Comey emphatically defends Steve Biskupic twice during what I saw of the hearings. At the end of his testimony, he remarks that the scandal casts a shadow over Biskupic's convictions (two of which were just recently reversed)

Let's take Comey at his word regarding Biskupic being a fantastic USA for a minute and I'll speak highly of Biskupic only for the purposes of this post.

As discussed on TPM earlier, Biskupic was on the list of attorneys to be dismissed in it's earlier iterations. From what we've seen, this could be because he was a good attorney and the WH apparently doesn't care for that much. So Biskupic's head is on the chopping block.

But then, when the Goodling/Sampson/Rove team review his work they see the election fraud cases that are in play or recently convicted. Well "this guy's a keeper" and they remove his name from the list.

Biskupic may not have been an attack dog for Rove, but he fit the profile Rove wanted by pursuing election fraud cases. Thus he survived the purge.

Now, whether he's worthy of the title or not, he's going to be labeled a GOP shill for the rest of his life. And defense attorneys have a little more fuel for a not-guilty or appeal.

well then ... personally I think Biskupic was acting on an extremely political impulse and showing others as vunerable politically was immensely more important to him than justice. apparently appeals corts and their reviews tend to agree with my assessment.

"[T]he violent crime rate in San Diego fell to its lowest point in 25 years while she was U.S. attorney there."

As an aside, even the presentation of this fact to counter a Republican talking point shows how far the GOP has drifted from its supposed ideology of decentralization and states' rights. In my Libertarian worldview, the rate of gun crimes in San Diego shouldn't have anything to do with the US Attorney's performance, because violent crime isn't a federal matter. The Republicans used to believe that too, but when they're seeking to throw someone under the bus it's as convenient an accusation as any other because everyone knows they stand for Big Federal Government.

Not exactly news (see, e.g., medical marijuana and a whole host of other issues) but an interesting indicator of how little the GOP stands for now.

by the way ... Goodling and her zany buddy Paulose appointed U.S. Attorney in Minnesota and all the other Federalist Society lunatic fringe are no better than any of the other quasi-religious cultists of the past who found a way to visit mayhem on society while using their "right" to harbor and promote their "beliefs". In many ways on many levels they are alot worse and the potential is incalcuable because their personal aspirations are reflected directly into natioanl policy and effect everyone while they nod and wink and keep secrets of their view of how things are going to be with this country's citizens. How long before they instruct everyone to buy new tennis shoes drink kool-aid and meet in the tail of the Halle-Bopp comet's cone? Or make a declaration that the Apocalypse has officially begun? Danger! Will Robinson!

code word is "salt." As in "take all this testimony with a grain of..."

Hard to tell who is telling the truth anymore. That is, if anyone has or will.

I'm not defending the man. Just putting out a "what if?"

It is precisely in these shades of grey that some of the most lasting damage is done from this type of politicization. It sets up so many situations where it is "convenient" for otherwise well-intentioned folks to shade things a maybe even just a little bit, or as mentioned, even if they don't, it casts that cloud over them and the whole system.

"What bigger problems --what future cases -- could fall under the purview of these USAs that the Administration feels should only be handled by individuals who have proven themselves to be completely loyal? It's a questions worth asking.

I'll bet Monica Goodling knows the answer."

Posted by: ebmck

------------------------------

I think in part this has been answered by the assertion that they wanted to give inexperienced attorneys resume' helper (think soaking Crispix in milk until it's the size of a doormat) ... my guess so when it came time for Senate approval for a nominated former dittohead it would like like they were actually familiar with the law ... which most arent if you havent noticed.

Comey is a weird mix in madern day Republican-land. Fearless defense of fellows without fanatical support of the party. Comey is a traditional conservative and therefore has the aire o' honor about him.

Comey is not a Kool-aid drinker BUT do not make the misstake of assuming that selfless sense of morality motivates his actions.

Dollars to donuts I am willing to bet that Comey's internal conversation relies heavily on self protection and self reliance and a highly defined sense that all folk are scum and highly enpowered police force is require to keep us in line.

"FWIW, I am a Wisconsin resident. Steve Biskupic is very highly regarded in this state. From everything I've heard or read about the man, he does not fit the profile of someone willing to compromise the integrity of the justice system in order to aid the political operations of the White House."

Posted by: Patrick

______________________________________________

I remember Mitt Romney lamenting that he didnt even recognize the Republican party and what it stood for in the past because of the blatant neo-convict intrusion and the abandoning of the footings the "conservatives" used to define themselves traditionally.

Unfortunately he didnt take long to come around and begin to talk and act just like them and now there's no telling him from any of them.

After reflecting further upon my previous question about what future cases these former USAs might be taking up that the Admin. would want handled only by loyalists. I had a moment of clarity and decided that maybe it WAS as simple as wanting to have their people in place for the 2008 election.

Despite growing opposition for the war and other Bush policies, the nation still seems to divide itself pretty evenly in terms of which party will gain the White House in 08. And now we have a perfect situation --- 8 proven loyalists (identified and put in place by other proven loyalists) who aren't subject to Senate approval, AND, thanks to the now-not-so-secret provision in the Patriot Act Reauthorization, they're in place for the duration of this administration's term.

So -- are these former USA districts "Swing" districts? On the surface they don't seem to be to me, but maybe someone could shed greater light for me.

Patrick,

Steven Biscupic may have been highly regarded in Wisconsin, but the two appeals court reversals together his clear surrender to the politization of the Department of Justice has placed a major stain on that previous high regard which will never go away.

Biscupic is now badly damaged goods. It is the result of his association and compliance with Alberto Gonzales's DoJ and the way the entire government has been misused by Bush, Rove and the Repubublicans. Then, once his environment is taken into account, the two appeals reversals show that he made some very bad decisions.

An attorney is only as good as his reputation. Biscupic's reputation will always have an asterick much like that of Barry Bonds along side it.

Snark in hand, now that all U.S. attorneys have been tainted, let's sign up every illegal to vote, si...?

yo, Patrick, either explain HOW AND WHY Ms Thompson was prosecuted with evidence that was "BEYOND THIN", or STFU about biskup being a "nice guy"

there isn't any defense for the prosecution

and there isn't any defense for the prosecutors

you could say that good people sometimes do evil things

but i don't consider anybody who has done evil to be a good person in the first place

just an evil hack criminal who never had the opportunity before

nuff said

I trust the USA's that got fired more so than the ones who didnt. I have a very uneasy feeling that many if not most of the criminals the remaining USA's convicted will have their sentences overturned, espcially if it was a political motivated crime.

Do you trust your justice system under Bush?

When these USA's leave public office and go into private practice, will you trust them??

Will you trust the firms who will hire these "tainted" attorneys?

Do that make you feel safe and protected?

A couple points:

1. I never said he was a nice guy. I'm speaking to his reputation as a prosecutor. I don't care if he's a nice guy, and frankly, I prefer US Attorneys with the temperament of a bulldog (see Pat Fitzgerald).

2. Go back and read what I wrote. I conceded that Mr. Biskupic may have acted improperly. What I don't accept is any assertion that there is clear-cut evidence that he did so. I will say it again: I am very interested in more info regarding what the democratic Wisconsin AG and Madison DA know about the decision to prosecute this case. Mr. Biskupic has acknowledged that these officials agreed with him that he should move forward with prosecution.

3. You certainly have said nuff.

Excuse me while I "STFU."

Freepatriot -- have you even read the Thompson decision from the 7th Cir? Do you even know what the Judge was referring to when she used the phrase "beyond thin"? Here's a hint:

It wasn't the case against Thomspon.

I'll save you the time of actually reading the case. Here are her exact words of Judge Wood from the oral argument:

"If you point is that there is something politically fishy abotu this and she was trying to do a political favor through a very indirect route for the governor, it strikes me that your evidence is beyond thin."

This statement goes back to the point she made earlier that the evidence of "sigificant political connections" between the the governor and the travel agency was "pretty thin," because the nature of the relationship from the evidence presented seemed pretty common and ordinary as might exist between any politician and a campaign supporter.

And, notwithstanding these two points made by Judge Wood, she joined an opinion by Judge Easterbrook which said clearly that the problem with the conviction was not the government's case, but rather the confused state of the law involving contracting by state government agencies, the ability of state governments to favor in-state vendors of services (which validates political preferences or favors for in-state vendors such as that given here) when contracting, and the open-ended nature of the honest-services fraud statute created by Congress.

Here is the audio:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=587339

Here is the opinion:
http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/Apr07/apr20/0420circuitthompson.pdf

"When these USA's leave public office and go into private practice, will you trust them??

Will you trust the firms who will hire these "tainted" attorneys?"

Will I need a dependable bag man?

THE GIANT FIX IS IN. WHEN YOU CAN LEAN ON A USA AND EXPECT RESULTS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN THE WH TELL A REPUBLICAN OFFICIAL THAT IF YOU MAKE THE CALL IT WILL PRECITATE JUDICAL ACTION IN YOUR FAVOR. THAT IS JURY RIGGING. ALL CRIMINAL OFFENSES. BUT HIGH CRIMES WHEN COMMITED BY THE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE IN THIS CASE FAR MORE SERIOUS THAN WATERGATE. SHRUB AND ROVE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF CORRUPTION OVER LAW AND ODER.

CASE IN POINT. HOW MANY DEATH ROW CONVICTS WERE NOT GUILTY. HOW DO SENTENCING GUIDELINES WEIGHT JUSTICE AGAINST MINORITIES.

IF MR. BISCUPIC IS SO UNPREDUDICED WHY DOES HIS GUN PROSECUTION POLICY CHANGE BETWEEN NY AND VA. SHOULDN'T A LAW BE A LAW? SHOULDN'T CRIMES BE PROSECUTED INDIVIDUALLY INSTEAD OF BY POLICY. WHY IS THERE ANY POLICY DICTATED TO THE USA? ISN'T THE LAW CLEAR ENOUGH.

REPEAT OFFENDERS CERTAINLY DESERVE MORE ATTENTION THAN FIRDT. ONE EXAMPLE MIGHT BE CARRYING A GUN BECUASE YOU FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE IN THE BACK OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE VERSUS TO A CONCERT ATTENDER EXPECTING A FIGHT? INTENT?

DOESN'T REASON ENTER INTO JURISPRUDENCE RATHER THAN POLICY WHETHER IT IS POLITICAL OR NOT? POLICY TAKES THE MERCY OUT OF JUSTICE. IT TAKES THE BLINDERS OFF. THE PROBLEM THAT IS INHERENT IN OUR SYSTEM OF JUSICE IS THAT IT IS APPLIED UNEVENLY.

BUSH AND ROVE COME OUT OF THE TEXAS JUSTICE SYSTEM. ROY BEAN JUSTICE. WHEN CORPORATIONS CONTROL OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM THEN THEY HAVE PRIVELEDGE BEFORE THE BAR. EQUAL JUSTICE IS LOST.

BUSHES POLITIZATION OF EVERY PROFESSIONAL IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMET BY PLACING HIS INDUSTRY OFFICIALS TO OVERSIGHT POSITIONS ESSENTIALLY ELIMINATES OVERSIGHT EFFECTIVELY RENDERING GOVERNMENT SERVICES WILL ONLY PROTECT THOSE THAT IT WAS INTENDED TO REGULATE. THIS GOVERMENT MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE THEY REPLACE DEMOCRACY WITH OLIGARCHY WHICH IS THEIR INTENTION. WHEN DRUG USE IS GREATER CRIME THAN WAR CRIMES THIS COUNTRY WILL NEVER HAVE ANY RESPECT. THAT IN ITSELF, THE SELLING OF OUR POLITICAL CAPITAL AND INTERNATIONAL CREDIBILITY, IS A HUGE CRIME WHICH WAS INTENTIONAL NOT SOME STUPID ACT OF AN IDIOT SAVANT.

WHO IS THE VICTIM HERE? ISN'T IT THE PEOPLE. THOSE THAT RETAIN SOVIERENTY OVER BAD GOVERNMENT. iT IS THE DUTY OF CONGRESS TO PROTECT OUR SOVIERENTY.KUDOS TO WAXMAN, CONYERS, PELOSI AND REID.

WHILE A PHERIHERAL POLITICAL BENEFIT HAS BEEN GAINED BY THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES HAS JUSTICE BEEN SERVED YET. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ALLOWED THIS SUBVERSION OF JUSTICE TO HAPPEN, THEY STOOD DOWN AND ARE PAYING. BUT ALL THE CASES DECIDED OR PROSECUTED BY THESE OBSTRUCTIONIST WILL HAVE TO BE REVIEWED. PLEASE SEND THE BUSH FAMILY THE LEGAL BILLS. TAXPAYERS THAT DON'T HAVE A CORPORATE TAX DODGE WILL OTHERWISE BE STUCK.

I HAVE NEVER TRUSTED LAWYERS. tHE ADVERSARIAL SYSTEM DOES NOT SEEK JUSTICE IT SEEKS A WIN. THE SYSTEM IS THE BEST WE HAVE. HONOR CANNOT BE BOUGHT, BUT WHEN HIGHEST RANKING OFFICIAL IN GOVERNMENT GET CAUGHT THEY SHOULD PAY THE HIGHEST PRICE AS THEY HAVE VIOLATED THE HOGHEST TRUST. ACCORDING TO SERIUOSNESS OF THEIR OFFENSE THEY SHOULD BE JUST AS HIGHLY PUNISHED. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOU EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE TAKEN THE MERSY OUT OF JUSTICE.

LASTLY, LET ME GIVE ALL THOSE ATTORNEYS READING THE DOCUMENT DUMPS AND ASSISTING CONGRESS IN THIS INVETIGATION MY HIGHEST REGARDS. IT IS A HEARTENING PROJECT AND THERE MAY STILL BE HOPE THAT AMERICA WILL LIVE UP TO THE STANDARDS THAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS HAD HOPED WE WOULD FIND WHEN WE USED THE REAL CONTRACT WITH AMERICA, THE CONSTITUTION, TO FIND OUR WAY TO INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. MAY YOU ALL HAVE LONG LIFE, PEACE AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS YOU ARE EARNING IT.

I personally think Steve Biskupic deserves the benefit of the doubt and I believe at least one of the "reversals" mentioned wasn't even his case. I must read too much TPM or something.

I don't understand this lynch mob mentality forming for Biskupic. Intelligent people should concentrate on the fact versus how it is projected online, by politicians and by the media.

A lack of critical thinking made this mess. Only maintaining critical thinking will get us out of it.