Comments (29)

Zach Edwards wrote on March 18, 2007 10:39 PM:

The firings of US attorney Carol C. Lam and Daniel Bogden were connected through one case that just so happened to be the first time the Patriot Act was used in a non-terrorism related case. The investigation, and the subsequently comprehensive search for financial records ended up getting Sheldon Adelson, the 6th richest man in the world and fervent Bush supporter, involved by highlighting $190,000 of contributions he gave to the now convicted ex-County Commissioner and Lobbyist Lance Malone. It is a highly complicated case that demonstrates that Mark Corallo, who has worked as spokesman for both Karl Rove and Attorney General Gonzales, and also at the Republican National Committee was most likely the go-between to help spur these firings on behalf of Sheldon Adelson.
Visit my blog for the story and for future updates: http://misterapologist.blogspot.com/

Please do something the hearing is on THURSDAY! We won't get second chances to ask questions to the administration under oath! I have links to the members of the Judiciary Committee and a sample email.

Robin wrote on March 18, 2007 10:41 PM:

I pray that the testimony is under oath and in public. It is the same arrogance that makes this White House think they can use the entire govt apparatus for political ends that makes them think the American public doesn't really have a right to look in on them from time to time. The same arrogance.

Anonymous wrote on March 18, 2007 10:56 PM:

This is all going to come back to the "inherent powers of the Presidency."

The gloves are off, now, but Bush and his enablers have been remarkably consistent with their signing statements. And each one that is issued says the same thing... "the President will interpret laws consistent with his role as Commander In Chief." In other words, he'll pick and choose.

With that as the backdrop, watch the fireworks. It really is Congress against the Executive Branch. With the United States (or at least the rule of law) hanging in the balance.

Robin Boerner wrote on March 18, 2007 10:58 PM:

The Bush Administration knows this is a major scandal. Despite pushing the Republican "Clinton fired all the USA's" talking points all weekend on Fox News, the Beltway Boys admitted that either firing Gonzales or letting Karl Rove testify would be bad for the Bushies.

Looks like the end is near. Even Fox News is worried. I wonder how many Valiums's little Alberto needed to make that Friday conference call? Is Anna Niclole's doc still in business? He might have some deep pocketed new patients if Leahy keeps this talk up.

Observor wrote on March 18, 2007 11:02 PM:

LA Times reports tonight it's all about Lam and Lewis, which connects to Deborah Wang, who quit right before the hammer fell to join Ted Olson at the firm defending Lewis for $1.5 million a year.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-na-usattyb19mar19,0,5490447.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on March 19, 2007 12:00 AM:

Senator Schumer is having too much fun!

Naming three AG replacements acceptable to the Democrats on Meet The Press while AlBeGon is still on the job must have driven the WH nuts.

Schumer on DAG Paul McNulty:

"Well, gee whiz," Schumer said. "If you're firing someone in the middle of the most heated political investigation in America, don't you think you ought to have a reason and know the reason?"

ridenm wrote on March 19, 2007 12:07 AM:

We mustn't stop throwing sunshine on this festering pool of filth in DOJ and the WH. Now they are conceding that the firings were political, and at the will of the prez, in the hopes that a misleading mea culpa will distract from the real purpose of the firings - obstruction of justice. At least two USAs were conducting investigations in which the trails were leading to corrupt Republican Congressmen, Senators, lobbyists, and Pioneer contributors.
Obstruction of justice can lead to, dare I say it, impeachment, and if the charges point to malfeasance in defense procurement as may be the case with Cunningham, Wilkes, et.al., perhaps even treason in time of war.
The code is "poison."

joejoejoe wrote on March 19, 2007 12:27 AM:

Schumer should keep his suggestions to himself. Democrats control who will get confirmed as AG and after this scandal it may well be that somebody like Comey is the only acceptable choice to get confirmed. But 'The Decider' is never going to pick somebody that Chuck Schumer suggested so the net effect of Sen. Schumer's suggestion is to limit the pool of good candidates, not expand it.

I'm tired of suggestions and messages and signals. If Bush sends up a lemon, block him/her. If Bush sends up somebody acceptable, confirm him/her. If Chuck Schumer wants to select the AG, run for President. Congress has taken the 'advise' role to mean they can give all kinds of opinions on how to act like they are Dr. Phil. It's as easy as it is a waste of time.

A little less advice and a little higher bar on the consent would better serve the country.

Mary wrote on March 19, 2007 12:39 AM:

Leahy and Waxman have been wonderful.

God bless and keep us from someone like Comey or Thompson getting the nod (Padilla, Arar - run down the list of the worst of the Ashcroft years). Especially unless and until there has been a pretty thorough investigation of Ashcroft's crew as well (his COS giving Abramoff info on the classified Mariana's report in the skybox and the subsequent deep sixing of that report so that Congress never knew about it or saw it until long after the Abramoff emails were published).

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on March 19, 2007 12:42 AM:

Get over it. Schumer was just busting balls.

Comey would never be nominated by Bush in any case. He was eased out after he appointed Fitzgerald to be special prosecutor. Plus Comey had concerns about the legality of Bush's spy programs.

hungrycoyote wrote on March 19, 2007 1:32 AM:

Now it turns out Iglesias was considered an expert on voter fraud! Dear DOJ: If you're going to say somebody was fired because he didn't pursue enough Voter Fraud cases, maybe it would be a good idea not to invite him as an expert to teach at a "voting integrity symposium!"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/18/AR2007031801077.html

I need to get more popcorn!

justiceholmes wrote on March 19, 2007 1:41 AM:

The testimony should be under oath and public. No more back room conversations; no more lies. It is time that Mr. Bush and his administration are shown that in a democracy everyone not just the little can is accountable for his/her actions.

Thank you Senator Leahy!

JusJohn wrote on March 19, 2007 3:05 AM:

To hungrycoyote, Will it be the "old fashioned kind" of popcorn?? We need to do away with the microwave kind, that's what spawned this "microwave mentality," this country seems to have foisted upon those of us that still remember classes in Government, Civics, Political Science, Logic, and not to forget; ETHICS!! Ha Ha, my attempt at comedy, with truth as the punch line!!
I'm SOOOOO happy for this flash of light, in this heretofore dark, dank cave of stupidity posing as a legitimate administration/government, I shall resort to sacrificing one of my "home grown" chickens, on the altar of my Weber grill, to show gratitude to the Almighty Force, that brings order out of chaos, and drink Tropical Punch Kool-Ade, spiked with liberal amounts of pineapple juice, to show my solidarity with Right over wrong, and no, I meant to spell wrong in the lower case!!
Just Loving This, and all that shall follow, for as an old lady once said, while chastizing an errant child; "Baby, God don't like ugly, an' He aint too fond of the goodlookin'!!"

nobody wrote on March 19, 2007 7:54 AM:

Leahy being "sick and tired of getting half-truths" may be the understatement of the past quarter-century. Not since Iran/Contra (an action which had GWHB's name all over it) has an administration been so mired in duplicity. The current band of brigands occupying the white house seem incapable of telling even half-truths about anything. (And, no, I'm not forgetting Clinton's "I never had sex with that woman." At least HIS lie, while misguided and self-serving, was one any Southern Gentleman would have condoned.)

I mean, really, about the only way I'd ever believe that GWB reads 60 books a year is if he has 60 copies of "My Pet Goat." What a stupid thing to lie about.

hokala wrote on March 19, 2007 8:26 AM:

I feel like I am watching some Friday night soap opera where crisis after crisis is written into the plot to keep folks tuned in. Only in this case, the fools are trying hard not to screw up, and their very character flaws prevent it. One of the more unfortunate aftershocks of the Clinton impeachment witch hunt is that we now seem to have no stomach for demanding or conducting inquiries into public official's conduct and decisions no matter how egregious, criminal or unconstitutional they may appear. I am so sick of the entire bunch of them on so many levels it is mind boggling. This AG snafu is just the latest to emerge, like a boil that finally erupts. Stay tuned. My one hope is that this is finally the event that results in Rove's swan song in politics. Couldn't happen to a more deserving man.

motzah wrote on March 19, 2007 8:54 AM:

Why are you always using the picture of Leahy where it looks like he is trying to explode things with his mind?

Yellow Dog wrote on March 19, 2007 11:46 AM:

Motzah: Because it makes him look like he is trying to explode things with his mind!

Every time I see that picture I imagine it:

Alberto - Pow! Rove - Bam! Cheney - Splat!

pj wrote on March 19, 2007 5:47 PM:

Bushco knows time is on their side on this. They can feign "cooperation" then delay then claim executive privilege. They can be stopped by one thing only...impeachment. And they are betting there simply aren't the votes there to get that out of the hangar nevermind off the ground. Good bet.

Michael wrote on March 19, 2007 7:05 PM:

Perhaps it's time to purge Congress?

Become a Purger; start your own Purge Team.

GaPeach103 wrote on March 19, 2007 10:58 PM:

The outlaw mentality and criminal skullduggery that allowed Bush/Cheney/Rove/Gonzales to torture enemy combatants, execute rendition, surveill American citizens without a warrant, lie under oath, seize records of American citizens without judicial review, embezzle the American treasury, and fire US Attorneys who are investigating corrupt Republicans is the same outlaw mentality and criminal skullduggery that allowed them to approve of Georgia's Voter ID law and allowed David Nahmias to keep his job as North Georgia US Attorney. Nahmias can prosecute Bill Campbell, former Democratic mayor of Atlanta, but he cannot prosecute Sonny Perdue, Georgia's Republican governor. I believe if the Democratically-controlled Congress will investigate, they will find that Nahmias was derelict in his duties. Futhermore, even though the judicial system has thrown out the Voter ID law, the Republican-controlled Georgia legislature brings it back up every session, just like a fat cow chewing cud. If the Democrats would investigate, I'm confident that as a result Georgia's non-minority congressional districts would elect Democrats, and the state as a whole would give the old heave-ho to Saxby Chambliss.

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