WP: Political Spectacle ('Nothing Nefarious in the Dismissal Process')

Washington Post ^ | March 22, 2007

[West Coast Conservative]

THE WHITE HOUSE and congressional Democrats have drawn deep lines in the sand over who will testify, and how, as Congress investigates the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys. The stubbornness and overheated rhetoric on both sides threaten an unnecessary constitutional crisis that would only bog down the inquiry in a distracting fight over process.

It's worth stepping back and putting the supposed scandal in perspective. President Bush is entitled to replace his U.S. attorneys; he'd be entitled to do so if he thought they weren't pursuing his prosecutorial priorities with sufficient vigor, or even if he just wanted to give other lawyers a shot at the jobs. The many e-mails that the administration has released for the most part suggest nothing nefarious in the dismissal process.

It would not be acceptable for Mr. Bush to fire the attorneys to short-circuit prosecutions of political corruption among Republicans. So far there's no evidence that he did, and in fact the most questionable conduct we know of originated in Congress, with New Mexico Republicans Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson. But in at least two of the eight cases, there are reasonable questions to be asked. And given the administration's incorrect and inadequate answers to the Senate thus far, Congress is right to pursue those questions.

[Sherman Logan]

Darn it! The WP keeps being all reasonable.

[Rummyfan]

The WaPo comes down on the side of the President, albeit tepdily? This supposed scandal is going to backfire on the Dems.

[Red Badger]

Overheated rhetoric on both sides?....The Dhims are the only ones hyperventilating.......

[Colorado Mike]

"...This supposed scandal is going to backfire on the Dems."

Ah probally not. Since it's mostly an invented scandal anyway, the voting public doesen't care. But I hope the dems continue their self destructive ways.

[Quick or Dead]

I'm confused. Who is letting all of this sanity into the Washington Compost lately?

[fantom]

Rummyfan I don't see any blow back for the left no matter what comes out. These mincing , preening camera whores never get called out. Lets face it W has never fought back ( new tone crap ) he has counted on the congress and his base to do the heavy lifting . Well , that support has all but dried up. This administration only attacks it's own. No one fears the W H , they are feckless , ham fisted and totally inarticulate.

[colorado tanker]

Wow, did the Wall Street Journal buy the Compost?

[FairWitness]

in fact the most questionable conduct we know of originated in Congress, with New Mexico Republicans Sen. Pete Domenici and Rep. Heather Wilson.

I've wondered about this. If Congress wants to investigate they ought to start with their own members. Not that I wish any ill on Domenci or Mills, but their behavior would be the place to start. Of course, if it were up to me, I would then get all those who have served as Federal Prosecutors for the past 15 years and ask them if they were ever similarly approached by Democrat (or Rebublican) congress critters.

[upchuck]

The Donks don't know how to take it like a man.

However, their bluster on this at least slows down their other agenda items that may do harm to our precious country.

Not to mention the disgust average Americans will come to feel about them if they keep this up.

Go Donks!!

Show trials for everyone!!!

Show trials 24x7. Yeah!!

Continuous jouranalistic orgasms for PMSNBC, CNN, FOX, et al.

[Right_in_Virginia]

President Bush is entitled to replace his U.S. attorneys; he'd be entitled to do so if he thought they weren't pursuing his prosecutorial priorities with sufficient vigor, or even if he just wanted to give other lawyers a shot at the jobs...

Whoa...this from TWP! Are they wearing parkas in hell yet?

[popdonnelly]

Much grinding of Democrat teeth on Capitol Hill.

[roses of sharon]

It's political porn, and they are all addicted.