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Originally Posted by dc_dux
I would suggest it is for the good of the nation to find out why Bush politicized the Justice Dept and US attorneys in a way that hadnt been done in 25 years.
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I respect tradition, but...If he has the authority to terminate them at will, he has the authority political or not. The problem may be in the way Gonzales tried to tap dance around his authority.
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Of the more than 400 US attorneys who have served between 1981 and 2006, only 10 left office involuntarily for reasons other than a change in administration. (dismissed for serious issues of personal or professional conduct) In one fell swoop, Bush dismissed eight for no apparent reason, based on their positive performance evaluations.
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I think the reason was political.
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As former conservative congressman Bob Barr, who served as a U.S. Attorney under President Reagan, said:...“the integrity of the Department of Justice is being used as a political football by the administration to prove who’s the toughest hombre in all this.”
.... “the administration really ought to be going out of its way to do what prior administrations have done, such as the Bush 1 administration and Reagan administrations, and that is take whatever steps are necessary to assure the American people that the integrity of our justice system has not been compromised.” There are also potential ethical violations by members of Congress (particularly a senator and congresswoman from New Mex, a congressman from Cali and a congressman from Wash) who are alleged to have contacted the US attorneys about ongoing investigations and then contacted DOJ officials (Gonzales and others) to discuss their dismissal.. These are clear violations of Congressional ethics rules, if true... and a proper reason for Congressional inquiry.
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I thought Barr became Libertarian. I am not sure how to seperate substance from politics on this issue. I think all sides are guilty or will be of playing political games. I think Pelosy said a few days ago that "elections have consequences", that is true with Congressional elections as well as Presedential elections. If Bush want to fire people he has a right to fire, he can do it. I agree that Congress also has a right to investigate and make law. In the end I think this will go no where.