"They (Gonzalez-Card-Bush) willfully violated the law."

[BurtWorm]

Absolutely must-read post on the Gonzalez-Ashcroft confrontation detailed by James Comey yesterday from the Anonymous Liberal, who knows a little something about the law (Must read the whole piece at the link!):

http://www.anonymousliberal.com/2007/05/takeaways-from-ashcroft-hospital-bed.html#links


It's probably also worth expanding on a few other lessons from this story.

First, it appears that the White House was willing (and in fact did, for a time) authorize a program that the Justice Department--including the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the head of the OLC, and the FBI Director--had determined to be illegal. And if all of these people had not threatened to simultaneously resign, it is very likely that the White House would simply have continued renewing this program without the Justice Department's blessing.

That's a rather stunning fact, and one that I wish at least a few mainstream journalists would attempt to grasp the significance of. The White House authorized a program that everyone of significance in the Justice Department had determined to be lacking any legal basis. They willfully violated the law.

Second, Alberto Gonzales acted in a manner that is, at the very least, ethically questionable. Not only was he attempting to circumvent James Comey's lawful authority as the acting Attorney General, but he was seeking to have someone who'd had major surgery the day before and who was heavily-medicated, execute an important legal document. That's an incredibly shady thing to do, the kind of thing that can get an attorney sanctioned or disbarred.

Third, implicit in the behavior of both Comey and Robert Mueller is a complete distrust of both Card and Gonzales. Mueller gave his instruction to the agents outside Ashcroft's room because he was worried what might happen in there if there were no witnesses. That doesn't speak very highly of Gonzales' reputation or perceived integrity.

Fourth, as Glenn pointed out earlier today, the Bush Administration has clearly been trying to keep this story from coming out for a long time, and has often resorted to lying about it. I can see why.

This is a shameful episode and I hope that--amidst all the other stories today--this one manages to gain the traction it deserves.

[williesgirl]

1. Completely agree - not only should Gonzo step down, be indicted and disbarred as well. recommended

[HereSince1628]

2. The text of The Rise and Fall of the Bush Reich

will be long on such episodes.

The sickening part is Gonzales can barely contain breaking out in laughter as he testifies. It's only outside the boundaries of the laws governing a constitutional democracy that such behavior has any hope of being rewarded. And yet Bush's little monster is giddy with smiles, obviously believing that he is beyond the grasp of his opposition.

[bdamomma]

3. oh yea, on Keith last nite Harold Fineman (is that his name)

commented on Gonzo and how he couldn't contain his smirk.

[BurtWorm]

4. They're the smirking class.

The psycho jock/frat boys have taken over the academy.

[bdamomma]

5. fratboys they are, and they are killing people.

[HereSince1628]

8. If it was only a scene from Animal House we could laugh

Unfortunately, the Cheney administration is full of ugly little facilitators waiting for their moment. I fear Gonzoles completely capable of announcing that national elections and the legislative and judicial branches are quaint obsolete ideas of a now-gone age. America has matured enough to raise up a Decider Commander Guy. And I suspect there are 49 senators and 5 supreme court justices that would consider that legitimate.

[paparush]

6. Completely off topic - I thought your nic said "Buttworm"

[BurtWorm]

7. I am the worm in the butt of Bushism.

It's an ugly job but some worm has to do it.

[Blackhatjack]

9. What Comey left unsaid is almost as damning as what he did say....

WE have a clear picture that all the top officials at the DOJ and the Director of the FBI were prepared to resign if Bush went forward with the domestic spying program he was proposing.

So how did Bush avert them all resigning if he did not 'promise' not to go forward with the domestic spying program until it was 'changed' to make it legal?

One possible explanation is that Bush and/or his staff 'lied' and said they would not go forward until DOJ changes had been added and DOJ signed off --WHICH WE NOW KNOW Bush went ahead and implemented the illegal program for 2-3 weeks before any changes were made that DOJ could live with.

Comey did not testify that Bush lied to avoid the mass resignations, but he certainly left the impression that those prepared to resign would not accept 2-3 weeks of the illegal program before changes were made to make it legal.

[BurtWorm]

10. Very true!

:toast:

[Spazito]

11. Comey's testimony to the committee behind closed doors

must be even more explosive than what was said in public yesterday, imo. I bet the sphincter muscles of those in the bush admin reacted mightily yesterday.

[BurtWorm]

12. kick

[L. Coyote]

13. kick w/ x-post: Were Bush / Cheney / NSA illegal wiretaps spying on Dems?

Campaign 2004: Were Bush / Cheney / NSA illegal wiretaps spying on Dems?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x925247