Dubya's Big-Time Political Liability (Ashcroft)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_3097.shtml

President Bush, pressed as he is with problems in Iraq and with the economy, needs to find a way to tone down Attorney General John Ashcroft -- or consider easing him out of his high-profile post.
With the public-relations sense of a gorilla, Ashcroft has become an increasing political liability. And if White House re-election strategist Karl Rove is as smart as he seems to be, he will urge the president to begin finding a way to dampen Ashcroft's seeming enthusiasm for curtailing civil liberties. Replacing him before next year's election is probably not politically practical considering that any confirmation hearings on a new appointment would become a full-scale Senate inquiry into the conduct of the war on terrorism, particularly the use of the Patriot Act.

Ashcroft's intemperance on such controversial issues as the Patriot Act and his heavy-handedness in dealing with critics make him an easy target for those who question the administration's dedication to preserving basic rights during the war on terrorism.

Even Republicans in Congress have been reluctant to defend Ashcroft's outbursts, the latest of which was aimed at librarians who had the temerity to challenge the use of the Patriot Act to obtain library records during national security investigations. The attorney general accused the librarians, and other groups who demanded to know how many times their records had been violated, of being "hysterics" whose charges were "built on misrepresentation" and "supported by unfounded fear."

[liberalmuse]

1. Ashcroft needs to be locked up.

He's more like an insane movie villian than a real person.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

2. Not only Asscrop

but Cheney and Rumsfeld as well. And while he's at it, Tom Delay.

[Desperadoe]

3. Leave The Man Alone!!!

This Nazi Ashcroft is the best weapon that the Democrats could have. The more he rants and raves and runs around the country acting like an asshole, the more the people will begin to see this administration for what it is.............criminals in suits.

[Gman]

4. Asscroft is a lot like John Mitchell

who was Nixxon's AG. Mitchell did time for his role in Watergate. Asscroft will do time eventually if there is any real justice left in this country.

[eauclaireliberal]

5. More Ashcroft b.s.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-exec/2003/sep/22/092203512.html

An Ashcroft memo sent to all 94 U.S. attorneys' offices supersedes policy during former Attorney General Janet Reno's tenure that allowed prosecutors greater individual discretion to determine if the charges and potential punishment fit the crime.

I think we know what a large part of Dubya's re-election platform will be all about.

Ashcroft said his intent is to bring greater consistency to criminal prosecutions around the country.

Considering that this cryptofacist's idea of taking a bite out of crime is to disregard his own agents' findings concerning potential terrorist attacks(i.e., these clowns don't know SHIT about investigative techniques), the "consistency" he yaps about will be as smooth as Mississippi mud.

There is, however, the distinct possibility that individual prosecutors will see this for the load of crap that it is-and decide that they will do their jobs as they see fit, so that the right people are penalized for their crimes.

If the repubs and Asskroft's SS decide to intervine against these prosecutors, guess what: They will (as usual) be imposing on state's rights. Another brick for Bush's political gravestone.

[7th_Sephiroth]

6. Ker-flush

the sound of the bush administration's chances for 4 more years.

[Beetwasher]

7. Karl Rove is as smart as he seems to be

Karl Rove is an idiot. He never was smart. He's been incredibly overrated.

[MasonJar]

8. Bush is

Bush does not need a political liability. He is one.