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Scott Bloch, the chief of the Office Of Special Counsel, has been under investigation by the Office of Personnel Management's inspector general since 2005. The investigation was initiated by the White House. Bloch has been accused of erasing his hard drive, and that of two other Office employees in 2006. Of course, it is this office which investigate Karl Rove on the issue of whether federal employees were improperly used in electioneering.
Ancora Impara--Michelangelo
by aravir on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:23:12 AM PDT
[ Parent ]
a truly BREAKING story for a change. This one is so multi-layered -- it is mind-boggling. I don't trust Bloch -- but I really don't trust Mukasey and the WH.
My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total. Barbara Jordan 1974
by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:32:24 AM PDT
Seemingly, we stopped having actual laws at this level some years ago, if we ever had them in the first place. This has the appearance of gang warfare, or perhaps coups and counter-coups, among the rulers.
by DBunn on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:57:27 AM PDT
ie, RFK created a rogue operation to assassinate Castro, but it went amok and killed JFK, his own brother, instead, due to influence by an anti-JFK rogue element within the CIA.
by BonzoDogBand on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:10:19 AM PDT
McCain = "A whine, a swear word, and P.O.W."
by ETinKC on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:15:09 AM PDT
I know because they have been leaving me clues in my underwear drawer. And that isn't the half of it. Everyone in the Senate and Congress is in on it. This is huge. I just don't know why my local police department won't do anything about it.
Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
"You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity"
by newfie on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:32:19 AM PDT
give your sig. I think a lot of this stuff has resulted from villainy, rather than stupidity.
Article 6: "...no religious test shall *ever* be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the U.S."
by billlaurelMD on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:51:24 AM PDT
They inserted it there. Right after they put the chip in my brain. But then again I'm a simpleton?
by newfie on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:13:27 PM PDT
what do you think has been stupidity?
by billlaurelMD on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:29:21 PM PDT
Robert Heinlein. And that quote is derived from Hanlon's Razor. Not about anything in specific but generally can be applied to a myriad of conspiracy theories which often involve a whole lot of conjecture, very little fact and a lot of moving parts. You can use the conspiracy theory that the government was really responsible for the destruction of the World Trade Towers via strategically placed explosives as an example.
For me the quote is a reminder that first stop should be looking at incompetence or stupidty or simple human error to explain something before we leap to a convoluted conspiracy that involves far too many conspiracists than would make it practical.
by newfie on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:02:04 PM PDT
Is it villainous false-flag conspiracy, or raging dunderheadedness, that caused the 9/11 catastrophe? One of the neat things about "connect the dots" methodology is that if you have few enough dots, you can draw almost any picture. We can make a case for either explanation or both, then get stuck in an infinite loop trying to decide which it is.
But one of DBunn's Rules of Effective Management is: don't waste energy trying to explain things that you don't need to explain right now.
How is it possible that we don't need to explain 9/11? Because no matter what the explanation, it doesn't change what we have to do. We have to replace Republicans with Democrats, then replace crummy Democrats with good Democrats. We have to restore our Constitution, get some decent judges into our court system, reinvigorate democratic participation among the citizenry, and clean up a way-too-secretive and self-important national security apparatus. We have to adapt our economy to 21st century realities, get mega-serious about global warming and peak oil, rebalance wealth distribution with an eye to justice and survival, and address global over-population. Etc etc, you get the idea. Within that big picture, exactly what happened on 9/11 is just a detail. If we do the the main part of our work, resolving left-over issues from 9/11 will pretty much take care of itself. If we don't, then it won't matter what we ever solve or don't solve about 9/11.
by DBunn on Wed May 07, 2008 at 08:20:43 AM PDT
who wants to believe in the simpleton worldview manifested by Beaver Cleaver & Ward & June.
Sorry, but the real world is little more messy than that.
by BonzoDogBand on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:05:11 PM PDT
Thanks for the diagnosis, Doctor.
by newfie on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:10:49 PM PDT
NOTHING as AG in 1964 to investigate his brother's assassination, but opted instead to let LBJ and Alan Dulles put out that piece of shit coverup called the Warren Commission Report.
by BonzoDogBand on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:08:22 PM PDT
cleaning up government. It looks more like settling scores. These people don't know who their friends are.
by lgcap on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:10:29 AM PDT
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings. -- Julius Caesar, I.ii.
by semiot on Tue May 06, 2008 at 02:52:49 PM PDT
the US Attorney investigation.
Here's a letter from Bloch to Mukasey from 1/08 (via TPM Muckracker), and the explanatory from the MinnPost.com. The FBI, of course, falls under DOJ and Mukasey.
http://www.minnpost.com/...
Rachel Paulose is ensconced in a new Justice Department job in Washington, D.C., but the issues and allegations raised by her stormy tenure as U.S. attorney for Minnesota linger on — in fact, they are flaring up anew. The federal Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which is still investigating some of the allegations against Paulose, accuses the Justice Department of stonewalling on the Paulose case, among others. In a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey (PDF), Special Counsel Scott Bloch said his investigation of Paulose and other matters, including the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, is "being impeded." Bloch demands to know whether the deputy attorney general and the inspector general of the Justice Department, who are impeding the Paulose investigation, are acting under Mukasey's orders.
Rachel Paulose is ensconced in a new Justice Department job in Washington, D.C., but the issues and allegations raised by her stormy tenure as U.S. attorney for Minnesota linger on — in fact, they are flaring up anew.
The federal Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which is still investigating some of the allegations against Paulose, accuses the Justice Department of stonewalling on the Paulose case, among others.
In a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey (PDF), Special Counsel Scott Bloch said his investigation of Paulose and other matters, including the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, is "being impeded." Bloch demands to know whether the deputy attorney general and the inspector general of the Justice Department, who are impeding the Paulose investigation, are acting under Mukasey's orders.
Show of hands... who would join Kucinich's effort to impeach VP Cheney?
by Mogolori on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:34:34 AM PDT
Thanks.
Two war crimes make 'the right', not 'a right'. Defeat the liar John McCain.
by Yellow Canary on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:42:08 AM PDT
link to a January TPM story that is the substance of Mogolori's comment.
by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:43:37 AM PDT
by Mogolori on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:49:50 AM PDT
publicly ratting each other out? Sounds like a minor civil war is starting.
by Robobagpiper on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:00:56 AM PDT
I'm buying myself a gallon of Jamesons and whip up some bangers.
by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:02:27 AM PDT
by Mogolori on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:07:01 AM PDT
actually -- the comments were far more hilarious -- I don't think I've read such a string of gut-busting comments ever. Smart folks here, thank god. I realized that some might not have gotten the point -- but, the hilarity made up for it.
by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:08:33 AM PDT
There are two kinds of people in the world, those who believe there are two kinds of people in the world and those who don't. -- Robert Benchley -5.75, -7.18
by Rogneid on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:16:58 AM PDT
and thanks for joining the fun with the old farts -- and droogie.
by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:17:54 AM PDT
I'm buying a gallon of bangers and whipping some Jamesons. Those Jamesons really tick me off.
by newfie on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:33:44 AM PDT
... seems Bloch strongly urged the misAdministration to get rid of Lurita Doane:
Scott Bloch, head of the OSC, wrote in a May 18 report that Doan violated the Hatch Act by encouraging "her subordinates to engage in the type of political brainstorming session that is prohibited from occurring while the political appointees are on duty or in a federal workplace." Bloch urged President Bush to discipline Doan "to the fullest extent." Several members of Congress, including Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Doan should resign. The White House never officially responded to the recommendations, issuing only periodic statements that it was considering Bloch's report and its recommendations.
Scott Bloch, head of the OSC, wrote in a May 18 report that Doan violated the Hatch Act by encouraging "her subordinates to engage in the type of political brainstorming session that is prohibited from occurring while the political appointees are on duty or in a federal workplace."
Bloch urged President Bush to discipline Doan "to the fullest extent." Several members of Congress, including Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Doan should resign. The White House never officially responded to the recommendations, issuing only periodic statements that it was considering Bloch's report and its recommendations.
Not sure of the veracity of this source, but thought it was interesting and might support the notion of "civil war" starting among these crooks.
by Nightprowlkitty on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:09:06 AM PDT
There were questions about whether he could impartially investigate the WH attorney's scandal and he (somewhat convincingly to me, very odd for a Bushco hack) argued that he could investigate and would not hold back for any man.
Now, whether that actually happened might be another story. Or, he might have actually been correctly prosecuting the US attorney's story while being involved in totally unrelated corruption. Or, he never "good faith" investigated the attorney scandal and he actually was corrupt. Or, again, he might have been correctly investigating the attorney purge and is being framed up by the Justice department.
Interesting skein of possibilities.
(-5.50,-6.67): Left Libertarian
by Sparhawk on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:31:42 AM PDT
that suggested that he had significant personal rivalries with people in DoJ, and it was that angle, rather than any serious commitment to justice, that drove his interest in the matter.
If so, we may be looking at some bus under-throwing on both sides.
by Robobagpiper on Tue May 06, 2008 at 02:06:35 PM PDT
"we are now thru the looking glass people; black is white, and white is black."
by BonzoDogBand on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:13:18 AM PDT
that's how I see it, bold, the
FBI as the Trojan Horse for Mukasey, Rove and Cheney.
by IngeniousGirl on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:23:35 PM PDT
In a letter last June, Special Counsel Scott J. Bloch urged President Bush to discipline Doan "to the fullest extent," which included removing her from office.
Don't let the door hit you in the butt, Lurita!
"Lawyers, I suppose, were children once." To Kill A Mockingbird
by DC Scott on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:26:34 PM PDT
the de-Bushification of our civil service jobs, especially the law enforcement of this country.
Our product is community, democracy, and fairness.
by kaye on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:44:01 AM PDT
I think deBushifying government is going to be difficult. I could almost see a McCarthy unAmerican Activities hearing. "Do you know any Bushies in your office?" "There are at least 15 Bushies in Housing" "The Justice Department is crawling with Bushies". "Do you know any Bushies?" Maybe blacklisting will be needed. In some ways, I think criminal hearings need to be held and actually rule that many high up in Bush Administration should be held to account and force them to never be part of any government or corporate entity again.
"War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength", George Orwell, "1984" -7.63 -5.95
by dangoch on Tue May 06, 2008 at 10:49:00 AM PDT
Just review the records for all governmental appointments which occured during Bush's reign and dismiss them. Then dismiss everyone those people hired.
I can see the exit interview: "So, Mr. Yuthers, it appears you were appointed by President Bush and according to your personnel file have a stellar performance record. Unfortunately, President Obama is cleaning house right now and, well, there's the door."
Just think of all the Monica Goodlings scurrying around in the beauracracy right now, getting a paycheck and fucking shit up/ altering scientific findings/ using governmental resources for political purposes, etc. I agree that de-Bushification should be amongst the very first tasks of the next President.
/International treaties? We don't abide by no stinkin' international treaties./
by sigmarthebad on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:17:21 AM PDT
that they can't be fired from. For them I suggest the Obama administration create a Federal Department For Cold Storing Unqualified Idiots Who Are Never Going To Be Promoted Ever. All the Liberty U. grads can go into the office and play computer solitaire, and if the're as useless as they seem , just wait until their pensions kick in.
Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. --Molly Ivins
by sap on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:28:37 AM PDT
the whole point of the Civil Service is that people below a "political" appointee level are presumed (i) to just be doing their jobs, which don't change from Administration to Administration, and (ii) to have been hired based solely on merit (given that their jobs aren't 'political' in nature).
Obama WILL have a huge problem with this, because I don't think the system has ever been so broken from one end to the other, so that unqualified but politically well-aligned people can be put into the mid-level positions, and where the Administration in power has actually made a point of doing precisely that.
Some sort of de-Baathification or de-Nazification is clearly going to have to take place; however, it will have to be done within the context of firing people for cause (i.e., incompetence), rather than any blanket RIF.
by PeterHug on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:42:49 AM PDT
Smarter people than I will find a way. I hope.
by kaye on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:46:50 AM PDT
so taht we get the incompetents and ideologues out, without breaking the system (because that actually works pretty well, when it's given a chance).
by PeterHug on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:59:29 AM PDT
firing people for cause (i.e., incompetence)
The list of competent ones probably is the shorter of the two.
by HugoDog on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:23:54 PM PDT
and you're right, in many cases that would be a slam-dunk (to coin a phrase...).
But I really think that any move to create a blanket dismissal would be a horrible mistake--it would break the Civil Service. And when you come right down to it, that's what makes government work.
by PeterHug on Tue May 06, 2008 at 05:22:35 PM PDT
I would think a case could be made for just such a cleansing on the basis that the huge problem you describe is an extraordinary circumstance and must be fixed.
Perhaps something like an Executive Order. EO1: "All governmental personnel hired between x and y by any Bush political appointment are hereby terminated. Every person can re-apply and will be given priority consideration for rehire, but qualifications and actions during employment will be seriously scrutinized."
Of course I realize it's a pipe dream, but a guy can fantasize can't he?
by sigmarthebad on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:41:14 PM PDT
review all the resumes of civil service employees hired during the Bush regime. I'm pretty sure some of them won't meet all the qualifications of their job descriptions, in which case they can and should be dismissed. .
I shall not grow conservative with age -- Elizabeth Cady Stanton
by ponderer on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:51:47 PM PDT
that'll be Bushification on steroids.
"God is not on the side of the heavy battalions, but of the best shots."- Voltaire
by armenia on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:23:02 PM PDT
get thee behind me, satans!
If we want peace, why do we give weapons and call it "aid"?
by gdwtch52 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:54:02 AM PDT
All of Bush's hires from Regent University would be a good place to start. Seems like every last one of them is a complete hack, and just shills for Bush.
by MJ via Chicago on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:56:54 PM PDT
Firing a civil service employee requires solid evidence showing either bad performance on the job, or that the person was hired improperly-- and we do not want to lose that standard, it's the only thing that's kept the government functioning at all these last eight years.
It'll be possible to get quite a few of the Bushies out of the service, I suspect, but it will require careful review of the paperwork.
by mjfgates on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:07:13 PM PDT
More people will see it, rather than having to comb through comments.
My Karma just ran over your Dogma
by FoundingFatherDAR on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:05:07 AM PDT
by gchaucer2 on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:20:15 AM PDT
by aravir on Tue May 06, 2008 at 11:32:57 AM PDT
it only took 3 short years. By the time I'm 240 years old we'll have Bush And Cheney.
by jimreyn on Tue May 06, 2008 at 12:02:41 PM PDT
That's how jaded I am.
by AngryOne on Tue May 06, 2008 at 02:22:57 PM PDT
Why do I sense that this isn't necessarily a positive turn?
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does." -- William James
by AllanTBG on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:07:31 PM PDT
wide narrow
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