[24MurinivaMak]

On Tuesday the US Attorneys that were fired will testify before congress. David Iglesias is a military reservist/US Attorney. He received phone calls from 2 Republican Senators in October before the election asking about if there was a sealed indictment coming for a Democrat under investigation. It is improper for Senators to ask US Attorneys about indictments. He didn't tell them what they wanted to know. Yesterday was his last day on the job after being fired by the Bush admin along with a group of other US Attorneys. He claims he was fired for political reasons.

U.S. Attorney Says Firing Had Political Origins

All Things Considered, March 1, 2007 · David Iglesias, who until this week was the United States attorney in New Mexico, says that his firing is tied to political pressure put on him in October by two members of Congress. So far, Iglesias has refused to name them, but that may change. Today, Congress issued subpoenas to Iglesias and three of his colleagues who were also fired.

They are scheduled to testify before Congress next Tuesday.

Iglesias is one of eight United States attorneys recently dismissed by the Justice Department. Democrats in Congress have called the firings politically motivated. The Justice Department says most of the attorneys were asked to resign because of poor job performance.

Melissa Block talks with Iglesias.

NPR : U.S. Attorney Says Firing Had Political Origins Firings of U.S. Attorneys Draw Senate's Attention
NPR : Firings of U.S. Attorneys Draw Senate's Attention

[JTS_tv]

Surely you're not suggesting that the POTUS and his staff would put the US at risk for political motivations, are you?

[24MurinivaMak]

I'm suggesting that they will fire people who don't go along with their dishonest agenda. Remember all the CIA agents who were fired for not agreeing that Iraq had WMD?

It's the Bush admin's MO to bully, strong arm, abuse and torture people. They all deserve jail time for all the nasty things they've done. IMHO.

[Gasfghj]

This all pales in comparison to the fact that the Clinton administration fired hundreds of U.S. attornies when they came into office (including the one investigating good old Rep. Rostenkowski--thus setting the investation back by enough to ensure Rosty would be in place to help pass through all their wonderful tax increases).

Even if it is true that these guys were fired for NOT revealing that a democratic office holder was under indictment, as opposed to firing them to DELAY the indictment of a democrat in office, isn't the larger problem the delaying of justice and the fact that voters are not fully informed about the wrongdoings of democrats holding positions of power before an election?

[24MurinivaMak]

More appointing cronies by the Bush administration. And the patriot act lets the White House get away with appointing US attorneys without Senate confirmation. Have we mentioned Bush's grab for unitary executive power lately? We are bringing democracy by force to another country and losing ours at the same time.

Prosecutor fired so ex-Rove aide could get his job

By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department acknowledged Tuesday that it fired the U.S. government's chief prosecutor in Little Rock for no reason except to replace him with a lawyer who had been an aide to Karl Rove, the Bush administration's chief political strategist.
However, in an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty rejected criticism that the forced resignations of Bud Cummins and six other U.S. attorneys last year were politically inspired, or amounted to retaliation for the attorneys' involvement in controversial investigations and prosecutions.

McNulty's testimony before the panel, which is investigating the firings of the prosecutors, was part of an exchange with Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Schumer said the White House's appointment process for prosecutors was "corrupted with political, rather than prudent, considerations."

"What happened here doesn't sound like business as usual; it appears more reminiscent of a different sort of Saturday night massacre," Schumer said, referring to Watergate-era firings at Justice that were ordered by President Nixon.

"When I hear you talk about a politicization of the (Justice) Department, it is like a knife in my back," McNulty responded.

Schumer and other committee members have questioned the department's action, suggesting the administration was taking advantage of a section of the USA Patriot Act that allows the appointment of interim U.S. attorneys for indefinite periods. The process, Schumer and other critics in Congress have said, could allow federal prosecutors to be appointed without having to face confirmation by the Senate.

McNulty said the administration has no plan to circumvent the confirmation process and will send the Senate nominations for permanent replacements for the prosecutors. He said the six prosecutors dismissed besides Cummins — including San Diego U.S. Attorney Carol Lam, who oversaw the corruption prosecution of former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. — were let go for performance-related reasons. Prosecutor fired so ex-Rove aide could get his job - USATODAY.com

[JTS_tv]

That's brilliant! Why keep a competent US attorney, when you can have a Rove croney!


Damn, that Bush administration loves America.

[cialesxtr]

More appointing cronies by the Bush administration. And the patriot act lets the White House get away with appointing US attorneys without Senate confirmation. Have we mentioned Bush's grab for unitary executive power lately? We are bringing democracy by force to another country and losing ours at the same time.

From your quote:

McNulty said the administration has no plan to circumvent the confirmation process and will send the Senate nominations for permanent replacements for the prosecutors. He said the six prosecutors dismissed besides Cummins — including San Diego U.S. Attorney Carol Lam, who oversaw the corruption prosecution of former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif. — were let go for performance-related reasons.

Matt

[Brewpralgar]

Yet another reason to lament the passage of the patriot act.

As for the fired attorneys: they only got the job because of their own political connections. So I'll shed no tears.

[cialesxtr]

Point of fact: The Patriot Act allows the appointment of an interim prosecutor. It does not do away with the confirmation of the Congress.

Matt

[dittygari]

Yeah, getting fired to make room for someone else goes on all of the time in all industry. If he was worried about it, he should have proven to be either a) more competent or b) a better suck up.

I doubt he'll have any issue with his "financial recovery".

[Brewpralgar]

Point of fact: The Patriot Act allows the appointment of an interim prosecutor. It does not do away with the confirmation of the Congress.

Matt

"Interim" ceases to have any meaning when the appointment is for an indefinite period of time. Before the patriot act, the court appointed the interim and the appointment was for 120 days.

[meridiasas]

More appointing cronies by the Bush administration. And the patriot act lets the White House get away with appointing US attorneys without Senate confirmation. Have we mentioned Bush's grab for unitary executive power lately? We are bringing democracy by force to another country and losing ours at the same time.

Just think how much additional environmental destruction corporations are getting away with, having more and more "friendlies" in charge of enforcing the law. They're probably working up instructions on how best to evade it.

[24MurinivaMak]

From your quote:





Matt

Matt, the patriot says they can, legally circumvent the Senate confirmation in appointing attorneys. They promise not to use that law. So why is the law there? Do you actually trust them?

[24MurinivaMak]

Point of fact: The Patriot Act allows the appointment of an interim prosecutor. It does not do away with the confirmation of the Congress.

Matt

Interim with no limits on how long the interim is. Kinda takes away the meaning of interim, eh?

[cialesxtr]

I don't particularly trust them. However, people tend to portray the Patriot Act as something it isn't.

This sort of political cronyism is nothing new, Sam. Not by a long shot. It certainly pre-dates the Patriot Act, or for that matter every administration in either of our lifetimes.

Matt

[24MurinivaMak]

Just think how much additional environmental destruction corporations are getting away with, having more and more "friendlies" in charge of enforcing the law. They're probably working up instructions on how best to evade it.

Speaking of which, the Bush admin is taking the bald eagle off the endangered species list this week barely any protection left for them.

[cialesxtr]

Speaking of which, the Bush admin is taking the bald eagle off the endangered species list this week barely any protection left for them.

Er, the Bald Eagle was taken off the Endangered Species list a decade ago, Sam. It is currently listed as a "Threatened Species". As far as legal protections go, nothing changed. It is still a federal felony to kill one.

http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/E...gle/eagle.html

As an aside, we have one of the largest eagle populations in the US here in Florida. I probably see one once a week - and it is still awe-inspiring each and every time. I've even been fortunate enough to get to watch one fishing a couple times - amazing.

I have not heard - and Google didn't list - anything about the bald eagle's status being changed. Should I see such a thing, I'll definitely be letting my lawmakers know what I think about it.

Matt

[24MurinivaMak]

Er, the Bald Eagle was taken off the Endangered Species list a decade ago, Sam. It is currently listed as a "Threatened Species". As far as legal protections go, nothing changed. It is still a federal felony to kill one.

AMNH - Expedition : Endangered

As an aside, we have one of the largest eagle populations in the US here in Florida. I probably see one once a week - and it is still awe-inspiring each and every time. I've even been fortunate enough to get to watch one fishing a couple times - amazing.

I have not heard - and Google didn't list - anything about the bald eagle's status being changed. Should I see such a thing, I'll definitely be letting my lawmakers know what I think about it.

Matt

Recovery of the population led to an upgrade from "endangered" to "threatened" in 1995. I made a thread.

[cialesxtr]

I just saw it. This is not good news.

Time to send some missives to my federal and state representatives and senators.

Grrrrrr.

Matt

[TOD4wDTQ]

I wonder what that overgrown chicken tastes like

Varus