if you’ve just emailed, why not give a phone call? Sometimes it feels great to put more pressure on them.
And If you DID INDEED phone, why not phone again to complain about the boilerplate response? That’s what I do.
I figure that if they’re taking time listening to me remind them of their democratic responsibilities under our Constitution, that’s so many minutes they’re not getting up to worse mischief with others who are okey-doke with corruption and other evils.
Pete Bogs @ 135
Keep it up. Keep thinking that, to him it’s like Chinese water torture. drip drip drip
Also, demand that he quits wasting taxpayer dollars with his asinine letters. Let him know that you’re his boss. Some guys are pretty dense about that.
What a great article! So…where’s the articles of impeachment?
TheraP @ 34
The other side ‘knows’ it doesn’t have to play by the rules, just as Bush ‘knows’ he doesn’t have to abide by the laws he signs. Much as I have resisted it, the conviction that these people have no intention of leaving office is slowing growing in my mind.
Into this (hopefully tinfoil-hatted) framework, there is something every day in the news that fits: the Pentagon’s announcement today that nobody below the rank of colonel will be allowed to testify to oversight commissions–and then not without an administration official being present. The prohibition last (?) week that soldiers in Iraq could not post on the internet without approval. And with the onset of fire season, there are ominous rumblings that National Guard equipment is seriously depleted given that most of it has been sent to Iraq.
For someone who as a kid during the early 60s had to ride a school bus every morning past the construction site of a bomb shelter, this is the old nightmare returned.
rwcole @ 116
Russert is spouting the Current Wisdom. He may be right but what I think is important to note is the degree to which the media is spinning the White House line on this. Nancy Pelosi may have other plans but for now the media are content to do their standard stenography accepting whatever a President with a 28% approval rating and a record of 4 years of failure in Iraq has to say on the subject.
As for Petraeus, he is nothing more than a political prop, a wand Republicans wave to delay any assumption of responsibility for their stupid and catastrophic decisions in Iraq. He is not the GREAT GENERAL the miles gloriosus that he is portrayed to be. He has bought into a failed strategy: the “surge”. How brilliant is that? He doesn’t have the troops. He still thinks he is addressing sectarian violence and not a civil war. The political side of equation (both American and Iraqi) he doesn’t understand and its beyond his control anyway. He’s just the latest in a long line of can do
sapsgenerals left holding the bag in Iraq.TiredFed @ 112
“the tipping point will involve a lot of Republicans (enough to ensure a 2/3s vote in the Senate). got to appeal to them. Leahy is building a truly bipartisan case against Gonzales.”
The more that I think about it, I don’t think there will be a public tipping point. Unlike the Vietnam war or Watergate era, the current group of criminals has subverted the Fourth Estate. The only tipping point for the “public” would be an economic crash. The Dems are just going to have to take a long view and keep doing what they are doing. Restore the rule of law in eighteen months and start the prosecutions and I will be happy.
Great post Christy, and some wonderful comments following it as well. “Dodge and pony show” is destined to become a classic.
To my ears, the worst moment in this so far is Gonzo’s comment that he believes he has “weathered the storm”. The complete moral bankruptcy of this attitude is revealed completely by this comment. His comment suggests that by refusing to resign for his arrogant and repugnant behavior he believes that he has done something noble. Can there be any doubt that Bush and others in the WH counseled him to stay the course and ride it out? This has been a bedrock belief of this administration, just keep repeating the same bullshit over and over, and eventually the people will believe it or get tired of it and let you have your way. This is a very poor subsitute for leadership, and it cuts the administration off from any hope of acting wisely.
I agree that Gonzo must go. As seductive as it is to anticipate hours more of watching him look like a fool, we cannot afford that luxury. Restoring accountability and some measure of justice cannot wait without serious risk to what is left of this government’s credibility. It is a risk that is ill advised.
LS @ 141
Do you know what committee it was? Or what committees it could have been? Senate or House?
I know that there is some fellow who has a website listing all the hearings happening each week and who’s scheduled to testify. Links to that site have been given here, but I’m sorry that I don’t remember. Can anybody help out my lame memory?
If someone else doesn’t jump in here, you could post the same question at the beginning of a fresh thread — certainly someone else can help better than I can right now.
LS at 149 — It was one of the subcommittees for Waxman’s government oversight. And Robert Greenwald was part of that testimony as well. We’ll hopefully have more coming up on that as we can get clips and such.
Hugh –
I suppose you already know that General Petraeus’ nickname among the troops is General Betray-us.
Sad, so sad.
Steve @ 82
Disagree. We didn’t wait for a public opinion tipping point in Watergate. Tipping points are not something you wait for. They are something you create. Somebody high up in the food chain needs to strt mentioning impeachment. Make the Rs have to explain that he should resign, but he shouldn’t be made to resign through impeachment.
Gonzo needs to be impeached. It is that simple. There is more than abundant evidence that the firings at the DoJ were politically motivated with the intent to use DoJ as a basis to attack fair elections through the use of voter fraud prosecutions in battleground states and the selective prosecution of fraud cases against local Democratic office holders to further enhance Republican political fortunes. Additionally, the use of a political litmus test for appointment of career positions throughout DoJ (and in particular the Civil Rights Division) buttressed the conclusion that the Republicans intended to leave a fifth column behind should they lose the White House.
The indictment should be as follows:
1. Gonzo has violated the Hatch Act by using the DoJ as a political action wing of the RNC as evidenced by:
a. Using a political litmus test in the hiring of career DoJ attorneys and interns.
b. Entering a conspiracy to replace non-partisan career attorneys within the Civil Rights Division with partisan attorneys screened for political affiliation as well as re-assigning nonpartisan career attorneys from the division ane creating a hostile work environment to force nonpolitically aligned attorneys from their positions.
2. Conspiracy to obstruct justice and interfere with federal elections through the selective firing of US Attorneys that failed to prosecute weak election fraud cases. The conspiracy actively sought to replace attorneys in key battleground states with compliant partisan agents. Additionally, the conspiracy attempted to influence remaining US Attorneys to cooperate with politically motivated prosecutions.
3. Obstruction of Congress: Failure to provide documents and e-mails inaccordance with the request of Congressional committees with the intent to obstruct its investigation into the justification of the firing of US Attorneys.
The trial of such charges could prove entertaining. For example, Who actually place Inglesias on the list? Don’t know because the process was so screwed up and no records were kept, then we will presume an improper motive. Why was he fired? Don’t know and no record – presume the improper motive.
Hey there, cleter!
I like HOW YOU THINK! Big thumbs up!
Elizabeth De La Vega is so right – getting rid of Gonzales will NOT solve the problem.
At this point I hope he hangs on to the railings as long as possible, to maintain focus on the DOJ.
Getting shed of Gonzales would tempt too many to think “problem solved”.
LS @ 141
Maybe it relates to this?
http://www.realcities.com/mld/…..146009.htm
jmohr
There’s no trouble writing impeachment papers- it’s gettin a two thirds vote in the senate that ain’t lookin good. Won’t happen in my opinion.
The fact is that the congressional goopers are not ready to totally abandon Clusterfuck and until they do- congress is fairly powerless- no veto overides- no impeachments. Status quo.
I don’t really buy this.
Gonzo is the firewall protecting the White House. Any effort to take him down would necessarily reveal WHY he is so beloved by Bush — Because he’s Bush’s fixer, always has been.
Taking Gonzo out makes Rove’s soft underbelly (ugh!) more exposed to attack, IMO.
Steve @ 147
how does $4 a gallon gas sound?
cleter @ 152
I agree. This boil needs to be lanced.
TiredFed @ 159
And declining values for real property – for the first time since the 1930’s.
Fresh thread, if you want one.
Pete Bogs @ 135
Yes, I’ve gotten that before with a former Ohio senator.
Ditto with former rep Bob Ney, now in prison.
Just know that you’ll be here after they leave. You pay their salaries. I think the power of DC goes to their heads and they need to be reminded in whose hands the power really lies.
Pete Bogs @ 135
Call your Rep’s office and make an appointment to speak with him. Any and all constituents are entitled to speak with their reps face-to-face. If there are other Firepups in your district, ask them to come with you. Be polite but firm.
sorry to be obtuse. obviously there’s more to it than the price of gas. as I said, it will take 16-17 Republicans in the Senate. Did you see how many voted to remove the offending language in the Patriot Act? Virtually all of them! that’s the kind of reaction Gonzales is getting. keep it up folks.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 162
awww. but we are havin’s such fun with this one ;) just kiddin.
Scottir @ 155
People could have said that about Rumsfeld–and indeed, Gates seems to have placated some. But Rumsfeld had to go, and Gonzales has to go.
Not a good sign when the Diane Rehm show lets 10 men and 1 woman through with questions during 2 hours of News round up.
Do you think women are not calling or e-mailing. I don’t think so.
Not one question on the Rehm program challenging the repeated and unsubstantiated claims about Iran’s “Alleged” nuclear weapons program. Polls report that 70% of Americans now believe that Iran posesses Nuclear weapons. This belief did not come to be via osmosis
I will continue to depend on Chris Matthews to keep challenging these unsubstantiated claims about Iran. I know folks have their complaints about Matthews, but he is one of the only mainstreamers challenging these claims. Once in a while Olbermann kind of challenges these claims.
The most recent platform for these claims to be repeated was on Neil Conan’s Talk of the Nation’s program with John Bolton a few weeks ago.
http://www.npr.org/templates/r…..=storyview
I still wish FDL would set up a media watch to document where folks hear these unsubstantiated claims about Iran to be repeated and go unchallenged. I have a list from over the last three years.
Cuewhiffle @ 167
But has Rumsfeld gone?
Christy Hardin Smith @ 150
Great!! Thanks. I had forgotten that Robert Greenwald was going to testify. That should be really interesting. From the clip I saw, they (Kingston – R) really laid into Scahill until he told them that when Bremer left Iraq he put through some kind of exemption for prosecution or accountability for the mercenaries. When they heard that, they were suddenly interested, so he might have made a dent in something.
TiredFed @ 165
Their $4 a gallon talking point is so you can be happy when it stays at $3 a gallon. Until mass demonstrations take place every week for a month, Bush will allow the price of gas to rise and all his criminal acts will continue, so I think they are related.
BTW, great idea to have a pre- trial here, there were lots of great questions at FDL yesterday and Congress needs to get a hold of them.
Someone has to tell Conyers that chairing the proceedings means interrupting all OT remarks and coordinating the Dems’ cross- examining, they looked worse than my high school debate team … and we never won!
Kathleen @ 168
Of course they have nuclear weapons…Saddam smuggled them across the borders to his Iranian Shiite allies during the invasion!
Kathleen at 168 — There are only so many hours in the day for all of us and, honestly, being told what we should or should not cover just grates on my last nerve. As though we aren’t trying to do 800 things at one time every freaking day here as it is, and as if our own personal judgment as to what we want to write about isn’t good enough for our own personal article writing. If you think a media watch is a good idea, why don’t you set up a blog to do just that yourself? That’s exactly how Jane started FDL — she had issues about which she was passionate, and that weren’t being covered the way she thought they should be covered and…voila! I don’t mean this to sound harsh, truly, but I have a four year old and a husband and I work a LOT. Sometimes, someone else needs to pick up their own ball and run with it.
cleter @ 152
YES! The question I have is how can we act as a group large enough to get the high-up person to do something. I call and send emails. I know faxes are better, but I can’t do that from work.
I want Leahy or Waxman to tell us exactly what kind of support they want to make this happen, and I’ll be happy to provide it.
Mrs. K8 @ 151
That doesn’t surprise me. Petraeus has been shamelessly hyped up by the Republicans. The reasons to do this are twofold.
First, he is useful as a firewall. Bush chose the strategy Petraeus is now pursuing but now hides behind him saying that we should just all listen to the “generals”. It’s an interesting dodge. Bush’s strategy becomes Petraeus’s. So when the surge officially fails, it will be Petraeus’s strategy which fails not Bush’s.
Second, Republicans can say, see even our greatest general couldn’t save Iraq. And if he couldn’t do it then no one can or could. We gave it our best shot but the situation was impossible. And if it was impossible, well then it’s not like we really botched it because no matter what we might have done it wasn’t going to work anyway. So it’s really not our fault.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 173
Christy, all of you make this look so easy that we sometimes overlook how much work and dedication it takes to be this great. If we can help in any way, please let us know in what capacity.
Happy Mothers’ Day to you and I hope the Peanut has recovered.
((((Mrs. K8)))
You really are missed.
Hugh @ 175
They will go one step further to say the Dems supported Petraeus’s nomination and therefore share the blame for the failure.
Bush’s motto – The Buck Stops There
Wonderful post Christy!
I just spotlighted it to a bunch-a folk.
Now, if they’d just read, and think, and act…
LS @ 141
Christy Hardin Smith @ 150
i think it was actually the house appropriations defense subcommittee… and not waxman’s oversight.
if i have that right (please, someone correct me if i’m wrong), then i can’t find an archive of it…. i looked, because i also would like to watch/listen to that one. the hearing was webcast live by the committee – but there is no archived version available (i called the committee to ask) and c-span did not cover it (it’s not in the archives, i check there too).
speaker pelosi put up a couple of clips here. besides that, and the democracy now! coverage, i haven’t (yet) been able to find any other audio/video.
i’m kicking myself for not having found out about it until after the hearing (i read about it on pelosi’s blog)…. i would have liked to have recorded an audio of the hearing to share. maybe someone else did it, and we’ll be able to track it down. fingers crossed.
Thank you Senator Whitehouse for your inspiring words and actions. Thank you Christy for sharing them and your inspirational thoughts and actions in regard to the Gonzales scandal and the state of our Justice Dept.
It is also hopeful when Republican appointed prosecutors stand up against an out of control and dangerous administration. They are obviously deeply concerned.
I hope that the same concern and committment to social and political justice here at FDL is applied to the investigation and upcoming Rosen/Weissman/ espionage trial. If Christy’s insprirational words and values about “justice delayed” are not applied to the MSM’s and the blogospheres coverage(so far lacking) of the ivestigation and upcoming Rosen/Weissman trial then these inspirational words and actions are selectively applied to what “some” individuals deem important to the security and integrity (what is left) of this nation.
If the blogosphere and the MSM continue to put the needs of the Israeli lobby before the needs of the nation and the publics “right to know” and to be as informed as possible these words of truth and justice ring hollow. All critical issues should be discussed equally and fairly. So far this investigation and upcoming trial have basically been ignored by the blogosphere and the MSM.
I am inspired by some of the folks here at FDL, but if these ideals and values of justice, truth, and media coverage are not discussed and appled with balance and fairness..FDL will continue to be with the MSM in regard to their inability or fear to cover this upcoming trial by informing the public in a fair and balanced way.
Christy — Thanks for the post. I haven’t had a chance to read the comments yet, so perhaps someone has already addressed this…
But, what will it take to get Congress to impeach Gonzales?!?
I realize the wheels of justice turn slowly. I’m not a lawyer and I imagine various members of Congress may be trying to get all their ducks in row before they actually, you know, do something. All the same, if I read one more Gonzales “should resign” commentary, I think I’m gonna scream.
I love Whitehouse, I think he’s the best guy on the SJC, but dear God, when will the handwringing end and the prosecutions start? Perhaps what he’s doing is laying the groundwork of impeachment, maybe that’s it… I hope…
Christy,staff and all pups: I’m here every day reading but only post sporadically. Nerves are at their ends. I salute you all, especially our reps who must carefully work against the tide to stop this disease that infests our nation. I read your every word and it helps with the anxiety.Am I the only one to have noticed in the film Flight 93, that the hijacker pilot taped a picture of our Capitol to the steering yoke of the plane. You are all my heroes and patriots one and all.
kathleen — please see my comment at 173.
Ghostman — I agree with your idea of brushing Abu aside and turning to the heart of the matter: Rove and Miers. I think another hearing with Abu will be a waste of everyone’s time. He won’t answer. So it’s time to look elsewhere.
That said, surely there must be consequences for systematically blowing off Congress. Impeachment seems obvious to me. But are there other consequences? Can they toss him in jail until agrees to cooperate? Fitz did that to a couple of reporters, surely Congress can do it to the AG.
Petrocelli @ 176
Christy I have thanked you over and over for the work that you do. I have also challenged you (with due respect) and FDL as far as what you cover. (but I do notice you have a very hard time with polite challenging) I am not sure if you are being paid for any of this but you should be, but we know that you are receiving a gread deal of media attention on the work that you are doing.
Sorry that it gets under your skin that I make suggesstions to folks who are obviously far more qualified to set up such a blog and filter it for abuse. I have never “told” the FDL team to do anything. This is what I suggessted ” I still wish FDL would set up a media watch to document where folks hear these unsubstantiated claims about Iran to be repeated and go unchallenged. I have a list from over the last three years.”
The only reason that I have brought this “media watch” of unsubstantiated claims about Iran being repeated here at FDL is that the FDL folks are obviously more capable in this arena and I see our nation marching towards a pre-emptive strike on Iran and the media has been basically going along for over three years.
It would be far more effective for an all ready highly respected blog to set up documenting these media abuses than for me to set it up. I have made this suggestion to other qualified folks and I will continue to do so. I am sorry that my suggestions, wishes get under your skin. But please do not say that I “told” you to do anything, that is complete bullshit!
You are not the only person in the world who is busy or who has children, so please as your “filter folks” have said to me “take a deep breath”. Let’s not make this a contest between who has it harder or who is busier or has more burdens.
I have been carrying and “picking up the ball” social, political issues) in more ways than I care to mention for a very very long time. Yes we all get tired at times!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 184
I did and responded at 186. Happy Mothers Day to all Mothers, and Christy I do appreciate all that the FDL team does and only suggest things that I think would benefit truth, justice and all of us in more effective ways. I do apologize for my suggestions and wishes getting under your skin.
Kathleen @ 186
wow. i wish YOU would set up the media watch you wish for. do you want help? if you are willing organize it, let me know.
this SO reminds me of endless anti-war organizing meetings. nothing bugged me more than the people who would show up at every meeting with a long list things “we” should be doing… and then pointedly NOT signing up to help take on their own proposed action items.
selise @ 188
ditto from direct action eco-protection experience.
To selise. Talk about pile on. I put hundreds no “thousands” of hours into political and social justice organizations and elections. So please do not pile on with this horseshit. Our nation and Israel are marching towards a pre-emptive strike on Iran and the media and blogosphere is in denial and complicit so far!
I have wished and suggested never ever “told” FDL to do anything. Why re-invent the wheel? Will continue to try to encourage a nationally recognized organization to bring attention to the medias complicit behaviour on the issue of unsubstantiated claims about Iran being persistently repeatd.
Kathleen @ 190 -
no where did i write anything about the amount of work you have or have not done. i have no idea about that.
what i did say was that you were not volunteering to even help with your own suggestion – and that irks me.
what about my proposal to YOU – are you willing to organize such an effort? if so, please let me know if you need help.
G’morning, y’all! Its breakfast time in Honolulu, so I’m joining this thread late, but its my favorite post of the morning. Another dynamite post by Christy!
OK, I’ll go back and read through the comments now.
Bob in HI
klyde @ 6
This is what I’ve been thinking. So it won’t do any good to impeach Gonzales as long as Rove is in the White House? If Gonzales is removed, won’t they just install McNulty or whoever the #2 is as “acting” AG, and then run out the clock while going through the motions of finding a successor?
Bob in HI
Sally @ 31
Yes– unlike the Senate Republicans, the House Republicans were in full defense mode, throwing up all kinds of shiny objects and obfuscations.
Bob in HI
Good Morning Bob, nice to see you here… ‘course it’s almost nap time for us East Coasters ;)
Christy — You guys are phenomenal.
If Kathleen is hankering for coverage of something, well that’s why we have the blogosphere… It’s open for anyone who wants to dive in and do it. I look forward to seeing Kathleen’s blog…
I’m glad to say I told ya so, but I told ya so….
E-mails and Monica.
There is no escape….
It’s over!
CHS-great read. Your comments, and call to action, great too.
But, tell me, when the two sides of the aisle are begat from the same funding, financing and profiteering sources what does it MATTER about the other issues?
If not the Rethugs, the Dem’s will be Big Bro’s henchlings.
We will STILL do Iran.
We will REMAIN interventionist.
We WILL continue to eradicate the middle class.
We WILL eliminate jobs and seek opportunity’s in other countries where labor is cheaper, and costs are lower.
So tell me, what SHOULD our priorities be, in this call to action?
Perhaps, in taking to the streets to protest we need a scorecard:
1) Reform our present Admin.
2) Restore Habeus.
3) Rewrite Patriot Act.
4) Restore Posse Commitatus as it was.
5) FCC-Fairness Doctrine
6) Fire all GOP Fundie’s in DOJ, GAO, and all agency’s who were installed during ShrubCo.
But, in light of the EVIL the USA has become, who are we REALLY fighting, and WHAT do we really want to be?
N then, how do we get it, in a Call To Action?
Hard times demand hard questions, and this FDL thang sure is empowering the ASKING of hard questions of ALL kinds. So good on all FDL Folk.
And Kathleen, I’ve found your postings, thoughts, research efforts, links and such to be remarkably along the lines of what I ‘buy into’ . . . so thanks so much for YOUR contributions.
Now, if we can all find a common bottom denominator to work from, I suggest we turn our attentions to CHANGING THIS SHIT WE ARE IN, as CHS has called for in this post, and so many others have called for, since I started READING this blog.
Someone, in previe thread, spoke about being worn down. Mandrake? My heart out to ya, yes, it IS wearing, realizing that the bill of goods sold to The Boomers was a lie, the 60’s idealism are dead, and Big Brother was inching along all the way from Ike’s exit speech and has us by our collective sexual organs in a vise like pinch.
But FDL, is where I recharge my battery’s (among many others), the blogosphere is where I find Kindred Spirits, brothers and sisters of like minded values and beliefs. And YOU people are continual sources for news, information, opinions, speculations, groupthinks, and a well needed WHACK IN THE HEAD at times.
So, right on, to all. Let’s get it done, someone figger out, what and how to do it, call me and let’s make it so #1.
Overt, peaceful and multitudes of bodies in the streets, immediately, I believe, are mandatory and essential at this point if we want to try to save what ever it is we think our Republic is.
It’s the what and how of it all that’s lacking it seems.
Harumph.
selise @ 191
Silise thanks for the offer. But like so many of us here, I have a job, rentals, have to make money to put my youngest daughter through college, am the chair for several political organizations etc. etc While I am a media junkie(pride myself in watching and reading from the left, right (wrong) and center) and watched and objected to the complacency of the MSM in the run up to the invasion( Organized 6 buses to D.C.) I do not feel capable of putting a blog together. And for that matter I feel there are just too many now. Why re-create the wheel?
. I will work trying to talk Bill Moyers or Media Watch into taking on my suggestion to put together some place where folks can add on when they hear the MSM continue to be unwilling to challenge the claims being repeated about Iran’s ‘alleged” nuclear weapons program. I think it is so relevant to present time. Instead of Bill Moyers (who I love doing a special in 2 years about the medias complacency in regard to Iran, I would prefer to witness objections and challenges NOW! Thanks for the offer.
Larue thanks for being so upbeat and supportive of everyone. I felt the same way about being in the streets, folks needed to turn up the heat, sit down, spend the night on the street. DO NOT LEAVE FOR SEVERAL DAYS…SOMETHING to stop this insane administration from doing any more damage.
The “what and how” that is lacking. But so many of us honor our conscience and keep trying to focus on truth justice and decency which is seriuosly missing with this administration.!
Thanks for those upbeat words!
Face it. Alberto Gonzales will no more leave than Karl Rove will leave. Why?
Because the entire focus right now of the “culture of corruption” Republicans is on retaining control over the White House in next year’s elections.
Rove and Gonzales figure that if a Democrat becomes president, then the game will be up. All the corruption being hidden behind Bush’s and Cheney’s White House doors and stone walls will be exposed, or at least easier to uncover with a Democrat in the White House.
Thus, Rove and Gonzales aren’t going anywhere anytime soon (unless both are impeached somehow and thrown into jail) because they plan on doing what they have been doing for the past six years…using the Justice Department (as well as all other executive branch departments) to basically fix elections in favor of Republicans.
The Senate won’t do anything (not with Joe Lieberman and some other DLC/DINO Democrats running interference for the most evil and corrupt administration in American history), which means it is up to House Democrats to aggressively ramp up their investigations, subpoenaes and contempt charges against the “culture of corruption” Republicans in the White House. (I’m certain there’s plenty left to uncover and expose).
I’m halfway through volume 2 of Trotsky’s History of the Russian Revolution.
Leaving for Petersburg 25 June for my second White Nights in a row.
All this nonsense letting the Busheviks control what’s going on here, including manipulating the alleged “oversight” being exercised by the Congress….this isn’t oversight; it’s manure!
When the Rethugs controlled all the chairs in the Congress, if they didn’t want someone to get out his or her point, the mike got cut off. how about some reciprocation??
The entire populace is under some serious cognitive dissonance when it comes to what our representatives are capable of.
And as far as how these creeps view the American people….Iran-Contra was all about subverting the will of the Congress and by extension the American people by getting around the Boland Amendment.
An entire generation dedicated to creating a functionally malfunctioning government until it resembles nothing so much as a Rube Goldberg contraption, but one that doesn’t quite get it right.
The questioning of officials by this Committee frustrates me in the extreme. We really need some prosecutors there, some people who know how to ask penetrating questions and get revealing answers. Why waste time with ineffectual blather and complaining about how they can’t get the truth? Don’t any of these people have teen-aged children? What good does Wexler’s tantrum serve, except to provide an abrasive sound bite for the evening news?
Here’s what somebody should ask Gonzales:
“Mr. AG, if Karl Rove were to approach you with the opinion that a USA should be fired, would that be a matter of concern to you?” And if Gonzo says yes, ask him to explain exactly why that would be a problem. This establishes his understanding and affirmation of what’s appropriate at DOJ—-thus clearing away those “president’s pleasure” arguments—-because he keeps playing footsie with this whole issue of what’s appropriate. (If he answers no to the question, follow up with, “Then it’s ok for a member of the White House to tell you which of the USAs should be fired? For any reason? And there’s no need for you inquire into the cause?–Because as you see it, the president runs DOJ? It belongs to him in effect? And so it’s not enough that the USA appointees are merely Republicans, they also must be personally loyal to Bush and the GOP as a part of their job?” And get him to dig this little hole deeper and deeper. Elaborate on successively outrageous hypotheticals to find out just where he draws the ethical line, if at all. Enjoy yourself by marveling at how broad he perceives the president’s power to be in this area.. If he thinks Bush is the goddamn emperor, make him admit to it.)
Now, if he has answered that White House involvement in firings would be inappropriate, establish how strong are his feelings on this. Would he be surprised? Would he find it unseemly for Rove to do this? Shocking, perhaps? Could it perhaps even constitute a crime, if it involved quashing an ongoing criminal investigation? And what would he say to Rove in response? Would he put him in his place? Would he speak to anyone else about it? And if he answers in any way in the affirmative to any of these, point out that he has previously testified he simply “does not recall” any such contact. Then, in full prosecutorial mode (I’m thinking Schumer), raise an eyebrow at him and say, “Now Mr. AG, isn’t it true that a remark so surprising, so out of line with DOJ ethics as you understand them, is not something you could forget? Wouldn’t that stand out in your memory?—If somebody from the White House tried to tell you who to fire?” And elaborate on these points with successive, damning questions, to clarify just how nonsensical the AG’s claims of amnesia are.
Then the coup de grace: ask him (kindly) if he’s been having problems with his memory during the last couple of years. Point out that it happens to most people as they age and when they’re under stress. Give him a chance for the alzheimers defense. AG will probably come back with something like, “My memory isn’t perfect. I have a lot of responsibilities and I rely on my notes and records when I can.” Then YOU cite other testimony Gonzales has made here, or elsewhere in recent years, where he DID recall dates and events and people just fine. And then conclude with, “Mr. AG, the VP’s former chief of staff Scooter Libby was convicted of perjury on the basis of claiming not to remember on Thursday the sensational information he knew and told others about on Tuesday. The ‘forgetfulness’ defense will only go so far Mr. AG.’”
Bless you Mandrake for caring. I hope you find the job you want and need very soon. I think NorskFlameThrower is right – we have to start by telling the truth – I don’t think he knows what to do and I certainly don’t but we have to start with honesty.
I admire Christy and Jane but Fitzgerald let us down – libby is too small a fry for the authority that was given to him by Comey and for the time and money he spent.
Obama, Hillary and 2008 are distractions from the fact that we need to do something now to stop the mass murder and investigate exactly how many Blackwater mercenaries bush has and saving the utter destruction of our soldiers and naval fleet is not just compassion but a necessity – bush inc does not want us to have a military or national guard when he acts. I don’t know what to do but encouraging people to hide their head in the sand is criminal at this point.
conyers hearing showed exactly where we are and we need to talk about it while we still have the internet and while there is still some time.