LAT: Senior DOJ officials drafted memos THIS MONTH, citing performance problems, to justify firings

[DeepModem Mom]

Making a list of reasons for firing U.S. attorneys
Justice Department memos show performance issues were being detailed after the fact in order to justify the terminations.
By Richard A. Serrano, Times Staff Writer
March 21, 2007

WASHINGTON — Senior Justice Department officials began drafting memos this month listing specific reasons why they had fired eight U.S. attorneys, intending to cite performance problems such as insubordination, leadership failures and other missteps if needed to convince angry congressional Democrats that the terminations were justified.

The memos, organized as charts with entries for each of the federal prosecutors and labeled "for internal DOJ use only," offer new details about disputes over policy, priorities and management styles between the department and several of its U.S. attorneys.

The prosecutors' shortcomings also were listed in a talking-points memo, indicating the willingness of the Justice Department to make public what are normally confidential personnel matters in order to counter its critics.

Justice Department officials hoped that documenting specific reasons for terminating the prosecutors would satisfy demands for more information after Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales and his deputy, Paul J. McNulty, described the dismissals as vaguely "performance-related."

According to the charts, as well as e-mails and other documents made public Monday and Tuesday, Carol C. Lam in San Diego was dismissed for not prosecuting more firearms and border smuggling cases, and for repeatedly missing deadlines.

David C. Iglesias in Albuquerque traveled so much he was considered an "absentee landlord."...

As for Margaret M. Chiara in Grand Rapids, Mich., the memo advised saying nothing about her dismissal because she had not made public statements in her defense. But the memo also said that "if pushed," the department should say morale in her office was low and that Chiara had lost the support of her staff....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-performance21mar21,0,6718386.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[tblue]

1. I hope, before long, we'll look back on these days and want to relive the fun of watching

this regime crumble piece by piece. They are as sloppy as the Watergate burglars. Transparent as Saran Wrap.

[ninkasi]

2. We have been subjected, for six years

to a Republic rampage. They have trampled on the Constitution, and on the American public, unchecked due to lack of oversight from the previously Republic dominated Congress. Now that we can issue subpoenas, and have hearings, they are throwing a typical whiny-ass temper tantrum. Too bad. It's beyond time to hold them accountable.

[napi21]

3. Well damn, there ya go! I know it's always the normal thing to

decide why you fired somebody after the fact! Sure, I've seen that many times!!!!!!

:sarcasam:

[ClintonTyree]

4. If that were an actual act of recourse....

wouldn't Bush have been fired a long time ago? With approval ratings in the low 30% range (at best) our country should have been able to jettison Bush long ago. Unfortunately, that's not the way it works. Or at least that's not the way it works in the real world. In Republican world, anything goes as long as it's to their benefit.

[riverdeep]

5. Every single thing we have been saying for years

is now being documented. And yet, they still have people who sit in their suits, and with a straight face, defend them. It's like on one side people who believe the earth is round, and on this side the flat-earth society. And the press presents these two as equivalent.

[BR_Parkway]

6. Ah, I love the stench of cover-up in the morning! It's such a Republican

fragrance lately. I'm surprised they haven't started to market it in their eternal quest for the Holy Dollar! Chickenhawks and other Young College Republicans would be snapping it off the shelves, especially if they put Coultergeist in the advertisements, they seem to love her so anyhow.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. a.m. kick

[Supersedeas]

8. Making up the PR pretext as they go -- good one Al Gonzo the Loyal

[DeepModem Mom]

9. It's astounding the tricks they play -- and get away with! nt