And why wouldRove want to replace all 93 US attorneys?

[kohodog]

Maybe to get a certain Patrick Fitzgerald off his back. Even torture guy Gonzalas could see that wouldn't pass the smell test.

[proud patriot]

1. Most likely Rove Broke Laws in each State

:think:

[AlCzervik]

5. word. I'm sure he's somewhere trying to figure out whose trunk to put the dead

hooker in.

[Old and In the Way]

2. So they whittled the list down....

I still think they had to fire a bunch to cover the real targets, particularly, Carol Lam. Her investigations threatened to blow the whole Syndicate wide open. I hope the Congressional Democrats know this...I really think they probably do.

[supragenius1965]

3. so what?

Chances are Gonzalez knows the american people are sheep who won't smell this scandal at all. This is major..but people are too ignorant of politics to realize how big this is. Weighing the LEGAL system in the right wings advantage.

[Fresh_Start]

4. I read it was so they could have the maximum number

of loyal candidates for judgeships that open in the future.

[Erika]

6. Bush already replaced the 93 attorneys in 2000. No problem

That's a political perogative. But the attorneys he removed recently were all Republicans and the question of the executive branch trying to obstruct justice is now the issue.

[Monkeyman]

7. Marshal Law

[niyad]

13. you mean "martial law"???

[nebenaube]

18. self delete....

[ogsball]

8. The point is they didn't fire all 93 at the beginning of the term. .

They intentionally waited so circumvent the typical Senate confirmation process. By waiting the Patriot act allowed them to make "emergency" mid-term appointments that didn't have to be confirmed. They kept the number small 8 out of 93 to keep the fuss small -- maybe as a trial balloon -- who knows.

The reason the Republic senators are pissed is that they no longer have influence over these appointments -- they had a lot of influence in the confirmation system.

Personally I don't see this as nearly a big a problem as the outing of a CIA agent but they gored the wrong Ox on this one.

Ogsball

[kohodog]

9. My point is that aty the time Rove was sweating bullets as Fitz kept him in

the crosshairs. Fitz would have been one to go, along with the rest. It would have been pretty obvious though not beyond these guys to fire Fitz. Instead they fired a few who were causing them trouble and probably a few for cover.

[Erika]

10. Normally the 93 are replaced when we change presidents not terms

W did this in 2000. Yes, you are right, he sought to dismiss the few to replace them without Senate confirmation. Such as Rove's bud to replace one of those fired.

[AZBlue]

11. He's hardly the first (or last) to suggest anything like that.

Clinton replaced 93 Republican appointees when he took office.

Most presidents replace them when they come in, particularly when they are of a different party than their predecessor.

It's common practice, not a "Rove thing."

[niyad]

14. are you really missing the point, or just repeating reichwing talking points? it is NOT customary

to FIRE YOUR OWN appointees, particularly after they have gotten excellent evaluations. the fact that these particular republican-appointed attorneys were actually doing their jobs--which just happened to include going after lawbreakers like duke cunningham, and refusing to engage in harrassment of dems, is NOT "usual practice"

if you don't understand this, I feel intensely sorry for you. if you DO understand this, but continue to spew reichwing talking points, I am extremely disappointed in you.

[Erika]

15. Repeat: W replaced the 93 attorneys in 2000

No problem. But he will be soon up for obstruction of justice charges for the eight.

[murloc]

17. What makes these 8 special in the legal sense?

that would qualify Bush for obstruction of justice charges?

I understand that replacing the attorneys midterm is unseemly, improper, unprecendented, petty, meanspirited and no doubt dirty politics, but how is it illegal?

[newyawker99]

19. Hi murloc!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[no_hypocrisy]

12. Several reasons:

1. Replacements would "owe" something to Rove for the favor.

2. To install neocon robots into the federal criminal "justice" system. Several advantages:

A. Prosecutors would start investigations on targeted democrats. Would make no difference whether it would be vindictive prosecution, no indictment by a grand jury, a dismissal of charges, acquittal, or reversal of a conviction. The damage would be done by the public remembering that a democratic public figure was "in trouble" at one time with "the law". Sort of using the courts to harass democrats wholesale.

B. These prosecutors would be in a positon for bigger and better things in the future, again, to further the necon program. Future representatives, senators, insiders in D.C., lobbyists, judges, etc.

C. By installing these neocon prosecutors, the penal laws would be selectively chosen. Even with the hunting of democrats, traditional white collar crime by executors could be either ignored or put on the back burner, not likely to be fatal. Grateful corrupt executives with more money to donate to the RNC.

[Erika]

16. The 8 were all Republicans, they just weren't bushbots

Charges of obstruction of justice is scaring all of them