"Subversion of the Justice System for Political Purposes"

[Error]

Is that not illegal?

How can it be that dishonestly twiddling with the justice system is not prosecutable as a criminal conspiracy.

[Solo_in_MD]

1. Political Appointees server at the pleasure of the President and thats black letter law

Leahy and others really look like grandstanders to most of the people I have talked to about this. Also Reno really did fire 93 ...not all of their appointments were expiring. Since they are showboating on this they are in turn not doing things that would be more effective in the long run.

It looks like pols slagging each other in public than effective leadership...

[Gabi Hayes]

3. sounds like your confreres are immersed in the Kool aid, as are you.

you might want to read a few threads here before making such a foolish comment

your Reno statement is DIRECTLY from the Republican talking points, nothing more than thoughtless parroting of the completely FALSE characterization of what happened.

If you don't know why it's false, you shouldn't be posting the sort of drivel you just did.

not trying to be mean, or anything, but your post is INSULTING, considering how completely off base its premise is.

jesus

h

christ

[Solo_in_MD]

6. Actually I work in DC, where the concept of political appointee is well understood

as is serving at the pleasure of the President. While we may not like it, having them resign/be fired is well within the law. It is not customary, but it was legal.

Reno did ask 93 to resign. That is normal at the change of administrations, *gasp* since Federal AGs serve at the pleasure of the president. Some have said that all of the appointments were going to expire, but there were some mid term appointments, rendering that claim invalid. That said, I have no problem with all 93 being removed. Its part of the DC game, and they knew it when they took the job.

There are some claims that at some were fired to stop ongoing investigations. If that is true, then there may be a cause of action, but it would also have to be shown to be linked. Lots of luck. As for the phone calls, DAs and AGs get political pressure all the time from those who appoint them, be it state or federal. Both those who make those calls and those who receive them know the boundaries and stay within them. You never know who is recording the call...

Overall, it was tacky, but legal. It looks to some that the Democrats are grandstanding. Gonzo's weak press statement is working in Leahy's favor, but when that wears off, it will devolve into little more than grandstanding on CSPAN.

[Gabi Hayes]

8. 'It looks to some.....'? you just keep DOING it! another of the sacrosanct RW talking points, in

the midst of the classic 'appeal to authority' Rhet 101 tactic.

who cares where you work?

have you been following this forum at ALL?

EVERYBODY here is well aware of the process by which POLITICAL appointees are routinely fired/hired at the beginning of each new presidential term. that factor is IRRELEVANT

now go do some reading about why this situation is so different than ANY that's ever happened before, and how they've been caught, once again, in a web of gigantic, and intermingling lies. Lies so big and obvious that even the passive/complicit media isn't buying it anymore

I'm curious as to why you are....

[Error]

4. This response is a diversion

The crimes were asking for confidential information on investigations, intimidation, and interference of the investigation run by Carol Lam. That is plain old racketeering-style criminal subversion of justice, is it not? I don't care what pleasures the president, how does that affect the apparent criminal intent documented in the emails?

And if this is all about the pleasure of the president, why all of the lying so far? We're practically choking on the smoke, but there no fire?

Its like if someone went to a casino and had hacked a slot machine to pay off and then argues "The customer is always right!".

[Gabi Hayes]

5. but but but....there was no underlying crime! therefore any 'lies' weren't

really lies, because they were immaterial to any 'crime' supposedly committed!

isn't that the reasoning that got Clinton impeached?

[Error]

9. Bingo - Tucker: "The underlying crime doesn't exist"

Now the other guy just repeated it.

Baaah...

It not against the law to fire a gun. It is against the law to fire a gun to kill somebody.

It's not against the law for the president to fire a lawyer, it is against the law to fire a lawyer specifically to interfere with justice.

[Gabi Hayes]

10. the amazing thing is that the M$M never seems to acknowledge the VERY

narrow range of oft-repeated slogans the right wing uses

"travesty of justice"

"no underlying crime"

''flipflopper''

''unhinged''

''many people say''

''the question is being asked in many corners''

you know the litany...the only ones who ever seem to do it are Stewart, Olbermann

they NEVER call them on it, and these memes become implanted in the public conscious/unconscious, doing GREAT damage to the public discourse

they enable the spread CLASSIC fascist propaganda, unabated. that's why we are where we are today

[Error]

11. Even Scarboro

I think because he's no longer in the politician biz, he isn't afraid to say what he thinks. Either that or because he's whoring for ratings by parroting Olberman, just like he plays a colbert clip or daily show clip frequently.

[librechik]

2. It's not illegal if a Republican does it.

Just in case no one told you that yet.

welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Robbien]

7. It is the classic definition of a Totalitarian government, i.e. Dictatorship

When one party maintains complete control over a government.

Which is why people keep saying if BushCo wants to spred democracy he should start here in America because we sure don't have it.