(Former Senator Peter) Fitzgerald: Rove tried to limit choice

[babylonsister]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0703140213mar14,1,2314396.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Fitzgerald: Rove tried to limit choice

By Andrew Zajac
Washington Bureau
Published March 14, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Former Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-Ill.) said Tuesday that White House political adviser Karl Rove told him in the spring of 2001 that he should limit his choice for U.S. attorney in Chicago to someone from Illinois.

According to Fitzgerald, who was determined to bring in a prosecutor from outside the state, Rove "just said we don't want you going outside the state. We don't want to be moving U.S. attorneys around."

Fitzgerald said he believes Rove was trying to influence the selection in reaction to pressure from Rep. Dennis Hastert, then speaker of the House, and allies of then-Gov. George Ryan, who knew Fitzgerald was seeking someone from outside Illinois to attack political corruption.

Fitzgerald said he announced his choice, Patrick Fitzgerald (no relation), a New Yorker, on May 13, a Mother's Day Sunday, to pre-empt any opposition.

A year or so later, according to Peter Fitzgerald, Rove "said to me that Fitzgerald appointment got great headlines for you, but it ticked off the base." Peter Fitzgerald said he believes the "base" was Illinois Republican insiders upset at the prosecutor's assault on corruption.

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[DemKR]

1. Well, kudos to him for being honest, Rove's a pig nt

[gratuitous]

2. The Elephant soars above the Eagle

Everything this administration has done, from Day One, has been in service of political considerations. Nothing is done that hasn't been vetted to a fare-thee-well as to whether it pleases or displeases the most power-mad, paranoid, thin-skinned segment of the Republican base, and they have an opinion on everything, right down to whether you have your morning eggs scrambled or over easy.

The Illinois Republican party was completely rotted from corruption, and someone from outside the state's party structure was needed to work through all the malfeasance. Rove and the Bush White House would have none of it if they could help it, though, and this story simply bears further witness to their dedication to political maneuvering over the good of the country. Bush is so worried about his place in history, and historians will hold their noses at the stink of political demagoguery that permeates every last second of this misbegotten administration.

Which is good news for U.S. Grant, Warren Harding and Herbert Hoover.