Great Reporting: US Attorneys - Scholzman!!! Kansas City Star!! Thank you! (Shortie;) Scoop/Collins

[autorank]

From: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0706/S00043.htm

In Praise of Great Reporting: The Kansas City Star

Opinion: Michael Collins
Tuesday, 5 June 2007, 3:07 pm


Kansas City Star headquarters, Kansas City, MO flickr.com

Michael Collins
“Scoop” Independent Media
Washington, DC

This week we honor the Kansas City Star, that fine McClatchy newspaper in Kansas City, Missouri. Thanks to a heads up from Missouri activist Phil Lindsay, we have a wonderful narrative on the US Attorney scandal in Western Missouri.

It seems that there was a ninth US Attorney fired (we’re well beyond 9 but that’s OK). Todd Graves, the US Attorney in Kansas City was reluctant to bring an election influencing lawsuit that supposedly (some say) was touted by Missouri political operatives.

You’ve probably guessed this one but in case you haven’t, there was a close US Senate race between the hard right conservative Republican Jim Talent (R-MO) and Clare McCaskill the Democrats finesse choice as challenger. McCaskill was running ahead and not by slinking away from tough issues. She supported a stem cell initiative and saw it through to victory. She obviously made an impression with the good people of Missouri by her clear respect for their intelligence on this issue. It is, after all, a matter of life and death, compassion versus indifference.

What to do? Hmm…let’s think. Oh, right, the Republican - Regent University brain trust at the US Department of Justice was on duty. Who knows for sure but just maybe someone said…let’s for something, hmm…one of those voter registration groups…for, lets see…right, voter fraud!

Graves would have none of it. And now he’s gone, replaced by Bradley Schlozman, a hard right ideologue who has presented his credentials as a lawyer who seeks only the truth. Tuesday, June 5th Scholzman goes under oath where he’ll have multiple opportunities to revise his previous positions by forgetting. It’s called the Modified Gonzo-Libby Hangout.
But I digress. What does the Missouri story sound like? If your answer was New Mexico, you are correct for $800. Thinking Washington State, collect your $800. If you said Wisconsin, sorry, US Attorney Biskupic cooperated and brought an indictment against a Democrat right before the 2006 elections.

Somehow Biskupic got a conviction in a trial that was mocked by some. Turns out they were right. When the case went to appeal, here’s what the chief judge on the conservative appeals panel decided. Remember, the judge is talking about a case where an individual closely associated with the Democrats was subject to a pre election indictment.

The prosecution, which led to the conviction and imprisonment of a civil servant for conduct that, as far as the record shows, was designed to pursue the public interest as the employee understood it, may well induce congress to take another look at the wisdom enacting ambulatory criminal prohibitions.

Chief Judge Esterbrook took the extraordinary action of ordering the defendant released immediately from federal prison. That’s how a good judge deals with an affront to justice.

When the White House tells a US Attorney, to cooperate, they can look forward to either of two bad outcomes: getting fired if you say no or making a weak case if you say yes. Now we know just how lousy these cases must have been, the ones ordered up form the heart of darkness in your nation’s capitol, the United States Department of Justice and turned down in Washington State, New Mexico, and, not it seems, Missouri.

While describing the US Attorney situation in Missouri, the Kansas City Star Editorial, May 13, 2007, summed up the entire US Attorney scandals in just two sentences:

No one comes off looking good in this mess. Congress must find out exactly why Graves’ retirement date was accelerated.

Perhaps the worst damage is to the image of federal prosecutors, whose role in our democracy is too significant to be soiled by political scheming.

Check out this collection of stories from the Kansas City Star coverage just since May. Look at the dates. See if you find yourself understanding just exactly what’s going on. You will! The KC Star reporters have focus, they pay attention, and they obviously communicate with each other and their peers elsewhere.

Why can’t we get the same out of the rest of the corporate media? We’ll buy your papers, check your web sites, and thank you when we see you if the rest of you will just report the news and follow up on stories. When you put out a great story, follow it, we need the information. Is it too much to ask?

Thank to the Kansas City Star for outstanding reporting on one of the critical issues of our time. Also, thanks to their corporate cousins, the McClatchy Newspapers http://tinyurl.com/ytnbry">Washington Bureau for their exceptional work. Focused, in depth reporting on the risks we face helps us all.

ENDS

N.B. Its 5:13 pm in your nation’s capitol, and the Washington Post has nothing on the front page about Missouri US Attorney Bradley Schlozman’s appearance before congress tomorrow.

Initial “Scoop” article in series on US Attorneys

Fired Federal Prosecutors And Election Fraud

Monday, 12 March 2007, 8:42 pm
Article: Michael Collins

[Me.]

1. Scoop

Scopes it

[autorank]

2. These guys are the very best, KC Star. Relentless, fearless, no nonsense.

I recall that the Yankess built a great team in the 60's by trading the the KC Royals. Maybe
the grandees could do a straight up trade: The New York Times for the Kansas City Star, which
could change it's name to "The Center of It All!" - that's my clear recollection of NYC from
my great time there.

[Greyskye]

3. Wow

So it sounds like things may well be heating up tomorrow. I had absolutely NO clue about this Bradley Schlozman character testifying tomorrow (Tuesday).


Thanks for the heads up, it could be getting interesting! :popcorn:

:kick: and Recommend

[autorank]

4. Introducing Bradley Schlozman courtesy of the Kansas City Star - a heavy hitter.

This guy was very naughty...

http://electionfraudnews.com/Resources/DemWeek/DemocracyWeek19.htm

[Me.]

5. Tomorrow Afternoon!

Hope the fit hits the shan

[autorank]

7. He'll have memory problems....maybe Fitz should do the cross;)

[Canuckistanian]

6. Schlozman is testifying tomorrow?

I'd say this rates TWO :popcorn: :popcorn:

[autorank]

8. Yep, check out those Star links (below)

Here they are

http://electionfraudnews.com/Resources/DemWeek/DemocracyWeek19.htm

[stellanoir]

9. skid marks

K & R'ed

[autorank]

16. Now you said you wouldn't cause a scene.

:blush:

[Kurovski]

10. RECOMMENDED! it's too bad DU will have downtime tomorrow.

Maybe it'll be back up in time for any breaking news.

[autorank]

17. Too bad in deed. Might have to watch some C-Span

Did you get their tee shirt yet? Oh, they have none. Sorry:)

[Kurovski]

21. If they ever make one, you can send me one for Hanukkah

or whatever holiday is closest.

:kick:

[kster]

11. We could put a stop to all of this bullshit,

if everyone would DEMAND hand counting the Ballots at their precinct.

Its easy call your Reps and tell them, WE WILL be Hand Counting the Paper Ballots at the precinct, tell them to get ready to open up their machines AND HAND OVER THE BALLOTS, so we the VOTER, can count and record the hand counted total at the precinct level.

GO Kansas City Star!!! Thanks Autorank, keep spreading the word!!

KR.... :)

[bleever]

13. Accountants are called "bean counters".

Precincts could count their own beans, and counties could check, and it all could be public and as undeniable as baseball stats or racing results at the track, and we would all be able to confirm the accuracy of the recording of our vote with full confidence.

K&R. :thumbsup:


(I want autorank to bear my children, when I can't anymore.)

[kster]

14. And the Politicians started their CON-GAME early,

yes, Dem and Repug Politicians BOTH, are out there asking people for money,
and not ONE MENTION of the the SECRET VOTE COUNTING machines, Its like they are STUPID, or they think we are STUPID, I'm not sure which.

There HAS GOT TO BE a law against this kind of CON GAME, wouldn't ya think?

They are trying to get OUR money, To run their campaign, even though they know the contest is rigged.

[Scout1071]

12. Not to nitpick, but that isn't the Star's headquarters.

That is the new printing press, which is way cool, but the actual offices are a few blocks down.

Unless they have moved - and I don't believe they have.

[autorank]

18. Right it's the press building,,,which is where the union is so...

...stil not HQ...but if I workek for them, that's where I'd want to be.

[Kurovski]

15. Kick. (nt)

[autorank]

19. Kick again.

:kick:

[reprehensor]

20. How much abuse can the citizens of the U.S. take?

Apparently... lots.

Thanks for shining the light, bro.

[autorank]

23. Avec plaisir!

We're a tough bunch, we can take it and we can dish it out...our turn to dish.

[Kurovski]

22. Kick

This is the kind of reporting we often complain that we don't get much of these days.

Many thanks to the Kansas City Star, who once had the good sense to print one of my LTTE! :D

[Hubert Flottz]

24. Not a word about the hearing on the TV????

I looked on cspin this AM and saw hada about any hearing? Is our government and their flunky media hiding thangs again?

[Kurovski]

25. Kick. (nt)