The Associated Press reports it has learned Interior Secretary Gale Norton

[wakeme2008]

will announce her resignation today. CNN working to confirm.


CNN Breaking www.cnn.com

[FredStembottom]

1. More with the fleeing!.......Lady, Laaaadddyyyyyy!!!!

n/t

[Benhurst]

2. And I hope her card will read

"Go straight to jail, do not pass GO, do not collect $200."

[WhiteTara]

54. one step ahead of the FBI

who are going to ask some tough questions about her involvement in the fleecing of the tribes. Abramoff, Reed, Norquist and Griles made some big bucks off that deal.

[CottonBear]

3. Good riddance. I'm sure * will appoint someone even worse than Norton.

(Is it possible to find a worse candidate? I suppose he might bring back James "No Beach Boys COncert on the Mall" Watt.) :(

[sofa king]

62. Think he's got the balls to name Italia Federici?

Typically, the Bush Administration tries to replace people in sensitive positions with other people familiar with the criminal underhandedness that's already been going on there. That's why there hasn't actually been a Native American in the post of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs for the past two years (which might well be a violation of the law itself).

In that respect, Federici is eminently qualified for the job. Another candidate might be that guy Jack Abramoff had appointed to the Office of Insular Affairs. A third candidate might be some corporate executive from a chemical, mining, or oil company. Whatever the case, all nominees must have "demonstrated support for the President," which means "donor to the Bush Campaign," and possibly also, "played bottom for one of Jeff Guckert's expositions in the Oval Office."

On edit: I should make an alternate prediction. The nominee will be C. Kevin McArthur, President, Director, and CEO of Glamis Gold. He's the one guy who might still be able to cover up this crime, which has the potential to sink the entire Presidency.

[NYC]

69. I just noticed your name.

http://www.boners.com/grub/795435.html

[DainBramaged]

4. Frog March time

[Squatch]

5. Raping American wild lands can get tiring, yano?

[DainBramaged]

6. I bet she gets indicted

[hang a left]

32. It is very likely

Safavian resigned on a Friday and was indicted that Monday. However there wasn't all the media attention.

[earthboundmisfit]

8. Why, yes, it must be exhausting - especially when you're also busy

stealing from that land's indigenous people.

[pinniped]

7. Go directly to hell for crimes against the Earth.

POS.

LOL. It appears we all wish her well.

[onehandle]

9. Forced to "spend time with her family"?

A fate worse than death in the Bushiverse.

[Lugnut]

10. Norton expected to resign as Interior secretary

I apologize if this is a duplicate. I just heard the report on CNN.

snippet:

Interior Secretary Gale Norton was expected to announce Friday that she is resigning from President Bush's Cabinet, ending a five-year run that included frequent clashes with environmentalists and American Indian tribes.

Norton, the first woman ever to serve in the job, was expected to make the announcement Friday afternoon, according to a source who requested anonymity.

From the start, Norton, a former Colorado attorney general, has been considered one of Bush's most loyal foot soldiers, using the position overseeing vast tracts of federal land and tribal areas to increase energy exploration.

She faced fierce opposition from environmentalists, and in the early days of the Bush administration, it looked as if she would be one of the most divisive figures in the Cabinet.

http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=GALENORTON-03-10-06&cat=WW

[FredStembottom]

11. Run Run Run......Run Awaaaay......

[acmavm]

12. As another woman I feel I must say that this wretch is what

all women have been trying to live down since immediately after the days of the primeval ooze.

Good to see her go. Hope she gets the future she deserves.

[quiet.american]

13. No doubt to "spend more time with her family." n/t

[Vinca]

14. Has she been connected to Abramoff? nt

[Lexingtonian]

16. yup

And the over $100 billion fraud mining companies have perpetrated on Indians, which she tried to cover up.

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. The were both on Bush's transition team for the Interior Dept

along with Roger Stone.

[NYC]

70. Abramoff had the Coushatta donate $50,000 to her foundation.

That's just one thing I remember.

Today's article from Truth Out. (Doesn't say much.)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031006A.shtml

Norton told associates she wanted to return to private life in Colorado, the source said.

One of the architects of Bush's energy policy, Norton eased regulations to speed approval of drilling permits, particularly in New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming's Powder River Basin. She also was the administration's biggest advocate for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Alaska's North Slope to oil drilling.

[Pirate Smile]

15. Do I smell Abramoff somewhere around this? sniff, sniff.

[xynthee]

41. see Raw Story article

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Interior_Secretary_to_resign_Ties_to_0310.html

snip:

Interior Secretary Gale Norton will resign today, the Associated Press has confirmed. Norton, photographed at left with fallen conservative lobbyist Jack Abramoff, was fingered in deals with Native American tribes that Abramoff represented. The photograph at left was released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
Advertisement

Abramoff's tribal clients donated $50,000 to a conservative environmental group founded by Norton, hoping to win face time with the Secretary. They eventually did.

Former DeLay chief of staff Tony Rudy helped Abramoff arrange a meeting with Norton, and within months, the lobbyist's clients were making huge contributions to the environmental group Norton started, the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy.

“Do you think you could call that friend and set up a meeting?” then-DeLay staffer Tony Rudy asked fellow House aide Thomas Pyle in a Dec. 29, 2000, e-mail obtained by the Associated Press titled “Gale Norton-Interior Secretary.” President Bush had nominated Norton to his cabinet the day before.

[Squatch]

17. I'm sure her replacement will do a heckuva job

[Renew Deal]

49. Are you suggesting...

Brownie? :loveya:

[brooklynite]

18. ...frequent clashes with Indian tribes?

You know, I seem to remember reading something about Indian tribes in the paper recently. I wonder if that could have anything to do with her decision?

[rodeodance]

19. considered one of Bush's most loyal foot soldiers,.....

.......From the start, Norton, a former Colorado attorney general, has been considered one of Bush's most loyal foot soldiers, using the position overseeing vast tracts of federal land and tribal areas to increase energy exploration.

She faced fierce opposition from environmentalists, and in the early days of the Bush administration, it looked as if she would be one of the most divisive figures in the Cabinet.

[rodeodance]

21. look--McCain stood by her ---Abrmoff stuff.

..... Meanwhile, in 2005, Norton's name was raised during an investigation into lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was accused of bilking Indian tribes out of millions of dollars while they sought favorable Interior Department decisions on tribal lands and casinos.

During a federal investigation, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee uncovered e-mails suggesting that a one-time Norton associate, Italia Federici, tried to act as a conduit for Abramoff, helping arrange meetings with Norton or her former top deputy, Steve Griles, and passing information back and forth.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and chairman of the Indian Affairs Committee, repeatedly told reporters that he found no evidence that Norton had done anything wrong, but Norton still faced uncomfortable scrutiny.

Norton also faced challenges none of her predecessors could have imagined. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Norton had to shift some of her focus - and budget resources - to repairing a damaged national landmark in New York City and to beefing up security at landmarks she oversees, including the Statue of Liberty.

[fishwax]

45. good riddance!

:toast:

[Squatch]

22. Breaking on CNN: Gale Norton to announce resignation today.

Link

[mattclearing]

23. About six years too late.n/t

[edbermac]

24. ABANDON SHIP!!!

The SS Bush is going down...and all the rats are the first ones off...

[onehandle]

25. Forced to "spend time with her family"?

A fate worse than death in the Bushiverse.

[Kolesar]

26. Now? When she is at the zenith of her planet-destroying power?

Maybe she has a disabling illness. A painful, disabling illness.

[eppur_se_muova]

64. Ever the optimist, are you? nt

[LisaM]

27. Why? Has she done all the harm that she can?

Is every open space now open for gashing out wells, snowmobiles, unabated logging, and is all the water safe for unlimited JetSkiing?

[NVMojo]

28. Wonder if the Abramoff investigation is closing in on her?

[opihimoimoi]

31. Most Likey a reason

[caligirl]

33. she got fitz'd

[opihimoimoi]

57. Yup, she can run but she cannot hide, lol

[sofa king]

65. There are other possible reasons.

She's been lying to Congress and evading their inquiries since virtually the day she was confirmed. I used to have to cover her hearings, and they were some of the most annoying hearings I ever attended, because she wouldn't answer any reasonable question. When confronted with specific questions about Interior mismanagement, Norton had a stock answer: "um, I'll have to get back to you on that," she would say every time. Once, I caught two Senators shaking their heads in disgust at the same time as she trundled out that tired old answer.

She has a lot to answer for. Here are a few of the truly awful things she's been responsible for which I personally witnessed and reported on:

Turning a Quechan tribe sacred site into a strip mine. We know that Abramoff's boy J. Steven Griles was behind this one, but Norton was the one who approved it. She's been evasive about giving an answer on that subject ever since.

Putting the hit on the Oglala Sioux. The Oglalas turned out in unprecedented numbers to return Tim Johnson to the Senate in 2002. Three months later, the President's budget blueprint for FY '04 proposed to cut funding for a water pipeline (the Mni Wiconi Project) to the Pine Ridge reservation by 80 percent (most of the Oglala Sioux do not have running potable water). The budget blueprint justified the cuts by the use of an analysis program which, as best I can tell, was never used before or since. The Oglalas were livid, and demanded to see the justification. Norton wouldn't release it, and as far as I can tell, it doesn't exist. At the time, I begged anyone who would listen to look into this, as it was obviously a political hit. Unfortunately, nobody gives a fuck about the Indians.

Forcing out the Special Trustee. America has mismanaged and stolen billions of dollars of Indian money held in trust for them by the United States. The Special Trustee, a decent chap named Tom Slonaker, clashed with Norton over her efforts to evade Judge Royce Lamberth's demands for better security and a full accounting of the mismanagement. Rather than meet the demands of the court, Norton threatened to fire Slonaker, and eventually forced him out of the job. I have long contended that this is because the Bush Administration (and Jack Abramoff) were using the Indian Trust Fund as a slush fund. Interestingly enough, Royce Lamberth--a genuine Boy Scout--also presided over the double-secret FISA court, but left that position in 2002, roughly the same time that Slonaker was fired.

The wheels of justice are turning agonizingly slow, but I think I'm beginning to see things turning in the direction of the absolute worst nightmare we could possibly have: I think that Gale Norton presided over the theft of the remnant of Indian funds in the possession of the government, billions of dollars, and enriched her anti-environmental corporate buddies at the expense of our common heritage. Only now, five years later, is she in danger of being caught for it.

[Kolesar]

66. Wow. Great writing.

Pop some of that stuff over in the E&E forum when it comes up, please.

[rodeodance]

30. Luv the raising a cheer glass.

[Greeby]

29. She must've done a heckuva job, eh?

;)

[sharp_stick]

34. May she fall into a newly opened strip mine or

walk into the path of a logging truck. Skanky POS should be in prison, good riddance to her she can go straight to hell.

[coalition_unwilling]

56. How about a prolonged and painful case of lead poisioning, as

she earned her bones for the Crime Family as a lead industry lobbyist.

[KyuzoGator]

35. So which violinists do you think will be left on the deck of the Titanic?

My guess is it will be Rove and Bush, all by their lonesomes.

[glitch]

36. Resigning won't save your ass Gale. Maybe you should emigrate.

But who would take you? To all bushbots: see your fate.

[ThomCat]

37. So which corporation is hiring her to destroy Native American

lands and people?

[seemslikeadream]

38. private military contractors Abu Ghraib were hired by Interior Department

http://publicintegrity.org/wow/report.aspx?aid=361
When the Center for Public Integrity first published its report on contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan in October 2003, CACI did not appear on any lists of contracts provided by the Army. This may be due to the number of agencies often involved in the contracting process. CACI's work orders, for example, are funded by the Army but were awarded through the Department of the Interior, which used a General Services Administration contract designed for information technology purchases.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1674770#1675038

[wordpix2]

39. good riddance, Gale you BigOil whore

[El Supremo]

40. Denver Post: Gale Norton to resign from Cabinet

Norton's tenure was also marked by repeated ethical controversies. Norton cleared her top deputy,former lobbyist J. Steven Griles, after her inspector general said his conduct showed that the department's ethics system was "a train wreck waiting to happen." Griles is now under investigation for allegations that he did the bidding of convicted Indian casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Norton is still supporting him.

Abramoff also funneled more than $500,000 to one of Norton's former political aides, Italia Federici, to gain access to her department, which makes key decisions about which tribes can open casinos. Norton said she had no qualms about Federici's activities.

http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_3589533

[TacticalPeek]

42. Photographic evidence:

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/03/10/another-abramoff-casualty/


If you're gonna screw over the tribes, then you need Norton in the bag.

[NVMojo]

43. "new goals in the private sector!" Oil? Gas? Lobbying?

[BootinUp]

44. She's still there?

I thought she left over a year ago. :shrug:

[Lindsay]

47. It does get tough to tell the BushBot criminals apart

after a while, doesn't it?

[NV Whino]

46. !!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:


But, now we have to worry whom her replacement might be. :hide:

[Up2Late]

48. I guess her job was cutting into her Book Tour schedule, expect someone...

...who's no better, and probably much worst.

[Roland99]

50. Wonder who the replacement will be? Some mining company exec?

[Kolesar]

68. There have to be hearings for a cabinet-level position

We should demonstrate at the Capitol when those occur.

[tex-wyo-dem]

51. Good riddance...

Just another neo-con crony crook who's allowed big energy to rape the west...particularly in the Rockies.

Thanks for being the good steward of the land that Interior Secretary is supposed to be, Gale :sarcasm:

Now, why don't you go take a short leap...

[librechik]

60. She'll run for Governor of Colorado--so not so fast with the riddance

unfortunately for Colorado...

[katinmn]

52. After selling out the environment there's nothing left for her to do!

One of the architects of Bush's energy policy, Norton eased regulations to speed approval of drilling permits, particularly in New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming's Powder River Basin. She also was the administration's biggest advocate for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on Alaska's North Slope to oil drilling.

[goforit]

53. What is she running from? Where is she gonna hide? Will we find her?

We will never forget!!!!

Satan's servant!!!

[Jara sang]

55. Sorry Gale, resigning is not going to absolve you of your sins.

You are going down you corporatist bitch!

[tonekat]

58. Wait Gale....there's still a few trees left standing! n/t

[seafan]

59. "Now I feel it is time for me to leave this mountain you gave me to climb"

U.S. Interior Secretary Norton Resigns
From Associated Press
10:26 AM PST, March 10, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Interior Secretary Gale Norton resigned today after five years in President Bush's Cabinet and at a time when her agency is part of a lobbying scandal over Indian gaming licenses.

In a letter to Bush, Norton said she the resignation would be effective at the end of March.

"Now I feel it is time for me to leave this mountain you gave me to climb, catch my breath, then set my sights on new goals to achieve in the private sector," she said in the two-page resignation letter.

Norton, who turns 52 on Saturday, said she and her husband "hope to end up closer to the mountains we love in the West."

snip

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-031006norton_wr,0,4482110.story?coll=la-home-headlines


Yeah, I hear they have some openings on a chained, rock-busting crew near
*your* mountains.

"...it is time for me to leave this mountain you gave me to climb..."

It is REALLY SCARY how they bow down to Lord *.

[Raine]

61. Another rat deserting

a sinking ship! :nuke:

[4_Legs_Good]

63. Gayle Norton was the only member of the Administration I kinda liked

She seemed an odd pick for George Jr., but maybe I'm missing too much of her more recent history.

Norton was deeply involved in the Condor recovery program back in the '80s, and it's one of my all time favorite programs, so I haven't been able to quite get a grasp of why she was chosen and what she's been doing. Her comments on the recovery program and the assassination of AC-8 to this day have been good.

I'm afraid I've probably missed the larger picture, but I think I'd rather have her as Secretary of the Interior than anyone else George Jr. is likely to choose.



david

[sofa king]

67. You didn't see her at work.

People inside of the Department of the Interior took to calling her "The AntiChrist." See my post above for a few specific examples, but you'll have to take my word for it that things equally bad were being pushed out of her office every single week since she's held her position. Her job has quite literally been undoing a century's worth of work to preserve and protect our nation's natural resources.

But you're probably right that the President will try to appoint someone even worse. If he does, it will be yet another parallel with the historical model which his government appears to be following like a schoolkid's connect-the-dots book. Few people can remember who the Minister of the Interior was for Nazi Germany prior to the bomb plot of 1944.

After that, it was Heinrich Himmler.

[autorank]

71. Norton Midwife's "End of the World" Mission Accomplished n/t