Krugman: Travesty of Justice (Ashcroft plus Siebel Edmunds case)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/15/opinion/15KRUG.html?pagewanted=print&position=

No question: John Ashcroft is the worst attorney general in history.

For this column, let's just focus on Mr. Ashcroft's role in the fight against terror. Before 9/11 he was aggressively uninterested in the terrorist threat. He didn't even mention counterterrorism in a May 2001 memo outlining strategic priorities for the Justice Department. When the 9/11 commission asked him why, he responded by blaming the Clinton administration, with a personal attack on one of the commission members thrown in for good measure.

We can't tell directly whether Mr. Ashcroft's post 9/11 policies are protecting the United States from terrorist attacks. But a number of pieces of evidence suggest otherwise.

First, there's the absence of any major successful prosecutions. The one set of convictions that seemed fairly significant — that of the "Detroit 3" — appears to be collapsing over accusations of prosecutorial misconduct. (The lead prosecutor has filed a whistle-blower suit against Mr. Ashcroft, accusing him of botching the case. The Justice Department, in turn, has opened investigations against the prosecutor. Payback? I report, you decide.)

Then there is the lack of any major captures. Somewhere, the anthrax terrorist is laughing. But the Justice Department, you'll be happy to know, is trying to determine whether it can file bioterrorism charges against a Buffalo art professor whose work includes harmless bacteria in petri dishes.

[Booster]

1. Thanks for posting this.

Why in the world hasn't this joke of a man been fired - Ashcroft, that is, not Krugman. This one man is making a mockery of Congress and I can't believe they act like they don't know what to do about it. It just feels like we're doomed and everything's hopeless. God, I'm so embarrassed for them and us.

[Dr.Phool]

2. About as bad as it gets

When you're the worst Attorney General ever, that means you're lower than pond scum such as Edwin Meese, and John Mitchell. Even lower than the most inept, Reagans first AG, William French Smith.

[acmavm]

3. The New York Times has finally realized something that we've already

known for over three years? Where have they been? Oh, I remember. Kissing the bush* administration's ass.

Funny, they're part of the reason we're in this fix. And now they've decided to inform us on the obvious fact that Asscroft in a criminal idiot. If they hadn't given these bastards as pass on all the stuff they've pulled so far, maybe the arrogant bastards wouldn't have gotten so brazen and out-of-control.

If bush* hadn't given Asscroft a job, he would be just some crazed fundy nobody ranting without an audience. And if organizations like the New York Times hadn't covered for bush* during the election and the aftermath, out poor country wouldn't be an internation pariah. The only redeeming feature of all this is maybe, just maybe, it will open the eyes of some of those who are sitting on the fence trying to decide who to vote for in November.

[hlthe2b]

4. well, there's the NYT and then there is Krugman.....

Krugman has been sane the entire time and echoing everything we have noted and said (although often in a more eloquent way)....

Krugman is the main reason I still read NYT...

[cybildisobedience]

7. that's right

fair is fair -- Krugman has been all over this administration like white on rice. The ONLY thing I credit the NY Times for in the first three years of this administration is allowing Krugman's words to appear on their pages.
Beyond that, their dereliction of duty has been close to criminal.

[patriotvoice]

8. Impossible: "The NY Times leads the charge of media's strong liberal bias"

I hear that frequently.

:puke:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Remember

Ashcroft lost an election to a dead man. That ought to say a lot about how the people of Missouri view him.

[bklyncowgirl]

6. Great article!

Ashcroft isn't just a right wing ideologue.

He's a screw up.

I love Paul Krugman!

[patriotvoice]

9. I know why he still has a job.

He's the best vocalist Attorney General we've ever had.

:puke:

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Another excellent piece by Krugman

Long after the junta is ousted, Krugman will be regarded as one of those who in this time stood against tyranny.