Mafia prosecutor now has Bush in his sights

[sabra]

Source: Sunday Telegraph

George W Bush has seen off Al Gore, John Kerry and Saddam Hussein. But with the varnish fast disappearing from his administration, the president may finally be about to meet the man who could prove his undoing.

Preet Bharara is a 38-year-old Indian-American lawyer, who made his name prosecuting the bosses of the Gambino and Colombo crime families in New York.

Now the former district attorney has President Bush in his sights, as well as the man they call "Bush's Brain": Karl Rove, the president's chief political adviser.

Mr Bharara is spearheading the Democrat campaign to uncover corruption, mismanagement, incompetence and financial impropriety at the heart of the Bush administration.

...

Mr Bharara is already well on his way to claiming his first prominent political scalp through his role as senior counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, one of three bodies conducting inquiries into the sacking by the Bush administration of eight US lawyers.





Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/03/wuselec103.xml

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Great

now here is my question... is this anywhere in the US Media? Or when he succeeds, if he succeeds are most Americans going to be oh so surprised?

[Me.]

2. For God's Sake

Somebody please do something besides talk

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. This is actually doing something

building cases takes quite a while

[Dr.Phool]

21. When we find wrongdoing,

We'll have another investigation and invite people to testify. When they decline, we'll huff and puff and invite them again. When they flick us the bird, we'll threaten a subpoena. When they announce that they'll not honor the subpoena, we'll warn them of dire circumstances.

When they stop laughing, we'll hold our breath until we turn blue in the face. Then stomp our feet.

By then, the election is passed, and we declare victory. Even if we get slaughtered because our base deserted us, and decided to look somewhere else.

[acmavm]

30. The only quibble I have with your post is that you forgot the part where

they'll be given immunity in exchange for testimony and then they'll refuse to turn over documents and then take the fifth on the stand.

[Liberty Belle]

39. Yes, and they'll act bewildered after the 2008 election is stolen by the GOP with rigged machines.

[dflprincess]

66. And, even if they get the goods on Bush, Cheney, etal

prosecution will be deferred or they'll be pardoned (in advance, like Nixon) "for the good of the country".

[bvar22]

32. You forgot the "strongly worded letter".

Somewhere in the Democratic recipe for RUNNING OUT THE CLOCK is sending a "strongly worded letter" to the criminals.

[Danieljay]

58. I wish I could tell you that you were wrong. Our pResident is a chimp, our congress chumps. n/t

[Javaman]

90. Or if they actually do honor the subpoena, they will be suddenly struck

by an outrageous case of selective amnesia.

[Javaman]

91. dupe nt

[windy252]

99. I wish I could recommend that post. n/t

[exlrrp]

26. Amen!!!

yeah we've sure heard a lot of talk about " the new sherriff in town.' when the dems took over. And so far that "sheriff" hasn't done anything much at all, 6 months into it.
Let me see now--a 38 year old prosecutor who took on the gambino and colombo families? Umm, Gambino and colombo were dead when this guy was still in kindergarten.

[WCGreen]

82. Five months, really.....

[dogfacedboy]

92. He took on the scraps of those crime families.

The organized crime families of NYC, just like "the Outfit" here in Chicago, are at their weakest these past twenty years. Patrick Fitzgerald is currently trying what remains of the Chicago "Outfit" for various murders. They've all been in jail in recent years, and they've been ratted-out by their own.

Actually, it should not be that hard to bring down the CheneyBush Crime Syndicate. These aren't professional gangsters who rose up from the mean streets. They may be criminal, but they are not street smart. They should be easy to crack, but I'm not seeing the political backbone.

[L. Coyote]

73. I agreed. Everyone here just talks. At least the Dems in DC are doing something

Hooray for those Democrats. Substance is so different than all the just talk and griping here. Tuesday should be really good.

"In a flurry of subpoenas and press releases, the Democrats have launched 36 investigations, holding about 220 committee hearings since seizing control of Congress last November - and forcing the resignations of six Bush administration officials. It is as if several dozen Hutton inquiries had started at once.

"Mr Bharara is already well on his way to claiming his first prominent political scalp through his role as senior counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, one of three bodies conducting inquiries into the sacking by the Bush administration of eight US lawyers."

[Zhade]

98. ...

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Man, you're hilarious.

The Dems... doing something meaningful...

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[PuraVidaDreamin]

3. I'll rec- but why do the wheels of justice turn so slowly?

The world can't wait
:kick:

[treestar]

35. They always have

It's because they are trying to actually figure out what is going on, which takes time and can be frustrating and difficult.

It's too easy to sit back and say someone else's job should be simple. We watch too many TV shows in this country and forget that problems cannot be wrapped up in an hour.

[libodem]

5. God Almighty

Don't let him get on any airplanes.

[PurpleChez]

18. That was my thought exactly

No small aircraft

[Cha]

54. Mine, too! He seems like

a rare Gem that needs to be insured!

[Giant Robot]

23. If he is a former mafia prosecutor

Then he is used to being extra careful. The Bush admin may take it to new heights, but bullies usually have the same patterns after all.

My prediction, this will go no where in the end. Sorry. Feeling jaded.

[Dr.Phool]

24. So was Ghouliani.

See how well that worked out.

[Lord Balto]

53. Is it Mafiosos or Mafiosi?

Ghouliani...funny

[mzmolly]

55. Indeed.

Sheesh.

[L. Coyote]

78. Or ride a donkey into town. Good God, isn't this one worn out yet!

[shraby]

6. The wheels of justice turn slowly but

grind exceedingly fine.

[Faux pas]

7. Maybe this will be the country's knight with the shiny steel b*lls.

Kickin' for hope.

[troubleinwinter]

8. Very interesting article. Thanx, sabra. And another recommend.

[greyghost]

9. First Gonzo then Rove...

the house of cards will crumble via classic legal moves.

Hell, the RICO Act could be used against these assholes.

K&R

[ozymandius]

19. Did somebody say RICO?

For law-and-order obsessed Republicans who authored the RICO statute - this could be their undoing. We all know this was a conspiracy. And one person by definition cannot conspire with himself.

:popcorn:

[acmavm]

31. Yeah, me. A LONG TIME AGO.

[L. Coyote]

79. Jack Abramoff and Scalon are singing like jaybirds, eehmm, jailbirds.

When the guys moving the illegal money around are telling all,
imagine what is know already that we have not been told about?

[madrchsod]

10. "political scalp "

some pretty clever writing timmy boy...

[C_U_L8R]

25. Hope they aim a little lower

I want necks.
I want heads to roll.
The evildoing republican lawbreakers have gotta pay

[Canuckistanian]

29. And I'm thinking even lower than that... n/t

[On the Road]

103. Well, That Would Be Nice, Too

[ClayZ]

11. Yay! K and R

[truthisfreedom]

12. No small planes, dude.

We're ready for a hero, but not a Wellstoned one.

[dennis4868]

13. Dude....

be careful...be very fucking careful...you and your family....the Bush crime family has NO respect for human life!

[Lindsey]

14. I'm so jaded...

I feel like we've been going through this a lifetime. We'll hear about scandal after scandal and my sister & I think every time - THIS IS IT! And yet, almost nothing happens. However, I haven't give up hope, I just can't endure anymore devasting disappoints....But, like I said, hope is something that will NEVER let me go while these non-humans are driving the bus.

[cassiepriam]

16. Yes this guy will be silenced like all the rest. Bribed or threatened.

Nice try fella.

[Rottenmac]

15. this is too much

... even if it is 'good news'

Mr Bharara is already well on his way to claiming his first prominent political scalp through his role as senior counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, one of three bodies conducting inquiries into the sacking by the Bush administration of eight US lawyers.

come on people... that is really not necessary.

[pacalo]

42. It might be "too much" for you, but not for me -- I hope he gets an entire wall of scalps.

[JoFerret]

89. The cliche does seem a little inappropriate

...perhaps wall trophy?
or just plain victory for democracy, peace and justice?

[MetaTrope]

17. Remember, Bush I got off completely for smuggling weapons to Iran, narcotics dealng and death squads

It would be nice if a new day is dawning, but...

[uberllama42]

20. Notice: "The Democrat campaign..."

I'm offended by that as a newspaper man, if nothing else. I really don't know if there's any way to combat the habit of dropping the 'ic' from the end of Democratic. In the end it's really just a dristraction. There are bigger things to get angry about. It's really not worth descending to that level of juvenile discourse.

Interesting that it shows up in British journalism, though.

[livvy]

22. Here's a perfect example....

Despite bitterness about the treatment of Bill Clinton by a Republican congress over the Monica Lewinsky affair, Democrat majority leaders insist that presidential impeachment would be a waste of time and resources.

There are bigger things to get angry about, but I agree it is irritating as hell. It's just plain bad writing. Maybe that's the tact that should be taken. Grammatically speaking, it should either read "the Democrats' majority leaders", or "Democratic majority leaders". Democrat is a noun, not an adjective. It should not be used as a descriptor. Grrrr.....

It seems like a silly/distracting complaint until you think about the reaction there would be if journalist started referring to "the Republic congress", or "Republic majority leaders". I'm sure the fur would fly.

[loudsue]

33. I've seen our own DLCers using that term, too.

For those who aren't aware of it, we have some republican infiltrators in the Democratic party....they call themselves the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC), but I've heard them call themselves the Democrat Leadership Council. They're trying to "lead" us into the republican party.

Grrrr.

:kick::kick::kick:

[reprobate]

51. I see the DLC as middle men in a huge bribary scheme.

The DLC brings the congressional Dems into contact with the corporate money changers in order to funnel corporate profits into congressional campaigns. Once the congress critter is elected, or reelected, he/she will then have to justify the bribe by voting for something, no matter how small, that is in the interest of the corporate donor.

Once that happens the congress critter is, as they say in the Supranos, a made man. He has done something against the interest of those who voted for him just to keep the bribe money flowing in.

The big 'elephant in the room' is the fact that most Americans know all this and want a change to federally funded elections to take the profit motive out of politics. But since the congressional corporate hit men make the laws, nothing will change until the revolution happens.

And it will. Eventually. The people are getting really PISSED.

[madamesilverspurs]

41. Icky...

Wherever comments functions are enabled, some of us respond to the incorrect use of "Democrat" by posting responses to the offending "Republicks." Some have actually expressed a degree of huffiness as a result. What a surprise.

[NMDemDist2]

62. welcome to DU madamesilverspurs!!

and try another misspelling to watch heads explode

repubelicks

:rofl:

[Lord Balto]

52. I sent them an email complaint

Even Randi Rhodes is doing it now.

To my ear, it sounds as bad as "Chinaman."

[Danieljay]

59. How about we let go of the Democrat/Democratic thing and call them for what they are.

Chumps. We need leadership with a backbone.

[treestar]

36. Grammar flame wars are the worst

If a British journalist is using it, I'm getting a feeling it could possibly be the right usage in some instances.

[TankLV]

38. NO! It's NEVER right in ANY circumstances.

Democrat = NOUN.
Democratic = ADJECTIVE.

It's simple - try using your brian for a change.

It's a long lived sneaky repuke campaign to demonize us - and you are aparently buying it hook, line and sinker...

[Posteritatis]

63. How the fuck does dropping an adjectival ending "demonize" you? (nt)

[Fovea]

80. It goes heavy on the 'rat'

which is part of one of their pejoratives.

[Posteritatis]

81. But if I were a Dem...

(And I'm not, as I'm Canadian; I sit somewhere between the Liberals and NDP, but anyway)

...and someone said that I was a Democrat, or voted with the Democrats, or whatever, that would be "demonizing" me? Last I heard the word the stress landed on the first syllable, not the third, anyway.

I'm not convinced, to be honest. It feels like kind of reaching for a reason to take offense, especially when it comes up in a newspaper article in an altogether different country in the first place. Nevermind that Britain's got various parties with "Democratic" in their name which they'll happily condense to "Democrat" at times.

The worst I can see from this is that it's an inaccurate term, or using a turn of phrase accepted there in a different way here. Claiming that and any other uses of the term are some Republican campaign to "demonize" the Democrats via a British newspaper, though? That positively reeks of hyperbole, and I'm sure there are many many other things people would be better served waxing wroth over. It's just not that big a deal to me.

[Fovea]

93. well sure, on a cosmic scale it pales before the war in Iraq

But it is not good to let your opponent entirely control the lexicon in a debate.

Particularly when a term is used as a pejorative. We finally learned this lesson with the 'death tax'

So while it may not seem important from your perspective, reasonable persons may disagree.

[Posteritatis]

97. Is this even 'our opponent' controlling the lexicon?

That's kinda what I'm saying, that I get the impression this is more of a mistake (in which case meh) or a complete non-issue owing to dialect issues (in which case even more meh).

This one doesn't have to be Karl Rove's personal doing or whatever.

[ljm2002]

100. No mistake...

...look it up. It goes back to the Republican Congressional sweep of 1994, where Newt Gingrich sent out instructions on what words to use, designed for maximum emotional impact. There were many things on that list; one thing was to use the term "Democrat" instead of "Democratic" because tests had shown that people had a more negative reaction to the work Democrat for some reason (some say it's the "rat" ending, I can't say that but will defer to others more knowledgeable).

We have been allowing our enemies to control the terms of the debate, and frankly, I'm pretty tired of people saying "Oh, it must be a mistake", or worse, saying that it doesn't matter because there is other stuff going on.

It *does* matter, and the other stuff going on would be a lot more under our control if we understood that. The rabid right understands it, that is why they control the debate so well. It's time we learned a thing or two from them -- not to be like them but to fight fire with fire when necessary.

[wryter2000]

37. He is from another country

I imagine any of us could say something that would offend English people without realizing it.

[hippiechick]

46. caught it

Grrrr. :spank:

[The Backlash Cometh]

27. Anyone have background info on this guy?

Where was he born? Where did he go to school?

[cyberpj]

45. Google

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SUNA_en___US217&q=Preet+Bharara

[Jokinomx]

28. All we can do is hope.....

Like so many others, I have heard this story before. We must show the world that our system can work. The only way this can happen is impeaching the top people in this administration and putting them behind bars.

[Gregorian]

34. It's a racket. So many killed and tortured. There's hell to pay.

I needed this this morning. As I'm showering, I'm thinking of those in jails because of this administration, needlessly. What kind of food are they getting? They frantically long for what they had. Everything denied. Like a simple shower.

I was rethinking what I said about maybe we should pass by impeachment without the time and Congress. If many in this administration walk free it will be an even bigger crime.

I'm really angry now. I think everybody is.

I honestly think they could be prosecuted under the RICO laws. If this wasn't a racket I don't know what is.

[peacetalksforall]

40. My jaded side: George and Dick wil write an executive order - they

will say that any lawyer under 60 cannot prosecute them and any xxxxx-American of any kind cannot prosecute a President.

My hopeful side - there are people out there who believe in justice and do their job as designed and expected, not deal making for profit and for friends only.

Some people deserve to be paid by the taxpayers.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

48. the executive branch needs to be pruned

this branch has too much power

[yurbud]

57. a good prosecutor could get everybody to just below Bush & Cheney

possibly forcing congress hand to impeach.

[JoeySoCal]

43. Give no quarter Mr. Preet Bharara!!!

We are with you 11,000% !

[Time for change]

44. Thank you so much Mr. Bharara

I sincerely hope you don't get "suicided".

[Rosa Luxemburg]

47. Interesting that a British Tory (Conservative leaning) newspaper would run this?

yep, no small planes

[1776Forever]

49. Hold on - It will happen one way or another - I thought it couldn't get worse then Nixon.....

BUT he got his!!!!!!!!!! :bounce:

Pray!!!!!!!!!! :grouphug:

We must win!!!!!! :patriot:

Go for it - and keep going for it!!!!!!! :yourock:

Don't give up!!!!!!:headbang:

[fshrink]

50. Maybe he'll get him on mail fraud.

Seriously, the only thing that can save his ass is the election of a democrat president. I bet the spirit of "reconciliation" will bury the record load of crimes these gangsters have accumulated to get to power, stay in power and serve the interests of their clique with complete and conscious disregard for the cost to the people.

[loudsue]

60. NOT a "democrat" president. A DEMOCRATIC president.

A democrat president is a repuke.

:kick:

[yurbud]

56. I have posted about this for years--get these bastards with RICO charges.

[badgervan]

64. Add the Hatch Act....

... which I believe prohibits political activity out of the executive branch. So just what has Rover been up to for six and a half years? How does this crook get away with it?

[bdamomma]

94. rove has been getting away with it without any disruption, he is slime

and I hope we nail his a$$ soon.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NDN_Liberal]

76. I Second That...

I hope Preet doesn't shame his race like Sanjaya did.

[Major Hogwash]

65. Cool, they acted like they were the mafia, take them down like the mafia.

There is no doubt they violated about a dozen or 2 federal laws, so going after them like they are the mob just makes sense to me.

I'd like to wipe that smirk right off of Cheney's face.

[ryanmuegge]

67. Fitting, as there are few families more mafioso than the Bush clan.

[LeftyMcDemocrat]

68. very very

cool

[humbled_opinion]

69. The clock is ticking...

I'm afraid its just about too late to do anything. In only 17 months we will have a new POTUS Elect. Investigations and bringing up articles of impeachment is fast becoming moot. Shrub knows this, his advisors are alot of things but stupid isn't one of them. The Problem is that the Dem leaders did not go full bore impeachment when they won in Nov. The case would be laid out by now and we would be waiting on the House and Senate votes.... Nothing will happen and as for after his term no President in U.S. history has been brought on criminal charges after they served.

Thank Nancy Pelosi for taking impeachment off the table. Thats all.

[marlakay]

70. God you guys are as cynical as me

I now no longer trust the system at all.

[bdamomma]

95. they will have to do alot to restore my trust in the system again also

they will keep *'s a$$ there, maybe they will go after him after he is out of office. sorry to say, but, we have to wait, after * has destroyed this country.

[Harry Monroe]

71. Uncover????!!!!

"Mr Bharara is spearheading the Democrat campaign to uncover corruption, mismanagement, incompetence and financial impropriety at the heart of the Bush administration."

For Christ's sake's, what's to "uncover"?? You'd think this would be a slam dunk, since the corruption, mismanagement, incompetence and financial impropriety has been in plain sight for the past 6 1/2 years for everyone to see. Let's gather it all up in one neat package and indict this asshole already!!!!

[Orsino]

72. The real crimes, unfortunately, are not illegal.

Nixon was brought down over a botched burglary, and Capone for tax evasion.

My first thought was also that anyone still feeling the need to "uncover" wrongdoing won't see it no matter what, but that's how it goes. I'd just like to see some folks in authority willing to outlaw *'s real agenda.

[L. Coyote]

75. Lying to Congress is still a crime, worse still to start an illegal war.

Burglary is a real crime.
Tax evasion is a real crime.
Obstruction of justice is a real crime.

Bush has real problems already.

[The Wielding Truth]

74. You're right . It has all been in our faces. What is needs investigating?

[L. Coyote]

77. Great to get a perspective from across the pond, and a good summation

Those DEMs are off to a good start:

"... In a flurry of subpoenas and press releases, the Democrats have launched 36 investigations, holding about 220 committee hearings since seizing control of Congress last November - and forcing the resignations of six Bush administration officials. ...

"... House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ... is conducting 20 investigations.

"They include inquiries into misinformation about weapons of mass destruction before the Iraq War - something that has the potential to embarrass the British Government - corruption in postwar reconstruction, White House contacts with the convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the leaking of the identity of the CIA operative Valerie Plame. ..."

And just think. More are about to begin. Or, perhaps there will have to be an overarching commission to handle the massive task.

[UrbScotty]

83. Why does the article start by comparing Gore and Kerry with Saddam? (nt)

[jkg4peace]

87. All three were the legitimate leaders of their respective countries

and BushCo took them out

and the whole taking offense of the word "rat" in Democrat bugs me, too (as I sit here cuddling my daughter's very affectionate, intelligent, adorable pet rat, Hugo Diamond)

[Initech]

84. So... will he actually go through with it?

:popcorn:

[Kablooie]

85. All this means is that more minor Bush nobodies will leave.

I have not seen ANYTHING even BEGIN to do anything to the assholes at the top.

[Beartracks]

86. Is it just me, or does the following...

quote make it sound like building a case against actual crimes is somehow just partisan politics?

"...spearheading the Democrat campaign to uncover corruption, mismanagement, incompetence and financial impropriety..."

[mattclearing]

88. That has to be the most unflattering headline.

Talk about guilt by association. Jesus... :rofl:

[paparush]

96. OH! Please, Please, Please let something good happen!!

I cannot wait to hear Bush try to pronounce "Mr. uh..Barbara..uh..Bah Humbug..er..Bah..bah bah, bah babarIran"

[LetsThink]

101. Almost afraid to get my hopes up....... Hmmmm, what about.....

....that Veeeep? Is he in there for some of the party favors too? Seems like his Haliburton connections should be at least a starter...

[Harry Monroe]

102. Would someone please give him a blowjob already??!!

It's the only way we'll ever get him impeached!!!