Contrary to suggestion by CBS' Axelrod, not only "Democrats say" that U.S. attorney in Ark. was fired to make way for Rove aide
During a March 13 segment on the Bush administration's controversial firings of eight U.S. attorneys, CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod reported that "Democrats say" that "the U.S. attorney in Arkansas was fired ... to open a job for a [White House senior adviser] Karl Rove deputy." But, contrary to Axelrod's suggestion, it is not just "Democrats" who say that H.E. "Bud" Cummins III was "fired ... to open a job for a Rove deputy." In a recently released December 19, 2006, email, D. Kyle Sampson, chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales at the time, stated: "Getting him [former Rove deputy J. Timothy Griffin] appointed was important to Harriet, Karl, etc." -- a reference to Rove and then-White House counsel Harriet Miers.
Moreover, as Media Matters for America has noted, during a February 6 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty said the forced resignation of Cummins as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas was administered not because of Cummins' poor performance, but "to provide a fresh start with a new person in that position." This "new person" was Griffin, who replaced Cummins in December 2006.
From the March 13 edition of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric:
AXELROD: The concern is over emails made public today between President Bush's former White House lawyer, Harriet Miers, and Gonzales' chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, who resigned yesterday. Sampson wrote to Miers two years ago about a chart ranking all 93 U.S. attorneys. "Keep strong U.S. attorneys who exhibited loyalty to the president. Remove weak U.S. attorneys who chafed against administration initiatives."
Last fall, the list was narrowed, and Sampson wrote Miers: "Upon the green light, we'll circulate the plan and ask that you circulate it to Karl's shop," meaning Karl Rove, the president's top political deputy. And just days before the firings, from Miers' deputy to Sampson, "We're a go for the U.S. attorney replacement plan."
Why is the White House worried? Because Democrats allege that some prosecutors, who were supposed to be apolitical, were fired as political payoffs. For instance, the U.S. attorney in Arkansas was fired, Democrats say, to open a job for a Karl Rove deputy.
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D-NY): This administration has blatantly manipulated the U.S. attorney system to serve its political needs.
AXELROD: On the last day of the president's trip to Latin America, his aides admitted Mr. Bush did ask Gonzales about the performance of certain prosecutors, but denied directing anyone to be fired.
If any of this entire affair involving the firing of U.S.Attorneys just about what "Democrats say" then why was Antonio Gonzalez on TV apologizing profusely?
This latest scandal reeks of Rove. It is also bigger than Scooter Libby. Another example of this administration attempting to stomp on any political dissent.
One more indication that this has been and still is absolutely the most vindictive, criminal minded, dissent crushing administration to ever disgrace our country.
Way to go you ignorant bassackward W. sheep, I hope you all are so very proud of YOUR Criminal in Chief.
Don't forget the Republican Congress that exercised no oversight of this administration whatsoever. They let the likes of Tom Delay and Karl Rove ride herd over them, accepting campaign money and job security in exchange for party loyalty.
Oh, I'll never forget. Maybe I'll forgive but I will always remember the authoritarian nature of the right.
I take issue with the precedence of "forgive" and "forget"!
I may ultimately forget these evil creatures (I am ancient, and Alzheimer's or other disability may obtrude). However, I will never forgive them (forgiveness requires consciousness of the evil done, and so long as I have the memory, I will have to depend on God or the flying spaghetti monster, to dispense from the supposed infinite supply thereof, that balm)!
It is amazing to me that this bunch led by Cheney and Rove continue to decide which line can be crossed. And why should they be permitted to keep moving that line. Are they the DECIDERS? They make decisions based on their power-hungry nature and recently to protect their criminal asses. These cowards will ruin anyones life( to include the dead in Iraq) to enhance their pocketbooks and their egos....they must believe that they are gods and should decide how lives should be led. And that includes this PRESIDENT. I am convinced that he has NO idea what is going on. Why did DADDY BUSH start to infiltrate this mob? To protect his little boy. He knows his son will be the trophy and be taken out of his position while the COWARDS say that they were only following orders.
I believe that this Congress is getting ready to DO THE RIGHT THING regardless of the so-called political ramifications. America voted the Dems into office for many reasons. Now is the time to validate one of those reasons. Let us begin the investigations. I am sure that my fellow Americans, the Conservatives are more than willing to clear the names of their leaders...I think they should be ready to join forces to investigate to see if crimes were commited.
They are all about Law and Order, aren't they?
Sampson wrote "Keep strong U.S. attorneys who exhibited loyalty to the president. Remove weak U.S. attorneys who chafed against administration initiatives."
Damn, they even use that obedient zombie=strong, thinking human=weak model when they're talking to each other.I thought that was just for GOP voters.
"Democrats say?"? WTF is wrong with this lazy ass media in America? Couldn't this idiot Axlerod look up the FACTS on the allegations about Rove and the Arkansas issue before reporting that "Democrats say..."????
Damn!!!!!
With reference to Griffin I came across this web page
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0703/S00146.htm
THAT is a bombshell