Oh, This is going to get Interesting!! (Canned Prosecutors Want to Talk)

[Jacobin]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002648.php

Seconding Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-CA) call to subpoena the ousted U.S. attorneys, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on the Senate floor that they would be willing to tell their side of the story to the Senate if subpoenaed.

From his remarks:

...frankly Mr. President, comes as no surprise to me. And that is because David Iglesias, the US attorney, told my staff the same thing the day before, and asked in fact, that he be brought here to Washington... and was willing, rather, to be brought here under the power fo subpoena to tell his story. We have inquired of the fired US attorneys and the overwhelming majority do want to tell more, but feel honorbound not to do it except if they were brought here under the power of subpoena to Washington.

:popcorn:

:popcorn:

[bonito]

1. K&R

:applause:

[Jacobin]

3. It has all the same ingredients as

when Nixon fired the special prosecutor in the Saturday night massacre.

:bounce:

[progressoid]

35. One big difference...

back then, the Congress and America was outraged by the firing of Archbald Cox. Today, even the few people that know about this don't seem to see the gravity of the situation.

I wish it wouldn't take a subpoena to get these prosecutors to talk. They should be screaming about this to get some attention.

[oldtimecanuk]

2. How would Congress/Senate get rid of Gonzales? Would they have...

to Impeach him or can they force him to be fired?

ww

[annabanana]

23. I think he would need impeachment. . . .n/t

[cascadiance]

26. But they DON'T need a supermajority to convict in the Senate in his case!

Just a simple majority! Which is why we should do it NOW!

[annabanana]

31. I did not know that! What are we waiting for?

The sooner this snake, this traitorous toad, this enabling creep is gone the better!!

[H2O Man]

4. Very interesting.

Thanks for posting this.

[Jacobin]

8. More here on who may have been behind it

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/012710.php

Josh Marshall doing a great job (again) of investigative reporting.

[H2O Man]

10. Thank you.

I have been keeping an eye on this. It is an example of the vicious nature of this administration.

[calimary]

43. Indeed! Thanks for this!

This whole administration just utterly REEKS.

[wicket]

5. Here we go

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[WiseButAngrySara]

6. Kick for justice! ....n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. Looks promising

Thanks!

[dkofos]

9. Crank up the printer and get the subpoenas to all of them!!

[babylonsister]

11. Great news! K&R! nt

[Sadie4629]

12. I guess I thought firing them was no big deal

Didn't President Clinton do the same thing right after he was elected??

[Bunny]

14. Why don't you google it, then let us know?

[Sadie4629]

15. I just tried

I typed in clinton, u.s. attorneys, fired. A bunch of articles came up, but for some reason my browser won't let me copy & paste a link. Don't know why. Anyway, the articles are out there. Looks like it really happened.

[KansDem]

17. I just did and found numerous articles...

I found 12 sites that used the exact phrase "sweepingly and without cause" along with "clinton" "fired" and "us attorneys." "Sweepingly and without cause"(?)--sounds like someone is making the rounds. This number will probably increase as this story gains traction.

But I also found a site that stated that many, if not all, of these attorneys were appointed by Bush I, so perhaps Clinton was trying to delay the creation of the "new world order" as long as possible(?)

edited for punctuation

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. Not a valid comparison

Clinton was a new President at the beginning of his first administration. It's common at that point to dismiss previous appointees and replace them with your own. It's important to note that those appointees are then approved by the Senate.

Bush is in the midst of his term and he is bypassing the Senate approval. This sets the two situations apart.

edit: clarity.

[robinlynne]

25. APPROVED BY THE SENATE. as opposed to not sent to the senate because of a new law

hidden inside the "patriot act 2".

[Lone_Star_Dem]

33. That's right

His being able to skirt around the Senate approval is due to one of those sneaky items they slipped into the unPatriot Act II.

[Jackpine Radical]

27. I take your point. Was there a round of firings of Clintonistas

when Bush got in? If so, that would establish the point clearly & provide a good rebuttal to any wingnuts who try to make hay out of the customary initial housecleaning.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

32. All of Clinton's US attorneys resigned, and Bush appointed new ones.

Which is no shocker when a new president is taking office. They're normally replaced and it's more common for them to resign than be fired.

[robinlynne]

36. yes these people being fired were appointed by bush. (Not 100% certain of

my facts here, maybe some were, some weren't.) The problem is that they are honest and investigating corruption, for the most part.

[tanyev]

20. Here, you missed this thread.

Senators Want to SUBPOENA Ousted U.S. Attorneys - Who Are "Willing" To Testify Against Bush Admin
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x311417

[Ian David]

13. I smell a Constitutional Crisis in the making!

But you know, it might not be political.

Remember, the Bush Admministration is a Fellatiocracy.

Maybe the prosecutors just refused to offer the customary.... tribute... to Lord Bush?

[PhilipShore]

30. Politicians shuffling papers during a Constitutional Crisis

Constitutional Crisis=Politicians being exposed in a corruption scandal

[Jack Rabbit]

18. !!

:popcorn:

[hootinholler]

19. Start with the one from the Northern Marianas Islands...

That Abramhoff suggested be fired.

-Hoot

[slipslidingaway]

21. So right, start at the beginning, Conyers on Frederick A. Black.

Conyers: Investigate 2002 Bush Shutdown of Abramoff Case!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/4/5304/98461

snip>>

"At the time U.S. Attorney Black was demoted, he was supervising a grand jury investigation into the lobbying activities of Jack Abramoff and conducting an ongoing investigation into possible corruption within the Government of Guam. U.S. Attorney Black had been serving as the Acting United States Attorney for more than 10 years when he was demoted. The timing of President Bush's decision to remove and replace U.S. Attorney Black is questionable and warrants an investigation.


CREW SENDS LETTER TO DOJ - URGING INVESTIGATION INTO DEMOTION OF PROSECUTOR ON ABRAMOFF GUAM SCANDAL

The day after the subpoena was issued, Mr. Black who had launched the prosecution, was demoted despite holding the post of Acting U.S. Attorney for more than a decade. After the issuance of the subpoena and Black's subsequent demotion, the federal grand jury took no further action in the Abramoff investigation.

"The demotion of Acting Attorney General Black looks political and should be investigated," Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW said today. "The fact that Mr. Black's demotion apparently resulted in the termination of a serious public corruption investigation into a friend of the White House, makes the situation all the more egregious. This Administration needs to be held accountable for its actions. An investigation by the Department of Justice Inspector General would be a good first step."

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. I wonder if David Iglesias has already told Schumer and Feinstein which repuke Congressmen called

him begging for a Democrat's indictment before the election? Wouldn't it be sweet if he was subpoenaed to appear before the committee and asked WHO THEY ARE? I'll bet big bucks there's 2 Congressmen shaking in their boots right about now.:7

[robinlynne]

24. do it! do it Schumer! do it!

[cali]

28. I don't think that Schumer can just do it.

I could be wrong, but I think they need a majority of the Commitee to vote for it. Not that they couldn't get all the dems to sign on.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

29. Do it. Then subpoena the AG. Then indict and convict. That is all.

[proud patriot]

34. K and R

:hi:

[Lugnut]

37. K&R

For the overnight crew.

[BuyingThyme]

38. Why bother? It's all off the table.

[EFerrari]

39. A table is a dynamic space.

[Swamp Rat]

41. LOL!!!!!!!

:D I knew I'd see a pic in this post!!! :bounce:

:hi: :hug:

[EFerrari]

42. Maybe you just have to have set enough tables to get it.

:hug: :hi:

[Swamp Rat]

44. Check out this:

Just fooling around with colors. :)

[EFerrari]

45. But the Dems will run from the red!

lol

Check this out. Putting up this store will be fun.

[Swamp Rat]

46. Luv it!!!

What is the name of that font! I need some 1960s-style fonts like that. :D

[EFerrari]

50. It's called "Bottleneck". I found some that were goodlooking

but didn't read as clearly. This one takes me back to the 4rth grade, lol.

[Hawkowl]

40. CSPAN!!

2007 could be the year that CSPAN takes the top spot on the Nielsen ratings.

[Jacobin]

47. Kicking for vote on issuing subpoenas

which I think is supposed to be today.

[Dinger]

48. Subpoena Like A Sonofabitch I Say!

Oh yes indeedie, this IS getting good!
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[Kurovski]

49. Nice.

K&R.

[IWantAChange]

51. Isn't this a result of that great defender of the Constitution Spector's amendment?

where the AG of the US could replace AG's at the state level at his discretion w/o having to go through Senate approval process - somehow under the guise of National Security???

[Jacobin]

53. Yup

they erased the senate oversight in that bill

[Joe Chi Minh]

52. They won't be able to cut the vocal chords of those attorneys, as if

they were mere vets, already maimed in mind and body - but who they support and honour no end of course.

Can you imagine those attorneys giving a flying fig for the "support" and "admiration" of those neocons on their terms. Any more than those vets would on any terms. I imagine the vets - those who still have them - would count their fingers after a handshake with any representative of the administration.