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More on the USA scandal
I posted this as a letter over on Salon, but thought it was worth copying here:
If you connect the dots in this case, some frightening implications emerge - implications which to this point have not been brought up in the mainstream media.
The language allowing the DOJ to appoint US attorneys for indefinite periods without Senate approval was inserted into the Patriot Act on December 14, 2006.
Emails show that members of the DOJ and White House staff were discussing the replacement of US attorneys in early 2005, and possibly 2004.
The implication is clear that the modification of the Patriot Act renewal - a modification which usurped the authority of the legislative branch - was part of a long-standing plan by the executive branch. The language was inserted apparently without the knowledge of any Senator, and was accomplished by Brett Tolman, a conservative political operative who was made a staff member by Senator Arlen Specter to help appease right-wing politicos who were angry at Specter's "moderate" image. Tolman had prior connections to the DOJ, and was later made a US attorney himself.
This has every appearance of being a deliberate conspiracy by the executive branch to subvert the authority of the legislative branch and therefore the Constitution itself. If Bush himself was aware of this action (as is now clearly implied by newly-revealed emails), it is a violation of his oath of office.
If ever a case called for the appointment of a special prosecutor, this is it.
More information:
US Attorney Timeline
If you connect the dots in this case, some frightening implications emerge - implications which to this point have not been brought up in the mainstream media.
The language allowing the DOJ to appoint US attorneys for indefinite periods without Senate approval was inserted into the Patriot Act on December 14, 2006.
Emails show that members of the DOJ and White House staff were discussing the replacement of US attorneys in early 2005, and possibly 2004.
The implication is clear that the modification of the Patriot Act renewal - a modification which usurped the authority of the legislative branch - was part of a long-standing plan by the executive branch. The language was inserted apparently without the knowledge of any Senator, and was accomplished by Brett Tolman, a conservative political operative who was made a staff member by Senator Arlen Specter to help appease right-wing politicos who were angry at Specter's "moderate" image. Tolman had prior connections to the DOJ, and was later made a US attorney himself.
This has every appearance of being a deliberate conspiracy by the executive branch to subvert the authority of the legislative branch and therefore the Constitution itself. If Bush himself was aware of this action (as is now clearly implied by newly-revealed emails), it is a violation of his oath of office.
If ever a case called for the appointment of a special prosecutor, this is it.
More information:
US Attorney Timeline
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Whoops, make that FIVE crimes
The Domenici/Wilson calls, in addition to being attempts at interfering with a federal prosecution and therefore obstruction of justice, were almost certainly aimed at using false corruption charges to unlawfully change the outcome of a federal election. So make that five crimes.
What's more, the "loyal Bushies" who continue to serve as US attorneys have been prosecuting Democratic candidates and officeholders far out of proportion to their representation in the government - the rate is eight investigations of Democrats for every one investigation of a Republican. This is an unprecedented abuse of the legal system for the purpose of subverting our electoral system. Which is, of course, yet another crime.
Not to mention that such an act lays the cornerstone for dictatorship, which our supposedly freedom-loving Republicans should abhor. How odd that instead, they seem to crave a one-party state.