|
|
May 25, 2013
|
|
|
|
 From Katrina to Gonzales: Incompetence ReignsPosted on Jun 14, 2007By Marie Cocco WASHINGTON—Now that there will be no vote of “no confidence” in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, we must ask an impertinent question: What, exactly, are we supposed to have confidence in? Certainly not the White House. Its response to congressional subpoenas issued on Wednesday to compel the testimony of White House officials who were involved in the firing of U.S. attorneys was that the chairs of the House and Senate Judiciary committees are “more interested in drama than facts.” In fact, it is the White House that has drawn out the Kabuki dance by refusing to allow current and former staff members to come forward voluntarily—except under conditions that would involve what amounts to secret testimony without a transcript. The White House requirements resemble nothing so much as the so-called legal procedures in place for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Their purpose is identical: To ensure that the public never knows what the evidence is and who is, or isn’t, culpable. Intransigence is endemic to the Bush presidency and so we can predict with some certainty a legal wrangle over the subpoenas that is meant to do nothing more than stonewall the probes until the president repairs to his Texas ranch in 2009. The enduring mystery is why Republicans in Congress continue to play along. Advertisement Well, of course they were. But that’s because the Justice Department on Gonzales’ watch has been turned into an arm of the White House and the Republican National Committee. This is the reason for the cover-up. The firing of U.S. attorneys for political reasons was merely the spark that illuminated deeper malfeasance and darker motives. The dismissals are to the Justice Department what Hurricane Katrina was to the Homeland Security Department: A catalyst that laid bare the culture of incompetence, cronyism and corruption that defines the Bush administration. Just as the Senate was having its non-debate over the real issue—the degeneration of the Justice Department into a partisan tool—these developments were unfolding: —The Washington Post reported that in selecting immigration judges—who are civil servants and not judicial appointees—the attorney general has favored those with Republican political ties above all else. This is itself a violation of civil service requirements. It was compounded by another breathtaking revelation: Half the appointees lacked any experience in immigration law. —Bradley J. Schlozman, a former interim U.S. attorney in Missouri and former honcho in the department’s civil rights division, clarified (that is, changed) his testimony that he’d been “directed” by a career Justice Department official to bring politically charged indictments against former employees of a Democratic-leaning voter registration group on the eve of last year’s congressional elections. In essence, Schlozman admitted he testified falsely before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The timing of the indictments flew in the face of clear Justice Department guidelines against bringing charges that could affect an election so close to balloting. —The White House pushed forward the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky to the Federal Election Commission despite his earlier Justice Department role in promoting voter-identification laws that have been shown in academic studies to disenfranchise minorities, the elderly and the disabled, who are less likely to have driver’s licenses—and more likely to vote Democratic. No one expects Republican lawmakers to be terribly concerned about what is emerging as a clear motive of the Bush Justice Department: using both the criminal and civil rights divisions to tip elections toward Republicans. This is an admission of terribly low expectations. But they should at least be alarmed that one of the most vital government agencies—one, it must be noted, that plays a pivotal role in the much-ballyhooed war on terror—has been irreparably compromised during Gonzales’ tenure. In the thicket of Watergate, it was Republicans who finally withdrew their support for Richard Nixon and put their duty to the country ahead of allegiance to their party. Why do they not do so now?  TAGS:
|
Marching in Chicago: Resisting Rahm Emanuel’s Neoliberal Savagery
Email 
Print
Share
Email to a friend
Newsletter 
Like Us
Follow Us
Get Our Feed
Tags|Bazaar|Podcast|About Us|Contact Us|User Agreement|Privacy Policy|FAQ: Comments and Moderation | Google+
© 2013 Truthdig, LLC. All rights reserved.
By cyrena, June 15, 2007 at 8:17 pm Link to this comment
Mudwallow…Excellent point.
...So incompetence is in the eye of the beholder….
No doubt there has been gross incompetince as well, (just because at the lower levels of the bureacracy, it’s been that way for over a long time).
But in the Shadow Government, this is the polar opposite of incompetence. It’s high level thuggery, and very well organized.
Report thisBy Mudwollow, June 15, 2007 at 1:44 pm Link to this comment
Here’s a question. When federal auditors, tasked with making sure oil companies pay the taxes they owe the government, are told to back off and then fired when they do their job, is that incompetence? The oil companies who no longer fear being audited undoubtedly feel that the situation is being handled very competently. So incompetence is in the eye of the beholder.
Report thisBy rowdy, June 15, 2007 at 1:30 pm Link to this comment
thermonuclear holocaust across the planet.it would be glorious. bush is the right man to give it to us. let him start with isreal.
Report thisBy Louise, June 15, 2007 at 11:20 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I agree with previous posters. This is NOT incompetence. What we have is something we should ALL be able to recognize. We have graveyards full of GI’s both here and abroad who willingly gave their lives to stop what we have now, before it encompassed the globe. Well guess what folks ... it is encompassing the globe!
And the notion that it begins and ends with the Bush administration is somewhat off course. This developing evil was alive and well when Nixon sat in the White House. But it goes back even further. When did we as a nation decide the Stock Market was the cornerstone of our democracy? At what point in time did the military industrial complex become the foundation of our democracy?
Why did the CIA want to invade Cuba way back when Kennedy was president? What recognizable names can you find in that history?
At what point in time was it decided we had to have the edge on nuclear weapons? Was that because of WWII, or in spite of?
Where do we find names we all recognize on the ladder to absolute control of this republic? How far back do these names and connections go? WWII, WWI? Pick a war, find a name.
What drives the Stock Market, greed, financial solvency, or the economy?
Or did I get that backwards?
And finally, at what point in time did the Republican Party, the Grand Old Party, the Party of Conservative Values become the Party of Fascism?
Strong words, right?
Read on ...
FOURTEEN CHARACTERISTICS OF FASCISM
http://www.chetzar.com/fascism.html
Fourteen clear signs (symptoms) of Fascism.
Absolute must reading for anyone who values their freedom.
“Dr. Lawrence Britt, a political scientist, wrote an article about fascism which appeared in Free Inquiry magazine, a journal of humanist thought. Dr. Britt studied the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile). He found the regimes all had 14 things in common, and he calls these the identifying characteristics of fascism. The article is titled “Fascism Anyone?,” and appears in Free Inquirys Spring 2003 issue on page 20.”
Incompetence?
Maybe it’s no more complicated than stating the obvious. Some people prefer evil.
When the motives for evil are clothed in [self] righteousness the small part of the brain governed by rational thought gives way to emotionally driven self satisfaction. The Narcissus self adoration that becomes the corner stone of a certain type of family’s, family values. The ability to cry, not because of honest grief, but because the self, enamored by the self feels pain when the self is threatened. This conceit and absence of the ability to relate to anyone outside of the “family” and/or like-minded close associates is the glue that binds their common greed. And the magnetism that holds them to a path bent on evil. Eventually they self-destruct, but always a remnant is left over to quickly spawn the evil once again.
And the masses, the people governed by conscience and honesty try to rationalize their irrational behavior, as normal people always do. In the end, they are the ones who suffer most.
Nothing new here, except perhaps the astonishment that so few understand what’s really happening around them.
THE TWILIGHT ZONE/ ‘Now you are paralyzed, as we promised’
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/871239.html
Another good read.
Our brothers in arms ...
Report thisWhich came first, the chicken or the egg?
By P. T., June 15, 2007 at 11:04 am Link to this comment
Before Hurricane Katrina, the 9/11 attacks made it evident that the Bush administration was incompetent.
Report thisBy Secular, June 15, 2007 at 8:09 am Link to this comment
What if everybody in the USA started flying more and more kites, with a tail banner spelling out just one word:
Report this<font color=red size=20>
IMPEACH
</font>
By Kathy Mitchell, June 15, 2007 at 7:17 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
What are we left to have confidence in? What does our government….either party have competence in? We are faiing on all fronts of foreign policy, education of our children at all levels, health care, supporting our troops and their families, environmental issues, justice, a fair tax system and preservation of the basic freedoms andvlues upon which this country was founded. I love this country…..the real America, but I’ve finally had enough. I have fought or all of the causes I believe in but American government no longer believes in. I’m leaving my beloved nation so that I can fight for these causes in a plce where you can still believe in them.
Report thisBy cann4ing, June 14, 2007 at 8:50 pm Link to this comment
The title of Jim Hightower’s book said it best: “Thieves in High Places.”
Report thisBy DennisD, June 14, 2007 at 7:55 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
“Incompetence”, not likely Marie. The Bu$hite$ know perfectly well what they’re doing. “Treacherous”, “treasonous” is more like it.
Report thisBy DennisD, June 14, 2007 at 7:39 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Our government has pulled a “confidence” scam on the American public. Nothing but con men and women using words like patriotism and sacrifice while they enrich themselves and their friends at our expense. We have only ourselves to blame and only ourselves can change the mess we’ve let happen on our watch. Voting alone will not get it done. Once Diebolded, twice shy.
Report thisBy felicity, June 14, 2007 at 4:48 pm Link to this comment
I’m afraid we’re on that historical trajectory, the final stage before the collapse, the stage of decadence.
The Brits said it all after our 2004 reelection of George Bush.
Report thisBy Margaret Curey, June 14, 2007 at 4:42 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Both Bush and Nixon have this thing, they both stole elections, Nixon’s theft was found out and he was Impeached, then pardoned by Ford and I can bet that when Nixon was president someone died but Ford did not think of that only Party loyalty.
Bush stole the elections two times once in Fla. from Gore and the second time in Ohio from Kerry.
This country needs to wake up this president, and vice president and Gonzales need to be IMPEACHED, I WILL REPEAT IMPEACHED THE TIME HE HAS LEFT HE CAN STILL DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THIS COUNTRY.
Report thisBy rodney, June 14, 2007 at 4:34 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
I have no confidence at all in government. The democrats have no spine and the republicans have no ethics. Win at all costs,demean and destroy your opponent seems to be the way of the politican. High crimes and misdomeanors doesn’t matter ,neither does habeas corpus, the bill of rights ,or the geneva convention or constitution. Bush has used fear and the word terrorism to highjack our nation for war profiteers and neocons. Alberto Gongozles is the new and incompentent version of J Edgar Hoover
Report thisBy QuyTran, June 14, 2007 at 3:56 pm Link to this comment
Alberto Gonzales’ sitting on the top of the statue of Liberty then peeing down !
Report thisBy Mudwollow, June 14, 2007 at 2:19 pm Link to this comment
Get off of this incompetence kick already. The only ones incompetent are the ones who buy into this absurd notion of incompetence. If they’re so incompetent, how did they managed to turn the American presidency into an omnipotent monarchy? If they’re so incompetent, how did they steal an election in which they lost the popular vote and then, without missing a beat, put into place a take no prisoners scorched earth action plan? Incompetent people and regimes sometimes do get lucky and fall in a bed of roses. But the consistent, full speed ahead, steal anything and everything, nailed down or not actions of the Bush administration have nothing at all to do with incompetence.
It’s sometimes hard to see how the Bush administration has been so successful at screwing up so many of our liberties and stealing so much of our money. Reading the words of people who should know better but instead characterize this administration as incompetent helps to answer how George and Dick and their goons have been able to get away with as much as they have.
Report thisBy charles, June 14, 2007 at 2:18 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
America is getting royally reamed by this snickering
Report thiscokehead fool and his gang of over the hill frat boys.
When I think of all crap they have pulled and gotten away with over the years from political appointees with
opposing point of views, disinformation on global warming, invading the wrong country for political gain,
torture, to high treason. It makes me sick.
By Hammo, June 14, 2007 at 10:17 am Link to this comment
The most significant examples of this incompetence seems to be the occupation of Iraq, though some people suspect that several of the “mistakes” were actually part of the covert plans of the administration and their associates.
There are interesting connections between Hurricane Katrina and the invasion and occupation of Iraq explored in the article . . .
“Iraq invasion and occupation, Gulf Coast hurricane disaster have links”
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=3421
Report thisBy kevin99999, June 14, 2007 at 9:13 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Sorry, I do not buy the notion that it was just incompetence. It is something more diabolic than that.
Report thisBy Tom Doff, June 14, 2007 at 8:57 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
What can we have confidence in?
We can know, with absolute certainty, with 100% surety, that anything and everything the Bush Bunch says or touches will turn to sh*t.
Report thisBy David, June 14, 2007 at 8:45 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Wats up with this post
Report thisBy Sang Ze, June 14, 2007 at 8:27 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Confidence? Who cares? This is not a democracy. You have to go to Iraq to find that.
Report thisBy William W. Wexler, June 14, 2007 at 7:34 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
We should have confidence in our Constitutional form of government. Our founders gave us the tools to create, maintain, and repair our government. What we’re looking at today is the government we’ve created.
It is a manifestation of gross negligence of the electorate who are too busy or too lazy to become informed and involved with the task of maintaining good government. Although there is a shortage of interest and participation, there is no shortage of people willing to commit outrageous crimes against our nation to manipulate this detachment to their advantage. Our government has devolved into a sewer of corruption, special interests, and liars on the take… because we’ve allowed it to do so.
I have faith in our system of laws, and faith that at some point the outrage against the present government will reach a tipping point. It’s happened before in my lifetime, and I believe we are rapidly approaching it again.
Wexler
Report thisBy Steve C Skelton, June 14, 2007 at 6:45 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
No More Republicats!
Report thisBy Expat, June 14, 2007 at 5:50 am Link to this comment
#77902 by AJ Hill on 6/14 at 3:54 am
I’ll vote for number (2).
Report thisBy AJ Hill, June 14, 2007 at 4:54 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Why do today’s Republican’s not display the moral courage of their predecessors during the Nixon administration? Two possible answers exist, neither particularly encouraging.
Report this(1) The Republicans Party has changed. Its leadership is now dominated by ultra-partisan hacks who care less about the country than they do about power.
(2) The Republican Party has not changed. Then, as now, its leadership was committed only to the the party, the country be damned. They just don’t yet perceive sufficient threat to the party to act.