International Boundary Commissioner busts Bush bogosity over border barrier

[mloutre]

This is friggin priceless:

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Firing by Bush rejected by boundary official

SEATTLE -- A dispute over a backyard wall in Whatcom County has reached all the way to the White House, with President Bush firing International Boundary Commissioner Dennis Schornack over his handling of the matter.

But on Wednesday Schornack rejected his dismissal by the commander-in-chief.

In a strongly worded letter to Bush, Schornack said the International Boundary Commission (IBC) is an independent, international organization outside the U.S. government's jurisdiction. Schornack wrote that according to the 1908 treaty that created the IBC, a vacancy can only be created by "the death, resignation or other disability" of a commissioner.

Thus, Schornack said, the president cannot fire him.

"I am unable to recognize the authority of this communication because I don't believe that you would knowingly act beyond your authority, outside the law or to otherwise jeopardize the national security of the United States," Schornack wrote.

A dejected Schornack said Wednesday: "I am ashamed of my government." Bush nominated him to the IBC in 2001.

{snip}

Schornack and Feldman said the IBC had a strong case and felt the Leus' wall presented a legitimate risk to national security, particularly if it paved the way for more new construction inside the border vista that might provide protection for terrorists or drug smugglers.

So Schornack pressed ahead, against the wishes of the Justice Department, and last week enlisted former U.S. Attorney Mike McKay to represent the IBC in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Feldman said.

Late Tuesday, Schornack received a faxed letter from Liza Wright, assistant to the president for personnel, informing him Bush had terminated his appointment "effective immediately."

The White House referred calls about the firing to the Department of Justice, but officials there declined to comment, saying it was a personnel matter.


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Full story here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003785546_border12m.html

[zabet]

1. This oughta be reaaaal good.

:popcorn: Should have lots to watch the legal battle over this.

[Island Blue]

2. Please tell me he's joking here.

"I am unable to recognize the authority of this communication because I don't believe that you would knowingly act beyond your authority, outside the law or to otherwise jeopardize the national security of the United States," Schornack wrote.

Surely he must have heard the news.

[mloutre]

3. I believe that would be snarkasm. However...

...it does also establish clear legal precedent of this as a potential test case all the way to the top, hmm hmm?

Never underestimate the power of a missing horseshoe nail to cripple the horse to down the knight to yield the field to lose the war to forfeit the throne...

Stranger things have happened, after all.

I say we all go out and blogswarm this sucker.

[Solo_in_MD]

4. I think the IBC is wrong here...as is the president

Note that with the refusal of the executive branch to support the decision, the wall is not going away. Now what...