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Goodling, Sampson Attended Rove Political Briefing
As The Washington Post reported over the weekend, Justice Department officials attended a dozen political briefings at the White House since 2001. You can see the Justice Department's catalog of the briefings here.
Karl Rove and his aides, remember, delivered the briefings for agency officials throughout the government. Briefing slides from a presentation at the General Services Administration and the State Department show that Rove's shop lectured the officials on which GOP incumbents were vulnerable. It wasn't publicly known until Friday that Rove had included Department officials in his briefing circuit. White House aides have defended the briefings by saying they were merely meant to "inform" appointees by giving them the "political landscape."
As you can see, most briefings were attended by the White House liaison at the Department, and a number were delivered by Karl Rove himself.
Most notable is a September 5, 2006 briefing for "agency Chiefs of Staff and White House Liaisons" at the White House; both Kyle Sampson, Gonzales former chief of staff, and Monica Goodling, the White House liaison, were scheduled to attend. Rove led the briefing.
These, of course, were the two 30-something senior staffers at the center of the U.S. attorney firings, and the briefing was given shortly before the firing process entered its final stage. One week after the briefing, Sampson sent then-White House counsel Harriet Miers another draft list of U.S. attorneys to fire -- the first such list he'd drafted for more than six months. There's no evidence that the briefing, which was given to political appointees from a number of agencies, led directly to the generation of that list, but surely it helped Sampson and Goodling, who were at the forefront of the politicization of the Department, to be well apprised of "the political landscape."
The catalog of briefings was included in a June letter to Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) from Department official Richard Hertling, in response to Waxman's committee's investigation of the briefings. Hertling cautions that the Department doesn't know for sure that individual Republican candidates were discussed at these briefings, and with regard to the September 5th briefing, he notes that the Department couldn't confirm that either Goodling or Sampson actually attended (although all indications are that they did). Both, of course, have resigned due to the scandal.
Note, via Tim Grieve at Salon: During his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee a couple of weeks ago, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) asked Gonzales, "Has Karl Rove or anyone from his office given similar briefings to the leadership in the Department of Justice?" Gonzales' answer was "Not that I'm aware of."
But in his letter seeking to clarify certain aspects of his testimony sent this past Friday, Gonzales changed his tune. Or, rather, he made it clear what question he was answering when he said "Not that I'm aware of." Kennedy's question had referenced certain briefings Rove had given "at the Peace Corps." And Gonzales really is "not aware of political briefings... occurring at the Department of Justice," he wrote in his letter. Sure, there are all those briefings that Department officials received at the White House (thus the catalog provided), but that's another question altogether, isn't it?
If only lawmakers knew how to ask questions precisely, maybe Gonzales wouldn't appear so dishonest.
Comments (38)
Not to be cynical but with these Congressional Dems, Bush/Gonzales will stampede them into passing a law that sanctions Rove's political briefings to senior DoJ staffers right before Thanksgiving break...
August 6, 2007 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
so can they bust anyone yet? isn't this a violation of the hatch act? what about busting gonzales for misleading congress? specter claimed that was illegal and distinct from perjury.
come on dems...
August 6, 2007 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Code = sheep
I've got such a bad taste in my mouth over the events of the past four days that nothing short of impeachment is going to get rid of it.
August 6, 2007 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
M M,
I totally agree. While they're at it, why don't the Dems just go home and let Bush and the gang do whatever the hell they want.
Harry Reid, Hoyer, and the rest of the Republican-lite Dems are a bunch of clowns. I hear they're afraid of 30 second attack ads from Reeps that will claim they're "weak on terror" by not passing everything and more King George wanted. So, instead of at least making sure Fredo Gonzo wasn't in the spying loop here, heck the Dems gave Gonzo and NSA Director/liar McConnel the keys to the candy store.
So let me get this straight...the Dems want Gonzo to resign for "lying" to them, yet they bend over and give him this new authority to spy???
Do the Dems really believe Rove will not have Gonzo spying on the Dems and the rest of us? Even John Kerry now says he believes his campaign was spied on in 2004. So now, without any FISA court oversight, what's to stop the loyal Bushies from spying on their enemies?
The Democratic base needs to collectively make these decisions to grant Bush more power, so painful for the Dem leadership, they don't sign on to this form of bizarre bending over and grabbing their ankles legislation passed over the weekend. Instead, as of now, the Dems are more fearul of the conservative/corpatist/fascist noise machine than they are of their own base.
We need strong leaders in the Democratic Party who will draw a line in the sand and say "no" to Bush and take the incoming fire from Reeps and shoot back.
August 6, 2007 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
.
That sounds like a "non-clarification clarification". Still sounds to me like Gonzales lying to Congress. Of course, Gonzales sounds to me like he's lying whenever he opens his mouth, nowadays.
Yes, impeachment is the only answer. Warm up with Gonzales. Gain some momentum. Then move on to Cheney and Bush.
What will it take to get these guys (in Congress) moving?!
SC = bell, as in, does someone need to ring a bell to announce that it's finally TIME TO IMPEACH?!
-- ARG in Chicago
August 6, 2007 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ever wonder if warrantless wiretapping might have provided the leverage to get this FISA 'concession' from Congress?
August 6, 2007 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ever wonder if warrantless wiretapping might have provided the leverage to get this FISA 'concession' from Congress?
Posted by:
Date: August 6, 2007 4:44 PM
Good point! Why else would they continue to do whatever Bush asks them to?
Surge? Okay, anything you want.
Warrantless Wiretapping? Okay, and we'll let your friend Fredo help oversee it, and we'll give you even more than you asked for to make you happy. So please don't say we're still weak on terror.
Another surge? Okay, why don't you just go ahead and finish out your term ramping-up another 200k troops if you can find them. Oh, and don't bother arming them properly.
Another term as president? Why not! In fact, we won't even bother to hold an election, we'll just make you King for as long as you'd like to remain in power until your brother Jeb wants the job....
You want to start another war...oh, with Iran...that's a great idea sir, do whatever you'd like...nuke them? Okay, go right ahead.
At this point, do any of you truly believe any of the above isn't possible under this Democratic "leadership?" I'm half serious here. Six months ago did you believe the Dems wouldn't go along with the surge and further funding for this war? Would you have believed they'd expand Bush and Gozno's illegal/now legal spying abilities? What exactly won't the Dems cave on?
August 6, 2007 4:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anonymous poster at 4:44 above:
I've been saying that for MONTHS now. Thinking that the Bush administration would NOT use spying to dig up dirt on opponents is at the very least naive.
And on a related note, did we ever find out exactly what "furniture" was provided to the executive office by MZM?
August 6, 2007 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
More Rove influence??
Chicago Sun-Times, Oct 8, 2006 by Robert Novak
Foley was ready to leave House until he was talked into running -
"Disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley had two excellent job offers in the private sector this year when Rep. Tom Reynolds, National Republican Congressional Committee chairman, talked him into seeking a seventh term.
Although Reynolds says Foley was merely deciding whether to run again, the talk in Republican circles on Capitol Hill was that he was ready to leave Congress. His inappropriate e-mails to a former page were known to the Republican leadership late last year."
August 6, 2007 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
@ KestrelBrighteyes
To follow on, ask yourself why Rove has occupied the corner office in the West Wing for the last six years while he could be making millions more raising funds and consulting.
Ask yourself why he holds the title Deputy Chief of Staff.
And then understand that that corner office and that title brings the ability to ask for information and be briefed by the collective resources of the US federal government. He has access to an incredible level of information and data.
Access and data that would not be available to Karl, private citizen.
August 6, 2007 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's unfortunate that democrat and republican congress persons alike don't read these types of forums to see what the American public thinks of them. On the other hand, they don't really give a damn anyway.
Democrats aren't pushing any harder than they are because it will mess up the status quo for both political parties.
You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.
August 6, 2007 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
"You don't have to be a witch to float in water...but it helps."
August 6, 2007 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ask questions, imprecisely.
Send letters.
Shake your finger and express discontent.
If you really get fed up, cite for contempt.
Play the perfect victim.
Show how stupid, timid and powerless you are.
Wattch the Republicans laugh at you.
No wonder Congress' ratings are so low.
The Democrats are witless; the Republicans venial.
I will vote for viable alternatives and suggest everyone who feels this way will do so too.
August 6, 2007 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ask questions, imprecisely.
Send letters.
Shake your finger and express discontent.
If you really get fed up, cite for contempt.
Play the perfect victim.
Show how stupid, timid and powerless you are.
Watch the Republicans laugh at you.
No wonder Congress' ratings are so low.
The Democrats are witless; the Republicans venial.
I will vote for viable alternatives and suggest everyone who feels this way will do so too.
August 6, 2007 6:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Access and data that would not be available to Karl, private citizen."
Precisely. And as citizens of this great nation we aren't allowed to bother our pretty stupid heads about such things. They are secret because the great big terist bogeyman might gain an advantage.
Or the great decider might not get good advice to continue being the decider.
August 6, 2007 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
The past four days have been the most discouraging since Watergate.
I've written, e-mailed, attended town hall meetings . . . and I know that a significant majority of Americans agree that our Constitution and rights are under seige. The Administration doesn't care . . . apparently, the Democratic majority doesn't care.
The voice of the people appears irrelevant to our elected officials.
Censorship, spying, threats, targeted prosecutions seem to be the order of the day. We've lost our democracy. Democratic leadership is an oxymoron.
Oh, the humanity.
August 6, 2007 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Or, rather, he made it clear what question he was answering..."
LOL
...the essential "revisionist historian!"
August 6, 2007 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
The congress and Senate ought to take away the keys from Buscho not because of ideological differences, but because of sheer incompetence and malfeasance in everything they touch. Take away the keys of government until someone else gets elected or Buscho is impeached.
August 6, 2007 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting, the Tale of Two Turdblossoms...
If you were to split Karl into his two administrative halves, the Deputy Chief of Staff, and Director of the Political Office, and put them in separate offices, every time they got together to strategize, it would be a violation of the hatch act, (albeit, interpreted narrowly."
So, basically, that would make Rove a walking Hatch Act violation, all in one body.
I wonder if it ever hurts?
August 6, 2007 7:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I noted in the list of briefings that there is a three year gap from March of 2003 to March of 2006. I have to think that the list is therefore just a partial list. Its hard to believe that Karl Rove would not conduct any briefings for 3 years -- skipping right past the 2004 election cycle.
But the main question should be, it seems to me, DOES THIS VIOLATE THE HATCH ACT? I would think so.
August 6, 2007 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
They lie and they lie again. That is their agenda. Why do they lie all the time? Could it be they don't respect the constitution? What constitution? That would be that GD piece of paper that Bush refers to. If the Democrats don't stand up and challenge these thugs, they need to be replaced. I will run. I know several other people who should run. Unfortunately, I am not a billionaire. Guess that leaves me out. Guess that leaves us all out.
August 6, 2007 8:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
re Steve and the briefing dates:
It does seem a little hard to believe. However if it turns out to be true, it could be explained as
(a) '01-'03: consolidate power cycle. After Bush's initial election, PubLickins and the House/Senate were still vulnerable. The high briefing level was to get everyone on the same page for the '02 congressional elections.
(b) 8/06-: belated defense. As the PubLickin congresional majority started to look vulnerable coincident with Iraq looking horrible (this started pre-Foley), Rove trotted out the same playbook that was so successful in 2002.
August 6, 2007 8:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Austin Cooper -
Its very bad taste indeed - BUT I stil believe impeachment for Gonzo will happen first of Sept. And I further believe that Cheney's impeachment will soon follow.
There are many moving parts to this whole conflagration with BUSHCO . And to the other commentary regarding Turdblossom black mailing every Democratic office holder - even Rover is not that capable -
Patience continues to be a virtue,
And if I am wrong - and the Dems are really fleckless as is being described -well then maybe we better get really earnestly serious about drafting Gore in 2008 -and find some alternative Congressional candidates -that have a fire in the belly for the USA and our Constitution .
Patience until the third week of September.
August 6, 2007 9:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I believe most of you are right; with only a bunch of still spineless dinos to deal with, 57 of them to be exact, I'm not at all sure that any investigations really matter.
Perhaps if they start investigating some of the stuff the DOJ hasn't, like the $10M Custer/Battles defrauded the government out of, or any number of other incidents of war profiteering, people will get on board when they realize how much is being wasted. Ironically enough, my security code is amount, as in the amount wasted on war and its byproducts.
August 6, 2007 10:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
When they ask these questions they must be sure they are yes or no.
Leave no room for clown acts and cute talk.
Don't forget these guys say anything at anytime.Has nothing to do with reality or truth.The more misleading the better for them.They are the experts (sorry to use that word.It is not deserved)at throwing up all the tin-foil pices to mess up the radar.
There is no intent to say anything honest.Never has been.
This is nothing new.
This has been going on over 30 years with the same gang.They know how the septic system works.
They know the entire sewage system and how to navigate.
In fact they have their own fleet of sewage barges and tugs.They even have luxury sewage party rafts filled with hot sewage to soak in.
You are who you hang out with they like to say.
These guys chose their environement long ago.Now they spend their time decorating.
Don't forget they all came from the school of kenron lay and practice his ethics; the slick sales classes of rum man lining up the giant guns and bombs sales; the insider-back-staber snarlman clearing the way; and the whimpy whinny dig-up-fake-dirt and put it on fraud-news then hide in the closet roveroolala.Don't forget the life-time go-fer "ag" making it very murky to keep you guessing.
We must make sure no matter how tempting they make the sewer look we don't let anyone else jump in and soak with them.We must somehow post large "do not swim in the sewer signs"
Yes,you are who you hang out with.
All the elected and public officials with brain cells still functioning need protection.
August 6, 2007 10:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
That sounds like a "non-clarification clarification". Still sounds to me like Gonzales lying to Congress. Of course, Gonzales sounds to me like he's lying whenever he opens his mouth, nowadays.
Yes, impeachment is the only answer. Warm up with Gonzales. Gain some momentum. Then move on to Cheney and Bush.
What will it take to get these guys (in Congress) moving?!
SC = bell, as in, does someone need to ring a bell to announce that it's finally TIME TO IMPEACH?!
-- ARG in Chicago
Posted by: ARG in Chicago
Date: August 6, 2007 4:35 PM
Just a darn minute there, cowboy! Don't you get it? It doesn't matter if Gonzo lies because he will never be held responsible. There is no accountability in this administration because George Bush says so, and he's the only vote that counts, or so our own congress has told us, now! And you can't blame the Repugs for running true to their forms. The President and his underlings are simply doing what you would expect from a second rate dictator and his henchmen.
You can, however, blame 57 of your Democratic compadres. You can blame them because without them, Repugs would have a tough time passing outrageous laws that have conflicts with the Bill of Rights. Passing unconstitutional laws was something rejected by all the rest of the Democrats, but this 57 has become the basis for all future defeats for Dems for the next 1 year plus. Without those 57, there will be no impeachment, there will be no accountability, there will be nothing that can be done to enforce subpoenas...There will be nothing in the win column for the Dems because George Bush says so and we have 57 members of the Democratic party that have certified that they will give the President whatever he wants no matter what insulting way he puts it to them. After all, they must know their place! This has been a disgusting and disheartening display of poor leadership and lack of courage the like of which has not been seen in years, and I hope will not be seen again for years to come. However, I doubt that, given what we've seen already.
August 6, 2007 10:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what! The dems will soon pass a law propounded bu BushCo that everything BushCo does or will do is ok.
TPM, instead of relying on the faux differences between dems and repubs as the source for various posts why doesn't TPM just tell the truth that we have only one party with two faces.
Of course admitting that no difference between repubs and dems would not allow the gaggle of self-important dandies to sip Manhattans in Chicago while holding out the charade that any meaningful difference than repubs befuddles me. I guess differing views on the issue of same sex marriage is all that is necessary to make two opposing parties. The dems are complicit in this most government.
August 6, 2007 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what! The dems will soon pass a law propounded bu BushCo that everything BushCo does or will do is ok.
TPM, instead of relying on the faux differences between dems and repubs as the source for various posts why doesn't TPM just tell the truth that we have only one party with two faces.
Of course admitting that no difference exists between repubs and dems would not allow the gaggle of self-important dandies to sip Manhattans in Chicago while continuing the patently bullshit holding out the chock full o' bullshit charade that any meaningful difference exists between the repubs. I can only guess that some view differing views on the issue of same sex marriage is all that is necessary to make two opposing parties. The dems are complicit in this most corrupt government.
August 6, 2007 11:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what! The dems will soon pass a law propounded by BushCo stating that everything BushCo does or will do is ok.
TPM, instead of relying on the faux differences between dems and repubs, should just tell the truth that we have only one party with two faces.
Of course admitting that no difference exists between repubs and dems would not allow the gaggle of self-important dandies to sip Manhattans in Chicago while continuing the patently chock full o' shit charade that any meaningful difference exists between the repubs and dems. I can only guess dreamers continue this approach relying on the differing views on the issue of same sex marriage to justify in their Ken and Barbie minds that two opposing parties really exist. The dems are complicit in this most corrupt government.
August 6, 2007 11:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
When we decide to act we will chance things and not until then.It`s great to blog,have town meetings,write our Congressmen and Senators,and politely address the shredding of the Constitution,but this doesn`t mean squat to the Bush criminals.They blow off subpoenas,violate law after law and when they`re really screwed and in the illegal FISA spying and illegal torture they just force Congress to pass a law that makes illegality legal'
We need to organize a 20 million man,woman,and child march on Washington and stay there till Bush and his hooligans are in custody.When we`re ready to do that we`ll change things.
Code word screw,as in what is loose in my head.
August 6, 2007 11:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Most notable is a September 5, 2006 briefing for "agency Chiefs of Staff and White House Liaisons" at the White House; both Kyle Sampson, Gonzales former chief of staff, and Monica Goodling, the White House liaison, were scheduled to attend. Rove led the briefing."
But, wait, all We The People need to do is demand the visitor logs from our White House for Sept. 5, 2006, and we'll find out which of our employees at the Justice Department signed in and attended the Hatch Act-violating Rovian briefing, at which he discussed "culture of corruption" Republican strategies for defeating the dems in anyway possible, legal or illegal.
Oh, right, just like everything in the worst administration in American history, I've read that even the visitor logs are being kept hidden.
Hell, George W. Bush could be in our White House sipping tea with Osama bin Laden for all We The People know. Hey, the Bush and bin Laden families go back a long, long way...so anything's possible where the criminals in our White House are concerned.
August 7, 2007 1:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Impeach? The Democrat party (the Republican pejorative is correct usage) are just a bunch of pussies. They must think proctologists are fun. When the minority party says "bend over," these hypocrites do what they're told.
So who, exactly, are we supposed to vote for in 2008? What possible difference will it make?
Like the Democrat party, we're phucked.
August 7, 2007 7:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Impeach? The Democrat party (the Republican pejorative is correct usage) are just a bunch of pussies. They must think proctologists are fun. When the minority party says "bend over," these hypocrites do what they're told.
So who, exactly, are we supposed to vote for in 2008? What possible difference will it make?
Like the Democrat party, we're phucked.
August 7, 2007 7:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, more Utah connections! It's hard to keep up with the head count. In addition to David Higbee, there's Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Kyle Sampson, Tim Griffin, Brett Tolman, Brent Ward, Jeffrey A. Taylor, and Jay Bybee. For some reason, the main-stream media routinely ignores the fact that Paul Warner, former USA for Utah, was one of the AGs targeted for removal. Connect the dots, anyone?
August 7, 2007 8:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, more Utah connections! It's hard to keep up with the head count. In addition to David Higbee, there's Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Kyle Sampson, Tim Griffin, Brett Tolman, Brent Ward, Jeffrey A. Taylor, and Jay Bybee. For some reason, the main-stream media routinely ignores the fact that Paul Warner, former USA for Utah, was one of the AGs targeted for removal. Connect the dots, anyone?
August 7, 2007 8:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
The last few days have been like a punch in the gut by the Democratic cowards in Congress. They don't care about us or the Constitution.
We must rid the party of these cowards through primaries. It's tough and we went through it in Connecticut with the party establishment Clinton/Boxer coming in to campaign for Joe Lieberman. We won the primary but the idiots that failed to insist on a pledge to respect the primary results opened the door for his run as an "independent" financed and elected by Republicans.
Remember those who voted to trash the constitution and FISA. That includes those (like Boxer) who conveniently failed to vote at all. Support their primary opponents. Chase the cowards out of this party.
August 7, 2007 8:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Turd Blossom got you down? Join the Rove-o-lution at
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4348897790
Secret code: Nose, as in something stinks here.
August 7, 2007 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Who, precisely, is Gonzalez "sheparding" the laws that Congress for? Impeach. Now.
August 7, 2007 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink