15 posts tagged “bush administration”
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee chairman subpoenaed former White House adviser Karl Rove on Monday to testify about the Bush administration's firing of U.S. attorneys and prosecution of a former Democratic governor.
The subpoena by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., continues a long-running legal battle with ex-President George W. Bush's former White House political director. Rove previously refused to appear before the panel, contending that former presidential advisers cannot be compelled to testify before Congress.
The subpoena commanded Rove to appear for a deposition on Feb. 2 on the firings of U.S. attorneys for political reasons. Conyers also demanded testimony on whether politics played a role in the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat.
Bush upheld Rove's legal position, but Conyers said times have changed.
"That 'absolute immunity' position ... has been rejected by U.S. District Judge John Bates and President Obama has previously dismissed the claim as 'completely misguided,'" Conyers said in a statement...
The change in administrations may affect the legal arguments available to Rove, Conyers said.
"Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it's time for him to talk," Conyers said.
By LARRY MARGASAK AP
Attorney General Michael Mukasey has appointed Nora Dannehy, a federal prosecutor from Connecticut as prosecutor in the continued investigation of the removal of nine U.S. attorneys.
From DOJ (Department of Justice):
Statement by Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey on the Report of an Investigation into the Removal of Nine U.S. Attorneys in 2006
“I commend the hard work and collaboration of the Justice Department’s Offices of Inspector General and Professional Responsibility on today’s report concerning the removal of nine U.S. Attorneys in 2006.
“The Offices of the Inspector General and Professional Responsibility dispelled many of the most disturbing allegations made in the wake of the removals. However, the Report makes plain that, at a minimum, the process by which nine U.S. Attorneys were removed in 2006 was haphazard, arbitrary and unprofessional, and that the way in which the Justice Department handled those removals and the resulting public controversy was profoundly lacking. It is true, as the report acknowledges, that an Administration is entitled to remove presidential appointees, including U.S. Attorneys, for virtually any reason or no reason at all. But the leaders of the Department owed it to those who served the country in those capacities to treat their careers and reputations with appropriate care and dignity. And the leaders of the Department owed it to the American people they served to conduct the public's business in a deliberate and professional manner. The Department failed on both scores.
“Today's report is an important step toward acknowledging what happened, and holding the responsible officials to proper account. I hope the report provides a measure of relief to those U.S. Attorneys whose reputations were unfairly tainted by the removals and their aftermath. They did not deserve the treatment they received.
“The Report leaves some important questions unanswered and recommends that I appoint an attorney to assess the facts uncovered, to conduct further investigation as needed, and ultimately to determine whether any prosecutable offense was committed with regard to the removal of a U.S. Attorney or the testimony of any witness related to the U.S. Attorney removals. In the normal course, a report recommending further investigation would not be released until after the investigation and any resulting prosecution had been completed, for fear that disclosing publicly relevant facts and witness statements would hinder the investigation or prosecution. In this instance, the Offices of Inspector General and Professional Responsibility have made the judgment that the circumstances warrant a departure from this usual practice.
“The Justice Department has an obligation to the American people to pursue this case wherever the facts and the law require. This investigation would ordinarily be conducted under the supervision of either the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia or a Department component. However, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has been recused from the matter, and I have determined that, given the nature of the matter, it would be best overseen by an attorney outside Main Justice.
“Therefore, I have asked Nora Dannehy to exercise the authority of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia for purposes of this matter. In that capacity, Ms. Dannehy will report to me through the Deputy Attorney General. Ms. Dannehy is a well-respected and experienced career prosecutor who has conducted or supervised a wide range of investigations and prosecutions during her lengthy career, and I am grateful to her for her willingness to serve in this capacity.
“This Report describes a disappointing episode in the history of the Department. What should not be lost in this are the efforts of the dedicated and hard-working employees of the Justice Department who are focused on what they do best, which is protecting our country and faithfully enforcing our laws."
Well, you do now. Is this really a good idea? I'm just saying...
KUSA Channel 9 Denver
...At DIA (Denver International Airport) this year, a screener got caught bringing a gun through the
checkpoint. Under the Transportation Security Administration current policy, that gun would have gone
undetected inside the airport...
...the reason for the security change may be tied to the new uniforms and badges. The old, white TSA uniforms had yellow cloth badges sewn on them.
The new, blue uniforms have metal badges that set off alarms when screeners go through the checkpoints. Sources say the TSA is worried that the screeners will remove the badges while going through security and that they'll get lost or stolen.
The TSA says that is not the reason for the policy change.
"We
have to put our resources where we believe the risk is greatest. Does
it really make sense for the Transportation Security officers to spend
time screening each other rather than focusing on the unknown out
there?" asked Carrie Harmon, TSA public affairs manager...
From the TSA website on September 11, 2008:
Starting September 11, 2008, transportation security officers at airport checkpoints nationwide will begin wearing new uniforms and badges. The new uniforms and badges are another step in the ongoing evolution of TSA, an agency that was created in the wake of September 11, 2001 to federalize airport security...
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (September 18, 2008) Video released today shows the indiscriminate arrest of a crowd of two hundred at the waterfront across from a concert on Harriet Island Regional Park during this month's Republican National Convention in St. Paul. The video includes multiple angles of the event as well as an interview with the cameraman who buried his footage and was one of almost two hundred people arrested for rioting without probable cause.
More than eight hundred people were arrested in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention. This video shows that at least twenty percent of the eight hundred plus arrested were seized without due cause.
(The video works but the embed code seems to be aligning it wrong)
Not many details are available. The United States denies the story.
U.S. Denies Incursion into Pakistan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani troops and tribesmen opened fire on two U.S. helicopters that crossed into the country from neighboring Afghanistan, intelligence officials said Monday. The U.S. denied the report.
The helicopters did not return fire and re-entered Afghan airspace without landing, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.
"There was no such incursion, there was no such event," said Col. Gary L. Keck, Defense Department spokesman.
The reported incursion late Sunday will likely add to tensions between Islamabad and Washington...
"I sincerely believe that the banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs."
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independence and
of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom,
founder of the University of Virginia,
governer of Virgina (1779),
the first secretary of state (1789-94),
second vice president (1797-1801),
and the third president (1801-09)
One more from our third President:
"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and the corporations which grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers founded."
Thomas Jefferson
From a letter to Albert Gallatin (Secretary of the
Treasury). 1802
My previous post has a link to a story at CNN.com that basically says the gas shortage in Nashville is because of a rumor. It also states that the problem is isolated to Nashville.
From the article:
The phenomenon seemed to be isolated to the Nashville area...
Well, the last time I checked CNN was located in Atlanta and check out this story from Atlanta.
Gas Pumps Running Dry Across Metro Atlanta
ATLANTA -- Metro Atlanta drivers are still feeling the aftershock of Hurricane Ike – one week later.Many drivers told Channel 2 Action News they are driving around in circles trying to find gas for their vehicles.Many residents in Kennesaw, Alpharetta and Cumming, among others, have complained of dry pumps.They said stations have shut down all of their pumps because they have no gasoline to sell.
My Previous post:
Photo evidence of what CNN calls a rumor.
and I just went out for a little while. Out of at least 15 gas stations only 1 had gas and the line was incredibly long.
The gas station across the street just received a gas delivery. The station did not open today because they didn't expect to have gas until much later. Apparently the clerk left the pumps on since Friday. OOPS! Chaos has begun.
The Peace Makers have arrived!!!
CNN's story about the "rumor" here
Yea CNN I heard a rumor...
What's with the Nashville gas shortage?
This sign at a Nashville, Tennessee gas station says it all.
The gas crisis in the United States is a lot worse than most think.
Last weekend, my sister described a gas frenzy near her home outside
Knoxville, Tennessee. This week, the problem seems to be in Nashville...
Update 2: In less than 45 minutes pumps #2 and #4 are empty and #1 and #3 only have super premium left. The police just left. I wonder if they are going to another station that just got a delivery?
Panic Grips Area During Gas Shortage
AAA: Gas Won't Return To Normal For 1 Week
NASHVILLE -- Many communities gripped by a gas shortage were in panic mode over the weekend, and bad news from AAA did not help to calm them.
AAA said Saturday that supplies may not return to normal until late next week, but until then, they said everyone needs to deal with the crisis in a reasonable manner.
The latest updated comes the day after Gov. Phil Bredesen stated that the colonial pipeline that provides much of the area's supply was at 100 percent capacity.
AAA stated that the pipeline is still experiencing interruptions due to power problems caused by Hurricane Ike.
The higher demand, reserve tanks were drained...
...The manager at one "Daily" gas station said that her bosses sent out a companywide e-mail promising that trucks were on the way with gas and would arrive either Saturday or Sunday. She said she later heard that there were more issues with a pipeline, which she knew meant more long lines...
On Monday, happiness fell below 40% for the first time
The percentage of Americans experiencing a lot of happiness/enjoyment without a lot of stress/worry hit a new low for the year on Monday at 39%...
Fed Readies A.I.G. Loan of $85 Billion for an 80% Stake
By MICHAEL J. de la MERCED and ERIC DASH
Published: September 16, 2008
In an extraordinary turn, the Federal Reserve was close to a deal Tuesday night to take a nearly 80 percent stake in the troubled giant insurance company, the American International Group, in exchange for an $85 billion loan, according to people briefed on the negotiations.
All of A.I.G.’s assets would be pledged to secure the loan, these people said, and in return, the Fed would receive warrants that could be exchanged for an ownership stake. Stock of existing shareholders would be diluted, but not wiped out...
... The Federal Reserve and Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase had been trying to arrange a $75 billion loan for A.I.G. to stave off the financial crisis caused by complex debt securities and credit default swaps. The Federal Reserve stepped in after it became clear Tuesday afternoon that the banking consortium would not be able to complete the deal.
Without the help, A.I.G. was expected to be forced to file for bankruptcy protection...
