Bizarre Wingnut Meltdown In WA Leads To The White House

[kpete]

Bizarre Wingnut Meltdown in WA leads to the White House
by LARefugee
Fri Jul 13, 2007 at 06:25:14 PM PDT

I’m amazed that more people haven’t picked up on Bush’s attempt at firing the International Boundary Commissioner (even though he has not authority to do so). It’s like watching a train wreck within the Republican Party.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/13/20311/1202

In an action that stems from a legal dispute over a Blaine couple’s backyard wall on the U.S.- Canada border, President Bush has fired the U.S. member of the International Boundary Commission, Dennis Schornack. Or has he?

“We are preparing responses, because the president has exceeded his authority and has acted illegally” in firing Schornack, said attorney Elliott Feldman, who represents the International Boundary Commission. Or does he?

In documents filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Department of Justice lawyers say that they, not Feldman, are the legal representatives for the commission in a lawsuit filed by Herbert and Shirley-Ann Leu of Blaine. The Leus’ lawsuit asks the court to uphold their property rights to keep their wall, despite the boundary commission’s demands that they remove it.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/127729.html

Dennis Schornack was appointed by President Bush to his position in 2001 (he assumed office in 2002), and previously headed the Strategic Inititives office of Michigan Governor John Engler, a conservative Republican. Dennis Schornack is therefore probably a Republican.

The Leu’s are probably Republicans, as indicated by their outrage that any law, regulation, or treaty can tell them what they can or can’t do with their own property.

The Pacific Legal Foundation, the organization filing suite on behalf of the Leu's, appears to represent the extreme right-wing of the Republican Party.

The Justice Department under Alberto Gonzales is now about as thoroughly Republican as it can get.

So why would President Bush, who already has more troubles than he has time to put on a list, suddenly add to his troubles the attempted firing of an independent international commissioner over which he has no authority?

The clincher ladies and gentlemen:

Possibly because the lawyer hired by Schornack was John MacKay, who was one of the U.S. Federal Prosecutors forced to resign by the White House this past year????!!!!!!

Dennis Schornack's final comment:

"I'm ashamed of my government...."

much more here:
"http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/13/20311/1202I

[sdfernando]

1. Mr. Schornack....

That is the understatement of the year!

[Gold Metal Flake]

2. Just read this on Kos.

K&R

[Hekate]

3. The Leus retired to Washington from Hawaii to stretch their pensions...

...and apparently to be close to family. Their story was covered in the Los Angeles Times awhile back -- and IIRC they have a ditch along the back property and retaining-wall issues. They have small dogs and grandchildren.

Nothing in there about their political affiliations, which are irrelevant. Who the hell knew there was an international boundary running practically through their back yard? Not the Leus. The border road is lined with houses on the US side.

Here's an April story from another source:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070412.BCWALL12/TPStory/National

Hekate

[K8-EEE]

4. But...but....HE'S THE DECIDER GUY

You mean he can EXCEED AUTHORITY? But...but....the unitary executive 'debate' is....

[uppityperson]

5. thanks for putting this together, here's my article posted yesterday on it...

I posted this yesterday, good to see more and others on it also. Incredible.:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003785546_border12m.html

Firing by Bush rejected by Whatcom County boundary official

A dispute over a backyard wall in Whatcom County has reached all the way to the White House, with President Bush firing International Boundary Commissioner Dennis Schornack over his handling of the matter. But on Wednesday Schornack rejected his dismissal by the commander-in-chief.

In a strongly worded letter to Bush, Schornack said the International Boundary Commission (IBC) is an independent, international organization outside the U.S. government's jurisdiction. Schornack wrote that according to the 1908 treaty that created the IBC, a vacancy can only be created by "the death, resignation or other disability" of a commissioner.

Thus, Schornack said, the president cannot fire him. "I am unable to recognize the authority of this communication because I don't believe that you would knowingly act beyond your authority, outside the law or to otherwise jeopardize the national security of the United States," Schornack wrote.

A dejected Schornack said Wednesday: "I am ashamed of my government." Bush nominated him to the IBC in 2001....(more@link including reason for the attempt at firing.)

[dmr]

6. Wow! I'd change that contraction from a 'don't' to a 'do believe

you would knowingly act beyond your authority, outside the law or to otherwise jeopardize the national security of the United States"

I tell you, the Gonzales DOJ and the Bush* WH have unwittingly abdicated their authority to a well-oiled, well-financed arm of renegade usurpers disguised as patriot Republicans (now picking on the 'real' Republicans)!

I can almost see them in their oak paneled conference rooms planning out directives to give to fast-rising starry-eyed, easy to impress, cold-hearted, passive-aggressive bullies, yet easy to blame, disposable staffers/aides to carry out the dirty work.

It's gonna be interesting to see how the hubris of the new Executive Justice Branch is going to take this lesson - and oh, how sweet, there's ol' McKay to rattle their chains.

[formercia]

7. I think it's another distraction

They throw their own to the wolves to keep us from looking at the real problem.

Junior has an almost infinite supply.

[glitch]

8. I don't think infinite. And he seems to be going through them at a very rapid rate.

Somebody who is familiar with cult dynamics should tell us what happens next. Do disaffected cult members fade back into society or do they drink the koolaid? Will gunpoint be necessary?

Unless you meant infinite supply of real problems, in which case I agree.

OT for the longest time I read your name as formica.

[formercia]

9. Like the old Russian tale

A sled going through the woods when a pack of wolves begins to chase them,and the wolves are gaining. They throw everything overboard to lighten the load, still the wolves are gaining,then it's time to throw people to the wolves.
Still the wolves are gaining.....

I never thought of myself as a counter top... :hi:

counter something perhaps...

[glitch]

10. That's a good one. Speaking of Russian stories I like the one about eating frogs for money.

So, why did we eat the frogs?

Just so long as you're not part of a program :hi:

[formercia]

13. Not me.

Ol' dibil gone look fo' someone else.

[The Cleaner]

11. Always pushing the limits of executive power

that's what this admin is all about. Arrogance, worse, illegality.

[struggle4progress]

12. Michigander says Bush fired him for defending border treaty

July 11, 2007

By DAWSON BELL

FREE PRESS LANSING BUREAU

~snip~ Schornack said he was fired because he disagreed with U.S. Justice Department officials about whether a concrete barrier erected along the border in Washington state violated the treaty and should be removed.

According to published reports, the wall encroached two feet onto a 20-foot-wide border “vista” that is, by treaty, to remain clear of obstacles.

Schornack said his hard line, backed by his Canadian counterpart, clashed with Justice Department officials' view that the owners' property rights should trump the treaty. He likened his dismissal, which he said he plans to challenge in court, to the controversial dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys.

“I’m not right-wing enough,” said Schornack, who worked for Republican Engler in the Michigan Legislature and served in various posts throughout his 12-year administration. ~snip~

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070711/NEWS06/70711034&imw=Y

[mahatmakanejeeves]

14. From the article:

"The boundary commissioner collects no salary, but Schornack said he has been paid $137,500 a year as U.S. chairman of the International Joint Commission,..."

Darn. I'd like to get on that commission.

[Exultant Democracy]

15. We lost this battle to the Unitary Executive with Johnson

the only appointments that Bush can't dismiss are Judaical.

[illinoisprogressive]

16. I wonder if they will ever be able to uncover all the crap these guys have done

[hedgehog]

17. Here's what's really weird.

Go to Google Earth, look up 99th Street in Blain, Washington. There is no 20 foot wide boundary apparent. Go a little west, and you're looking at a big parking lot. The power line crossing my farm shows up better on Google Earth.

[Nikki Stone1]

18. The couple are not voting Repugs: the wife is Canadian and the hubby hasn't voted in years

Saw them both on the news yesterday in SoCal. (Don't know why we got that report, but we did.)

I think hubby said he had no party affiliation.