Comments on: Blarney http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/ Making the World Safe for Liberalism Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:15:03 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: AnotherBeginning http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-169402 AnotherBeginning Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:22:15 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-169402 A March 14, 2007 article in the McLatchy Newspapers (Wash.) which can be viewed online at www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/16904559.htm indicates that William Moschella the principal assistant deputy attorney general drafted the change to the Patriot Act allowing the Attorney General to appoint US Attorneys. The article also reveals that 16 US Attorneys have been appointed since the March 2006 change. Perhaps these 16 attorneys as well as the interims put in place since the 8 US Attys were removed should be examined. It appears that the US Atty in Utah may have been rewarded with the position after inserting the provision in the Patriot Act while a staff member for Arlen Specter. Were such appointments made as rewards for similar conduct, monetary contributions, loyalty affirmations to Party goals, etc.? Hopefully, Sen. Schumer (D-NY) will make good on the promise to closely scrutinize these appointments. A March 14, 2007 article in the McLatchy Newspapers (Wash.) which can be viewed online at http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/16904559.htm indicates that William Moschella the principal assistant deputy attorney general drafted the change to the Patriot Act allowing the Attorney General to appoint US Attorneys. The article also reveals that 16 US Attorneys have been appointed since the March 2006 change. Perhaps these 16 attorneys as well as the interims put in place since the 8 US Attys were removed should be examined. It appears that the US Atty in Utah may have been rewarded with the position after inserting the provision in the Patriot Act while a staff member for Arlen Specter. Were such appointments made as rewards for similar conduct, monetary contributions, loyalty affirmations to Party goals, etc.? Hopefully, Sen. Schumer (D-NY) will make good on the promise to closely scrutinize these appointments.

]]> By: AnotherBeginning http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-167689 AnotherBeginning Sun, 18 Mar 2007 01:14:38 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-167689 Karen Hewitt replaced Carol Lam as interim US Atty in SD of Calif. Hewitt, however, was an assistant US Atty in Lam's office before Lam's removal. Scott Schools replaced Kevin Ryan in ND of Calif. Brett Tolman is the former Arlen Specter aide who is the new US Atty in Utah. Former US Atty in Utah, Paul Warner, acknowledged to Utah press that Kyle Sampson (Gonzalez's former chief of staff) wanted his job. It is a start, perhaps others can come up names of others. Karen Hewitt replaced Carol Lam as interim US Atty in SD of Calif. Hewitt, however, was an assistant US Atty in Lam’s office before Lam’s removal. Scott Schools replaced Kevin Ryan in ND of Calif.

Brett Tolman is the former Arlen Specter aide who is the new US Atty in Utah. Former US Atty in Utah, Paul Warner, acknowledged to Utah press that Kyle Sampson (Gonzalez’s former chief of staff) wanted his job.

It is a start, perhaps others can come up names of others.

]]> By: moonbat http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-167677 moonbat Sun, 18 Mar 2007 01:05:23 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-167677 Even if Gonzo is forced out - a good thing, for many reasons - we're still stuck with Bush toadies as replacement US Attorneys. Even if Gonzo is forced out – a good thing, for many reasons – we’re still stuck with Bush toadies as replacement US Attorneys.

]]> By: erinyes http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-167265 erinyes Sat, 17 Mar 2007 21:21:46 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-167265 Time for a big 'ole plate of fried chitlin....... Time for a big ‘ole plate of fried chitlin…….

]]> By: maha http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-167212 maha Sat, 17 Mar 2007 21:02:02 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-167212 Names -- I've been googling around, and the only replacement name that ever comes up in news stories is Timothy Griffin. It's easy to find out what donations people have made to candidates and parties, but not without their names. If anyone finds any more names of replacements, please let me know. Names — I’ve been googling around, and the only replacement name that ever comes up in news stories is Timothy Griffin. It’s easy to find out what donations people have made to candidates and parties, but not without their names.

If anyone finds any more names of replacements, please let me know.

]]> By: grannyeagle http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-167106 grannyeagle Sat, 17 Mar 2007 20:24:40 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-167106 Is it just me or does anyone else think Rove looks like Elmer Fudd? Is it just me or does anyone else think Rove looks like Elmer Fudd?

]]> By: Gordon http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-167045 Gordon Sat, 17 Mar 2007 20:04:31 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-167045 Gonzo's important, at least in this: his replacement will need confirmation. It won't be so easy this time to slide in a buddy / ex-roomate / lapdog / trained monkey. And can you imagine the trouble a REAL AG could cause right now? Guess I was wrong about when W would do his first openly drunk presser (I said early March), but I doubt it's far off now. Gonzo’s important, at least in this: his replacement will need confirmation. It won’t be so easy this time to slide in a buddy / ex-roomate / lapdog / trained monkey. And can you imagine the trouble a REAL AG could cause right now?

Guess I was wrong about when W would do his first openly drunk presser (I said early March), but I doubt it’s far off now.

]]> By: AnotherBeginning http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-167001 AnotherBeginning Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:49:29 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-167001 I don't have a list of the names of the replacement US Attys, however, the same SF Chronicle article (their website is sfgate.com) did provide the name for Carol's Lam replacement in San Diego (remember, Sampson wrote in his email that one had to be quick). Reportedly, most of the recent US Atty replacements are not from the States in which they are appointed, and many of them appear to be coming from inside the Justice Dept or legislative staffs. A look at the names and biographies of all recent US Atty replacements, may suggest just how "political" their appointments are. I'm sure looking at the local online newspapers in those States where recent appointees have been named may prove illuminating. Incidentally, a recent Utah US Atty replacement is purportedly the Arlen Specter staff member that inserted the provision in the Patriot Act allowing the change to the manner in which US Attys are to appointed. This same individual is reportedly the person that Gonzalez's former Chief of Staff, Kyle Sampson, was competing against to obtain the Utah US Atty position. I'm sure this is all coincidental but you do realize that Rove and Sampson are Utah Mormons and this may explain their interest (Rove was supposedly fighting for Sampson to get it,but Hatch wanted Specter's aide). I don’t have a list of the names of the replacement US Attys, however, the same SF Chronicle article (their website is sfgate.com) did provide the name for Carol’s Lam replacement in San Diego (remember, Sampson wrote in his email that one had to be quick). Reportedly, most of the recent US Atty replacements are not from the States in which they are appointed, and many of them appear to be coming from inside the Justice Dept or legislative staffs. A look at the names and biographies of all recent US Atty replacements, may suggest just how “political” their appointments are. I’m sure looking at the local online newspapers in those States where recent appointees have been named may prove illuminating. Incidentally, a recent Utah US Atty replacement is purportedly the Arlen Specter staff member that inserted the provision in the Patriot Act allowing the change to the manner in which US Attys are to appointed. This same individual is reportedly the person that Gonzalez’s former Chief of Staff, Kyle Sampson, was competing against to obtain the Utah US Atty position. I’m sure this is all coincidental but you do realize that Rove and Sampson are Utah Mormons and this may explain their interest (Rove was supposedly fighting for Sampson to get it,but Hatch wanted Specter’s aide).

]]> By: Swami http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-166926 Swami Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:23:05 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-166926 Maybe Rove is the prize, but I'd be more than happy to see Gonzales have to hit the bricks. He could go back to Texas and start a franchise exploiting chicanos.. Green Card's Я Us. What does a parasite do when they've been deprived of their host? Maybe Rove is the prize, but I’d be more than happy to see Gonzales have to hit the bricks. He could go back to Texas and start a franchise exploiting chicanos.. Green Card’s Я Us. What does a parasite do when they’ve been deprived of their host?

]]> By: pluky http://www.mahablog.com/2007/03/17/blarney-2/comment-page-1/#comment-166913 pluky Sat, 17 Mar 2007 19:18:35 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=1546#comment-166913 Dead on Lisa. I saw the same discussion. "This is old news;" "Fitzgerald should never has prosecuted Libby;" "who knows if she was really covert." Whatever they say, presume the opposite as more likely true. Dead on Lisa. I saw the same discussion. “This is old news;” “Fitzgerald should never has prosecuted Libby;” “who knows if she was really covert.” Whatever they say, presume the opposite as more likely true.

]]>