« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
AP: Administration "Beats Abrupt Retreat" on Purge
From the AP:
Slapped even by GOP allies, the Bush administration is beating an abrupt retreat on eight federal prosecutors it fired and then publicly pilloried....The Justice Department is shifting from offense to accommodation.
"In hindsight, we should have provided the U.S. attorneys with specific reasons that led to their dismissal that would have helped to avoid the rampant misinformation and wild speculation that currently exits," Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said Friday. "We will continue to work with Congress to reach an accommodation on providing additional information."
It was a striking reversal for an administration noted for standing its ground even in the face of overwhelming opposition.
Gone were the department's biting assertions that the prosecutors were a bunch of "disgruntled employees grandstanding before Congress."
And the department no longer tried to shrug off the uproar as "an overblown personnel matter," as Gonzales had written in an opinion piece published Thursday in USA Today.
Agency officials also ceased describing majority Democrats as lawmakers who would "would rather play politics" than deal with facts.
Comments (22)
Richard L. Adlof wrote on March 9, 2007 11:49 AM:Potential jail time is soberring once you realize that your pardon depends on the animal-human hybrid and all around Chimp-in-Charge.
Every P.O.'ed Republican brings us a vote closer to 60 votes.
Bearpaw wrote on March 9, 2007 11:53 AM:"In hindsight, we should have provided the U.S. attorneys with specific reasons that led to their dismissal that would have helped to avoid the rampant misinformation and wild speculation that currently exits," Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said Friday.
Translation: "We're not used to people actually questioning our obvious bullshit. Give us some time and we'll try to come up with more plausible excuses."
Arkansan wrote on March 9, 2007 11:56 AM:Kinder softer lies have replaced loud obnoxious lies.
Will the Democrats be bamboozled by them? A rhetorical question.
EH wrote on March 9, 2007 12:10 PM:"...and that is how sausage is made. Any questions?"
Richard L. Adlof wrote on March 9, 2007 12:55 PM:I still can't shake the feeling that this is about the cronkies no longer trusting their leader not to offer them up to prove that the poo he slings don't stink.
The lesson of the Scooter and his potential time in lock-up is not lost on the ones with law degrees.
Colin wrote on March 9, 2007 1:09 PM:Again I'm wondering why the people of New Mexico are not up in arms about this scandal. I've seen the right wing spin attempts about "serving at the presidents pleasure" and how "Clinton fired prosecutors too". But this is an issue of ELECTION TAMPERING. This scandal once again shows to what degree this administration and the Republican party are willing to go to keep power. They wanted to affect the outcome of elections by pressuring governmental officials. This is treason!
EricinNM wrote on March 9, 2007 1:11 PM:Sorry, Our bad! We were just kidding.
DavidH wrote on March 9, 2007 1:18 PM:Didn't Democrats call on the AG to retract the remarks about the "disgruntled"?
This is a Dem victory, if so, but is not reflected in this report.
Arkansan wrote on March 9, 2007 1:28 PM:If this is a Dem victory, what did they win?
This is an administration victory on almost all points. They have the hacks in place. The honest attorneys are gone. They won’t need the law anymore since the damage is done.
mbbsdphil wrote on March 9, 2007 2:21 PM:A tactical retreat does not mean a change of strategy. This administration gives to "apology" the same meaning it gives to "accountability": whatever the moment requires to deflect attention from its undiverted aims.
These are the promises of a serial adulterer or paedophile not to do it again. Of course they will.
Rove and Cheney understand the media's microsecond attention span, its limited budgets, and increasinly widespread pressure from "private equity" not just to be profitable, but to disgorge mountains of cash NOW. (No going concern can do that without gutting itself.) They have succeeded in morphing even quality media outlets - eg, the LA Times - into mini-Foxes that sell propaganda as faux news and infotaintment.
Follow the money, and watch where you step.
darclay wrote on March 11, 2007 8:55 AM:So if they made a mistake why not put those Attorneys they fired back in their former jobs?
now-it-is-fun wrote on March 12, 2007 12:51 PM:Drip, Drip, Drip...
A little patience, people. This the cracks appearing in the dam holding back the lake-o-shit. Right now the administration is running around looking for good little boys to stick their thumbs in the holes.
I predict a long, hot summer in D.C. And I am not making any reference to the air temperature. Lets look at some pots that are getting ready to boil here:
* Plame-gate has claimed its first victim. Anyone want to bet that Scooter is doing anything to avoid dying in prison?
* Ambramoff is singing.
* Waxman hasn't issued his first subpoena, yet.
* Iraq is facing another long, hot summer without electricity to run air-conditioners. Want to bet there is going to be another event (or two) that is going to really turn this event up? What happens if Iran makes a serious effort to cut off the military in Iraq by cutting off the flow of oil to run all those tanks and humvees?
* Afghanistan is also turning south too.
* More GOP lawmaker/breakers to have ethics charges against.
Let's keep the drip, drip, drip going. Let's encourage the investigation of 2nd and 3rd level political hacks. Because those small fishes don't have the name-recognition/job title that make some say it is just political payback. They will start cutting deals or start revealing details that will point the fingers away from them and toward the higher-ups.
Drip, drip, drip..... it's going to be fun!
bill@gmail.com wrote on April 29, 2007 11:44 PM:Generic Viagra. Buy Generic Viagra
dennis@gmail.com wrote on April 30, 2007 2:20 PM:hello
dennis@gmail.com wrote on April 30, 2007 2:20 PM:hello
kriss@gmail.com wrote on May 1, 2007 3:03 AM:hello
kriss@gmail.com wrote on May 1, 2007 3:03 AM:hello
alex@gmail.com wrote on May 5, 2007 1:22 PM:hello
alex@gmail.com wrote on May 5, 2007 1:23 PM:hello
catarina@gmail.com wrote on May 6, 2007 2:24 AM:hello
weveaffemoJes wrote on October 4, 2007 12:34 PM:Besucht uns hier:Besucht uns hier:
epenisa wrote on January 11, 2008 1:25 AM:sex treffen - für private livecams - für private livecams
Hello
Nice work from your side... have a nice time with yoru blog :)
Bye