Oh, fuck. Can Bush give Karl Rove or Scooter Libby a recess appointment to be Attorney General?

[Ian David]

And even if he could...

He wouldn't DARE?

Would he?

[bryant69]

1. I think he probably could - but it would taint the process.

Still it's not like that has stopped him in the past.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. He could, yes

And damn you for putting that thought out there; I won't be able to concentrate at work today. Thanks a lot. :cry:

[bdamomma]

3. apparently I heard that Paul Clements will be acting AG.

but you never know with these criminals, just too easy that these guys are just resigning, and not being put in jail.

[C_U_L8R]

4. Harriet Myers !!!!!!!!!!!!

oh that would be too funny

[zabet]

5. sssssshhhh

He might hear you and get that idea in his head! :crazy:

[PATRICK]

6. Chertoff

because he survived Katrina would the best available thumb to put in Congress' eye. Myers, Rove and people already in the same hot water won't do. A "new face" from deeper in the crony pool might finally have some unpleasant confrimation experiences. Chertoff is predictable, already held unnaccountable and supposedly with some better skills in not answering questions.

What are the Dem goals? Getting changes in the DOJ? Bush illegal policies? Non cronies who will do the job? Getting to the bottom of the scandals? Trying dutifully to find common ground with the crooks? Telling good jokes at the confirmation hearing and asking toothless peripheral questions?

[Ian David]

7. Jonathon Sharkey?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1670878&mesg_id=1670878

[PATRICK]

12. he'd have to be born again

or cloned from Gonzo's navel.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. I don't believe so. Technically, yes, but practically, no.

The rationale for a recess appointment is that the nomination process was been unduly prolonged by the Senate and the duties that need to be addressed are too urgent to wait it out. Thus, a recess appointment is rather arbitrary in order to fill the job and execute the duties.

Congress is returning in 8-9 days and AG resigned this morning. * could make his choice today, but that would be for the nomination alone. To install a replacement before allowing the Senate to even debate would be, well, Bush in his essence, but politically unwise.

[chat_noir]

9. Rove doesn't even a college degree...

[KansDem]

10. Isn't Scooter still a felon?

Can someone who has been convicted of a crime serve as the A.G.? Bush would have to issue him a pardon the same time he appointed him, not something likely to go over very well with the 74%ers.

His sentence was commuted, but he wasn't pardoned...yet.

[madinmaryland]

11. Libby is still a convicted felon.

I don't think it could happen, but then again this is the * misadministration.

[PianoBlack]

13. Would he?

Simply put, yes...yes he would.

That's the problem here. He wants us to focus on the lack of Gonzo so that the admin can throw someone else in. Yes, this is not good at all. I am sadly going to be in class during Bush's speech -_-; but I am sure they have a contingency plan all ready in the works. I have a feeling within a week the new Attorney General will be named.

But I do have to admit, the resignation this is the nicest early birthday present I've ever received :D

[AlCzervik]

14. Rove didn't finish high school nevermind go to law school.

[peekaloo]

15. How about his pumpkin headed brother. Isn't Jebthro a lawyer?

The Kennedys in reverse.

[MagickMuffin]

16. Gonzo IS still the AG until Sept.17

according his presser

[Fresh_Start]

17. I'd hope that a convicted felon could not be AG

but knowing Bush, even that wouldn't matter to him

[warren pease]

18. Typical bush strategery...

I don't think he'll be replaced immediately, since his resignation doesn't take effect until 9/17, but I'm sure his successor is already selected and being briefed for his pro forma appearance before the senate.

Get rid of the discredited nut -- Rumsfeld, Brownie, et al -- and replace him with somebody slicker, more media-savvy, well-spoken, less obviously insane -- and with the same exact fascist agenda as his predecessor.

The public heaves a sigh of relief at the nut's departure of and expects the new version to be more moderate, less confrontational and have a functional memory.

Congress blesses the new guy simply because he isn't the old guy and rubber stamps the appointment.

Ted Olson, anyone?


wp

[Blue-Jay]

19. DUN DUN DUUUUUUUNN!

[Ino]

20. I can hear Dimson now:

"I know I promised Harry Reid no recess appointments, but no one could have foreseen the Attorney General resigning!"

[librechik]

21. I for one think that is the reason "Why now?

they are desperate, and a recess appointment, even tho it will violate the Bush-Reid agreement, would be no worse (perhaps better) than a protracted and bitter confirmation battle for any of his cronies (and of course it will be a crony.)

It would be wildly unpopular and congress would scream. But they would no doubt do nothing about it as usual.

BushCo have nothing to lose at this piont, except their freedom. If they choose a crony, they might be able to hold off the prosecutions and indictments.

[onenote]

23. the problem with your theory

is that gonzo isn't leaving until Sept 17 and thus there is no vacancy during the current recess and there can't be a recess appointment.

[librechik]

25. Thank you!

one less worry--I guess--altho i fear he could figure a way around that too!

[onenote]

22. there would have to be a vacancy during the recess for there to be a recess appointment

And Gonzo isn't leaving until after the current recess is over. At that point, reports are that chimpy is going to name the Solicitor General as acting AG under the terms of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. He can serve for at least 7 months in that capacity. There may well be a fight over a "permanent" replacement, but that permanent replacement probably won't be in office very long whether its through a recess appointment or otherwise.

And, no, he wouldn't name scooter or rove.

[BadgerLaw2010]

24. Neither one has a law license.

Rove doesn't even have a college degree.

[Ian David]

26. I am sure Regent University would be happy to give them a law degree by tomorrow afternoon. nt

[onenote]

27. scooter has a degree, but his license was pulled after he was convicted

[LSK]

28. No Gonzo is staying till Sept 17, No Recess Apt

[NoGOPZone]

29. Libby's a convicted felon and rove should be one.

That only qualifies them to be guest commentators on Fox News, like Gordon Libby and Mark Fuhrman.

[alfredo]

30. Ted Olson.

He's a very partisan, loyal bushie. He was also part of the Arkansas Project, represented bush in bush Vs Gore in 2000. Defended the traitor Jonathan Pollard, and Reagan during the Iran Contra hearings.

Looks like he'd be the perfect person for bush.

[sufrommich]

31. Even Bush

isn't that politically tone deaf.