When all those Rove-connected AG Gonzales underlings hit the pavement in that mass exodus of resignations, the working theory was Hatch Act avoidance as the primary rationale. That and mitigating losses were finally staunched with Gonzales’ own resignation. At least for a time.
But I think we need to add another reason to the laundry list: Interview Avoidance.
An intense effort to determine how the firing plan originated and whether perjury or obstruction-of-justice laws were violated in refusing to reveal the basis for the dismissals has been thwarted, partly because investigators lack the power to compel testimony from people outside the department.
The latest IG/OPR report is out. Marcy had a superb preview yesterday.
Will the special prosecutor appointment from Mukasey end-run the interview avoidance ploy — from folks like Kyle Sampson, Monica Goodling, and more? It makes me wonder. Will there be more than just the USAtty firings in the mix? Say, politicization of the civil rights division, perchance? And who might be answering some pointed questions about this in particular:
But the investigation did unearth some e-mail messages that were not disclosed to Congressional investigators during their own review of the controversy last year, the lawyer said, and that e-mail and other evidence are expected to shed new light on the motivations for the firings.
Obstruction or mere oversight? When we had David Iglesias on for book salon, he mentioned an article he did for Slate on the laughable executive privilege claims the Bushies have been making. Somehow, I have a feeling we’ll all be revisiting that issue. For years to come.
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Christy! Now to read!
Digg It Christy!
OT – Kucinich up now on CSpan
Vote still scheduled for 1 pm ET? Or have they extended the time? I had a sneaking suspicion this morning that 3 hours wouldn’t be nearly enough…
Obstruction or mere oversight? The only thing that can be known for sure is that the list of people that Bush will pardon is a long one.
We have learned that not all special prosecutors are created equal. Where and how this goes will depend in large measure on the legal acumen and character of the special prosecutor.
What is known about Nora Dannehy?
First the 2001 Coup de Gras. Now the neocon Coup de etat…drained the US Treasury, started 3 wars, obfuscated the Rule of Law ie US Constitution and K street created a defacto Fascist Oligarchy. And they don’t have to talk about it as they own they own the fourth estate.
Cheer up things could be worse. The American dream is only for the wealthy. They have America in debt up to our necks. Poverty rules.
You know, I think they should just hold the vote according to ordinary rules. No special arm-twisting rules, no repeat of the Medicare Part D debacle.
BC
they are already over 3 hours. debate started before 9:30am et.
TPM has some questions as to wether this hiring complies w/ DOJ regulations
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/220614.php
OT:
Remember when W lied and said Clinton and Gore aides were stealing all the ‘W’ keys off keyboards in the White House…
At the time the 49%ers were up in arms….
Now what they hell do we have a multi-trillion dollar rip-off and its like they maced us before going in for the final kill.
Don’t know why they bothered with the mace since they been killing and robbing from us since before 9/11.
special rule was reported out of committee very late last night. i posted on it in the diaries, so won’t repeat it here.
nice picture. or photograph. whatever. you know.
“investigators lack the power to compel testimony from people outside the department.” Christy – does ANYONE have the power to compel testimony from people outside the department?
OT:
From Moore’s letter:
The number one cause of people declaring bankruptcy is because of medical bills. Let me state this simply: If we had had universal health coverage, this mortgage “crisis” may never have happened.
Good point, gawd how many times are we getting beaten & robbed on the same issue. This is a gang beating…we gonna keep going home and peeking out the window, or might it be time to band together.
sorry – away for a few.
Looks like it’s about to go….
I think…. *g*
Spencer Bachus now saying he supports….
Limbaugh tells them daily that Republics do no wrong and that everything is the Democrat’s fault.
Yes — the newly appointed prosecutor should. The problem with running the investigation through the OPR/OIG is that they only had jurisdiction over the folks within the DOJ itself. And no further. Which we talked about at the time this was opened up as an internal, departmental investigation. By broadening it now to a prosecutorial appointment, there should be subpoena and other powers involved in terms of interrogatories and depositions that make it easier to compel answers in some form or another. Although, to be honest, without having seen the documentation in terms of how the power is vested and on what grounds, it’s tough to even say that for certain.
Remember all the parsing we did of the Comey letter transferring investigative power to Fitz? Same questions, albeit under different underlying investigative circumstances, would apply here…
OT
Dow Transports -136.71 -2.88% 4,614.15 Transport of goods have dropped about 8% That is the signal we are already in recession.
Bushco is covering the recession with the financial crunch. Consumers are tapped out.
Probably going to be a bad Christmas in every respect.
I feel sorry for the people with small children.
Those Bush tax cuts really have worked well! Make McCain actually defend them.
We picked through some of The Peanut’s old toys over the weekend and tucked away a few gently used ones from her early years over the weekend. Will do the same throughout the week this week, with the hope being to take them to the local shelter and also to Goodwill. Am hoping to do a clothing sort as well this week as I get time and do the same with it.
It’s going to be sorely needed this year, I’m afraid, and I’m happy to take some of our more gently used things for someone else to get some use and joy out of them.
Right…tough on 50 million Americans in poverty what a shame. Those that made the big buck should get a big tax bill to cover the war bills and the bailout.
Whoever is talking now is on happy gas. The deal is so good that I’m surprised they waited for a financial meltdown to do it.
roy blunt?
o/t
FDIC – Wachovia
reports state FDIC may be in for some exposure IF Citibank burns through it’s $12B in put up money
there was talk during the WaMu takeover that it was a good thing there was no FDIC involvement of the transaction as it had been drawn heavily down by the IndyMac failure
do I have my facts straight ? if so, this is troubling
Pardon the o/t – Glenn’s take on the bailout
Missed it. My C-SPAN internet connection just stopped…:(
barney frank: we have to give wall street billions or else the poor will get nothing.
Markey has drunk the koolaid. Praises Frank. Protect Main Street.
They didn’t give a shit about Main Street though while this was building. And they aren’t spending one red cent to bail out Main Street now. But we are supposed to believe it is necessary because Congress and Bush failed to act anytime in the last 5 years and because they never considered any alternatives.
I thought the FDIC took over WaMu early on when the asset to debt ratio first triggered to minimize exposure? Am I misremembering on that? If so, there was definitely FDIC involvement — just minimized loss exposure — according tot heir publicly released narrative as I recall…
They need to specially mess up these cases
It is most prudent to assume, until proven otherwise, that Mukasey appointed a special prosector for these cases in order to get crucial evidence tainted, to get the wrong people immunity, and to generally screw up these cases beyond all hope of unscrewing by the next administration.
I have been going through all my stuff for the last couple of months and now have about 15 large bags of things to go to my fav charity. I also contribute to Second Harvest and the need is going to be horrific there this year. If everyone would just do one thing it would help so much.
is it my imagination, or is Boner close to tears again?
ooh, Boehner is going to cry again!
and from what i hear today, they still don’t. pretense and kabuki. that is all.
They don’t know what main street is.
Maybe they started keeping a close eye on them then, but didn’t actually put them into receivership until now?
it was *not* my imagination, huh?
The top sign that you know you’ve caved is when John Boehner praises you and calls your bill “bipartisan”.
oh great. frank calls on hoyer to close out the debate.
……….close out the performance.
Fixed it for you
Good thinking, Christy! I’m watching for sales of canned goods and sneaking a couple dollars worth into each grocery trip to give to all the holiday food drives.
I was thinking exactly the same thing!
I’m am now officially on alert for monkeys flying out of my hindquarters, since yesterday I agreed with Newt re building more refineries and now with Boehner on the necessity of passing the bailout bill.
I couldn’t bear to watch the debate, but I’m finally tuning in to watch the vote. Dow is down 2.6% and NASDAQ down 4.7%. Why do I get the feeling that the market is manipulated a bit this morning to force the House to vote yes?
Dow down sharply 280 some points ahead of vote and news of Citi/Wachovia buyout. Is there anyone — besides my party — happy with this bailout?
Why do I get the feeling that the market is manipulated a bit this morning to force the House to vote yes?
why would you doubt it?
just got off the phone with representative’s office. supposedly “good” democrat and working class supporter jim mcgovern is planning on voting for this bill. and the explanations i got made no sense.
fuck.
I’m having problems posting a question at Glenn’s. Liked your comments. I wanted to ask Glenn about StrangeBedfellows organizing on this bailout.
Hoyer up and rationalizing this piece of crap.
CNN.com actually ran as their main photo for at least a half hour this morning a photo from the Wall Street protest on Friday with a large banner reading “Jail Bush”. Never thought I’d see that one…
Steny – “the alternative is – *nothing*.”
umm, nope, Steny ole boy, the alternative is staying at work a while longer, and getting a *good* bill.
feh.
because there is no transparency or accountability – at least not to us (apparently it’s different if you are a wall street financier).
This is not a Democratic House or a Republican House. It is the People’s house.
oh.my.god.Iwillbarf.now.
Thanks. I have no problem there but I was trying to put up one more diary at Oxdown and it wouldn’t post even though that would be my third and we are limited to three per 24 hours. Maybe Stevens is plugging the toobz one last time before he goes to jail…
Hoyer propagates the lie that it was either this bill or nothing. There were better cheaper plans out there like the Scandinavian model.
“Today this is the people’s House” BS this has zilch to do with the people but a lot to do with The People, i.e. the rich.
Boehner has the eyes of a dog who is a stealth biter. They are cold and expressionless and chilling. I wouldn’t have a dog with eyes like that.
Trying to slip through a voice vote, ha.
‘ere we go – 15 minute vote.
debate is over. voting by voice. recorded vote is requested by gentleman from georgia. 15 min vote.
They are getting down to the “the last refuge of scoundrels” now.
15 minute electronic vote starting now. Voice vote rejected for recorded vote.
The People’s House. What a load of bullshit.
They won’t like having their actual vote recorded for all to see.
Vote on C-Span
bt has a new thread for us:
House Debates Bailout — Vote Imminent
This whole farce is a load of bullshit.
I’ve watched a lot of votes this year, and it seems that they usually call it one way or the other and understandably are asked for a recorded vote.
Blue Texan up with “House Debates Bailout — Vote Imminent”
Brother, it has and always will be, all bullshit. Don’t mean nuthin.
Yes, and as usual we are left holding the steaming damn bag.
Right now 110 yea 80 nay
111-87
My dad scared the socks off me this morning. He emailed and said that he was cashing in a couple of maturing CDs – actually getting $20,000 of $100 bills and putting them in his safe deposit box. Jeeezus, my dad never does things like that. He is concerned that FDIC is now severely underfunded.
113-93
I just read Froomkin on this. The way Bush and Co ignore the law is so brazen and disgusting. I know the chances are slim that any of the investigations get pursued into the Obama Administration, but we have to hope something gives. After all, it will be him and a Democratic Congress. They’ve got to put some of these turkeys on trial.
119-104
122-111
123-116
129-123
Take heart from the fact that your father is a smart man!
134-130
136-136
they got a liveblog up for this here countin
137-139 5 mins remaining
Bro — with all due respect to your tour in the sunny climes of Southeast Asia, it has and it will “mean sumthin.” More appropriate would be FIDO, don’t you think?
all the same
Yeah. Made your point. It’s all just so f”ng discouraging.
They have mortgaged our children’s future for the rich. What a disgusting thing to do.
It is long past time to get rid of this bunch.