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You are here: Home / Politics / HELP THE CAPTAIN, HE IS GOING DOWN!

HELP THE CAPTAIN, HE IS GOING DOWN!

by John Cole|  March 21, 20078:44 am| 38 Comments

This post is in: Politics

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Someone throw the Captain a life preserver, as he is going down:

That, to me, indicates a problem with Domenici and Wilson more than the White House, which seems to have caved to Congressional pressure on Iglesias. Will Congress demand a public explanation, under oath, from their own? Unlikely, since many of them stick their noses into ongoing investigations, including Chuck Schumer on the Plame investigation. However, it still reflects poorly on the DoJ and Gonzales’ administration, which showed no loyalty to someone they considered a star, pitching him under the bus when someone griped about his handling of one particular case.

The entire issue shows political hackery all the way around — and if the Democrats aren’t careful, they may come out as the biggest hacks of all.

A lot of things can be said about this scandal, but the notion that the Democrats might come out looking the worst is a particularly silly one (we’ll chalk it up to wishful thinking). This isn’t Monica Lewinsky and a blowjob they are aggressively pursuing- it is what looks to be the firing of several US Attornies for not using their offices as part of the Rove apparatus to defeat Democrats.

People get that. People understand why that is inherently wrong. And just in case they didn’t, here is fired USA David Iglesias in the NYT to explain it all to them in gory detail:

United States attorneys have a long history of being insulated from politics. Although we receive our appointments through the political process (I am a Republican who was recommended by Senator Pete Domenici), we are expected to be apolitical once we are in office. I will never forget John Ashcroft, then the attorney general, telling me during the summer of 2001 that politics should play no role during my tenure. I took that message to heart. Little did I know that I could be fired for not being political.

Politics entered my life with two phone calls that I received last fall, just before the November election. One came from Representative Heather Wilson and the other from Senator Domenici, both Republicans from my state, New Mexico.

Ms. Wilson asked me about sealed indictments pertaining to a politically charged corruption case widely reported in the news media involving local Democrats. Her question instantly put me on guard. Prosecutors may not legally talk about indictments, so I was evasive. Shortly after speaking to Ms. Wilson, I received a call from Senator Domenici at my home. The senator wanted to know whether I was going to file corruption charges — the cases Ms. Wilson had been asking about — before November. When I told him that I didn’t think so, he said, “I am very sorry to hear that,” and the line went dead.

A few weeks after those phone calls, my name was added to a list of United States attorneys who would be asked to resign — even though I had excellent office evaluations, the biggest political corruption prosecutions in New Mexico history, a record number of overall prosecutions and a 95 percent conviction rate. (In one of the documents released this week, I was deemed a “diverse up and comer” in 2004. Two years later I was asked to resign with no reasons given.)

When some of my fired colleagues — Daniel Bogden of Las Vegas; Paul Charlton of Phoenix; H. E. Cummins III of Little Rock, Ark.; Carol Lam of San Diego; and John McKay of Seattle — and I testified before Congress on March 6, a disturbing pattern began to emerge. Not only had we not been insulated from politics, we had apparently been singled out for political reasons. (Among the Justice Department’s released documents is one describing the office of Senator Domenici as being “happy as a clam” that I was fired.)

I am not sure how you can read that, observe what has happened over the past few weeks regarding this issue, and then say with a straight face:

“The Democrats better be careful or they might look like hacks.”

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38Comments

  1. 1.

    Mr Furious

    March 21, 2007 at 8:51 am

    I hope Iglesias really becomes the poster boy for this fiasco. Look at the guy and his record and reputation and it is laughable that he ws in any way “incompetent” or “underperforming.”

    Hell, I keep hearing that he was the inspiration for the Tom Cruise character in “A Few Good Men.”

    I cannot fathom a way that the Democrats look bad from this, unless the White House is setting them up with the greatest con since “The Sting”…

  2. 2.

    Slide

    March 21, 2007 at 9:03 am

    I agree John. Everytime the Dems actually do what Congress is supposed to do in its oversight responsibility, the hacks out there say that they are the one’s that better watch out. Every polll that I have seen however says that the American public want MORE oversight of the Executive branch which was totally absent with the Republican Congress.

    The littel petulant President is not going to intimidate the Dems from holding hearings and getting to the bottom of these issues no matter how much the right wingnuts wish it were so.

    Oh, interesting little thing about that 3,000 page dump by the DOJ, they seemed to have missed some emails as there is a three week gap in the emails released. And that three week period seems to be at the very most critical time right before the US Attorneys were dumped. Accident? Coinicidence? Anybody believe that? If you do, we have a bridge here in Brooklyn I might interest you in. thanks for Josh Marshall for his continuing coverage of this mess.

    Shades of Rose Mary Woods? An 18 day gap?

    I think a commenter in our document dump research thread may have been the first to notice that the emails released by the Justice Department seem to have a gap between November 15th and December 4th of last year.

    (Our commenter saw it late on the evening of the dump itself — see the comment date-stamped March 20, 2007 02:19 AM in the research thread)

    The firing calls went out on December 7th. But the original plan was to start placing the calls on November 15th. So those eighteen days are pretty key ones.

  3. 3.

    Otto Man

    March 21, 2007 at 9:04 am

    I love watching Rove and company complain that investigations of their dirty political maneuverings are just dirty political maneuverings from the Democrats. Poor Karl. Such a victim.

  4. 4.

    Mr Furious

    March 21, 2007 at 9:07 am

    Ed does make a good point however, and it’s the one thing that worries me…

    Unfortunately, that seems to be what the Democrats want — and it shows them overplaying their hand on the wrong issue. The termination of the attorneys involved did not break any laws, certainly not in the process used, and that’s all about which Rove and Miers will testify. A challenge to executive privilege would almost certainly fail without strong evidence of an actual crime; the courts will not tip the balance of power in Congress’ favor for a fishing expedition, especially when the executive branch offered a reasonable compromise.

    He’s right. I cannot think of any possible crime committed by Rove or Miers. None. Sworn testimony from them might be used against AG AG or other DOJ officials who might have lied to Congress, but there really is no crime here regaarding the actual purge.

    But that’s because he’s got me thinking solely about firing political appointees.

    What he’s forgetting or failing to mention is that if Leahy and the Dems really think they can make a case that the White House directed the firings to stop an investigation, that IS a crime. A serious one. If they can do that—they’re golden, and the WH is fucked. If not, the Dems won’t “look like the hacks” and the WH will look like they got away with one to the public. But the Dems will have screwed themselves by setting bad precedent for future investigations.

  5. 5.

    Mike

    March 21, 2007 at 9:14 am

    but there really is no crime here regaarding the actual purge.

    That remains to be seen. I read that it is against the law to get rid of them to stop an active investigation, sorry, on the way out to work so I can’t find it now, but the WH may well have broken the law if it can be proven that they got rid of, say, Carol Lam, to stop her investigation of Rep Jerry Lewis.

  6. 6.

    Jay C

    March 21, 2007 at 9:16 am

    John, you should know by now that one thing today’s Republican Party can still do well (one of the very few things) is the Coordinated Attack Campaign; and while the Mighty Wurlitzer may be starting to wheeze and leak at times: they still have a well-coordinated machine to get their spin out.
    And if anything is going to need to be spun, if the Bush Administration is to retain even a shred of any credibility whatsoever, it is the US Attorney-firing scandal, since it exposes the rotten politics-trumps-all core of the whole sleazy Bush/GOP machine. And about all they have left to do to save themselves is to try, frantically, to shift as much “blame” as possible onto the Democrats: spinning the whole mess as “just politics” – (we’ve seen the Proposerer-in-Chief try this approach already with his inane “address” last night); with the good old Nixonian stonewall as a backup position.

    The only problem with this approach is that, for once, (finally!) this country’s brain-dead media seems to have woken up and shaken off its reflexive fear of the Noise Machine, and has been following this sorry story with something approaching actual journalistic standards. Good for them: (although I think the next Woodward-&-Bernstein are likelier to come from the blogosphere than the “mainstream”) – “Capt. Ed”‘s warnings are correct, I think: Congressional Democrats will have to look out – for the (figurative) bodies of Republican hack officials jumping (or being tossed) out of the windows.

  7. 7.

    jenniebee

    March 21, 2007 at 9:35 am

    He’s right. I cannot think of any possible crime committed by Rove or Miers.

    See It Wasn’t Just a Bad Idea. It May Have Been Illegal

    What he has to say is that the possible lawbreaking starts with Domenici making the call in the first place (that’s obstruction), compounded by firing the prosecutors (illegal if it was done to influence what cases would be pursued and what would not), compounded with lying to Congress and Witness tampering after the fact.

    Meiers was obviously up to her neck in it – Sampson was exchanging email with her about it – and the signoff from the WH implicates Rove. That gives them a nice ol’ conspiring to obstruct problem.

  8. 8.

    Marcus Wellby

    March 21, 2007 at 9:44 am

    The only problem with this approach is that, for once, (finally!) this country’s brain-dead media seems to have woken up and shaken off its reflexive fear of the Noise Machine

    Oh really? I watched Hardball last night and at one point Matthews gushed about Bush’s “eloquent and forceful” speach. I watched Bush and he seemed either drunk or retarded — not even in the same universe as “eloquent”.

  9. 9.

    cleek

    March 21, 2007 at 9:47 am

    this is SOP for Special Ed. his typical MO is:

    1. blame the Democrats
    2. try to find a way to make #1 make sense while disregarding anything that might make a Republican look bad.

    he’s a hack

  10. 10.

    Moll Slanders

    March 21, 2007 at 10:04 am

    Oh really? I watched Hardball last night and at one point Matthews gushed about Bush’s “eloquent and forceful” speach. I watched Bush and he seemed either drunk or retarded—not even in the same universe as “eloquent”.

    And this surprises you? Have you not been watching the same wishy-washy Chris Matthews that I have for the past five years?

  11. 11.

    cd6

    March 21, 2007 at 10:04 am

    This story has set the all time blogospheric record for concern trolling

  12. 12.

    Baby Jane

    March 21, 2007 at 10:17 am

    “Go to B-Deck immediately! I repeat: Go to C-Deck immediately!”
    – The Magic Christian

  13. 13.

    Moll Slanders

    March 21, 2007 at 10:31 am

    “Go to B-Deck immediately! I repeat: Go to C-Deck immediately!” – The Magic Christian

    I love that! But then, sometimes I lie.

  14. 14.

    Andrew

    March 21, 2007 at 10:47 am

    I take back what I said about Ed not always being a douchebag of the highest order. He is always a douchebag of the highest order.

  15. 15.

    Pb

    March 21, 2007 at 10:49 am

    I watched Hardball last night and at one point Matthews gushed about Bush’s “eloquent and forceful” speach. I watched Bush and he seemed either drunk or retarded—not even in the same universe as “eloquent”.

    See, this is where context is required. I watch Chris Matthews, and he often strikes me as being either drunk or retarded. And you’d probably have to be pretty drunk and/or retarded to think that Bush is “eloquent and forceful” these days. So I see where Matthews is coming from on this one–and really, if I had to do his job every night–and deal with his guests–I’d probably be getting pretty drunk too.

  16. 16.

    Tsulagi

    March 21, 2007 at 10:54 am

    “The Democrats better be careful or they might look like hacks.”

    These guys never fail to deliver the comedy. The known truth channellers desperately clinging to “The Democrats would be worse” teddy bear. Captain Ed on deck saying we suck and we’re fucked, but don’t you other guys point that out too much. Jesus would weep. And that would make you a bad apple.

  17. 17.

    Davebo

    March 21, 2007 at 10:56 am

    Oh Please Captain!

    Whatever you do! Don’t throw me in that briar patch!

  18. 18.

    Krista

    March 21, 2007 at 10:56 am

    The entire issue shows political hackery all the way around—and if the Democrats aren’t careful, they may come out as the biggest hacks of all.

    Sadly, it’s taken this long for the Dems to not be suckered in by the concern trolling. Maybe they’re finally starting to learn that when a rightie says, “Oh, you guys shouldn’t do that!”, then that is EXACTLY what should be done.

  19. 19.

    Teak111

    March 21, 2007 at 11:03 am

    Da Captian has become irrelevant.

    –the govornator.

  20. 20.

    The Other Steve

    March 21, 2007 at 11:16 am

    I am not sure how you can read that, observe what has happened over the past few weeks regarding this issue, and then say with a straight face:

    “The Democrats better be careful or they might look like hacks.”

    It’s called projection. They do it all the time.

    What the Captain is saying here is that he looks like a hack by defending these guys.

  21. 21.

    Bruce Moomaw

    March 21, 2007 at 12:25 pm

    Obviously the White House had better dig up something Iglesias’ wife has done, fast.

  22. 22.

    Cyrus

    March 21, 2007 at 12:32 pm

    I will never forget John Ashcroft, then the attorney general, telling me during the summer of 2001 that politics should play no role during my tenure.

    It’s a very bizarre and unsettling feeling, being nostalgic for John Ashcroft. John “thinks he can sing” Ashcroft. John “cover up a piece of art because there’s a boob on it” Ashcroft. John “anoint himself with Crisco to get ready for political office” Ashcroft.

    But, apparently, John “rule of law” Ashcroft. Hold me.

    I seem to recall there was an earlier episode since Gonzales took over where Ashcroft looked good by comparison, wasn’t there? Maybe something about Ashcroft expressing doubts about the torture policy? It might not have been a separate scandal at all, just at the very beginning of this one, but I don’t think so.

    Moral of the story: yes, the Bush administration can get worse.

  23. 23.

    The Other Steve

    March 21, 2007 at 1:43 pm

    Obviously the White House had better dig up something Iglesias’ wife has done, fast.

    I heard she once sold Amway.

  24. 24.

    jill

    March 21, 2007 at 1:50 pm

    Right wingers and Republicans can say that the Dems may come out looking worse the same way they can say: Saddam had something to do with 9/11, Saddam had WMD, Saddam wouldn’t let the UN inpectors into Iraq, etc…

  25. 25.

    Richard 23

    March 21, 2007 at 2:49 pm

    This non-issue is going to blow up in the Democrat party’s face. I think Captain Ed is spot on as always.

    Can you say “overreach?” The Democrats are going to fall over and end up with a faceful of floor. Watch out for that banana peel!

  26. 26.

    Daniel DiRito

    March 21, 2007 at 2:53 pm

    Defining George Bush: Head…meet board.

    See a tongue-in-cheek visual of George Bush once again beating his head with a board…as he searches for the Holy Grail…here:

    http://www.thoughttheater.com

  27. 27.

    Kimmitt

    March 21, 2007 at 3:25 pm

    I know it’s rude to claim psychology on some folks, but JEEBUS, does the wingnut Right ever do anything but project?

  28. 28.

    BARRASSO

    March 21, 2007 at 3:35 pm

    We need some sort of political bookie to start making bushies put their money where their mouth is, if we could start betting on these scandals being “overreach” and whatnot we could bankrupt all these morons who still defend this administration.

  29. 29.

    Moll Slanders

    March 21, 2007 at 4:46 pm

    I know it’s rude to claim psychology on some folks, but JEEBUS, does the wingnut Right ever do anything but project?

    “No.”

    Next?

  30. 30.

    semper fubar

    March 21, 2007 at 5:42 pm

    I’m starting to miss Nixon.

  31. 31.

    Mikef

    March 21, 2007 at 10:16 pm

    I know that the idea of third parties is anathema to a lot of people, but this country needs people who honestly represent the views of liberals, moderates and conservatives. When I look at today’s Republican politicians, they seem to have the sole purpose of defending George Bush at all costs to their own integrity.

  32. 32.

    Mr Furious

    March 21, 2007 at 10:16 pm

    I seem to recall there was an earlier episode since Gonzales took over where Ashcroft looked good by comparison, wasn’t there? Maybe something about Ashcroft expressing doubts about the torture policy?

    Yeah and there was the time they tried to get his deputy to sign off on a bunch of warrantless wiretaps—while Ashcroft was in surgury! Not only did his eagle soar, he apparently had a few lines he wouldn’t cross for Bush.

  33. 33.

    Mikef

    March 21, 2007 at 10:20 pm

    Ashcroft also recused himself from the Plame investigation and appointed Patrick Fitzgerald in his place. I can’t see Gonzales doing that.

  34. 34.

    Cyrus

    March 22, 2007 at 7:42 am

    Mr Furious Says:

    Yeah and there was the time they tried to get his deputy to sign off on a bunch of warrantless wiretaps—while Ashcroft was in surgury! Not only did his eagle soar, he apparently had a few lines he wouldn’t cross for Bush.

    That’s the one I was thinking of. Thanks.

  35. 35.

    PeterJ

    March 22, 2007 at 3:06 pm

    Ashcroft looks good in comparison with Gonzales. You could compare him with a number of his precedessors and he would look like roadkill.

    This is important to remember.

    Also it says a lot about Gonzales.

  36. 36.

    Tulkinghorn

    March 23, 2007 at 7:17 am

    Forget Ashcroft. The question now is: Is Gonazales worse than Ed Meese?

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Cadillac Tight says:
    March 21, 2007 at 2:02 pm

    Approval of Congress back to 2006 levels

    It’s tempting to be really snarky with this one, as the Democrats certainly deserve the snark. I’m more interested in the effect this is going to have on the President’s approval ratings, though. I could be way off base here,…

  2. The Fat Guy » Blog Archive » The says:
    March 21, 2007 at 9:02 pm

    […] Funny stuff from ex-doorwalker Cole (there’s nothing that approaches the hate of a scorned lover): A lot of things can be said about this scandal, but the notion that the Democrats might come out looking the worst is a particularly silly one (we’ll chalk it up to wishful thinking). […]

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