NYT: Bush pal overrode Justice Dept lawyers in huge tobacco industry break

[Nothing Without Hope]

Here's another new crack in the media stonewall around the pervasive Bush administration corruption. We need to publicize this along with the other brazen scandals. These people are criminals, bought and paid for, and the public needs to be shown the truth on this.

So I am encouraged by what is in the NY Times today as the top-billed, subject-line article in the emailed "Today's Headlines." The wording of the article makes it very clear that the writer and the career lawyers of the Justice Dept believe that politically motivated, conflict-of-interest cronyism with the tobacco company by a close associate of Bush, a political appointee in the Justice Department, is responsible for a huge and unwarranted ($130 billion to only $10 billion) cut in requested damages:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/16/politics/16tobacco.html?th&emc=th

Lawyers Fought U.S. Move to Curb Tobacco Penalty

By ERIC LICHTBLAU
Published: June 16, 2005
WASHINGTON, June 15 - Senior Justice Department officials overrode the objections of career lawyers running the government's tobacco racketeering trial and ordered them to reduce the penalties sought at the close of the nine-month trial by $120 billion, internal documents and interviews show.

(snip)

"We do not want politics to be perceived as the underlying motivation, and that is certainly a risk if we make adjustments in our remedies presentation that are not based on evidence," the two top lawyers for the trial team, Sharon Y. Eubanks and Stephen D. Brody, wrote in a memorandum on May 30 to Associate Attorney General Robert D. McCallum that was reviewed by The New York Times.

(snip)

At the close of a major trial that dozens of Justice Department lawyers spent more than five years preparing, the department stunned a federal courtroom last week by reducing the penalties sought against the industry, from $130 billion to $10 billion, over accusations of fraud and racketeering.

(snip)

The newly disclosed documents make clear that the decision was made after weeks of tumult in the department and accusations from lawyers on the tobacco team that Mr. McCallum and other political appointees had effectively undermined their case. Mr. McCallum, No. 3 at the department, is a close friend of President Bush from their days as Skull & Bones members at Yale, and he was also a partner at an Atlanta law firm, Alston & Bird, that has done legal work for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, part of Reynolds American, a defendant in the case.

(snip)

Needless to say, the tobacco industry is a massive political contributor to the Republican Party - $2.7 million to Republicans last year (vs $938,000 to Democrats). The article does NOT dismiss the objections of Democratic congresspeople as partisan politics, but makes it clear that career lawyers familiar with the case agree with them that this is a despicable action. The cited internal memo shows that the repeated statements that this was a legitimate move based on the law and not politically motivated are lies.

The wording is stronger than we would have seen even 6 months ago, I believe. And note the emphasis on the close association of the prime instigator of this gift to the tobacco industry to Bush - a close personal friend and Yale Cross & Bones pal!

Bush administration corruption is no longer a forbidden topic. And once THAT door is opened, the backlog of stupefyingly brazen scandals is going to start tumbling out. I predict more whistle-blowers will be stepping forward soon.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Tobacco money

Karl Rove was still receiving three thousand dollars a month from Phillip Morris to be their rep in Austin way into the campaign.

The Bush Administration has always been in the pocket of tobacco.

Rove's firm whose bread and butter was 'tort reform' was a front for tobacco firms to fight lawsuits. The tort reform movement was funded largely by tobacco and the pharmaceutical firms.

Tobacco firms released executives at full pay to work in the Dole campaign. That's why he made that speech in Louisville saying that nicotine wasn't addictive. Odd, considering Louisville's rep in congress, Anne Northup was - and is - very anti-tobacco.

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. Thanks for this history. It all fits, doesn't it?

What's new is that we're HEARING about this scandal. How lovely if future followup articles trace the pattern you have indicated. At least they did make the personal connection with Bush and with massive donation to Republican campaigns. We can hope for more later.

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. I would love to see a LTTE to the NYT and the other papers carrying this

story with this sorry history connecting the dots for the readers. This latest scandal is only on more in an ongoing series - would make it easier for them to see the pervasive pattern of corruption that has always been central to the Bush Administration.

[NewJeffCT]

2. sigh... why am I not surprised?

the outrages come every day from this White House...

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. The crimes, yes, but not their publicizing. This is a good sign.

And we need to help the public see this pervasive Bush Administraton corruption. Few would admire what was done in this situation. It's Robber Baron Politics and very obvious about it.

Will be interesting to see if Bush cuts his "close personal friend" loose to twist in the wind now that the news of this massively corrupt move has been made public. Will the press conferences press it? What will li'l Scotty say?

[NewJeffCT]

5. well, they get reported & then ignored

Because CNN & Fox don't pick up it and give it 24/7 coverage like Scott Peterson, the Runaway Bride, the Summer of the Shark, missing blondes in Aruba, etc...

[damntexdem]

10. This is by far the most-corrupt adminsitration in history.

It outdoes Harding, and what was slipped by U.S. Grant.

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. Yes, there is no doubt about that. And Bush still wants to be compared

with George Washington as a bringer of democracy and great president. I do believe he truly is insane.

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

8. kick n/t

[damntexdem]

9. High crimes and misdemeanors:

$120 billion worth -- and the failure to help current smokers quit smoking. The latter will lead to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths.

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. Yes, like the war profiteering, it's money over life and law every time

and we need to get our act together in letting the people of this country know just how blatant it really is.

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. We need to add this to the list of Bush corruption and KEEP IT THERE n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

15. People, it's not just the Iraq War - thre are MORE CRIMES and we need

to prosecute them!

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. this is worth attention. Wish we could pay attention to more than one

thing at a time.

[tex-wyo-dem]

17. Thanks for this, NWH!

This is yet another example of how criminal this regime is and how important it is to expose them.

I guess everyone is still concentrating on the DSM going's on otherwise this would be getting a lot of attention.

[Nothing Without Hope]

18. Thanks - I'll go post some headsups. I'd hate for this to be missed

by everyone. It's IMPORTANT. The high crimes and misdemeanors permeate this administration.

[hvn_nbr_2]

19. "Bush administration corruption is no longer a forbidden topic"

Bush administration corruption is no longer a forbidden topic. And once THAT door is opened, the backlog of stupefyingly brazen scandals is going to start tumbling out. I predict more whistle-blowers will be stepping forward soon.

Exactly. I said in another thread awhile ago that the corruption is so widespread and so brazen that a cub reporter could in a couple hours turn up enough scandal to bring down several governments. But only if the news organization will print/tell/show the information.

If a whistleblower blows a whistle in the forest where no media wheels are listening, does it make a sound? It's starting to look like some media wheels are finally starting to listen. We've dragged them to it kicking and screaming, but they're finally starting to be there.

If they let reporters loose to investigate corruption, the results are going to be stupefyingly vast and fast.

[Sanity Claws]

20. Shameful? yes Impeachable offense? no

Yes, Bush was very clearly taking care of his friends. However, unless money changed hands for this particular deal, I don't think it will rate as a high crime or misdemeanor. It's just the boys taking care of their own.
Nevertheless, this story should be repeated over and over again to show the administration's corruption and lack of regard for the working stiff.

[Nothing Without Hope]

21. The order to destroy the case clearly came from the WH and was opposed

to the well-being of tobacco victims. I don't know whether this particular one is impeachable, but it sure needs to be added to the list showing an administration more corrupt than any in US history.

[Nothing Without Hope]

22. kick - let's not let this disappear as they would like n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. kick n/t

[WePurrsevere]

24. Recommended....

yet another abuse of power. :mad:

The more that comes out the worse he looks and by being in the same party so do the Republicans especially the ones that are seen as close to him.

Maybe all this won't get him impeached.. maybe it will.. but even if it doesn't it all adds up to an even better chance of Dems winning in '06 and '08. B-D

[spooky3]

25. I heard a short version of this on NPR as I was driving home today.

Great reporting by NYT, and I am glad NPR is not yet fully intimidated by Tomlinson & his bosses.

[Nothing Without Hope]

26. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

27. Come ON, people!!! This story will help convince people of the lies and

utter corruption of this administration. They may not "get" the DSMs, but they can get THIS. This was just one $120 billion payoff, you know there have been other tit-for-tats over the years. The released documents make it clear that the administration is LYING about it not being politically motivated, and the lead crook is a personal friend and political appointee of George W. Bush. And look at the first reply to this post. The poster outlines a long, sorry history of the Bush crime family and Cheney being in the pockets of Big Tobacco all along.

I wish more people would look at this. It's an important part of the story showing the total corruption of these people and their being bought by corporations, even if it is to the detriment of citizens.

This needs to be publicized BIG TIME. It shows the lying and corruption in a way that the DSMs may not for some people.

[Nothing Without Hope]

28. kick - we need to publicize this. The stench of corruption will wake up

the public if we TELL them about all these scandals. This is definitely one for the short list of talking points.

[Nothing Without Hope]

29. At a MINIMUM, we need to thank the NYT with LTTEs - also emphasizes

the story and helps keep it alive.

[Elidor]

30. And the hits just keep on coming!

And I couldn't ask for more than the maladministration's hapless response: "You guys knew we were crooks all along! Why are you picking on us now?"

[KittyWampus]

31. RJ Reynolds Was Laundering Money In Iraq. Came Out In Oil/Food Flap

they were laundering money people.

RJ Reynolds...

[Nothing Without Hope]

32. Got any links, or should I Google for it? That's a good thing to add

to the story. I'd love to see the whole Big Tobacco/Bush-Cheney crime family timeline.

We need to publicize this.

[KittyWampus]

40. This Is From Guardian & Also See Washington Post

http://www.guardian.co.uk/smoking/Story/0,2763,823856,00.html

[Nothing Without Hope]

44. wow, thanks! Not enough to sell a poisonous, addictive product, they

have to sink as low as they can go.

Sounds like a natural partnership opportunity for the Bush crime family - lots of money without oversight, plus a Bush family history of fronting for tobacco interests. I surely hope some good investigators go after all these connections.

[AirAmFan]

33. The list of grounds for impeachment SPECIFICALLY mentions bribery

and when tobacco companies "contribute" millions to get back $120 billion, what would you call it?

From http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/article02/18.html

"U.S. Constitution : Article II Section 4. Impeachment

The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

[Nothing Without Hope]

34. Thanks, AirAmFan - this is important:: Bribery is cause for impeachment.

And as you point out, what else could this be called? There is bound to be more evidence making the connection solid - can it be found?

[LuPeRcALiO]

35. Ever get the feeling that they're going for broke?

Like, take whatever you can grab because the free-for-all is ending soon?

[Nothing Without Hope]

37. They are not worrying much about preserving a veil of pseudo-decency

You see that on so many levels - Sensenbrenner's storm-trooper tactics on Conyers' hearings are another example. They believe they will not be held accountable to any laws, so why not go for everything they can grab?

[LuPeRcALiO]

47. Like Enron in the last reel.

Same cast, too.

[Turn CO Blue]

36. Bookmarking this: another link in the chain. n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

38. I WILL REPOST THIS THREAD IN GD-P TOMORROW (Fri) AFTERNOON

Let's use that thread to collect links and info on possible NON-DSM grounds for impeachment and also more info on the past and present duet of the Bush/Cheney crime family and Big Tobacco.

We need to weave this together. The DSMs alone will not be enough - but proven bribery and corruption could be. At worst they would be excellent material to disabuse the US public of their already eroding trust in the goodness and patriotism of the Bush cartel.

When I repost, I will give a link to the new thread here. I hope you will come and add to the discussion. We need documentation to bring these monsters down.

[Karenina]

39. And for now a little

:kick:

[paineinthearse]

41. Good idea, Fridays are a good time to submit DU letters to the editor

...for the Sunday edition.

p.s. I like your new signature line.

[Supersedeas]

42. Last minute change of plans guys -- the political wonks don't like your

CLOSING ARGUMENT.

[Nothing Without Hope]

43. Yeah, after FIVE YEARS of careful work, to have Bush's crony step in

and destroy the case for obviously political reasons must have been a huge blow. Can't fight the bad guys if what is supposed to be your side undermines you like that.

[tex-wyo-dem]

45. kicked and nominated!

They talked about this on The Majority Report yesterday.

[understandinglife]

46. More arrogance, more deception, more support for an industry that ...

... ruthlessly, intentionally targets our children with an addictive substance and is the root cause of the vast majority of lethal, chronic diseases in America.


http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4173.htm


WE THE PEOPLE .... WILL NEVER FORGET

"... we sent our young people into harm's way without leveling with the American people." - Congresswoman Pelosi before Congress, 16 June 2005

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - Impeachment of Bush and Cheney; indictment and prosecution of all members of the Bush regime who participated in the deception, should be campaign promises of any candidate worthy of our vote in the 2006 Congressional elections.

[Nothing Without Hope]

48. I WILL REPOST THIS THREAD IN GD-P TOMORROW (Sat)

I planned to do it today, but I am ill and am forced to pay attention to something other than my computer tonight.

[Nothing Without Hope]

49. kick n/t

[NewJeffCT]

50. already fired off a LTTE to my local paper yesterday

after it was in my daily Progress Report...