| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"James Simpson" |
| Date: |
10 Oct 2003 06:27:23 PM |
| Object: |
Repub's Urge Independent Counsel!!! |
SEN. BILL FRIST (R-TN)
"The reason we have this whole special counsel entity is to remove conflict
of interest. It's important, if you're looking at the executive side, not to
have the Department of Justice investigating the executive side."
- Chattanooga Free Press, 3/21/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA)
"The fundamental purpose of appointing an independent counsel was to have
someone in charge who was not allied with the administration, not beholden
to the administration, and not motivated in any way to favor the
administration."
- Congressional Record, 9/16/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
SEN ORRIN HATCH (R-UT)
"Both prudence and the American people's ability to have confidence that the
investigation remains free of a conflict of interest warrants the
appointment of an independent counsel."
- Congressional Record, 3/14/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
"To the extent that any prosecutor is accountable to the executive branch,
there inevitably will be pressure not to investigate and prosecute
aggressively scandals at the highest levels of government - an inherent
conflict of interest."
- The Independent Counsel Statute and Questions about Its Future, Law &
Contemporary Problems (Winter 1999): academic article on Independent Counsel
Statute
SEN. TRENT LOTT (R-MS)
"Where you have the possibility of the appearance of conflict of interest
within the administration, you should go to independent counsel."
- Face the Nation, 03/02/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
Senator Lott said that an independent counsel is warranted where there are
"allegations of illegal activity by high up officials that meet certain
criteria in the administration, or conversely, where there is the appearance
of the potential of conflict of interests from the attorney general, Justice
Department with administration officials."
- Press Conference, 3/6/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
SEN. JOHN ASHCROFT (R-MO)
"A single allegation can be most worthy of a special prosecutor. If you're
abusing government property, if you're abusing your status in office, it can
be a single fact that makes the difference on that."
- Evans and Novak, 10/4/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
SEN. ROBERT BENNETT (R-UT)
"The reason we have an independent counsel operation is because the Attorney
General is indeed subject to pressure from the White House."
- Congressional Record, 3/19/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R-NE)
"Criminal investigations should be taken out of politics. Prosecuting
wrongdoing should be done without regard to politics. The Attorney General
needs to appoint an independent counsel now."
- Congressional Record, 3/17/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
SEN. FRED THOMPSON (R-TN)
"Throughout our history in this country, when we've had problems in the
White House, when people who are close to the president had problems, we've
just about always had somebody independent come in and take a look at it."
- Meet the Press, 12/7/97: regarding campaign finance investigation
"It is very difficult if not impossible for the Attorney General and the
Justice Department to investigate the president and other high- ranking
government officials in the executive branch of government without an
obvious conflict of interest."
- Government Affairs Committee Hearing, 3/17/99: regarding the
reauthorization of the Independent Counsel Act
The Center for American Progress can contacted through their web site:
http://www.centerforamericanprogress.org/.
http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/03/10/ana03003.html
--
"A war with Iraq will gratify our need to avenge September 11. It does not
matter that Iraq is not the culprit. Bush needs only to ignore the evidence.
Which he does with all the power of a man who has never been embarrassed by
himself. Saddam, for all his crimes, did not have a hand in September 11,
but President Bush is a philosopher. September 11 was evil, Saddam is evil,
all evil is connected. Ergo, Iraq ... If I were George W. Bush's karmic
defense attorney, I would argue that his best chance to avoid conviction as
a purveyor of false morality would be to pray for a hung jury in the
afterworld." - Norman Mailer
"Patriotism is support for the country, not support for the president"
--Theodore Roosevelt
.
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| User: "James Simpson" |
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| Title: Re: Repub's Urge Independent Counsel!!! |
11 Oct 2003 12:22:51 AM |
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"starwars" <nobody@tatooine.homelinux.net> wrote in message
news:a548c5e3845a748edf01332797ed0919@tatooine.homelinux.net...
In article <voe905917ae759@corp.supernews.com>
"James Simpson" <jsimpson99@JoiMail.com> wrote:
Dummy, the independendent counsel law went out of existence in
1999 on a bipartisan vote.
That's not the point. The point is the hypocrisy of the Repub's who bashed
Clinton continually with Independent Prosecutors, but now that the shoe is
on the other foot, John Ashcroft refuses to recuse himself, in spite of the
fact that he has been closely associated with Karl Rove and others in the
White House, far too close to be able to be objective in the investigation
of the leaking of name of CIA operative Plame.
Remember what Ashcroft said, "A single allegation can be most worthy of a
special prosecutor. If you're abusing government property, if you're abusing
your status in office, it can be a single fact that makes the difference on
that."
Could it be more obvious that whichever "senior administration official"
leaked the name abused their "status in office" and endangered our national
security.
"It is very difficult if not impossible for the Attorney General and the
Justice Department to investigate the president and other high-ranking
government officials in the executive branch of government without an
obvious conflict of interest."
- Government Affairs Committee Hearing, 3/17/99: regarding the
reauthorization of the Independent Counsel Act
So, when will Ashcroft recuse himself?
--
"A war with Iraq will gratify our need to avenge September 11. It does not
matter that Iraq is not the culprit. Bush needs only to ignore the evidence.
Which he does with all the power of a man who has never been embarrassed by
himself. Saddam, for all his crimes, did not have a hand in September 11,
but President Bush is a philosopher. September 11 was evil, Saddam is evil,
all evil is connected. Ergo, Iraq ... If I were George W. Bush's karmic
defense attorney, I would argue that his best chance to avoid conviction as
a purveyor of false morality would be to pray for a hung jury in the
afterworld." - Norman Mailer
"Patriotism is support for the country, not support for the
president" --Theodore Roosevelt
.
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| User: "cRaZeE_sAcK_hEaD" |
|
| Title: Re: Repub's Urge Independent Counsel!!! |
10 Oct 2003 10:46:12 PM |
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"James Simpson" <jsimpson99@JoiMail.com> wrote in message
news:voetqlgtea2c4d@corp.supernews.com...
"starwars" <nobody@tatooine.homelinux.net> wrote in message
news:a548c5e3845a748edf01332797ed0919@tatooine.homelinux.net...
In article <voe905917ae759@corp.supernews.com>
"James Simpson" <jsimpson99@JoiMail.com> wrote:
Dummy, the independendent counsel law went out of existence in
1999 on a bipartisan vote.
That's not the point. The point is the hypocrisy of the Repub's who bashed
Clinton continually with Independent Prosecutors, but now that the shoe is
on the other foot, John Ashcroft refuses to recuse himself, in spite of
the
fact that he has been closely associated with Karl Rove and others in the
White House, far too close to be able to be objective in the investigation
of the leaking of name of CIA operative Plame.
Remember what Ashcroft said, "A single allegation can be most worthy of a
special prosecutor. If you're abusing government property, if you're
abusing
your status in office, it can be a single fact that makes the difference
on
that."
Could it be more obvious that whichever "senior administration official"
leaked the name abused their "status in office" and endangered our
national
security.
"It is very difficult if not impossible for the Attorney General and the
Justice Department to investigate the president and other high-ranking
government officials in the executive branch of government without an
obvious conflict of interest."
- Government Affairs Committee Hearing, 3/17/99: regarding the
reauthorization of the Independent Counsel Act
So, when will Ashcroft recuse himself?
--
"A war with Iraq will gratify our need to avenge September 11. It does not
matter that Iraq is not the culprit. Bush needs only to ignore the
evidence.
Which he does with all the power of a man who has never been embarrassed
by
himself. Saddam, for all his crimes, did not have a hand in September 11,
but President Bush is a philosopher. September 11 was evil, Saddam is
evil,
all evil is connected. Ergo, Iraq ... If I were George W. Bush's karmic
defense attorney, I would argue that his best chance to avoid conviction
as
a purveyor of false morality would be to pray for a hung jury in the
afterworld." - Norman Mailer
"Patriotism is support for the country, not support for the
president" --Theodore Roosevelt
All I got to say is be carefull what you wish for.
.
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| User: "rico" |
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| Title: Re: Repub's Urge Independent Counsel!!! |
11 Oct 2003 11:37:18 AM |
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In article <voetqlgtea2c4d@corp.supernews.com>, "James Simpson" <jsimpson99@JoiMail.com> wrote:
"starwars" <nobody@tatooine.homelinux.net> wrote in message
news:a548c5e3845a748edf01332797ed0919@tatooine.homelinux.net...
In article <voe905917ae759@corp.supernews.com>
"James Simpson" <jsimpson99@JoiMail.com> wrote:
Dummy, the independendent counsel law went out of existence in
1999 on a bipartisan vote.
That's not the point.
Actually what expired was the law that when certain conditions were met
'required' an independant council. There is nothing to prohibit the Justice
Department appointing one to help avoid looking like they are playing
favorites.
The point is the hypocrisy of the Repub's who bashed
Clinton continually with Independent Prosecutors, but now that the shoe is
on the other foot, John Ashcroft refuses to recuse himself, in spite of the
fact that he has been closely associated with Karl Rove and others in the
White House, far too close to be able to be objective in the investigation
of the leaking of name of CIA operative Plame.
Remember what Ashcroft said, "A single allegation can be most worthy of a
special prosecutor. If you're abusing government property, if you're abusing
your status in office, it can be a single fact that makes the difference on
that."
Could it be more obvious that whichever "senior administration official"
leaked the name abused their "status in office" and endangered our national
security.
"It is very difficult if not impossible for the Attorney General and the
Justice Department to investigate the president and other high-ranking
government officials in the executive branch of government without an
obvious conflict of interest."
- Government Affairs Committee Hearing, 3/17/99: regarding the
reauthorization of the Independent Counsel Act
So, when will Ashcroft recuse himself?
.
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| User: "End Of The Demo Party" |
|
| Title: We don't need no stinkin' Independent Counsel!!! |
10 Oct 2003 10:41:49 PM |
|
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Janet Reno
James Simpson wrote:
"starwars" <nobody@tatooine.homelinux.net> wrote in message
news:a548c5e3845a748edf01332797ed0919@tatooine.homelinux.net...
In article <voe905917ae759@corp.supernews.com>
"James Simpson" <jsimpson99@JoiMail.com> wrote:
Dummy, the independendent counsel law went out of existence in
1999 on a bipartisan vote.
That's not the point. The point is the hypocrisy of the Repub's who bashed
Clinton continually with Independent Prosecutors, but now that the shoe is
on the other foot, John Ashcroft refuses to recuse himself, in spite of the
fact that he has been closely associated with Karl Rove and others in the
White House, far too close to be able to be objective in the investigation
of the leaking of name of CIA operative Plame.
Remember what Ashcroft said, "A single allegation can be most worthy of a
special prosecutor. If you're abusing government property, if you're abusing
your status in office, it can be a single fact that makes the difference on
that."
Could it be more obvious that whichever "senior administration official"
leaked the name abused their "status in office" and endangered our national
security.
"It is very difficult if not impossible for the Attorney General and the
Justice Department to investigate the president and other high-ranking
government officials in the executive branch of government without an
obvious conflict of interest."
- Government Affairs Committee Hearing, 3/17/99: regarding the
reauthorization of the Independent Counsel Act
So, when will Ashcroft recuse himself?
--
"A war with Iraq will gratify our need to avenge September 11. It does not
matter that Iraq is not the culprit. Bush needs only to ignore the evidence.
Which he does with all the power of a man who has never been embarrassed by
himself. Saddam, for all his crimes, did not have a hand in September 11,
but President Bush is a philosopher. September 11 was evil, Saddam is evil,
all evil is connected. Ergo, Iraq ... If I were George W. Bush's karmic
defense attorney, I would argue that his best chance to avoid conviction as
a purveyor of false morality would be to pray for a hung jury in the
afterworld." - Norman Mailer
"Patriotism is support for the country, not support for the
president" --Theodore Roosevelt
.
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| User: "James Simpson" |
|
| Title: Re: We don't need no stinkin' Independent Counsel!!! |
11 Oct 2003 01:53:59 PM |
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"End Of The Demo Party" <RIP@DNC.org> wrote in message
news:bm7u5t$oi2$1@216.221.129.15...
Janet Reno
Why do you say "We don't need no stinkin' Independent Counsel!!!" Do you
not agree that Ashcroft's close association with Karl Rove and others in the
White House makes it impossible for him to be objective? Janet Reno did
appoint several Independent Prosecutors during Clinton's terms in office.
But John Ashcroft has refused to appoint a single Independent Prosecutors,
even in the Westar case. Kind of makes it seem like Ashcroft believes in
"selective enforcement" of the law, don't it? Don't you agree that Ashcroft
should appoint an Independent Prosecutors in the Plame case? Unless, of
course, you're a hypocrite just like Ashcroft, who refuses to recuse himself
despite his obvious conflict of interest. Truth is, Ashcroft's own words
are coming back to haunt him:
"A single allegation can be most worthy of a special prosecutor. If you're
abusing government property, if you're abusing
your status in office, it can be a single fact that makes the difference on
that ... The truth of the matter is that if the law's been violated, we
should be able to ascertain that. We can, if we have an independent person
without a conflict of interest ... My own view is that there are plenty of
things which should have caused [Attorney General Janet Reno], a long time
ago, to appoint a special prosecutor, an independent investigator. We asked
for that on March the 13th of this year in letters from Republican members
on the Judiciary Committee. And she's in a bad position . The man who signs
her check is the man that she's investigating, and she hasn't been very
aggressive about it."- John Ashcroft
Let's review.
Ashcroft is not an "independent person without a conflict of interest."
A potential suspect, Karl Rove, once worked for Ashcroft, and "the man who
signs [his] check" is someone he's investigating.
And we have "a single allegation" of "abusing [one's] status in office."
So by Ashcroft's own standard, he cannot "ascertain" "if the law's been
violated."
Since Ashcroft is on record about when special counsels should be appointed,
reporters need to ask him:
Will he be following his own standards in handling this investigation?
James Simpson wrote:
"starwars" <nobody@tatooine.homelinux.net> wrote in message
news:a548c5e3845a748edf01332797ed0919@tatooine.homelinux.net...
In article <voe905917ae759@corp.supernews.com>
"James Simpson" <jsimpson99@JoiMail.com> wrote:
Dummy, the independendent counsel law went out of existence in
1999 on a bipartisan vote.
That's not the point. The point is the hypocrisy of the Repub's who
bashed
Clinton continually with Independent Prosecutors, but now that the shoe
is
on the other foot, John Ashcroft refuses to recuse himself, in spite of
the
fact that he has been closely associated with Karl Rove and others in
the
White House, far too close to be able to be objective in the
investigation
of the leaking of name of CIA operative Plame.
Remember what Ashcroft said, "A single allegation can be most worthy of
a
special prosecutor. If you're abusing government property, if you're
abusing
your status in office, it can be a single fact that makes the difference
on
that."
Could it be more obvious that whichever "senior administration official"
leaked the name abused their "status in office" and endangered our
national
security.
"It is very difficult if not impossible for the Attorney General and the
Justice Department to investigate the president and other high-ranking
government officials in the executive branch of government without an
obvious conflict of interest."
- Government Affairs Committee Hearing, 3/17/99: regarding the
reauthorization of the Independent Counsel Act
So, when will Ashcroft recuse himself?
--
"A war with Iraq will gratify our need to avenge September 11. It does
not
matter that Iraq is not the culprit. Bush needs only to ignore the
evidence.
Which he does with all the power of a man who has never been embarrassed
by
himself. Saddam, for all his crimes, did not have a hand in September
11,
but President Bush is a philosopher. September 11 was evil, Saddam is
evil,
all evil is connected. Ergo, Iraq ... If I were George W. Bush's karmic
defense attorney, I would argue that his best chance to avoid conviction
as
a purveyor of false morality would be to pray for a hung jury in the
afterworld." - Norman Mailer
"Patriotism is support for the country, not support for the
president" --Theodore Roosevelt
.
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