The issue of whether President Bush should have fired eight U.S. Attorneys ought to turn on the merits of each decision. I undertook a preliminary analysis of the issue (the facts are not all in yet) here on Power Line.
The fact that President Clinton replaced nearly all of the U.S. Attorneys when he took office does not tell us anything about the merits of President Bush's decision to replace a handful of them in mid-term. However, it's false to claim that Clinton's action was "completely normal." In fact, what Clinton did was unprecedented. As the Wall Street Journal notes, previous presidents had retained holdovers and only replaced them gradually. This allowed continuity of leadership within the U.S. Attorney offices during the transition.
In fact, the New York Times editorial page blasted Clinton for his departure from past precedent. Here is what the Times said on March 26, 1993:
"Any hope that the Clinton Administration would operate a Justice Department free of political taint -- or even the appearance of political taint -- grew dim yesterday when the White House confirmed that it would dismiss the U.S. Attorney investigating one of its chief Congressional allies.
When Attorney General Janet Reno first announced the blanket dismissal of about 70 United States Attorneys who are Bush Administration holdovers, her aides said she might exempt those who needed to wrap up significant investigations. But yesterday the White House. . .removed most of that fig leaf on an exception. President Clinton's spokesman, George Stephanopoulos, said that some top prosecutors who are tied up in trials would be allowed to complete them, but most others would have to go. Their investigations would be continued by lower-ranking staff attorneys.
Those booted out would include U.S. Attorney Jay Stephens of the District of Columbia who. . ."is not in the middle of a trial." But Mr. Stephens is in the middle of an investigation of irregularities in the House of Representatives and a detailed financial auditing of one of the most powerful House Democrats, Dan Rostenkowski, chairman of Ways and Means.
Mr. Stephens, who is known to enjoy cases with political overtones, is just the lawyer to credibly investigate Congressional Democrats, but the Clinton Justice Department won't be waiting for his recommendation for or against prosecution.
Traditionally, Attorneys are not turned out in a sweep like other Presidential appointees. To avoid the appearance of political justice, they are retained until the President is ready to exercise his undoubted right to replace them. (emphasis added)
The unseemly rush to clean out Republican investigators even before the Administration has filled most top slots at Justice looks awful in an area where appearances count heavily. Until the White House gets its fingerprints off the department, there can be no start on the promised regime of justice above politics at Justice."
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 3)
16. So many other issue's in our America to be known to all of the American people.How to stop these people who might be terrorist buying up our land.Gas station's, cigarette shop's,rental property, liquor store's,99 cent's store's,auto repair shop's,Doctor's,Nurse's,one of these Dr. said to me the muslin's would cut my head off!!They are very rude and cruel,because these people know they have a hold on America,due to the fact they have million's and million's of dollar's.Isn't this a major problem? Why should anyone be upset over our President firing a few people.People get fired every day from a lot of different type's of job's.I am more concerned about our America being taken over by Terrorist who could be buying up all of our American Land. I THINK THIS IS THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA'S MAJOR PROBLEM. These people hang up sign's to buy rental property every where.(I THINK)this is a {SUPER BIG PROBLEM}!! So,why don't you folk's forget it, they will find another job.They were looking for a job when they found that one. Nothing to be angry about.
Joanna Bolin at 8:53PM on Mar 16th 2007
17. CLINTON HAD EVERY RIGHT IN THE WORLD TO GET RID OF EVERY ONE OF OUR ASSHOLES FATHERS APPOINTED U.S. ATTORNEYS AND APPOINT HIS OWN BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS STUPID FUCK WE ARE STUCK WITH NOW, THAT ASSHOLE APPOINTED THE SAME ONES THAT HE IS GETTING RID OF ''ALL BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING THEIR JOB BY LOOKING INTO REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION'' AND ALSO WHEN THEY COULD FIND IT, DEMOCRAT CORRUPTION. BIG DIFFERENCE AND IF YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT LITTLE FACT YOU ARE ONE HUGE DUMBASS
DAN at 8:50PM on Mar 16th 2007
18. there is a big difference between republican and democrat corruption as one writer stated. of course his language is quite immuture, thus we are reading something writen by someone who most likely is not of age to vote. Back to the stated existing difference, it does exist. If the corruption is done by a Democrats, it is ok if your a Democrat. Clinton firings vs bush of US Attorney-Clinto no problem but Bush was wrong. Rep Jefferson caught with marked cash in his freezer and gets standing ovation from fellow Democrats in the House. Or the one heard over and over; Clinton lied but no one died so that ok but Libby lied and no one died but and that was bad. There are major problems facing this country, Iraq is not the onlu one, and these problems need to ber addressed by DC as a whole, but is not. Congress and the Senate are all to busy with opinion polls and hearings about old news while the US economy tanks out among other things. Our govt. is becoming a political monster that does nothing but support itself in office and eat up tax payers money. Both parties and supporters are guilty and this US Attorney firings is a prime example.
ROBERT OKANE at 1:43AM on Mar 17th 2007
19. When Clinton fired the attorneys wasn't there things surrounding "White Water" being investigated?
Doug at 12:08AM on Mar 17th 2007
20. GEORGE BUSH IS THE GREATEST!!!! HE IS THE ONLY REASON WE ARE STILL SAFE IN AMERICA. ALL YOU STUPID DEMOCRATS HAVE BLINDERS ON...WHEN THE TERRORISTS GET YOU...I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST. LET'S GET TOGETHER AS A NATION AND FIGHT THESE SICKOS!!!!
Julie at 12:48AM on Mar 17th 2007
21. Oh, yes, by all means let's look at the case of Dan Rostenkowski. What was the result of this heinous coup by Clinton to protect a political ally? Rostenkowski subsequently was indicted, pleaded to a lesser offense, and spent 15 months in the slammer. Oh, yeah, clear case of Clinton abusing the system. Clear.
LarryE at 2:56AM on Mar 17th 2007
22. #7 Joseph
You are a fu*king retard. Learn to spell you ignorant asshole.
While you are at it.....try and make some sense too.
Moron!
jim at 3:33AM on Mar 17th 2007
23. ANYONE WHO UNDERSTANDS POLITICS, IN GENERAL, CAN SPOT THE NABOBS WHO HAVE NO CLUE! CLEANING HOUSE OF PREVIOUS 'APPOINTEES' (AND THAT'S THE KEY WORD!)IS COMMON AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVT., FROM STATE TO FEDERAL. IF PEOPLE WOULD STOP BELIEVING ALL THE SLANTED NEWS (SEE: YELLOW JOURNALISM) THEY WOULD HAVE A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING IN D.C.
Kate at 7:45AM on Mar 17th 2007
24. OH, COME ON NOW. IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE OUT WHY BUSH IS GETTING SLAMMED! SIMPLY BECAUSE HE IS BUSH, A RIGHTWINGER!
kathy at 8:50AM on Mar 17th 2007
25. Tell me, which would you rather have in the White House, a guy that likes a little head now and then, or a lieing SOB like we have ?
Jerry at 1:54PM on Mar 17th 2007
26. mouthing off does not solve anything. So try to think of a way to make a contribution instead of pithy comments that reveal your lack of knowledge.
edmccrory at 10:44AM on Mar 18th 2007
27. mouthing off does not solve anything. So try to think of a way to make a contribution instead of pithy comments that reveal your lack of knowledge.
edmccrory at 6:18PM on Mar 17th 2007
28. This administration can only be characterized by one expression: Abuse of Power. It occurs in every area they touch: Iraq, Justice, so-called Patriot Act, you name the rest.....smirking George and Dick and Karl know something they don't want you to know: that they don't really care what think or want, and the dwindling minority (now less than 30%) who still like these characters are an amazingly uninformed and child-like bunch of fools.
jonny at 12:40PM on Mar 17th 2007
29. Reading Paul Mirengoff, in reference to the firing and/or replacement of US Attorney's by Bill Clinton by calling it unprecedented. It is obvious that Mr. Meringoff has no clue as to history along with 10 or so of his Neo Con followers.
If Mr. Mirengoff would do a little research rather than blowing in the wind. Mr. Mirengoff would have read, George H W Bush did the same as Clinton. This George, aslo did the same as Clinton in 2001 and it wasn't news. Reagan, Carter, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy and so on all did it. So where is the precedence.
You people from the right have got to stop your lies and story telling.
You lost in Novemeber. Accept is and move on. Don't be like the people in our White House that has "dumbed you down and/or brainwashed" what little brain cells you have.
Do something, your beloved leader doesn't do or like to do..........READ
Oh! by the bye. If you take the whole context of the New Times article instead of pieces. You wlll find that the New Times did not say anything of what you profess.
The Wall Street Journal yes. WSJ is one of you. NEO CON'S FROM HELL.
Ray at 4:20PM on Mar 17th 2007
30. Dan nice comments you are an ignorant stupid idiot, and that is putting it mildly. It O.K. for Clinton to do 93 and not Bush to fire 8. You are typical of the arrogance of Liberal Democrats. Get over yourself and your hatred. Your friend Clinton is not going to get in office in 2008. Thank God for the Red States. I come from NY and most of us on Long Island are Red State but the City and liberal dopes who believed Hillary vote for this phoney. But just like the Swift Boat Vets and John Kerry she is going to have a rude awakening come Election night. Get over your nasty self. You probably go to bed at night fuming over the elections which makes my heart feel good.
Loretta at 5:51PM on Mar 17th 2007