GREAT LTTE comparing Gonzalez and PhiLL

[proud2BlibKansan]

Kline, Gonzales firings

The parallels between Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline’s firing of seven assistant district attorneys and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ firing of a like number of U.S. attorneys are frightening.

Here we have the nation’s and Johnson County’s top justice officials, both unelected by the people, firing qualified and proven prosecutors for political purposes.

In Johnson County, Mr. Kline is thumbing his nose at the citizens who overwhelmingly fired him during the last election and, of course, is attempting to punish Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison for his blowout victory over Kline in November.

Mr. Gonzales’ approach is clearly meant to circumvent Senate oversight of U.S. attorney appointments. The attorney general’s latest purge comes on the heels of several high-profile convictions of Republican legislators, with more indictments soon to come.

Their actions demonstrate a disregard for fairness and justice, which ought to be the guiding principals of their respective offices.

Fortunately, there is a bright light at the end of a two-year tunnel, when both Kline and Gonzales will be forced to end their mockery of justice and democracy. In the interim, we should look for ways to fire these guys sooner.

Ted Steinmeyer

Leawood

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/opinion/local1/16936402.htm