DEM Senators To Gonzales: WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU

[kpete]

Dem Senators to Gonzales: Purge Was "Clumsy"
By Paul Kiel - March 8, 2007, 10:57 AM

In a letter sent to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this morning, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) charged that the evidence available regarding the administration's purge of eight U.S. Attorneys showed that "the intent was to replace some of these U.S. Attorneys with others who might be more politically-connected."

March 8, 2007
The Honorable Alberto Gonzales
Attorney General of the United States
United States Justice Department
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Attorney General Gonzales:

This letter is to express our strong disappointment with how your Department has handled the cases of eight U.S. Attorneys who have been asked to resign over the past few months, and to take issue with a number of assertions you made in an op-ed in yesterday’s USA Today.

We have come to believe that this was a clumsy effort to force these U.S. Attorneys out for reasons that have little or nothing to do with their performance as prosecutors....

While the President has the right to fire U.S. Attorneys, we do not believe the American people are best served if the President chooses to fire U.S. Attorneys for political reasons – whether to put in place young ideologues or because he is displeased with the cases the U.S. Attorney is pursuing.

We strongly believe that if a President chooses to fire U.S. Attorneys for any reason, but especially for political reasons, he should explain and justify his decision.

Both senators urged Gonzales to support legislation that would undo last year's change to the law and again ensure that U.S. Attorneys undergo Senate confirmation.


The letter in full:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002706.php

[halobeam]

1. k & r

[Richard Steele]

2. And another.

[solara]

3. k&r

[AndyA]

4. The change to the law last year, hidden in the Patriot Act was a disgrace

that needs to be changed. I'm surprised how many Congress critters say they had no knowledge of this little part of the Patriot Act. I guess they don't feel like they need to read this stuff before they vote on it.

They'll just take the White House's word on it, they'd never lie, right? :eyes:

[bullimiami]

10. bills should be short and to the point.

the whole process is a disgrace.
the fact thap people voted for it without reading it is an absolute abdication of their responsibilities.

[Lasher]

11. This provision was slipped in by one of Specter's ultra rightwing staffers late in the game

It was intentionally done so that nobody would notice until it was too late. I've heard that Specter didn't know either, but in another version I heard that he did.

I'm sure this staffer was acting on instructions from the White House. Just look at how they've jumped all over it to install their zealots.

[AndyA]

15. I had also heard Specter didn't know about it, and expressed surprise.

But, I'm not really sure what to believe when it comes to Arlen. He plays the game with the best of them.

It's disgraceful that the justice department has become so politicized.

[w4rma]

24. If Arlen Spector was so surprised, he should have fired that underhanded "staffer". (nt)

[Larry Allen]

27. Expressing surprise is a required skill for all U.S. Senators.

[formercia]

16. Don't these people have software to compare changes?

All bills need to be scanned and compared to make sure changes aren't slipped-in at the last minute before a vote.

..and while they're at it, legislation needs to be passed to apply heavy criminal penalties to anyone who does it.

All it takes is a slight change in wording to completely alter the intent of the original documnet.

[Lasher]

20. Amen, formercia, amen!

This was subversion. Any act of deceit like this to 'slip' something into legislation so that it will be passed without the knowlege of Congress should be heavily punished. And further, every provision that gets through like this should be declared null and void.

Lasher

[formercia]

22. on the other hand

there are those who might slip in changes just to void legislation. It needs to be addressed promptly.

perhaps one of these days I can check my own documents to make sure the spelling is correct.

[Bandit]

5. Gonzales response

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: What ya gunna do about it? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[progressoid]

14. No shit.

Although, maybe this time they'll actually swear him in IF they ever get him to testify.

I guy can dream, right?

[gratuitous]

6. Don't just take exception to his op-ed

Bring him in to testify under oath. Acknowledging that the administration's misconduct is on firm legal ground while stating your wimpy beliefs that they shouldna hadna oughtna done it doesn't cut any ice with these criminals. If they deign to acknowledge your letter at all, it will be the bully's mantra of "So? What're you punks gonna do about it, huh?"

The time for observing the niceties and the formalities is drawing to a close. This administration is on record as practicing, condoning, and defending criminal behavior. They've earned treatment as criminals, and the American people are best served when its representatives uphold the rule of law.

Quit pussyfooting and get cracking.

[glitch]

7. Any pussyfoot should be followed by an immediate crack.

Like 15 minutes later. These guys do not deserve decorum.

[bvar22]

9. Agree.

"Strongly Worded" letters and "Non-Binding" resolutions produce exactly ZERO!
These devices merely provide cover for the next campaign while protecting comaign contributions from the MIC, CEOs, and uberRich.
"SEE! I'm against the Iraq Occupation! I voted for the non-binding resolution!!!"
"Look at the text from this letter I sent!!! I'm YOUR represenative"

[A Simple Game]

18. This letter probably was very productive.

Gonzales probably hasn't had a good laugh in a long time.

[Morgana LaFey]

8. How LAME

Unbelievable. You'd think they were still in the minority or something. Good GRIEF.

[caligirl]

12. gave DiFi a call, they may be taking a count of those whpo want more than

a non binding letter. I asked he be brought back under oath. And they do something binding and restore these attorneys to their jobs.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. But, They Don't Say That

They should. But, it's in such convoluted language as to have no impact. They should just say "We don't believe you!" As a public statement.
The Professor

[annabanana]

17. "Both senators urged Gonzales". . . . . . "urged Gonzales"......."urged"

YOU CANNOT PETITION THE LORD WITH PRAYER!!

This sociopath cannot be urged, cajoled, encouraged, pleaded with, or threatened.
He can only be compelled.

[cooolandrew]

19. They need to verbally take this guy apart, he stands against everything American.

[dkofos]

21. They should call for his impeachment!!

[robinlynne]

23. why didn't they say the purpose was to "avoid senate confirmation"?

It seems so weak.

[nicknameless]

25. The problem goes beyond who was chosen to replace the dismissed Attorneys.

The Senate must also focus on WHY the dismissed Attorneys were let go.
How many of them were prosecuting high-level republican corruption cases?

[grannylib]

26. "Explain and justify"??? WTF??? Not in bloody light years....

Apologize, beg forgiveness from the 'Murkin people for ALL his sins, crimes, lies, thefts, etc., and FUCKING RESIGN IN DISGRACE, you unelected, unqualified IMBECILE.

Explain and justify, my ass. There is no justification for this piece of shit, anyone in his administration, or for anything any one of them does.

Filth, all of 'em.

[depakid]

28. We don't believe you- yet we approved you

And we would again.

[MasonJar]

29. But...but...the grown-ups....aren't they in charge now? Let's go back to the kids!

[MasonJar]

30. Pure and simple illegal intimidation, which pre-2006 election would have slid

right by. The whole Republic Party is a sham and a disgrace.

[bdamomma]

31. Gonzo should be the next to get his a$$ kicked out.

what a treasonous criminal.

[donkeyotay]

32. Cleaning up after the elephants.

To paraphrase the infamous neocon quote: "We create reality, and while you're reacting to it, we create more."

They break the law, and eventually the dems come along and try to write another law reinstating the law that was broken. This is nuts. Investigate and prosecute the person who subverted our Constitutional system by having a private legislative session and "slipping" this in, and impeach Gonzo. Otherwise, you're just trailing along behind, and they're laughing at you.