Here Comes the Big One

Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...

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Posted Apr 24th 2007 3:32PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Politics, Elections, George Bush, Young Turks, Republicans, GOP, Al Gore, U.S. Attorneys

The Office of Special Counsel has started an investigation into Karl Rove and political operations inside the White House. Good night and good luck. Once you open us this can of worms, there's no looking back.

As you can see in this Los Angeles Times article about the investigation, there's no question that the White House used federal agencies as their own personal political piggy bank. The question is what crossed the line from regular course of business to illegal or unethical activities. The LA Times explains the focus of the inquiry:

"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."

I can hear it now from conservatives: The White House is political! Of course, they are going to partake in politics, that's part of their job, etc. etc.

Just calm down. Let's first find out what's legal and what's not. Can a person working in the White House cross the line into doing something that breaks the law by combining politics with federal government work? Of course. That's part of the reason why the Office of Special Counsel exists in the first place. They are charged with investigating whether administration officials were "engaging in prohibited political activities."

Didn't Republicans get all over Gore for making the wrong type of phone call from the White House? If that's wrong, I can certainly see how sitting every cabinet agency down and telling them to direct funds to help Republicans in upcoming elections is wrong. Way wrong.

There are certainly rules prohibiting political activity on federal grounds. But the investigation is just starting, so they might find out that no laws were broken. I doubt it. If there isn't a law against using federal money to make sure one party wins elections, there certainly ought to be.

But I have an open mind. Let's see what the investigation uncovers. Remember we already know that interfering with a Justice Department investigation in order to make sure members of your own party aren't prosecuted or encouraging prosecutions of the other party is illegal. This Office of Special Counsel probe will also specifically be looking into this issue as it relates to the former U.S. attorney for New Mexico, David C. Iglesias.

Here's another example of possibly illegal activity by the White House, from the LA Times story:

"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."

That is at the very least grossly unethical. Do we really want the White House running policy based on purely political considerations rather than what's best for the country? Absolutely not.

I would be outraged if a Democrat got into office and did the same thing. I don't give a damn about the Democratic Party. I only want them to win elections if they are doing the right things. And if they use the Oval Office as a way to keep winning elections rather than doing the people's business, then I would be pissed.

Every administration combines some politics with policy. No one should be naive enough to think that doesn't happen on a regular basis. But on the other hand, there is a line. You can't simply run the whole federal government as a giant political apparatus whose sole goal is to re-elect members of your own party. The actual goal of the government is supposed to be doing the business of the people.

Directing federal agencies to use their resources -- more accurately, our resources, this is our tax money after all -- to help Republicans (or Democrats) win elections seems to cross that line. Let's see what the investigation finds and what those findings lead to.

I don't think this is good news for Karl Rove or the rest of the White House. My sense is that this is the one that sinks them. You don't have to bother arguing with me because we're going to see soon enough. If it's above board, it's above board. If they crossed the line -- and my guess based on the information we already know is that they went way over the line and did it all the time -- they are going to be in a lot of trouble. If you're sure that they did nothing wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.

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Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 6)

Previous 15 Comments | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

31. I'm with #5.

Ed Heichel at 11:39AM on Apr 25th 2007

32. Oh please, save you "outrage", and calma te.

Rove is no doubt as good at his job as Carville ("the Ragin Cajun") was. Carville was also quite slippery and scheming but hey, that was his job and he was good at it. Not everybody's job - especially in politics - is all sweetness and light.

Keep in mind girls, you will have your chance when another Democrat takes the white house. Then I will be amazed that instead of hand wringing and worry about how devious and evil the president's top politico is, the media and the Democrats will marvel at how wise and strategic he is.

�LOL!

Ken Berg at 11:40AM on Apr 25th 2007

33. Oh please, save you "outrage", and calma te.

Rove is no doubt as good at his job as Carville ("the Ragin Cajun") was. Carville was also quite slippery and scheming but hey, that was his job and he was good at it. Not everybody's job - especially in politics - is all sweetness and light.

Keep in mind girls, you will have your chance when another Democrat takes the white house. Then I will be amazed that instead of hand wringing and worry about how devious and evil the president's top politico is, the media and the Democrats will marvel at how wise and strategic he is.

�LOL!

Ken Berg at 11:41AM on Apr 25th 2007

34. Sorry rrm12 on #22, I have to say, I'm feeling the same as WDM59. Besides. "GOTTI" is peanuts compared to these people, he was not nearly as powerful, the Bush administration has the power of the entire executive branch on their side & the unquestioned privaledges it grants & enough weak shallow corrupted fellow republicans to help protect them on their rotten road of dirty deed doing. This is what happens when the worst of people get into high places. For about 50 years the American people knew better than to have the republican party get majority in the Congress AGAIN, let alone coupled with a republican president. It ALWAYS brings about pain, disaster, loss of many kinds. The people of this country have short memories & are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the republican kind past which ALWAYS brings a HUGE price to this country & our people. All complaining aside, many folks have taken far too much for granted & don't realize what greatness & strength this country has gotten to these past 5 decades was gotten there on the backs of democrats & their policies... it didn't all happen by itself or by accident, it didn't just "get this way" on it's own & we see how much un-doing of it all a republican majority has brought us. Of course things were not perfect under the democrats but look at the big picture here people & many many finally are & waking up to the fact that republicans are NOT... I repeat... NOT for the average people of this country, in fact they lie to you to get your vote & then turn right around & stick it to you for doing it, the republican party simply DOES NOT represent the greater good of the people in this country! Decency, embarrassment, shame... all things that would have others step aside wonce found out, has no influence with the Bush jr administration. The Bush jr administration has taken advantage of the fact that everyone simply ASSUMED they would follow all already adhered to rules & regulations in Govt and NOT be the most corrupted of people to ever hold offices... appointed or not. The Bush administration took full advantage of the American people who never imagined a President & his people would be capable of such underhandedness & there for were not LOOKING so closely. In fact it appears these people deem corruption, crimes, debauchery as NORMAL and use the Presidency & the system to get over on the American people as the ultimate privaledge & entitlement of power because they do it so often & so consistantly and smile the whole time they are doing it. It would be nice if a third party would come up to be a power to be reconed with but chances are THAT's not going to happen, people are simply not fed up enough with both the republicans or the democrats & it would take massive $$ & massive organizing by massive #'s of people ... but untill it does ... The Bush jr administration has proven clearly that the best republican will NEVER be as good as the WORST of democrats... NEVER.

Dee at 11:45AM on Apr 25th 2007

35. When we begin to apply the same standard to our own political party as we want applied to the opposing political party, we will indeed begin to heal our nation. Bush promised to the a uniter rather than a divider and he has failed miserably. No politician elected or appointed is above the law. When we overlook wrong doing because it makes our agenda work, we become worse than the ones we oppose. For once I would like for Christians to really act like Christians and this nation to truly be ONE NATION UNDER GOD instead of one nation under whatever political party holds the most houses.

PThompson at 11:48AM on Apr 25th 2007

36. Big West, IDIOT!! Just like Poppy Bush!

Joe at 11:54AM on Apr 25th 2007

37. Shrubgate is about to unfold. It will be a relief to see Rove, Gonzalez, Cheney and the smirking dry drunk removed from the Whitehouse. Then we can have our country back. Until then, we are at the mercy of the most diabolical, corrupt and evil men in the history of the United States. God help us.

HELEN at 11:55AM on Apr 25th 2007

38. Hey Big West #13 Must be your lucky number??????
You appear to be a potential buyer. Would you be interested in buying a pet rock that I bought for $100. I'll let it go for $50. no questions asked??????
Gotta go now, I think I am being watched

rrm12 at 12:04PM on Apr 25th 2007

39. If George W. were to read, he might remember a famous quote. "You can fool some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time. You cannot fool all the people all the time"

Maybe the time of reckoning has come.

don

don at 12:20PM on Apr 25th 2007

40. 13. Bush presidentsy a failure?(YES!!!)Record job creation,(ONLY BECUSE WE ARE AT WAR 70 % OF THE NEW JOBS ARE GOVERNMENT CREATED) record home ownership,(HELOO THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IS IN THE DUMPS...RECORD FORCLOSURES!) The stock market about to go over 13000 for the first time in history, Ouster of the Taliban,(OUTED FROM WHERE? NO REALLY WHERE ARE THEY NOT?) Won the war with Iraq,(WON? YOU BELIVE ANYTHING!WON WHAT? WE PUSHED THEM INTO CIVIL WAR...THEY WERE BETTER OFF BEFORE WE INVADED) Trying to win the war against terrorism with a cry baby democratic party determined to lose at whatever cost.(CRY BABY EH? SO YOU DO HAVE THE IQ OF A THIRD GRADER I THOUGHT AS MUCH.THE DEMS ARE STANDING WITH THE PUBLIC OPINION AS IS THIER JOB.EVER HEAR OF CIVIL LIBERTIES? SOON YOU'LL HAVE TO READ ABOUT EM IN HISTORY BOOKS IF THESE GUYS HAVE THIER WAY) And democrats talk about morality?( DON'T EVEN GO THERE MR GAY PROSTITUTE ON THE WHITE HOUSE GRAVY TRAIN) Last time a checked Bush was not being blown in the white house by an intern,(HE WOULD IF HE COULD) or smoking pot without inhaking,(HE DIDN'T WANT THE POT TO TAKE THE EDGE OFFF HIS COKE BUZZ) Or making illegal realestate deals(Hillary Whitewater)(TO BUSY SENDING OUR YOUNGE OFF TO BE KILLED FOR MORE PROOFITS FOR HIS OIL BUDS)

I'm sure i will get an insulting reply. I will assume it comes from an uninformed source. Keep smilin!~> Bigg West( I AM GLAD YOU EXPECT A REPLY THAT DIFFERS FROM YOUR OWN...HOW EVER UNINFORMED I AM NOT..MAYBE YOU COULD CONSIDER CRACKING THAT TINY LITTLE MIND OF YOURS OPEN JUST A TAD AND GIVING THOSE LAST FEW BRAIN CELLS SOME OXIGEN BEFORE THEY ARE GONE TOO.)

rick at 12:17PM on Apr 25th 2007

41. to bigg west you are really really blind. Your loyalty is beyond admirable because it has caused you to be unable to see the truth. I feel sorry for people like you, really you are quite sad.

hank at 12:19PM on Apr 25th 2007

42. Well Dee #32 I can certainly understand where your coming from. But just remember; The mightiest of the mighty have at one time or another been taken down, "Even the powerful Roman leaders" My only hope is that we don't wait so long that we all go down with them.
Gotta go now, I think I am being watched

rrm12 at 12:29PM on Apr 25th 2007

43. Being a newcomer to this country and it's political workings,it would seem to me that supporters of the Republican party are on the whole both dumb and not at all well educated.

Andy at 12:31PM on Apr 25th 2007

44. A White House investigation into Rove. Hmmm. Can you say 'whitewash'??
I knew you could.

Looks like the White House is pre-emptively going into looking into Rove's misuse of government departments for political gain. And guess what they will determine in the end? Go ahead, guess--I dare ya.

"See? We told you there was nothing to worry about! No need to do another investigation and waste taxpayer money now, is there?!" Watch for this tactic--it's inevitable.

J. L. Wood at 1:12PM on Apr 25th 2007

45. #37, Here's a Typical Intelectual response to your so republican insults and comments because you don't know any better "Mr. Informed".
"Wanna buy a Bridge"
Gotta go now, I think I am being watched

rrm12 at 12:36PM on Apr 25th 2007

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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.