Here’s Your Hat - What’s Your Hurry?

A great majority of the American people are anxious to see George W. Bush return to “the ranch” for good. The great interest with which people are following the 2008 race for the White House is as much a testimony to the desire to be rid of George as it is to decide just who the next occupant will be. Since the Republican party so overwhelmingly embraced the Bush Administration, now as that regime continues to disintegrate in disgrace before the public eye, the disgrace rightfully rubs off on all Republicans. Chris in Bangkok, sent a link to this article on a poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, indicating how low the Republicans have sunk in public opinion.

Every day seems to bring a new Bush related scandal or a significant new development in some of the numerous ongoing shames. The investigation into the firing of the U. S. Attorneys is shaping up as an interesting one, because it stands a good chance of forcing Bush sycophant Alberto Gonzales to resign. If Congress had taken my advice to “see if he floats” at the time of his confirmation hearings, I expect he would have sunk, along with his nomination.

Gonzales is numero uno at Justice and his fate is big news. But just last week a former numero duo in the Bush Interior Department entered a guilty plea to a charge of lying to Congress about his involvement with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Like lots of the bad Bush news, his plea came out on Friday in hopes of receiving little media attention and being forgotten over the weekend.

Two significant points have already been made in the U.S. Attorney scandal. Alberto is an incompetent manager and he is also incapable of operating in any mode other than loyal devotion to George. The Attorneys are political appointees, but the time to change them is when a new President takes over, not in midterm. Political motivated U.S. Attorney changes in midterm are tacky and have rarely been done. But making midterm changes for political reasons which involve the ongoing prosecutorial actions of the Attorneys approaches illegal obstruction of justice. The White House obviously has some things to hide, as indicated by the almost comical “one time offer” to have White House personnel only speak to a limited number of members of Congress, one time, in a small closet, without an oath to be truthful and with no record to be kept of what was said.

A week or two ago, I saw the name of a Monica Goodling, who issued some statements on the Attorney scandal as a liaison spokesperson for the White House and Justice Department. I was curious to see what she looked like and did a Google Image search for pictures. I found pictures of her at social functions of Regent University, a small Christian College founded by Pat Robertson. She apparently graduated from the Regent School of Law in 1999. Unlike Valerie Plame, you will not be able to see Monica Goodling testify before Congress, because she is invoking the Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself by giving testimony which could be used against her if she is charged with any crimes. How does such a recent graduate of such a small college get a job where she interrelates with the White House and Justice Department? Well, maybe she started as an intern - you know, like that other Monica. Hm, I wonder if Ken Starr would like another special prosecutorial job?