Investigate Political Firing of U.S. Attorneys

Adam Cohen has featured a news story in his NY Times editorial which we cannot afford to bury, that U.S. attorneys are being fired by the Bush administration to allow cronies to be appointed as replacements by the Bushites, thanks to a little known provision in the Patriot Act. Liberal radio is talking about it, Senator Chuck Schumer is on it, but we have to spread the news and demand action. Otherwise the Bushites will purge those who would prosecute them for all of their criminal activitities. Read the story by clicking the title link above, but here is the beginning:

Why Have So Many U.S. Attorneys Been Fired? It Looks a Lot Like Politics
by Adam Cohen

Carol Lam, the former United States attorney for San Diego, is smart and tireless and was very good at her job. Her investigation of Representative Randy Cunningham resulted in a guilty plea for taking more than $2 million in bribes from defense contractors and a sentence of more than eight years. Two weeks ago, she indicted Kyle Dustin Foggo, the former No. 3 official in the C.I.A. The defense-contracting scandal she pursued so vigorously could yet drag in other politicians.

In many Justice Departments, her record would have won her awards, and perhaps a promotion to a top post in Washington. In the Bush Justice Department, it got her fired.

Ms. Lam is one of at least seven United States attorneys fired recently under questionable circumstances. The Justice Department is claiming that Ms. Lam and other well-regarded prosecutors like John McKay of Seattle, David Iglesias of New Mexico, Daniel Bogden of Nevada and Paul Charlton of Arizona — who all received strong job evaluations — performed inadequately.

It is hard to call what’s happening anything other than a political purge. And it’s another shameful example of how in the Bush administration, everything — from rebuilding a hurricane-ravaged city to allocating homeland security dollars to invading Iraq — is sacrificed to partisan politics and winning elections.

U.S. attorneys have enormous power. Their decision to investigate or indict can bankrupt a business or destroy a life. They must be, and long have been, insulated from political pressures. Although appointed by the president, once in office they are almost never asked to leave until a new president is elected. The Congressional Research Service has confirmed how unprecedented these firings are. It found that of 486 U.S. attorneys confirmed since 1981, perhaps no more than three were forced out in similar ways — three in 25 years, compared with seven in recent months. MORE

On a personal note: My move looms but politics and political action must be allowed a little time.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

Wolman: "Why Impeachment is Urgent"

Congress is conducting 52 investigations involving George W. Bush. Don't tell me that Nancy Pelosi really has impeachment off the table. Let's tell her to put it quickly back on the table before the son of a Bush and his Rasputin create any more havoc. I do not need to re-create the wheel. OpEdNews.com features Carol Wolman's excellent article on the subject. Read it -- and ACT to save what is left of our world and our republic:

Bush and Cheney pay no heed to the will of We the People, as we expressed it in last November's election.

We the People want to get out of Iraq; Bush responds with a "surge", and a plan to escalate to 70,000 troops by year's end. We the People want attention to global warming, Bush ignores it. And so forth.

The recent skirmish with Congress over the "surge" shows that Bush still holds the trump card; his Senate Republicans, barely in the minority, can filibuster any legislation that would slow him down.... (MORE)

Thanks for whatever you can do for real peace and true justice -- and for an America of "We the People".

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

"Money Trumps Peace Sometimes"

Say, what, George Bush? In yesterday's press conference he actually admitted that his war machine operates to feed industry: the military-industrial complex of which Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us to beware. Both Air America Radio's Randi Rhodes and Rachel Maddow were stressing Bush's frank, albeit sighing, admission. If you can get podcast copies of their 02/15/07 shows, listen to them. I'm going to add those podcasts to my AAR to-keep file.

Both Randi and Rachel were putting stronger emphasis on New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential candidacy. Since John Edwards campaign has failed to get back to my email and voice message on the Iran question, perhaps I should explore Bill Richardson more. We can't keep having money trumping peace, either from Republicans or Democrats. Ike was right.

I just googled for the print reference:

Q: A lot of our allies in Europe do a lot of business with Iran. So I wonder what your thoughts are about how you further tighten the financial pressure on Iran, in particular, if it also means economic pain for a lot of our allies.

BUSH: It's an interesting question. One of the problems, not specifically on this issue, just in general, that -- let's put it this way: Money trumps peace, sometimes.

In other words, commercial interests are very powerful interests throughout the world. And part of the issue in convincing people to put sanctions on a specific country is to convince them that it's in the world's interest that they forego their own financial interest.

And that's why sometimes it's tough to get tough economic sanctions on countries, and I'm not making any comment about any particular country, but you touched on a very interesting point.

My God, Bush does speak the truth sometimes, his truth anyway.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan wrote a wonderful response to Bush's comment. Read it, please.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne

John McCain vs. John McCain

"Straight talk" - hear McCain's "flip-flopping" -- but what do we expect from the person who helped pass the torture bill that also plays havoc with habeas corpus. Whatever credibility John McCain once had is throroughly smashed. This clip is from Brave New Films, Robert Greenwald's company -- worth viewing and sharing.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne