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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Posted Apr 24th 2007 3:32PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Politics, Elections, George Bush, Young Turks, Republicans, GOP, Al Gore, U.S. Attorneys
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61. THE ECONOMY IS BOMMING ??? HUH WHAT BS YEAH IF YOUR A GREEN BACK ,U.S. dollar drops against euro as ECB rate hike likely : The United States currency also tumbled to its weakest level against the British pound in 26 years as investors bet the Federal Reserve will cut borrowing costs later this year while the European Central Bank and Bank of England raise rates.Gasoline at $4 Coming to a Pump Near You : Whether it's $50 to fill up your Prius or $130 for the Ford Expedition, $4-a-gallon gasoline is coming to a pump near you. The tragic irony of this moment is that the rich countries are so rich and the poor so poor that a few added tenths of one percent of GNP from the rich ones ramped up over the coming decades could do what was never before possible in human history: ensure that the basic needs of health and education are met for all impoverished children in this world.Why do 32 deaths in Virginia receive blanket coverage while nearly 200 fatalities in Iraq are barely reported?Wealth Creates Poverty? Globalization is an attempt to extend corporate monopoly control over the whole globe. Over every national economy. Over every local economy Over every life.Existing U.S. home sales tumble in March; consumer confidence slides in April: Sales of existing homes plunged in March by the largest amount in nearly two decades. And consumer confidence in April crumbled to its lowest level since August.Existing U.S. home sales tumble in March; consumer confidence slides in April: Sales of existing homes plunged in March by the largest amount in nearly two decades. And consumer confidence in April crumbled to its lowest level since August.We are not out of the woods on housing. And consumers are not feeling good about the economy. I don't think we will see a lot of spending on the part of consumers. Given the plunge in housing, and higher prices at the gas pump, consumers have reduced their long-term and short-term expectations for the economy
NESGAIN8 at 5:10PM on Apr 25th 2007
62. The Democrats can't get Bush so go after his subordinates. Better luck next time. Rove is smarter than all the democrats put together.
Russell at 10:17AM on Apr 26th 2007
63. "All Repubs are liars, cheats and greedy. All of us who support Bush, are against abortion, against gays, against illegal aliens and for gun rights are some how lacking in intelligence." Post #26- Jim
Jim, you are right. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Signed,
A Gay, Pro-Choice, Pro-Alien, Anti-NRA Liberal
Marty at 3:33PM on Apr 25th 2007
64. I'm not very good at political things, does the government pay the salary of Congressional staff members? Have any of these (non-politico?) staff been fired by a Congressman because they weren't enhancing the boss's political future? Probably so.
Didn't Iglasius(sp) serve at the "pleasure of the President"? Yes. And Rove must be doing a great job for all the angst that's coming his way.
Ed at 3:51PM on Apr 25th 2007
65. In the recent past someone made this comment about Karl Rove. "Never trust a man whose forehead is the same color as his hair." He appears bland and begnign, but is really a seedy and mean spirited individual.
daltonkdallas at 4:05PM on Apr 25th 2007
66. Oh let's definately investigate Rove.
First thing we need to investigate is why he's still ont he payroll.
Let's get him on the stand and watch him prejure himself like Gonzo did. What the white house needs right now is a giant "flush" of the toliet.
Liz at 4:06PM on Apr 25th 2007
67. THAT FAT MOOSE ROVE IS AN WEASEL. BUT A SMART WEASEL. LIBBY TOOK A HIT FOR HIM, GONZO IS GONNA TAKE A HIT FOR HIM... I BELIEVE HE AND BUSH ARE LOVERS THAT'S WHY BUSH WILL PROTECT HIS BUTT
jim williams at 4:18PM on Apr 25th 2007
68. Karl Rove is the slimiest piece of work in this administration, and that's saying a lot, since he has soooo much competition! Without Rove, we have no Bush administration. Nahh, as long as GWB has a breath to draw, Rove is safe )-:
DL at 4:20PM on Apr 25th 2007
69. WHAT WE DEMOCRATS WILL NEVER ADMITT, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE HAD PEOPLE LIKE ROVE ON OUR SIDE.,,I RESPECT AND ADMIRE JAMES CARVILLE CONSIDER HIM A GREAT AMERICAN YET IF I SAW HIM WITH THE EYES OF A REPUBLICAN IT MIGHT NOT BE SO CLEAN
jim williams at 4:22PM on Apr 25th 2007
70. All this kindergarden behavior is going to make it impossible for Congress and the President to do the peoples business for years.
With all the anti-war sentiment around we'll likely have a Democratic president in the Oval Office next. Do Democrats think "politics" will somehow miraculously come to a screeching halt then? Hell, they'll be retaliatory investigations and subpoenas almost immediately, crippling the real work of the federal government for the forseeable future.
I say the Democrats should do what they said they'd do during the Congressional Campaign (I haven't seen anything yet) and cut all the crap.
If they don't, "what goes around will likely come around"...unfortunately.
Lee at 4:40PM on Apr 25th 2007
71. This is nothing but "the fox guarding the hen house"... This attorney is a Bush appointee and you can be assured that he will not find anything wrong....
I have lived through 15 presidents and I can tell you that this Bush Bunch is the worst of the lot....
I don't think there is anything that this bunch would not do!!!!!!!!!!!
They are a disgrace to the U.S.A.
Katherine at 5:10PM on Apr 25th 2007
72. In reply to Bigg West. Please remove the big rubber(GOP)stamp from around your head. Then maybe you wont be a Karl"Himmler"Rove brainwashed minion spewing forth the Mien Kamph doctrine. Just stop drinking the KoolAide. Time will heal you. That and learning the real facts.Your talking points are
1.Jobs, low paying service industry jobs cant replace the high paying industry jobs being sent overseas. The Government reports 1 in 5 high paying manufacturing jobs are lost to foreign outsourcing,with more layoff expected.
2.Homeownership, you cite record ownership, I cite record foreclosures with more still on the way this year as the bottom of this sinkhole still hasnt been reached.
3.Defeat of the Taliban? LOL!on this one. We are still there and fighting this one. Ask the Tillman family.
4.Iraq, when the deferment twins(Cheny/Bush)realized that they couldnt win in Afganistan or find Osama,they hid that fact by starting a new war they thought they could win. WRONG!
5.Hillary's land deals. Yes, there is a smell around them. But ask the "shrub" where he got the money (that he didnt have) to buy the Rangers baseball team? Plenty of guilt to go around to all parties involved.
As a veteran I agree that it is best to fight over there than here. But having the derferment twins leading the military playing soldier is not like kids in a sandbox with their G.I.JOES. They should have done their duty to America and served in uniform. Then maybe they wouldnt have been so boneheaded about strategy. LBJ thought he could win Vietnam by picking the nexts days targets over breakfast in the Oval office. The "shrub" belives he can do the same and win. In war,release your Generals and let them be attack dogs. Let them go after targets and show no mercy. The man in the field needs to control, not the man 6000 miles away. We are following the same failed path as Nam!The American public is still haunted by the stain of that failure. Lets hope we dont do that again to those who wear the uniform today.
Admiral Jack at 5:41PM on Apr 25th 2007
73. Finally,Let's Investigate,fire,impeach,then incarcerate this criminal.Beware,the individual heading the investigation of him,Karl Rove,is some how affliated with him..Isn't that a CONFLICT OF INTEREST??? Maybe an independent-objective inquiry needs to be made..IS THIS ETHICAL???
andrea at 6:30PM on Apr 25th 2007
74. All the Democrats engaged in this wailing and gnashing of teeth (and probably the tearing of robes, I have no idea) remind me of the Clinton-haters back in the day.
In those days, some die-hard party liner Republicans could barely contain their seething anger with Bill Clinton, and shot themselves in the foot time and again trying to upset and/or oust him. They even shut down the government over a spending bill and tried to throw the blame his way, but Clinton won that beltway spat as well.
In the end, time cured matters. Clinton served two terms and a Republican took the white house. Now it is fun (sort of) to watch the same sort of crowd on the Democrats' side who are so bent on tearing Bush down that will cut their nose off to spite their face.
I do not know why these types don't just sit down with their opposition, have a drink, relax and enjoy life a little bit.
Ken Berg at 7:40PM on Apr 25th 2007
75.
Why does everyone who becomes president, surround himself with sleezebags. I would trust everyone in government about as far as I could throw my house
Dick at 8:26PM on Apr 25th 2007