And here I thought that these folks served "at the pleasure of" the President.

But now there are attempts to create ex post facto rules.

Again, as the old Hollywood mogul said, "A tree is a tree. A rock is a rock. Shoot that picture in Griffith Park." "At the pleasure of the President ... is ... (drum roll) "At the pleasure of the President." It's sort of ontological, or was until now.

We engage in all sorts of rigmaroles in an attempt to accomplish political objectives. Sometimes I wonder if the good old-fashioned coup and exile of the members of the former regime without the obfuscating window dressing isn't better. What a waste of time and money.

"And here I thought that these folks served "at the pleasure of" the President."

I suspect you know that that is not the issue at hand, and really never has been. But seeing as how you seem to enjoy herring of the red variety, carry on.

the good old-fashioned coup

Or maybe a good old-fashioned "Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Nation".

Hey Johnson,
Dont forget to mention that Clinton asked for the resignation of all the Fed Attys when he came to power.

Then we can all pretend that you dont know full well that this is bull shit.

Dont disappoint us now you half baked mental midget.

Gotta hand it to the hate-filled Lefty cranks. Just a few weeks before the Messiah takes over and these clowns are still fishing in the cesspool for lunch.

Of course, we can see from Palestine that true hate sees no bounds. Blind hate is an absolute. It consumes the soul.

It will be fun to shove your face in this when a reasonable judge throws this one out, too.

Come on Johnson, tell us where you got your JD degree and how you can claim to be such a legal expert.

I suspect you can't do it.

That makes you just a dittohead blowhard.

"Gotta hand it to the hate-filled Lefty cranks."

Little bit confused here Vern, Obama's new administration hasn't taken power yet, this investigation is being conducted prosecutor appointed by Mucasey. Seems even some in the Bush administration can't stomach the abuse of power which occurred under Gonzalez and Rove.
I'm thinking they are doing this more as a defensive measure than as a real honest investigation, so they can claim they tried to get to the bottom of it. Governor Siegelman's case is slowly coming to the surface, real crimes were committed here and eventually the truth will out.

OWS,

Calling Schlongboy a 'mental midget' is an insult to midgets and stupid people the world over. Just ignore the hate monger and maybe he'll go away.

And here I thought that these folks served "at the pleasure of" the President.

They can be fired for no reason, or for good reason, they just can't be fired for a bad reason. Firing them for refusing to start trumped up politically motivated investigations to help Republican candidates is apparently considered a "bad" reason.

Johnson knows that full well, North. He just came to the end of his talking points and had to start over again with #1.

Another handfull of shit being thrown at the Teflon(r) wall.

Why is this article "news"?

"Why is this article 'news'?"

Well, maybe because it is the latest development in an ongoing story?

Well, at least the 'tyrant' Mukasey has to produce something to show that he is not entirely in Bush's pocket. Let's hope the dems don't get too gleefully vengeful.

Can you imagine questioning Speedy Gonzalez?
"I was Attorney General? I don't remember that. And I was appointed by some guy named Bush? Wow. Must have been fun. Sorry I can't help you."

Dont forget to mention that Clinton asked for the resignation of all the Fed Attys when he came to power.

#4 | Posted by oldwhiskeysour

All incoming presidents do, including GWB. That has never been the issue, so why keep repeating this stale talking point?

#16 | Posted by getagrip08

Sarcasem, Geta, sarcasm.

Sarcasem, Geta, sarcasm.

Well, I'm .500 on spelling sarcasm.

only women in cages can stand,

this kind of night

Did Karl Rove get one?

"Dont forget to mention that Clinton asked for the resignation of all the Fed Attys when he came to power."

What did the Fed Attys do wrong?

"What did the Fed Attys do wrong?"

Nothing, it's SOP.

But firing them and lying about it...that's different.

At this point we still have three obvious lies on the table from---of all entities---The Department of Justice.

1. The USAs were fired for incompetence...wait, that's not true; they were fired because....

2. We don't know who compiled that list.

3. We don't know why that list was compiled.

This, to me, is a real koolaide issue. Either you expect the truth from the DOJ, or you're wearing A LOT of tinfoil.

I have to say I'm a bit surprised by this. Mukasey must have found so much stuff that he has to do this or share culpability.

What's going to be interesting is that one thing will lead to another, and another, and another...

"But firing them and lying about it...that's different."

Oh, my GOD!!! You must be talking about the Travel Office firings...no?

I say let's issue gobs and gobs of subpoenas to everyone in Washington, appoint thousands of special investigators, spend billions of dollars and let's get this earth-shaking lying issue solved and slap the wrists of all the guilty bastards for once and for all. And may Danforth be appointed to wield the ruler! Lying in Washington must NOT be tolerated.

"You must be talking about the Travel Office firings...no?"

If you can prove the DOJ is lying to us about it...yes.

"Lying in Washington must NOT be tolerated."

Unless they're the party you support...right, Jest? I mean, seriously, are you all right with the DOJ lying to you? Do you think anyone actually believes they 'don't know who compiled the list' and 'don't know why the list was compiled'?!?

"I mean, seriously, are you all right with the DOJ lying to you? Do you think anyone actually believes they 'don't know who compiled the list' and 'don't know why the list was compiled'?!?"

They ALL lie, Danny. And, no, I'm NOT all right with it. Clinton lied, Nixon lied, Reagan lied, Congress lies, the DOJ lies...and yes, even Obama lied. They ALL lie. Why do you want to single out this particular issue. EVERY president has fired justices for whatever reason, mostly political and not for incompetence. If we want to spend megabucks prosecuting some lies, this one is like killing the ants while the elephants are running rampant.

" Why do you want to single out this particular issue."

It's the fucking Department of Justice, if you hadn't noticed.

"EVERY president has fired justices for whatever reason, mostly political and not for incompetence."

But not every DOJ has lied about the reasons, repeatedly.

"If we want to spend megabucks prosecuting some lies, this one is like killing the ants while the elephants are running rampant."

Oh, lets kill the elephants, too.

"It's the fucking Department of Justice, if you hadn't noticed."

Wellll...the chief executives of the DOJ and the United States lie all the time too, including the incoming chief executive. Let's get him right off the bat AND the attorney general he has appointed and set a new tone...whaddaya think?

"the chief executives of the DOJ and the United States lie all the time too,"

And you believe that's a good enough reason to ignore the DOJ lies?!? Others do it, so it's okay? Are you in your second childhood?

"including the incoming chief executive. "

Then I'm sure you can point to a bald-faced lie which flies against all reason for which he should be prosecuted...right?

"And you believe that's a good enough reason to ignore the DOJ lies?!? Others do it, so it's okay?"

Now, Danny...you know I didn't say it was OK. I'm just questioning your outrage over THIS particular issue. Couldn't be just because it's a republican administration, could it.

Nawwww...

Bring in the KBG...........

"Couldn't be just because it's a republican administration, could it. "

No. I'd be outraged if any party felt they could lie egregiously to the American people. Therein lies the difference.

Firing for no reason is as bad as firing no bad reasons. Why should anyone be removed from their job for either no reason or a bad reason?

They are removed because the adminstration doesn't believe they will do what they want them to do. They are always fired because they aren't party players. They got fired in the middle of the season because of the same reason they will be fired this coming President.

If Obama really wants change, don't fire anyone and don't ask for their resignations. Let them do the job they were hired for and fire them if they don't do their job. That's a good reason.

"They got fired in the middle of the season because of the same reason they will be fired this coming President. "

Then why did the DOJ feel it necessary to lie about it?

Well, at least the 'tyrant' Mukasey has to produce something to show that he is not entirely in Bush's pocket.

#14 | Posted by takitez

Mukasey was highly respected when he was a U.S. Attorney. Glad we have someone in there who respects the rule of law and views his responsibilities as Attorney General as including upholding them.

The AG post was never intended to be political, and should never be used for political purposes.

And here I thought that these folks served "at the pleasure of" the President.
#1 | Posted by Johnson

And why do you think that? Can someone tell me where this phrase comes from? Why would Justice employees serve "at the pleasure of" the President. It seems like something a King would say.

More money wasted on worthless investigations. No wonder the democrat party has turned our economy into shambles.

Way to go democrats!

I as much as anyone else am not for wasted time and money on political games, but just like what brought scooter libby down and even nixon, it was not the crime (or in this case, act, since the original act was likely not a crime), but the cover up.

if these people were fired for purely political reasons, then why didnt bush just say so? All this shit we hear about "pleasure of the president" hasnt' come from the AG, its come from right wing talking heads. In the end, its is arguable whether even firing for a bad reason is allowed or not, but we weren't allowed to know at all because this president wouldnt admit it.

and some people were were guilty of minor crimes ended up going to jail for purely political reasons.

Likely (99% sure) Mukasey brought these charges because he found evidence of obstruction (destruction of records, intentional mistatments, unaccounted for records, etc). These are things that are black/white issues. If you destroyed records or retroactively changed a performance review/justification, thats a crime, even if it isn't covering up anything.

And thats why this is going on.

Beyond that, even Mukasey (sp?) has to see that the AG office has become an absolute joke. This is an office that, until bush came to power, was completely apolitical, seen as above the fray, and completley trustworthy. If the feds came after you, you did something very wrong. Under bush, they came after you if you voted against the war. its scary and embarrassing stuff going down

Gonzales is a crook. He belongs in prison. The fact that he became the AG has to be the absolute bottom point in the Justice Department's proud history. The Bush legacy.

More money wasted on worthless investigations. No wonder the democrat party has turned our economy into shambles.

Way to go democrats!

#37 | Posted by buzkiller at 2008-12-05 11:23 PM | Reply | Flag:

Mukasey and the prosecutor he selected are democrats?

No.

But Buzkiller is certainly a clueless tool.

And yes, let's never investigate when the AG and the DOJ blatantly and repeatedly lie to us. Good call, shit for brains.