Constitutional showdown looms in Washington D.C.
I know we usually talk about just local politics but there has been some interesting happenings in D.C that are probably worthy of our attention.At issue is wether the U.S. Attorney General fired 8 US Attorneys and then lied to Congress about it. Once again as is so often the case it isn't the "crime" but always the cover-up that trips these guys up. Here is some quick back-story:
8 US Attorneys were fired in the end of 2006 which in and of itself isn't an issue because they all serve "at the pleasure of the President" and can be fired at any time for any reason. So what's the problem? Well, it turns out that these particular US Attorneys were investigating Republican politicians and in at least 1 case secured a conviction of Congressman Duke Cunningham of
pay to play" were there? But I digress.
Keep in mind that if all of that were true, it would be embarrassing but legal to fire them. So allegedly to avoid that embarrassment Attorney General Alberto Gonzolez told Congress that the White House and Carl Rove had "nothing to do with the decision to fire" the US Attorneys... almost simultaneously the White House released emails which indicated exactly the opposite. OOPS. It goes further and includes killing investigations of himself by the Office of Professional Responsibility... very Nixonian.
Anyway, today Bush, in his ultimate wisdom, has dared Congress to subpoena Karl Rove and company saying they will never testify. Congress is expected to follow with subpoenas and Contempt of Congress citations leading to a constitutional showdown.
Kind of sucks having to actually be held accountable for your actions huh?
UPDATE: A House panel this morning approved subpoenas for the President's political adviser, Karl Rove and other White House aides.
Posted by Councilman John @ 3/21/2007 12:03:00 AM
16 Comments:
Gonzalez should have just said,"We have the right to fire these attorneys for any reason," instead of what he said.
As you said, it would be legal.
Just remember, Clinton fired all 93 U.S. Attorneys upon entering office, including one who was closing in on an indictment of Dan Rostenkowski, democratic chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Funny how no one made a stink about that.
Keep it up "DUMMYCRATS" and return to "MINORITY STATUS" again in two years. This "WANTABEE SCANDAL" is just that. I do remember a certain president who fired all the U.S. Attorneys when he took office.
These guys in Washington all deserve each other. What a bunch of dopes.
8:14 they did at the time... but the AG didn't lie to congress about it.
As CJ said, it is ALWAYS the cover-up.
Where is the "LIE" ? The true lie is the DUMMYCRATS and their willing allies in the Main Stream Media, who are out to put Bush on trial for winning election in 2000. The truth is the anger that has engulf you since the Supreme Court upheld the Florida vote. get over it and govern, wait, you are not ready for that.
Gonzalez should be fired just because he is an open borders internationalist Republican like his boss.
LA residents weigh in:
(From DKos, guaranteed to be the lefty blog anthem this week)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-FcX0tVf7E "Make it rain subpoenas, rain rain subpoenas!" Fan-frickin-tastic.
Two border patrol agents in jail and Johnny Sutton runs around a free man. I can't defend this administration any longer.
Mayor Sam,
as one who's thoughts on "ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION" were crafted by listening to the great George Putlum. I could agree with you on your point. But to give a scalp to the "AMNESTY LOVING" Dummycrats who will usurp our own laws to gain new voters. is the wrong message to send.
8:14 you ignorant slut.
The President doesn't "have the right to fire these attorney's for any reason."
"Obstruction of justice" is one reason that just won't fly.
Bush will choke on this one.
As for dumbass "red spot": Almost ALL presidents fire the old administration's US attorneys when they first take office.
But not upon reelection -- and certainly not to obstruct justice. ;)
Dumbass.
"BIG MOMENT" on talk radio tommorow at 10:00AM, KFI. Our "KENNEDY REPUBLICAN" has ask Rush Limbaugh to come on his show. Rush called him a sellout to the republicans who elected him. "HE HAS DONE THE TYPICAL SELLOUT MOVE". one also has to see the "SPOOF" of Arnold's Total Recall Movie, "TOTAL SELLOUT".
9:14
"WEBB HUBBULL"
Remember Ted Stein try to give him some hush money, err, consulting money.
Dipshit "DUMMYCRAT"
ignorant slut? wtf?
Maybe his wife is the one with the brains.
Anything to keep or prolong these clowns from discussing amnesty for at least a little while longer is ok with me.
While it is correct that the U.S. Attorneys can be fired for no reason, having an improper reason is what is creating the problem.
Clinton fired all the U.S.Attorneys as a matter of installing his own appointments, without regard to merit or any reason particular to any individuals. If you were in the old group, you were gone.
The present case is not a "no-reason" replacement of the entire staffing. Instead, there are some that were fired but not all. The reasons are suspect, especially if you consider that it was not due to bad performance doing their job as an attorney. It was reported for some that performance reviews were good.
It comes down to: "You can discharge for no reason, but you cannot discharge for a bad reason."
It is somewhat analogous to giving a renter a 30-day notice-to-quit in landlord-tenant law. No reason need be given for issuing the notice (outside of rent-controlled jurisdictions, that is). However, should there be a reason that is illegal, such as race, religions, etc., then it is subject to attack on that basis.
That's pretty much the case here. There was an entire staff replaced as Clinton took office, but the firings done under Bush were clearly done selectively. The fact that only a relatively few of the entire class were affected is not a good thing, as some think. Just the opposite is true. It calls for looking for the motives for the actions, and there are some very political ones present
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