Gonzalez To Depart & Be Replaced By Chertoff? (US News & World Report)

[kpete]

Maybe Trading Up Soon at Justice
August 24, 2007 06:02 PM ET | Bedard, Paul

The buzz among top Bushies is that beleaguered Attorney General Alberto Gonzales finally plans to depart and will be replaced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Why Chertoff? Officials say he's got fans on Capitol Hill, is untouched by the Justice prosecutor scandal, and has more experience than Gonzales did, having served as a federal judge and assistant attorney general.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/

[Flabbergasted]

1. Sounds about right. And Who replaces Chertoff? nt

[L. Coyote]

19. Karl Rove

[seemslikeadream]

2. Chertoff.!!!

BUT WHO WILL KEEP OUR HOMELAND SAFE?

[L. Coyote]

3. Michael Chertoff: Ashcroft's Top Gremlin

Michael Chertoff: Ashcroft's Top Gremlin
Spreading Mischief from DoJ to the Federal Bench
http://www.counterpunch.org/cassel06112003.html

By ELAINE CASSEL

I have been watching John Ashcroft so long that it is getting to be a little boring. Promising to use all available means to "fight terrorism," prosecuting every violation of law "to the fullest extent of the law," desperately wanting the death penalty for every possible offense, and, according to his remarks last week before the Senate Judiciary committee, wanting laws changed to impose the death penalty for even more offenses. Ashcroft changes law and procedure by signing Executive Orders, and yes, he can get away with that unless a court stops him. So far, no court has. Some congressional members, damn few, express mild dismay at his tactics, such as locking up resident aliens after 9/11 and holding some of them for months without access to family or lawyers (or charges), then deporting many on the most technical visa violations (some of them the fault of INS, over which he has authority). It never ends-the Ashcroft watch. It only gets worse, and more frightening.

But now I have a new gremlin to watch, someone who is as intent on undermining the law and Constitution as Ashcroft. I am referring to the man behind the criminal prosecution of terrorists, Michael Chertoff. Chertoff, former chief of the Justice Department's criminal division, and a scary looking guy if ever there was one, has been elevated to the level of Court of Appeals judge--the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, whose jurisdiction includes Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. What's so scary about Michael? Well, besides having no judicial experience and being a right-ring radical who does not believe in the Constitution and wants to rewrite federal law and rules of procedure on an ad hoc, case by case basis, as it suits him, nothing I guess.

A good place to look for Chertoff's legal philosophy is in the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui ,

[L. Coyote]

7. NPR = Profile of Homeland Security Nominee Michael Chertoff = LISTEN

Profile of Homeland Security Nominee Michael Chertoff
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4278721
Listen to this story..
by Madeleine Brand

Day to Day, January 11, 2005 · NPR's Madeleine Brand talks with Ronald Fleury, editor-in-chief of The New Jersey Law Journal, about the career of federal appeals court Judge Michael Chertoff. President Bush announced Tuesday morning that Chertoff is his choice to be the new head of the Department of Homeland Security, replacing outgoing chief Tom Ridge.

[L. Coyote]

11. "Chertoff's record at DoJ followed the same downward arc as a belly-flop"

Failing Upwards
The Rise of Michael Chertoff
By MIKE WHITNEY
http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney01222005.html


Michael Chertoff's record at the Justice Dept. has followed the same downward arc as a belly-flop. He's managed to botch every major case he's handled and elicit the well-deserved scorn of civil liberties groups. Only in the gravity-defying world of G.W. Bush, where reality is routinely run through a public relations shredder, would a bungler like Chertoff reach the top-spot at Homeland Security. Even so, his appointment should come as no surprise to the wary American public. It's just one more horse-nugget added to an already ample mound of political manure.

Chertoff is credited with authoring the Patriot Act, the 300-plus page blueprint for the modern National Security State; patterned to great extent on the successes of the KGB in the Soviet system. He's admired among his Bush cadres for making sure that government surveillance operates at maximum efficiency. Under his stewardship at the Dept of Justice, the 4th amendment has withered like summer grass. The long-held belief that citizens, have a right to a "reasonable expectation of privacy" has buckled under the demands of "Big Brother" and the new "intrusive" security paradigm.

Chertoff is a member in good standing in the Federalist Society; a cabal of radical lawyers devoted to the systematic dismantling of the Bill of Rights. Already, they've provided much of the legal rationale for the unlawful detention of aliens, the enhanced powers of the Executive, the indefinite incarceration of POW's and the cruel and unusual treatment of prisoners. They've also made strides in crushing what few regulations still exist to protect both consumers and environment.

Chertoff has been an effective conduit for the Federalist ideology. Following 9-11, he masterminded the round-up of 1100 Muslim suspects; dumping them in prison without bothering to file charges. ......

[L. Coyote]

17. TORTURE MEMO and Michael Chertoff role at DoJ Criminal Division

Thursday, February 3rd, 2005
Chertoff's Role in Aug. 2002 Torture Memo Called into Question at Confirmation Hearing
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/02/03/159203

LINKS: Listen to Segment -*- Download Show mp3 -*- Watch 128k stream -*- Watch 256k stream -*- Read Transcript

At the confirmation hearings for President Bush's Homeland Security chief nominee, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) questioned Michael Chertoff about his role as head of the criminal division of the Justice Department in the formulation of the Aug. 2002 so-called "torture memo" that provided a very narrow definition of torture. We hear an excerpt of the hearing. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held confirmation hearings yesterday on Michael Chertoff, President Bush's nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security.

Chertoff is a federal judge who worked under John Ashcroft in the Justice Department after Sept. 11. He led the government's move to jail hundreds of Muslim and Arab men without pressing charges. He was also a chief architect of the USA Patriot Act. Chertoff is expected to be easily confirmed when the committee votes on Monday.

Yesterday's hearing was overshadowed by the continuing Senate confirmation debate of Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General. While most committee members praised Chertoff at the hearing, Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan questioned Chertoff's role in the infamous Aug. 2002 so-called "torture memo."

...............

[L. Coyote]

13. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) will send a head of lettuce and a fruit basket to Chertoff

Special delivery for Michael Chertoff
By Michelle Malkin • June 27, 2007 09:51 PM
http://michellemalkin.com/2007/06/27/special-delivery-for-michael-chertoff/

From Tom Tancredo’s website:

Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO) will send a head of lettuce and a fruit basket to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff today. Tancredo made the move after Chertoff told reporters earlier this week that enforcing the law is causing produce shortages.

“The administration has taken hyperbole to a whole new level this time,” said Tancredo, “They are now trying to convince the public that without amnesty, the American people are going to starve?”

“The agriculture industry and the free market has managed to keep producing through floods, droughts, and $3.00 per gallon gas,” said Tancredo, “I doubt very seriously that a nominal increase in labor costs is going to be the end of lettuce as we know it.”

According to National Journal’s Hotline this morning, Chertoff said in a conference call on 6/27 with reporters that, “We’re living in a world in which lettuce and fruit is not being picked because we are enforcing the law.”

A staffer from Congressman Tancredo’s office will deliver a head of lettuce and a small fruit basket from a local grocery store to Secretary Chertoff’s office at 3 PM ET today located at 3801 Nebraska Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20528.

Congressman Tancredo wrote in the card, “Much, much more where this comes from.”

Google “Chertoff and lettuce.”

[L. Coyote]

14. Olbermann lays into Chertoff's 'remarkable counter-terrorism stomach'

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/july2007/130707_a_olbermann.htm

Olbermann lays into Chertoff's 'remarkable counter-terrorism stomach'
David Edwards and Josh Catone
Friday, July 13, 2007

"We used to have John Ashscroft's major announcements. We used to have David Paulison's breathless advisories about how to use duct tape against radiation attacks. We used to have Tom Ridge's color-coded threat levels. Now we have Michael Chertoff's gut," began Keith Olbermann in a scathing 'Special Comment' on MSNBC's Countdown.

Olbermann laid out five possible explanations for "Mr. Chertoff's remarkable revelations about his transcendently important, counter-terrorism stomach."

[L. Coyote]

15. Hurricane Katrina & Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Michael_Chertoff

Hurricane Katrina

"Even before the storm struck the Gulf Coast," Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff was the "federal official with the power to mobilize a massive federal response to Hurricane Katrina, could have ordered federal agencies into action without any request from state or local officials." <2>

According to federal documents reviewed by Knight Ridder, Michael D. Brown, who resigned on September 12, 2005, as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, "had only limited authority to do so until about 36 hours after the storm hit, when Chertoff designated him as the 'principal federal official' in charge of the storm."

.................

[Pirate Smile]

4. No way. He might actually respect the Constitution, Checks and Balances, the Law.

Bush and Cheney do NOT want anyone but Gonzo in that job. Chertoff might actually try to DO the job which would mean big trouble for them.

I'd love to be wrong but I doubt it.

edit to add - I went overboard on Chertoff's potential to respect the Constitution but I still doubt he would be as bad as Gonzoles which is why I don't think this will happen.

[aquart]

6. I'm sorry. You ARE talking about DHS Chertoff?

If so, no. Not a chance.

[Pirate Smile]

9. Gonzo makes Ashcroft look good which is a statement I never thought

I would make.

I just don't think anyone else but Fredo would do what all that he has done. I don't think they are willing to take the chance.

[aquart]

28. Yeah. We felt that way about Johnson after Nixon.

[LiberalAndProud]

34. I felt that way about Nixon after GWB.

hooda thunk it?

[valerief]

10. Michael "Katrina" Chertoff? Not a chance. nt

[blogslut]

5. Boy, talk about mixed feelings

I have them!

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. ohfercryingoutloud!

Maybe the Dems will not confirm ANYONE before the '08 election? No one would be better than Chertoff!

[Kansas Wyatt]

12. Doesn't matter what Turd is dislodged in the sewage drain

Another Turd just plops in it's place, with this administration.

[Solly Mack]

16. snort

My country is sick

[indepat]

18. So will MF Chertoff replace MF Gonzales at Justice? MG (my god)

[sellitman]

20. Amazing choice!

Fuck up and get promoted.

Once again the Repiggies have figured a way to make me wanna puke all over again.

[spanone]

21. shit out shit in

[BadgerLaw2010]

22. So out with massively corrupt and incompetent and in with corrupt and massively incompetent?

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

Note: Gonzales is only "incompetent" instead of "massively incompetent" because he doesn't have a bad memory, he's just a serial liar in front of Congress.

[spanone]

23. Justice meted out by Homland Security.....hmmmmm

[ThomWV]

24. One wonders just how they expect to get anyone they choose past the Senate?

[L. Coyote]

29. Recess appointment next week, while Congress is out. Simple! Not?

If this were Hitler's Germany, would this be analogous to having the highest-ranking SS General take over the Justice system?

[SoCalDem]

25. Lou Dobbs for Homeland Security Chief

He would fit right in..


"Communist RED China's gonna get us
Illegals ..Het 'em up, Round 'em up, Move 'em out.. RawHIDE
Islamofacists are EVERYWHERE"

Feel the fearrrrrrr...

here a fear, there a fear..everywhere a fear

[BadgerLaw2010]

26. No go. Dobbs hates Bush. That might upset Bush. Bush cry. n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

27. Dobbs LOVED warmongering for the psycho through "Shock and Awe" though.

Dobbs LOVED the psycho's illegal invasion!

[L. Coyote]

30. K & Recommend someone else. How about Leahy for AG?

[L. Coyote]

31. kick

[Skidmore]

32. May I just say

phuck. Just phuck.

[L. Coyote]

33. Consider this. New FISA law. Chetoff and DNI would make the decisions

[L. Coyote]

35. CREW Comment: White House will let Chertoff "do the time!"

WTF is all this about????

================
No jail time for Ney's aide who pleaded guilty to conspiracy in Abramoff case
http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/29937

...........

Chertoff and his leadership truly are unaware that law enforcement has them surrounded! Chertoff has his job because the CEO and I made a decision that resulted in Tom Ridge's being fired. Chertoff was hired to undo Ridge's damage, but instead has done as Ridge did: worked for the Kremlin/organized crime (Savy Technology...Ridge joined their board after favoring them before he left DHS where Savy worked for the Russians, Lockheed controlled the contracts awarded to Savy, and last year Savy was acquired by Lockheed) and Lockheed's Russian subsidiary.

NSA's General Hayden (now heads CIA) in 12/04 spoke of the need to have an Office of Strategic Plans (This now is under the Office of Policy umbrella) after my company left for Germany but left me behind to keep watch whether the US government contracting market corrected itself. In Chertoff's second stage review it was discovered an Office of Strategic Plans was necessary as DOD's NSA had stated. Despite that office was created first and foremost to integrate my company's platform into the DHS' programs as much as five years into the future, Chertoff has told them they cannot look at identification credentials.

The DHS leadership totally is in their own world! They know they're working for the Kremlin as operatives and believe they're above the law! It appears until weeks ago they hadn't a clue that law enforcement had them surrounded. Instead they thought they were invincible! Such men usually have short memories and by now I suspect they've returned to business as usual. They forget that the Bush Administration nomininated Ridge, but then fired him. The Bush Administration nominated Porter Goss, but then fired him, too. The Bush Administration nominated David Safavian for his GSA and OMB posts, but then didn't stand in the way when Safavian was arrested. The Bush Administration might have nominated Chertoff, but if after he secured that post did crime, the track record is that the White House will let Chertoff "do the time!"

...........