Who’s ‘irresponsible and reckless’?

March 24, 2007

I appreciate the fact that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales believes an aggressive public relations offensive will help him keep his job, but to avoid being laughed at, again, he should probably add some nuances to his defense.

For example, yesterday, Gonzales appeared on a Seattle talk-radio show. Seattle is of particular significance, given John McKay having been fired as the area’s U.S. Attorney. Asked to explain McKay’s ouster, Gonzales said, “Listen, we made a decision at the Department as to the appropriate way forward. There was nothing improper about the decision here … There’s no evidence whatsoever, and it’s reckless and irresponsible to allege that these decisions were based in any way on improper motives.”

Now that’s funny. Up until now, administration officials have grudgingly acknowledged that the questions about the purge scandal were legitimate, but no one should rush to judgment. Yesterday, however, Gonzales insisted that his critics are “reckless and irresponsible” for daring to point out the obvious: that the U.S. Attorneys were fired for purely political reasons.

Indeed, McKay’s ouster is one of the more glaring examples.

Gonzales’ statements are distortions. McKay revealed earlier this month that Rep. Doc Hasting’s (R-WA) office contacted him and pressured him as to the status of an ongoing investigation into voter fraud in the midst of a tight gubernatorial election. Emails released this week show that then-Gonzales’ chief of staff Kyle Sampson touted McKay for a federal judgeship, saying that it is “highly unlikely we could do better in Seattle.” But one month later, McKay was listed as one of the seven attorneys in the process of being “pushed out.” “What happened between those dates to reverse McKay’s political fortunes is a bit of a mystery.”

And now his critics are being “reckless and irresponsible”? After having months to prepare for these questions, is this really the best Gonzales can come up with? Apparently.

I’m sure those members of the French nobility thought their critics were reckless and irresponsible as they waited in the wagons to meet their deserved fate in the square outside the Bastille.

  • Allow me to coin an ancient proverb:

    “One who insists on drawing too many lines in the sand, soon finds himself adrift at sea.”

  • More and more the WH soldiers have been behaving as if they are the cabal in that old hollywood movie, Seven Days in May. None of them, though, are as good looking or as good actors as Burt Lancaster. -Kevo

  • I was working on an article about Pfc. LaVena Johnson until about 3:30 this morning, entitled “Unsung.” I’m also trying like hell to get it linked on Buzzflash.com (it hasn’t generated much interest on Buzzflash.net, either).

    Like Waveflux says, this isn’t a local issue any more than Iraq. We need to be screaming about this unbelievable miscarriage of justice from the fucking rooftops. I’m not asking people to frontpage it on their blogs (although that would be nice) but to at least read the piece, sign the petitions, watch the videos and read the news stories to which I’d linked. Email Buzzflash at buzzflash@buzzflash.com and ask them to carry it on their front page, please.

    This isn’t about anything as crass as getting hits. I seriously think we need to help put pressure on the Army to reopen this investigation and writing to Sen. McCaskill, the various representatives from Missouri and signing Waveflux’s petition (which still has less than 1460 signatures) is essential.

    Think about having to bury your 19 year-old daughter and still not achieving closure because powerful are lying and saying that she committed suicide when the evidence plainly proves otherwise.

  • You have to forgive Al. He was a little distracted by the fact that his pants are on fire. Stop, drop, and roll, Al! Stop, drop, and roll!

    He must have been wondering how long it would take us to find out that though he said he hadn’t been involved in any discussions of the firings, in fact he’d been in a meeting where he’d signed off on the plan. That whole thing about him delegating, and him not knowing about it because he’s the boss of thousands of people? Bogus.

    So, while we’re being reckless and irresponsible, I have to wonder why he was lying about that completely appropriate and proper meeting.

  • Alberto was Mr. Smugness when he knew he was untouchable. Now that his president is on the run he’s sobbing to anyone who will listen how mean everybody is being to him.

    Word to you mother, Al: we’re not listening.

  • I’ve reviewed the documents myself and found these nuggest that may be of interest:

    Rove involvement: Informing “Karl’s shop” was a “pre-execution necessity.” (Kyle Sampson) (OPA000000001).

    Politics drove decision: “Confirm that Kelly is making the Senator/Bush political lead calls.” (Kyle Sampson) (OPA000000001).

    Looking for excuses: “The one common link here is that three of them are along the southern border so you could make the connection that DOJ is unhappy with the immigration prosecution numbers in those districts.” (Tasia Scolinos) (OPA000000005)

    Sen. Dominici involvement:

    Monica Gooding, April 6, 2006 calendar – “Phone Call with Senator Domenici” (OAG000000920).

    Andrew Beach, Sept. 25, 2005 calendar – “Phone Call with Senator Domenici” (OAG000000937).

    Andrew Beach, Jan. 31, 2006 calendar – “Phone Call with Senator Domenici” (OAG000000940)

    Gonzalez was to personally deliver the news about axing US Attys: Email from Kyle Sampson to William Kelly, cc to Harriet Miers, 12/4/2006, designated high importance, re: US Atty Plan. “So, on Thursday morning, we’ll need the calls to be made as follows: AG calls Sen. Kyl, Harriet/Bill calls Sens. Ensign and Dominici (alternatively the AG could make these calls and, if Senators express any concern, offer briefings re why decision was made – let me know)” (DAG0000002023)

  • Some progressive Seattle attorneys familiar with McKay don’t have kind words for his politics – remember he was going after drug offenses and locking up illegal immigrants, not exactly Mr. Nice Guy to the people and families affected. The word is that he is highly ethical.

    It’s clear from the actions of this administration that they took a fork in the road long ago that has demanded that they eat increasing numbers of their own. Their fear of the consequences as they hemorrhage power does not allow them to stop for a moment to bandage their own wounds, or to take the knives from those within the White House who are causing the injuries.

    Given the choice between politics and ethics they have placed themselves at such a distance that they have no idea where one would look for it even if they wanted. And those who know where ethics is are afraid of being burned by its cleansing fire.

    Dobson, Bauer, Perkins, and their ilk were resounding ignored by the National Association of Evangelicals. It’s becoming more apparent that the base is awakening to the pain that’s been caused by rendering unto Caesar that which is God’s.

    They know what to do when a child tells a fib. As believers in harsh discipline it must be giving many in the White House cold sweats. I would not be surprised if business joins in the fun sooner rather than later.

  • remember the chatty cathy doll? these guys have turned into chatty cathy dolls – you just pull the string on the back of their neck, and these random talking points just spill out of their mouths……….

  • AG AG has never impressed me as a particularly intelligent or competent man – even when his pants were not flaring around him. He is a means to the ends of others, IMO. His talking points have been particularly unimpressive – one is led to believe that he is formulating them all on his lonesome. That is the biggest hint to me that he presently is scratching and clawing to prevent his seat on the bush becoming a place under it. I don’t think much of him or his odds of survival.

  • Innocent people don’t say “There’s no evidence whatsoever”.

    It is starting to sound like the WH is trying to keep the focus on AG, to avoid everyone focussing on KR.

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