Ivy Leaguers for me, not for thee

June 11, 2007

We learned last week that the president was staffing up with a new team of eight lawyers in order to help defend the Bush gang from the various charges they’re facing from the various scandals they’ve created. The new additions bring the White House counsel’s office up to 22 lawyers, which is about what Clinton had during impeachment.

Peter Baker reported over the weekend, “All eight received degrees from Ivy League schools or from West Point.” It prompted Tom Schaller to note:

So, when it comes to policy-making over at the so-called Justice Department, a Regent University law degree, like the one held by Monica “I may have crossed the line” Goodling and a battalion of other fundies, suffices. But when it comes to protecting the president’s backside, apparently a divine legal degree is no substitute for an East Coast elite Ivy School pedigree.

That’s true, but Tom might be understating the case a bit. Bush doesn’t just tap Regent grads to handle Justice Department policy; in the big picture, he’s hired Regent grads to represent the electorate. The Justice Department includes the lawyers for the nation. They’re protecting integrity of our laws and our system of justice, and acting in our interests.

In other words, when it comes to protecting us, Bush wants lawyers educated by TV preacher Pat Robertson. When it comes to protecting himself, Bush wants only the best.

Good to know.

Most of the Ivy leaguers come from families with connections so it isn’t just the degree or school that’s important. It’s the whole package. Backroom deals require those connections.

  • Um, no, comment 1. That’s incorrect. But don’t let the facts get in the way.

    Meanwhile, wonder what the chances are that one of our intreprid press types might ask the president, or one of his spokeshills, about the discrepancy between how the Presnit staffed the people’s Justice Department, and where he looked to cover his own ass.

    I won’t be holding my breath.

  • J Flowers,

    I agree that family connections help, but judging by the results of the DOJ hearings there is a huge difference between a law degree from Reject U and from Yale. You do get what you pay for when it comes to lawyers.

  • And I’ll bet for these presidential defenders there is no litmus test on Roe v. Wade.

  • So if the Department of Justice has to actually bring charges against the Executive Branch it will be Regent University vs. Harvard Law School?

    Karl Rove thinks of everything, doesn’t he?

  • KevinMc,

    And I’ll bet for these presidential defenders there is no litmus test on Roe v. Wade.

    Now that’s would be the basis for a great question to ask W at the next press conference. I would love to see Snow work around that.

  • It makes sense that Bush would want people like him – but better – taking care of his case – people with the right backgrounds, right perspectives, right circle of friends. They would understand him better than the plebians.

    I guess you guys have had better experiences with the Ivy league grads than I have. Not a lawyer here, but trust me, the expensive ones don’t always live up to their degrees and reputation. I’ve observed that blanket statements tend to have a lot of holes in them.

  • Erm… Since “we the people” are paying for Bush’s lawyering up… Could we insist that he should only hire those from the Reject U? And make them work pro bono?

  • To extend the point even further, I doubt Bush’s “Ivy League Eight” proudly run around claiming to have been “C students.” And of course BushCo and the entire Right run around blasting northeastern, ivory tower elites when they are out talking on the stump in the South, Midwest or West, but when the backside needs protecting. . .

    (I tend to agree that the different between Harvard Law and Regent Law really does matter, but on the “you get what you pay for with lawyers” I would have to add a caveat “within a geographic and speciality market.” I may be biased – as a midwestern attorney and all – but I think there are midwestern attorneys who are every bit as good as their eastern counterparts but who charge and who make much less.)

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