More bad news for the Bush administration and Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. Two weeks ago he maintained the firings of those US attorneys was handled by people below him and that he didn't know about them until afterwards.
Now more emails have surfaced, including some that prove Gonzalez himself was heavily involved in the firings. Again, this raises the question: If the Bush people have nothing to hide, then why do their stories keep changing?
Defenders of the President rely heavily on two arguments: First, that there is no evidence anything illegal occurred.
Well, true. But isn't that the whole point of an "investigation?" To find IF something illegal had occurred? After all, if you already the proof that, yes, a crime had been committed, then you wouldn't need the damn investigation to begin with, would you?
Admittedly, George W. Bush has a great deal of difficulty with the English language, so perhaps he simply doesn't understand what an "investigation" is. Perhaps Karl Rove could explain it to him. That way, if he truly has nothing to hide, then he can allow his aides to testify under oath.
Secondly, some have pointed out that US Attorneys are appointed by the President and serve at his pleasure. And yes, that is true.... To a point. That does NOT mean that the President can fire these people either in an effort to block certain investigations, or in retribution for prosecuting other members of the President's political party.
And therein lies the rub: One of the fired prosecutors was Carol Lam, who wversaw the indictment and conviction of Republican Congressman Randall "Duke" Cunningham for accepting millions of dollars in bribes.
Another prosecutor who was fired was John McKay of Washington state. Two years ago he decided against bringing voter fraud charges in a close governor's race that was ultimately won by a democrat. That particular firing is under especially close scrutiny because White House officials had questioned his political loyalties three months before he was given the boot.
Former news anchor Dan Rather recently appeared on Bill Maher's show and gave what is a concise and clear terms just why this uproar over the prosecutors is such a big deal. It runs 4 minutes and 48 seconds, and it's worth watching.
Now more emails have surfaced, including some that prove Gonzalez himself was heavily involved in the firings. Again, this raises the question: If the Bush people have nothing to hide, then why do their stories keep changing?
Defenders of the President rely heavily on two arguments: First, that there is no evidence anything illegal occurred.
Well, true. But isn't that the whole point of an "investigation?" To find IF something illegal had occurred? After all, if you already the proof that, yes, a crime had been committed, then you wouldn't need the damn investigation to begin with, would you?
Admittedly, George W. Bush has a great deal of difficulty with the English language, so perhaps he simply doesn't understand what an "investigation" is. Perhaps Karl Rove could explain it to him. That way, if he truly has nothing to hide, then he can allow his aides to testify under oath.
Secondly, some have pointed out that US Attorneys are appointed by the President and serve at his pleasure. And yes, that is true.... To a point. That does NOT mean that the President can fire these people either in an effort to block certain investigations, or in retribution for prosecuting other members of the President's political party.
And therein lies the rub: One of the fired prosecutors was Carol Lam, who wversaw the indictment and conviction of Republican Congressman Randall "Duke" Cunningham for accepting millions of dollars in bribes.
Another prosecutor who was fired was John McKay of Washington state. Two years ago he decided against bringing voter fraud charges in a close governor's race that was ultimately won by a democrat. That particular firing is under especially close scrutiny because White House officials had questioned his political loyalties three months before he was given the boot.
Former news anchor Dan Rather recently appeared on Bill Maher's show and gave what is a concise and clear terms just why this uproar over the prosecutors is such a big deal. It runs 4 minutes and 48 seconds, and it's worth watching.
Meanwhile, a new poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans support having White House aides testify about the firings under oath.
Yeah, like that's going to matter. This administration continues to piss on the will of the American people when it comes to Iraq, and it shows no hesitancy about continuing to send our sons and daughters to die in a conflict built entirely on lies. Why the hell should Bush start caring about public opinion now?
Yeah, like that's going to matter. This administration continues to piss on the will of the American people when it comes to Iraq, and it shows no hesitancy about continuing to send our sons and daughters to die in a conflict built entirely on lies. Why the hell should Bush start caring about public opinion now?
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