Attorney General Gonzales resigns but why now?

This is the story's background, "One of Gonzales' chief critics, Sen. Charles E. Schumer released a statement Monday praising Gonzales for resigning.

'It has been a long and difficult struggle but at last, the Attorney General has done the right thing and stepped down,' said the New York Democrat.

'For the previous six months, the Justice Department has been virtually nonfunctional and desperately needs new leadership,' said the Schumer statement. 'Democrats will not obstruct or impede a nominee who we are confident will put the rule of law above political considerations. We beseech the Administration to work with us to nominate someone whom Democrats can support and America can be proud of."

So why now? The President wants to control the flow of information and as sure as I am sitting here typing this now, President Bush will make a recess appointment of someone with guaranteed loyalty to the President, so he can keep the information, regarding the Attorney General's firing of U.S. Attorney's as well as the illegal wiretapping surveillance program, secret and out of the hands of Congress. Just watch the maneuvering. With the quotes he made above, Schumer is baiting the President not to announce a replacement while Congress is still in recess, but we all know there is no hope of that happening with this President, nor this Vice President. They simply do not want to be investigated.

For the rest of the story click here.

Iraqi elections- Isn't it time again?

Seems like it's time for another round of mid term elections in Iraq. Now that Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has quit the Parliament maybe it's time for ordinary Iraqi's to decide if they are on the "right course" or if a change in leadership is needed. Al Maliki has the support of President Bush but Moqtada al-Sadr is removing his support of the leadership. And add to that Al Sadr is the most popular figure in Iraq today and you can see what a problem is created here for the U.S., as well as the Maliki government. All this is happening at the time of the "surge". The issue for Al Sadr is when will U.S. troops leave? He has called on his people to protest in the streets peacefully to make a big statement to us and his own government. Moqtada al-Sadr reportedly has over 60,000 in his militia according to CNN reports and hundred's of thousands of other supporters.

An election of even minor parliament figures could change the balance of power within the government and this in turn could lead to some necessary changes and decisions by the Iraqi government. It could also provide the clarity for us as to when we should leave Iraq. The main stream media will position Al-Sadr leaving the government as a bad thing. It really isn't, as that is how change takes place in a democracy.

U.S Attorney firings and possible connections to stopping Jack Abramoff scandal Congressional investigations of Republicans

UPDATE: I have been investigating news reports from 2006 regarding the Abramoff scandal. I was wondering whether there were any connections to the U.S.Attorney's office in the Southern District in California to investigations spinning off from the Abramoff dealings. Here's one that implicated a connection to Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) in regards to the purchase of an Indian Casino and related issues.

"Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) was listed as a financial reference for Abramoff in the purchase (SunCruz Casinos). He was also quoted as saying, "I don't remember it, but I would certainly have been happy to give him a good recommendation", and "He's a very honest man." by the Washington Post" This seems simple enough and no cause for concern but the entire Abramoff scandal was a major concern for Republicans from Tom Delay, to "Duke" Cinningham of Southern California. Carol Lamb, who was fired as U.S attorney had said there were others in her sights at the time. Could there be more than meets the eye here?

I think there were some possible investigations going on here tied to Abramoff.

Is there a connection? Abramoff and Bush kowtowing U.S. attorneys?

Tom Delay's conflict of interest is apparent during his conversation with Chris Mathews today on Hardball. Delay has much to lose by association, as it was Duke Cunningham's conviction in Southern California by the fired U.S, attorney Carol Lamb that help put him behind bars. This was all connected to the Jack Abramoff scandal of buying privilege and access to President Bush. And this touches Tom Delay. His interest in stopping all investigations is obvious. His motives are self serving and despicable. Delay, Gonzales, Bush, Myers et al represent the Texas good ole boys (and gal) network.

It is very interesting to me that all the noise about Abramoff willing to expose more Congressmen to U.S. attorneys has gone totally quiet over the past 5 months. Could it be connected to U.S. Attorney's being fired? Was pressure exerted on the U.S. attorney who was in charge of the Abramoff matter? We may never know, but I think it worthy for us to ask what happened there as well. It was only a year ago (March 29, 2006) when this was reported by the Washington Post:

"U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck sentenced Abramoff, 47, and his former partner Adam Kidan, 41, to the shortest possible prison terms under sentencing guidelines after prosecutors affirmed that both men have been aiding the ongoing investigations and had expressed remorse. Abramoff's attorneys said he has reviewed "thousands of documents" in the inquiry, which could reach members of Congress, congressional staff members and employees of federal agencies, including the Interior Department.

They're both trying to atone by cooperating," Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence D. LaVecchio said in court."

Senator Chuck Hagel makes 2 major mistakes in a week

Today, 3-20-07, Senator Hagel voted against what was one of the single most bipartisan votes held in the Senate in a long time. They voted to restore Senate oversight of the appointment of U.S. Attorneys. However, Senator Hagel was only one of 2 Senators NOT voting for the measure to restore oversight. Add to that the non-event of his non announcement to run for President a week or so ago and Senator Hagel needs to get quiet and review what he is doing as many of us wonder why he didn't vote with the majority to send a message to this President and future ones. Senator Hagel, please explain your vote.

First casualty in bungled firing of U.S. Attorneys, to step down

According to sources quoted by the L.A Times, Kyle Sampson, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, is leaving the Justice Department. My question is when will Gonzales have the moral fiber and backbone to step down?

Roberto Gonzales, U. S. Attorney General, proves to be the center of gravity of most controversy in this Administration

Roberto Gonzales, U.S. Attorney General who is at the center of controversy again has proven to be a very central figure in the bad decisions at the heart of this Administration. He has been the person at the center of the changed interpretations of the use of torture on prisoners and hence, the Abu Ghraib atrocities. He now is at the center of the firing of U.S. attorneys because they were willing to decide cases on merit rather than based upon with this Administration was pushing for.

From the Washington Post comes a story on Gonzales and the reversal in policy of the President and the Administration under pressure from Congress now that Democrats are providing the necessary oversight that was lacking under Republican stewardship when thye were the majority for the past 6 years.

So now excerpts from the Washington Post story:
Gonzales Yields On Hiring Interim U.S. Attorneys
By Paul Kane and Dan Eggen
Friday, March 9, 2007;

"Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales agreed yesterday to change the way U.S. attorneys can be replaced, a reversal in administration policy that came after he was browbeaten by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee still angry over the controversial firings of eight federal prosecutors.

"Gonzales told Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and other senior members of the committee that the administration will no longer oppose legislation limiting the attorney general's power to appoint interim prosecutors. Gonzales also agreed to allow the committee to interview five top-level Justice Department officials as part of an ongoing Democratic-led probe into the firings, senators said after a tense, hour-long meeting in Leahy's office suite."

"...the administration has been battered by mounting allegations that several of the fired prosecutors -- six of whom testified before Congress on Tuesday -- had been the subject of intimidation, including improper telephone calls from GOP lawmakers or their aides, and alleged threats of retaliation by Justice Department officials. One prosecutor told lawmakers this week that he felt "leaned on" by a senior Republican senator, and Senate Democrats have readied subpoenas for five key members of Gonzales' inner circle of advisers."

"Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, seemed to suggest that Gonzales's tenure may not last through the remainder of President Bush's term."

"One day there will be a new attorney general, maybe sooner rather than later," Specter said sharply."

"Democrats and some Republicans said they were concerned the Justice Department was attempting to use the new provision to appoint political cronies without Senate oversight and that the firings were a means to that end. Gonzales and other Justice officials have argued that the old replacement system was inefficient and unconstitutional."

"Emerging from what participants called a "frank" discussion, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the attorney general agreed to allow five senior Justice Department aides to be interviewed by the committee in an inquiry that will probably begin in a private setting."

"Specter emerged from the meeting saying he still had no clear understanding why the prosecutors were dismissed. He said he instructed Gonzales to take back remarks he made in an op-ed in Wednesday's USA Today, in which he called the issue an "overblown personnel matter." Specter also asked Gonzales to do something to help remove the "significant blemish" now on the records of the fired prosecutors."

(For the complete Washington Post story click here.

When more oversight is done by this Congress, more revelations will be made from how Halliburton cheated us by not providing the services contracted, not by Millions of dollars, but by Billions. I will predict that when all the investigations are complete, many senior Halliburton officials will be charged with crimes and do jail time.