Another White House investigation

[MDC 7,407]

...the Office of Special Counsel is preparing to jump into one of the most sensitive and potentially explosive issues in Washington, launching a broad investigation into key elements of the White House political operations that for more than six years have been headed by chief strategist Karl Rove.

 

The new investigation, which will examine the firing of at least one U.S. attorney, missing White House e-mails, and White House efforts to keep presidential appointees attuned to Republican political priorities, could create a substantial new problem for the Bush White House.

 

First, the inquiry comes from inside the administration, not from Democrats in Congress. Second, unlike the splintered inquiries being pressed on Capitol Hill, it is expected to be a unified investigation covering many facets of the political operation in which Rove played a leading part...

 

The question of improper political influence over government decision-making is at the heart of the controversy over the firing of U.S. attorneys and the ongoing congressional investigation of the special e-mail system installed in the White House and other government offices by the Republican National Committee.

 

All administrations are political, but this White House has systematically brought electoral concerns to Cabinet agencies in a way unseen previously.

 

For example, Rove and his top aides met each year with presidential appointees throughout the government, using PowerPoint presentations to review polling data and describe high-priority congressional and other campaigns around the country.

 

Some officials have said they understood that they were expected to seek opportunities to help Republicans in these races, through federal grants, policy decisions or in other ways.

 

A former Interior Department official, Wayne R. Smith, who sat through briefings from Rove and his then-deputy Ken Mehlman, said that during President Bush's first term, he and other appointees were frequently briefed on political priorities.

 

...Bloch said the new investigation grew from two narrower inquiries his staff had begun in recent weeks.

 

One involved the fired U.S. attorney from New Mexico, David C. Iglesias.

 

The other centered on a PowerPoint presentation that a Rove aide, J. Scott Jennings, made at the General Services Administration this year.

 

That presentation listed recent polls and the outlook for battleground House and Senate races in 2008. After the presentation, GSA Administrator Lorita Doan encouraged agency managers to "support our candidates," according to half a dozen witnesses. Doan said she could not recall making such comments.

 

The Los Angeles Times has learned that similar presentations were made by other White House staff members, including Rove, to other Cabinet agencies. During such presentations, employees said they got a not-so-subtle message about helping endangered Republicans.

 

...questions have emerged about the PowerPoint presentations, including whether Doan's comments crossed the line and whether the presentations violated rules limiting political activity on federal property.

 

Whether legal or not, the multiple presentations revealed how widely and systematically the White House sought to deliver its list of electoral priorities.

 

In the course of investigating the U.S. attorney matter and the PowerPoint presentations, Democratic congressional investigators discovered e-mails written by White House personnel using accounts maintained by the Republican National Committee.

 

For example, they discovered that Jennings, a special assistant to the president and deputy director of political affairs in the White House, was using an e-mail with the domain name of "gwb43.com" that the RNC maintained.

 

That domain name showed up in e-mail communications from Jennings about how to replace U.S. Atty. H.E. "Bud" Cummins III of Arkansas to make room for Timothy Griffin, a Rove protege, in such a way as to "alleviate pressure/implication that Tim forced Bud out."

 

Another Jennings e-mail using the RNC account requested that department officials meet with a former New Mexico campaign advisor who wanted to "discuss the U.S. Atty situation there."

 

Link

 

I don't think this is going to go anywhere. But I like how these kinds of stories reveal the moral vacancy of Bush apologists - a bunch of phonies who call themselves "conservatives" but defend the most biggest spendingest White House in history using every branch of government as a political tool and forcing taxpayers to subsidize it. Oh yeah: Wolfowitz may also get ousted from his post at the World Bank for pulling strings to get his girlfriend a huge raise. Also paid for out of your wallet.

 

So much for honor and dignity. Bunch of focking liars, cowards and theives.

[Snoopy1 0]

While Rove isn't a key decision maker, policy shaper in the likes of V.P. Chenney or former SecDef Rummy, it's not a stretch for me to say I dislike him more then anyone else in that administration. I don't think I have ever seen a person who more approaches politics as a sporting event, ideology and helping the country are afterthoughts to "Just Win Baby".

 

From his time in '72 with the college republicans(I believe he got caught fixing an election), through the Swift Boat stuff (I know he wasn't directly connected, but his fingerprints are all over it), it's been all about winning, molding people and smearing others. In 40 years we went from Nixon-Kennedy Debates to a political process that is nearly devoid of thought & reasoning.

[Franknbeans 46]

plus you just know he smells bad

[Toro 1]

Secretaries.

[remote controller 143]

Link

 

I don't think this is going to go anywhere. But I like how these kinds of stories reveal the moral vacancy of Bush apologists - a bunch of phonies who call themselves "conservatives" but defend the most biggest spendingest White House in history using every branch of government as a political tool and forcing taxpayers to subsidize it. Oh yeah: Wolfowitz may also get ousted from his post at the World Bank for pulling strings to get his girlfriend a huge raise. Also paid for out of your wallet.

 

So much for honor and dignity. Bunch of focking liars, cowards and theives.

...........and this with hunt won't cost a penny

[MDC 7,407]

...........and this with hunt won't cost a penny

 

Of course you already know it's a witch hunt.

[remote controller 143]

Of course you already know it's a witch hunt.

..........and of course you know they have been after him for about 8 election cycles He scares the $hit out of them.

[Boz/BoFan 0]

Of course you already know it's a witch hunt.

 

How many AG's did the Clintons fire? Honestly, if you have any ballz whatsoever, you will give me the number. Also, why did he fire them, were ALL of them doing a horrible job, or was it for political purposes?

 

You phuckin queens will try anything to bring this country to its knees. The rest of the world is laughing.

[MDC 7,407]

How many AG's did the Clintons fire? Honestly, if you have any ballz whatsoever, you will give me the number. Also, why did he fire them, were ALL of them doing a horrible job, or was it for political purposes?

 

You phuckin queens will try anything to bring this country to its knees. The rest of the world is laughing.

 

Read the article you focking dope. This is about Rove giving PowerPoint presentations to federal employees on how to help the Republican party.

 

..........and of course you know they have been after him for about 8 election cycles He scares the $hit out of them.

 

And naturally that means he didn't do anything wrong.

[Boz/BoFan 0]

Read the article you focking dope. This is about Rove giving PowerPoint presentations to federal employees on how to help the Republican party.

 

 

Even less impressive. Jesus titty phuckin christ you people are pathetic.

[jets24 6]

Of course you fail to give this administration credit for starting this investigation. This wasn't brought on by the Democrats. This was inititiated by President Bush's appointee. Why not give credit where it's due?

[remote controller 143]

Read the article you focking dope. This is about Rove giving PowerPoint presentations to federal employees on how to help the Republican party.

And naturally that means he didn't do anything wrong.

At least there is no proof he perjured himself, in front of a Grand Jury, like Clinton did. If Rove commits perjury we'll see what happens.

[Recliner Pilot 61]

Mebbe the Secretary would like to make a prediction on when the Rove indictment will be brought. Has he already been indicted? Will it be "soon"? Will it be "Wednesday"?

[MDC 7,407]

Of course you fail to give this administration credit for starting this investigation. This wasn't brought on by the Democrats. This was inititiated by President Bush's appointee. Why not give credit where it's due?

 

Congrats Bush, on appointing someone who is now investigating your own corrupt administration.

 

Happy?