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DoJ to Feinstein: Nanny Nanny Boo Boo
"How many United States attorneys have been asked to resign in the past year?" Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) asked Alberto Gonzales during a January 18th Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Eight months later, she's still asking.
Her latest answer from the Justice Department? We already told you. "We believe that information responsive to Senator Feinstein’s question was provided to the Committee in the course of the staff’s confidential, transcribed interviews of Department officials," Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski wrote to Feinstein in a letter last week.
But if her question was answered, Sen. Feinstein must have missed it. The Justice Department's reply is "wholly unsatisfactory," Feinstein says.
The letter was a follow-up to Feinstein's questions to Gonzales during a hearing last month. When Feinstein asked then whether Gonzales had fired more than the nine U.S. attorneys that are publicly known, Gonzales said, maybe:
"Senator, there may have been others. I would be happy to get back to you with that kind of information about who has left. But I don't know the answer to your question. But I can certainly find out."
And the Justice Department still won't simply tell her how many U.S. attorneys have been fired.
As always, former Deputy Attorney General James Comey provided a stark contrast to the current Department leadership when he testified before Congress in May. Comey freely offered that he'd fired two U.S. attorneys during his tenure -- and then went on to candidly discuss the reasons as much as he could in an open setting. He made it seem so easy.
Comments (25)
Anonymous wrote on August 15, 2007 11:09 AM:The September 2007 issue of the Atlantic is simply a must read, and has made things so much clearer to me. There are two blockbuster stories - one about Rove and one about how former Speechwriter Mike Gerson fudged and lied about his work.
I'm thinking about Rove.
The article basically says that Rove had vision, but sucked at implementation. Unlike Cheney who knew his way around the bureaucracy (and squeezed out a war) - Rove was clueless in this regard.
I tend to agree - and now see the symptoms.
Rove surrounded himself (and filled the government) with young, inexperienced loyalists. It was these loyalists he expected to implement the various edicts -- and it was these loyalists, who, due to lack of any sort of experience, failed miserably.
Remeber Rove's famous quote "Get me a fuc*ing faith-based thing" -- and then think about the Goodlings, Sampsons, Griffins, Jane Cherrys and others who did the running.
Is it any wonder the DOJ has no idea how many people they fired?
paul wrote on August 15, 2007 11:09 AM:Good thing Gonzalez used the subjunctive: "I would be happy to get back to you [if I were not a corrupt lying sack of garbage]".
This is the point where in the movie version Feinstein would simply say, "Sergeant at Arms..."
Dr. Wu wrote on August 15, 2007 11:13 AM:"Comey freely offered that he'd fired two U.S. attorneys during his tenure -- and then went on to candidly discuss the reasons as much as he could in an open setting. He made it seem so easy."
That's because Comey is a public servant with integrity, whereas Gonzo is a criminally-minded lying sack of shit whose only mission is protecting the Bush criminal enterprise against oversight.
Scott L wrote on August 15, 2007 11:16 AM:No wonder Comey had to go.
Tim Lovett wrote on August 15, 2007 11:19 AM:In addition, we still do not know who made list (of USAs to be fired) nor why. That should be the only question asked of Gonzalez, Rove or Bush by any reporter at any presser. Who made the list and why? Until they answer those questions they should not get to hear any other.
anne wrote on August 15, 2007 11:30 AM:And, she only asked about the past year, and about ones that had been "asked to resign". I think with these people, rather than ask a question, ask for a list, with an explanation for each:
"We want to see a list of _all_ US Attorneys who have left office since Jan 20, 2001, with a note of explanation for each, and the name of each replacement."
This would not be hard to do in a legitamate business. And, it would cover all that were "asked", as well as ones that were forced, not asked, and even the ones that died, or "committed suicide". yes, there were some.
It's going to be a long time cleaning up after BushCo.
TheraP wrote on August 15, 2007 11:33 AM:Amazing how a guy who could so easily send others to their deaths in Texas cannot seems to find the people send to the unemployment line - from DoJ.
Prisoners on Death Row? Justice? (for AG AG, neither deserves to exist)
owenz wrote on August 15, 2007 11:33 AM:As evidenced by her support for the Administration's illegal eavesdropping program, Feinstein is about one click above Arlen Spector on the "ask tough questions while doing nothing tough" scale.
I have absolutely no faith that her "outrage" will translate into any real action on this issue.
Anonymous wrote on August 15, 2007 11:44 AM:I'm sure the list is classified. They're just too embarrassed to say it.
Anonymous wrote on August 15, 2007 11:54 AM:I'm sure the list is classified. They're just too embarrassed to say it.
JohnMc wrote on August 15, 2007 12:14 PM:Impeachment. If Alberto were standing in the well of the Senate waiting for a verdict there would be sooooo much less to this crap.
PapawJohn
Austin Cooper wrote on August 15, 2007 12:44 PM:Feinstein is one of my two Senators.
I'm disgusted with her actions on the gutting of FISA -- and her claim that the amount of "chatter" and whatever intel dog-and-pony show she was subjected to were the reasons for her vote had a hollow, tinny little ring to them.
I think she needs to go.
.
parrot wrote on August 15, 2007 1:11 PM:Articles of Impeachment will assist in the information being brought forward. Sitting here listening to AG AG lie about what he has done and what he is going to do isn't getting us anywhere.
Senator Feinstein, it is time to start shifting the political weight in this matter towards impeachment. Publicly.
biggerbox wrote on August 15, 2007 7:16 PM:Coming up in future episodes of "The DOJ talks to Congress":
"I know you are, but what am I?"
"Nunh-unh!"
"We're rubber and you're glue."
"Poopy-head!"
and, in a very special season finale: "Make me."
Gosh, it'd sure be nice if the Senators stopped playing straightmen for a reality TV show on playground excuses. If only they acted like they were actually self-respecting adults elected to some of the most powerful positions in the government of the most powerful nation on the planet.
Ms. Feinstein, the correct answer is "wholly unsatisfactory AND I am therefore taking the following actions: (insert list including impeachment, moving for contempt of Congress and blocking appropriations here.)
Caramel wrote on August 15, 2007 9:31 PM:Well, that's the last straw. The Dems must be steaming mad now. They are really gonna' let these guys have it and write a very mean letter.
FunMe wrote on August 16, 2007 1:51 AM:That'll show'em.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Wake me in 2010. Maybe all of this will be over by then.
Feinstein is a sellout ... she better ACT or else she has go to go! Or better yet, voters like me in CA will KICK HER OUT!
military hubby and her are war profiteers.
Out with DINOs ... in with true progressives!
Anonymous wrote on August 16, 2007 1:55 AM:JUVENILE DEMS- I HOPE THEY GROW SOME BALLS AND A SPINE IF THEY EVER GROW UP.
goatchowder wrote on August 16, 2007 4:22 AM:"Make me" is exactly it. What is she gonna do? Arrest them? Hah.... the DoJ has to do that, good luck.
Al in Austex wrote on August 16, 2007 4:29 AM:I would trade you one Feinstein for both of my Senators here in Texas. I believe that all Democratic Senators need to be given mid Sept to first of October to show if they truly are representing We the People ,by at the very least impeaching Gonzales and vICE President Cheney . I would be very interested in hearing exactly how Senator & Mr Fiensten have war profiteered from the mess in Iraaq. If thats true then they are no better then the corrupt VEEP .
Johann wrote on August 16, 2007 7:51 AM:Anyone consider that through the NSA eavesdropping program, some of Senator Feinstein's less savory actions have been discovered by the Bush administration and they are blackmailing her for her support?
infotainment wrote on August 16, 2007 9:25 AM:Good thing Gonzalez used the subjunctive: "I would be happy to get back to you [if I were not a corrupt lying sack of garbage]"...Posted by: paul Date: August 15, 2007 11:09 AM
***
Coming up in future episodes of "The DOJ talks to Congress":....and, in a very special season finale: "Make me."Posted by: biggerbox
Date: August 15, 2007 7:16 PM
John wrote on August 16, 2007 10:58 AM:Ha ha! ....you guys are funny...
Caramel, you pretty much nailed it on the head... have a good sleep.
Alguien wrote on August 16, 2007 4:49 PM:Caramel: You've got it!
sandy miller wrote on August 16, 2007 8:58 PM:And if the nasty letter doesn't work...then they'll give AG a DEADLINE!!!
And if he doesn't reply by then, he'll get...ANOTHER DEADLINE!
I'm with you FunMe, I've been writing to Feinstein and waiting to see SOME ACTION taken, anything to stand up to Bush, and nothing. She has lost my vote, to bad Bush didn't get a blow job, at least then he'd be in trouble?
Chris C wrote on August 17, 2007 10:32 AM:To all the CA posters about Feinstein...I agree wholeheartedly. I have written to her on numerous occasions (I know, a waste of time) and have received the smarmiest responses. After yet another wimpy response about her position on impeachment (just to draw her out), I concluded that I could no longer vote for her again. Too many skeletons in the closet, not enough spine.