As Alberto Gonzales crams for the exam of his life after Spring break and Monica Goodling drops out of school, the dean of Bush U., Karl Rove, must be pondering a future confrontation with the Senate Board of Trustees.
Academic metaphors come to mind after yesterday’s resignation from the Justice Department of Ms. Goodling, whose entire career since graduating from Pat Robertson’s law school has been within the confines of the Bush campus.
Ms. Goodling, by all accounts, a hard-working, idealistic, brownie-baking grind, will now almost certainly be granted immunity by Congressional committees and compelled to testify, despite her invoking of the Fifth Amendment on the advice of a high-profile law firm.
Her law degree is from Regent University, whose mission is “to produce Christian leaders who will make a difference, who will change the world.”
Ms. Goodling is certainly in a position to change Washington if her testimony and Gonzales’ expose the White House’s hand in the political firing of U.S. Attorneys.
Meanwhile, they might want to get out their old law-school books and brush up on such subjects as subpoenas and perjury.
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Monica Goodling. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Monica Goodling. Sort by date Show all posts
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
The Monica Misdirection
After a day of her immunized testimony, the Administration’s Monica Goodling game plan is becoming clearer.
Before the House Judiciary Committee, the former Justice Department aide was willing, one might even say eager, to admit that she “crossed the line” by inquiring into political affiliations of applicants for career jobs but that she “didn’t mean to.”
Since the Department had unexpectedly announced its own investigation into this question, one might suspect that Ms. Goodling’s admission comes after assurances that she would be cleared of violating civil service rules.
The unexpected investigation and her admission is looking more and more like an attempted diversion from the issue of White House involvement in the firing of the U.S. Attorneys.
On this subject, in the absence of all those missing Karl Rove e-mails, Ms. Goodling seemed to feel perjury-proof in denying or not remembering any discussions with Karl Rove or Harriet Meirs, a contention that strains credulity in the light of her job as the Department’s White House liaison.
Isn’t it heartwarming to be living in a country where the people in charge equate telling the truth with not being caught lying?
Before the House Judiciary Committee, the former Justice Department aide was willing, one might even say eager, to admit that she “crossed the line” by inquiring into political affiliations of applicants for career jobs but that she “didn’t mean to.”
Since the Department had unexpectedly announced its own investigation into this question, one might suspect that Ms. Goodling’s admission comes after assurances that she would be cleared of violating civil service rules.
The unexpected investigation and her admission is looking more and more like an attempted diversion from the issue of White House involvement in the firing of the U.S. Attorneys.
On this subject, in the absence of all those missing Karl Rove e-mails, Ms. Goodling seemed to feel perjury-proof in denying or not remembering any discussions with Karl Rove or Harriet Meirs, a contention that strains credulity in the light of her job as the Department’s White House liaison.
Isn’t it heartwarming to be living in a country where the people in charge equate telling the truth with not being caught lying?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Monica's Amnesia
So sad to see a lovely, vital 33-year-old woman suffering from the same affliction as her former boss Alberto Gonzales--degenerative memory loss. At the House Judiciary Committee hearing today, Monica Goodling's impairment was shocking.
The grant of immunity has done little to improve her condition, but House Democrats might help with talk therapy that asks the right questions and a lab analysis of the Karl Rove Kool-Aid Ms. Goodling has apparently been imbibing.
It’s an important public health issue.
The grant of immunity has done little to improve her condition, but House Democrats might help with talk therapy that asks the right questions and a lab analysis of the Karl Rove Kool-Aid Ms. Goodling has apparently been imbibing.
It’s an important public health issue.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Two Monicas: Too Eager to Please
For almost all of 1998, Congress was consumed with the issue of a possible lie under oath by Bill Clinton about whether or not Monica Lewinsky opened her mouth in the White House.
Now both branches of government are in a race to get Monica Goodling to open hers. Yesterday the Justice Department announced it was investigating the possibility she "may have taken prohibited considerations into account" in the hiring of entry-level prosecutors.
Meanwhile, the process of granting her immunity to appear before the House Judiciary Committee is inching along.
Both young women became the center of attention for being too eager to please their superiors. The current one may create almost as much trouble for Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales as the first one did for her President.
Now both branches of government are in a race to get Monica Goodling to open hers. Yesterday the Justice Department announced it was investigating the possibility she "may have taken prohibited considerations into account" in the hiring of entry-level prosecutors.
Meanwhile, the process of granting her immunity to appear before the House Judiciary Committee is inching along.
Both young women became the center of attention for being too eager to please their superiors. The current one may create almost as much trouble for Karl Rove and Alberto Gonzales as the first one did for her President.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monica's Problem
Proverbs 6:16-19: "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
Now that she has been granted immunity to appear under oath before the House Judiciary Committee, Monica Goodling, Alberto Gonzales' former aide, will have to resolve an inner conflict between her faith as a graduate of Pat Robertson's law school and her devotion to the Bush Administration, which has specialized in shedding innocent blood, devising wicked imaginations, running to mischief and sowing discord.
She will be sorely tested, but it will be a chance to live up to her old school's mission: “to produce Christian leaders who will make a difference, who will change the world.”
It boggles the mind to think that Pat Robertson's teachings may bring down Karl Rove.
Now that she has been granted immunity to appear under oath before the House Judiciary Committee, Monica Goodling, Alberto Gonzales' former aide, will have to resolve an inner conflict between her faith as a graduate of Pat Robertson's law school and her devotion to the Bush Administration, which has specialized in shedding innocent blood, devising wicked imaginations, running to mischief and sowing discord.
She will be sorely tested, but it will be a chance to live up to her old school's mission: “to produce Christian leaders who will make a difference, who will change the world.”
It boggles the mind to think that Pat Robertson's teachings may bring down Karl Rove.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Rooting Out Rove
A 390-page report by the Inspector General is only a small step for mankind in bringing Karl Rove to justice for what he did to the Justice Department in the firing of the nine US attorneys, but it's a start.
The internal investigation finds political pressure drove the 2006 dismissals but that refusal of major players at the White House and the department to cooperate in the year-long inquiry has left significant “gaps” in understanding what happened.
Investigators' doubts have led Attorney General Michael Mukasey to appoint Acting United States Attorney in Connecticut Nora Dannehy, who led the conviction of a former governor for corruption, to continue the probe and decide if anyone should be prosecuted.
The "anyone" list starts with Bush's White House toadies, Karl Rove and Harriet Miers, and goes on to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who was overcome with memory lapses while testifying before Congress, and his cast of ideological helpers, including Monica Goodling and Kyle Sampson, who the report says "abdicated their responsibility" in supervising the firings.
After stonewalling Congress while Bush remains in office, this bunch will be facing possible prosecution in a new atmosphere next year, one in which the criminal politicizing of everything in Washington comes to an end, and Justice reverts to its original mission of discovering and punishing actual crime.
In that event, Karl Rove could be practicing his punditry for Newsweek and Fox News from a new venue that will give him plenty of time to think deep thoughts about the new American political scene.
The internal investigation finds political pressure drove the 2006 dismissals but that refusal of major players at the White House and the department to cooperate in the year-long inquiry has left significant “gaps” in understanding what happened.
Investigators' doubts have led Attorney General Michael Mukasey to appoint Acting United States Attorney in Connecticut Nora Dannehy, who led the conviction of a former governor for corruption, to continue the probe and decide if anyone should be prosecuted.
The "anyone" list starts with Bush's White House toadies, Karl Rove and Harriet Miers, and goes on to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who was overcome with memory lapses while testifying before Congress, and his cast of ideological helpers, including Monica Goodling and Kyle Sampson, who the report says "abdicated their responsibility" in supervising the firings.
After stonewalling Congress while Bush remains in office, this bunch will be facing possible prosecution in a new atmosphere next year, one in which the criminal politicizing of everything in Washington comes to an end, and Justice reverts to its original mission of discovering and punishing actual crime.
In that event, Karl Rove could be practicing his punditry for Newsweek and Fox News from a new venue that will give him plenty of time to think deep thoughts about the new American political scene.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Slight Glitch in Homeland Security
If we are going to be safe from terrorist attacks, Pat Robertson’s law school will have to expand.
According to a Congressional report released today, the Bush Administration “has failed to fill roughly a quarter of the top leadership posts at the Department of Homeland Security, creating a ‘gaping hole’ in the nation's preparedness for a terrorist attack or other threat.”
"One of the continuing problems appears to be the over politicization of the top rank of Department management," the report concludes.
In the Justice Department, as we learned from the case of Monica Goodling, the Administration’s preference has been for graduates of Regent University where professors “integrate biblical principles into areas of the law.”
This year’s student body at Regent was inspired by a lecture on leadership by America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who told them that terrorists “planned to kill us, and they want to do it again.”
But there won't be enough of such highly trained and motivated recruits to fill the Homeland Security void, which may be partly due to the fact that the Department’s employees reported the lowest job satisfaction among 36 federal agencies earlier this year.
But not to worry. The Senate’s Homeland Security Committee passed a bill in March based on the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations that Chairman Joe Lieberman called “a critical step toward building a safer and more secure America for the generations to come."
That nobody is around to implement them is just a minor housekeeping detail.
According to a Congressional report released today, the Bush Administration “has failed to fill roughly a quarter of the top leadership posts at the Department of Homeland Security, creating a ‘gaping hole’ in the nation's preparedness for a terrorist attack or other threat.”
"One of the continuing problems appears to be the over politicization of the top rank of Department management," the report concludes.
In the Justice Department, as we learned from the case of Monica Goodling, the Administration’s preference has been for graduates of Regent University where professors “integrate biblical principles into areas of the law.”
This year’s student body at Regent was inspired by a lecture on leadership by America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who told them that terrorists “planned to kill us, and they want to do it again.”
But there won't be enough of such highly trained and motivated recruits to fill the Homeland Security void, which may be partly due to the fact that the Department’s employees reported the lowest job satisfaction among 36 federal agencies earlier this year.
But not to worry. The Senate’s Homeland Security Committee passed a bill in March based on the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations that Chairman Joe Lieberman called “a critical step toward building a safer and more secure America for the generations to come."
That nobody is around to implement them is just a minor housekeeping detail.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Damming the Mainstream Media
Alberto Gonzalez, Monica Goodling and others of the Bush Brigade who worked so hard to subvert American freedoms are gone, but their mission is moving forward. After chipping away at our legal rights, next on the agenda is control of our minds through mass media.
A House Committee will turn the spotlight today on FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, who has been busy trying to concentrate ownership more than ever before into the hands of Rupert Murdoch and a few other corporate chieftains.
Like all loyal Bushies, Martin has not let legal niceties get in his way.
Citing "complaints from the public and professionals within the communications industry," Rep. Bart Stupak, who heads the Energy and Commerce subcommittee that is investigating the FCC head, says, "It is one thing to be an aggressive leader, but many of the allegations indicate possible abuse of power and an attempt to intentionally keep fellow commissioners in the dark."
Martin and other FCC members will testify about his efforts to bulldoze through the easing of rules limiting cross-ownership of newspapers and TV stations in the same city as well as "cooking the books" to push through regulations to crack down on cable TV which, outside of Fix News, has not been as servile as the Administration would like.
To do so, Martin has used what media watchdogs call "a rigged process" designed to produce a "predetermined outcome."
The FCC chairman came to his position of overseeing free speech in America at the age of 33 with no communications experience whatsoever after working on the legal team that blocked the 2000 Florida vote recount to put Bush in the White House.
In 1961, President Kennedy's FCC chairman, Newt Minow, famously called commercial TV a "vast wasteland" and worked to expand its range of content by enabling UHF stations and public television.
His 2007 counterpart is less interested in what's on than who controls it. "America Idol" and reality shows are high art as long as the right people profit and keep the medium from sending the wrong political message.
A House Committee will turn the spotlight today on FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, who has been busy trying to concentrate ownership more than ever before into the hands of Rupert Murdoch and a few other corporate chieftains.
Like all loyal Bushies, Martin has not let legal niceties get in his way.
Citing "complaints from the public and professionals within the communications industry," Rep. Bart Stupak, who heads the Energy and Commerce subcommittee that is investigating the FCC head, says, "It is one thing to be an aggressive leader, but many of the allegations indicate possible abuse of power and an attempt to intentionally keep fellow commissioners in the dark."
Martin and other FCC members will testify about his efforts to bulldoze through the easing of rules limiting cross-ownership of newspapers and TV stations in the same city as well as "cooking the books" to push through regulations to crack down on cable TV which, outside of Fix News, has not been as servile as the Administration would like.
To do so, Martin has used what media watchdogs call "a rigged process" designed to produce a "predetermined outcome."
The FCC chairman came to his position of overseeing free speech in America at the age of 33 with no communications experience whatsoever after working on the legal team that blocked the 2000 Florida vote recount to put Bush in the White House.
In 1961, President Kennedy's FCC chairman, Newt Minow, famously called commercial TV a "vast wasteland" and worked to expand its range of content by enabling UHF stations and public television.
His 2007 counterpart is less interested in what's on than who controls it. "America Idol" and reality shows are high art as long as the right people profit and keep the medium from sending the wrong political message.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Wolfowitz in Sheepish Clothing
Isn't it pathetic to see Bush's bullies turning into schoolyard cliches?
Today we have Paul Wolfowitz, who couldn't wait to pick on Iraq five years ago, up in the principal's office at the World Bank, trying to hide behind his girlfriend's skirts by blaming her "intractable position" about a salary raise for his breaking the rules. He claims the ethics panel knew she was "angry and upset" and was afraid to confront her about leaving for a new job, so he had to do it.
In coming weeks, there may be more of this at Congressional hearings about the firing of U.S. Attorneys. When and if Monica Goodling and Harriet Meirs testify, Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove will be ducking behind their skirts to escape blame for the Justice Department fiasco.
Wrongdoing is one area in which the Bushies are equal opportunity employers.
Today we have Paul Wolfowitz, who couldn't wait to pick on Iraq five years ago, up in the principal's office at the World Bank, trying to hide behind his girlfriend's skirts by blaming her "intractable position" about a salary raise for his breaking the rules. He claims the ethics panel knew she was "angry and upset" and was afraid to confront her about leaving for a new job, so he had to do it.
In coming weeks, there may be more of this at Congressional hearings about the firing of U.S. Attorneys. When and if Monica Goodling and Harriet Meirs testify, Alberto Gonzales and Karl Rove will be ducking behind their skirts to escape blame for the Justice Department fiasco.
Wrongdoing is one area in which the Bushies are equal opportunity employers.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Gonzales and J. Edgar Hoover
The fired U.S. Attorney melodrama heads toward a climax this week with the testimony of Monica Goodling, the President once again reaffirms his faith in “Al,” and an off-the-wall suspicion rears its head.
Half a century ago, despite growing evidence of his malfeasance, J. Edgar Hoover managed to hang on to his job as director of the FBI by blackmailing the Presidents who could fire him. He knew where the bodies were buried.
As conventional wisdom keeps reiterating Bush’s loyalty to the man who has served him so long and well, going back to getting him off jury duty without disclosing his drunk-driving record, the question arises: What if bland-looking Alberto Gonzales is benefiting, consciously or not, from what J. Edgar Hoover ruthlessly used?
On the surface, there is no resemblance between mild-mannered Gonzales and the bulldog Hoover, but the grandson of illegal immigrants has made clear his pride in what he has accomplished. If that is taken away from him, how would he react?
Gonzales has been loyally protecting Bush and his attack dog, Rove, by pleading faulty memory in the firing of the prosecutors. If the White House is forced to throw the faithful old retainer to the wolves, could his recollection suddenly improve? Gonzales may not be asking that question, but it almost surely has occurred to his benefactor.
In the Washington power game, the moves hardly ever change. Are we seeing a new variation of a classic standoff? Just asking.
Half a century ago, despite growing evidence of his malfeasance, J. Edgar Hoover managed to hang on to his job as director of the FBI by blackmailing the Presidents who could fire him. He knew where the bodies were buried.
As conventional wisdom keeps reiterating Bush’s loyalty to the man who has served him so long and well, going back to getting him off jury duty without disclosing his drunk-driving record, the question arises: What if bland-looking Alberto Gonzales is benefiting, consciously or not, from what J. Edgar Hoover ruthlessly used?
On the surface, there is no resemblance between mild-mannered Gonzales and the bulldog Hoover, but the grandson of illegal immigrants has made clear his pride in what he has accomplished. If that is taken away from him, how would he react?
Gonzales has been loyally protecting Bush and his attack dog, Rove, by pleading faulty memory in the firing of the prosecutors. If the White House is forced to throw the faithful old retainer to the wolves, could his recollection suddenly improve? Gonzales may not be asking that question, but it almost surely has occurred to his benefactor.
In the Washington power game, the moves hardly ever change. Are we seeing a new variation of a classic standoff? Just asking.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Blonde Loyalty to Bush
Is there something in the White House water that deprives young women of free will and at the same time lightens their hair color?
The question is raised by Senate testimony today of Sara Taylor, following on recent public performances by Monica Goodling and Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino.
In answering some and evading other questions by the Judiciary Committee, Ms. Taylor showed a familiar undeviating loyalty to the Bush Administration and its master political chemist Karl Rove while navigating the narrows between perjury and contempt of Congress.
Pressuring the former White House political director, Democrats have a perception problem of their own, the risk of old pols appearing to bully a sincere young woman into betraying her former bosses.
"Having worked most of her adult life for President Bush,” her attorney wrote to the committee beforehand, “she is unquestionably loyal to the president. If there is to be a clash, we urge the Senate to direct its sanction against the White House, not against a former staffer."
It appears that Sen. Leahy et al will get very little help from Ms. Taylor. If they want the truth about the U.S. Attorney firing scandal, it will take a legal battle about executive privilege to get Rove’s testimony under oath.
Meanwhile, watching Ms. Taylor today evokes speculation about how different Paris Hilton’s life might be today if she had applied for a White House internship.
The question is raised by Senate testimony today of Sara Taylor, following on recent public performances by Monica Goodling and Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino.
In answering some and evading other questions by the Judiciary Committee, Ms. Taylor showed a familiar undeviating loyalty to the Bush Administration and its master political chemist Karl Rove while navigating the narrows between perjury and contempt of Congress.
Pressuring the former White House political director, Democrats have a perception problem of their own, the risk of old pols appearing to bully a sincere young woman into betraying her former bosses.
"Having worked most of her adult life for President Bush,” her attorney wrote to the committee beforehand, “she is unquestionably loyal to the president. If there is to be a clash, we urge the Senate to direct its sanction against the White House, not against a former staffer."
It appears that Sen. Leahy et al will get very little help from Ms. Taylor. If they want the truth about the U.S. Attorney firing scandal, it will take a legal battle about executive privilege to get Rove’s testimony under oath.
Meanwhile, watching Ms. Taylor today evokes speculation about how different Paris Hilton’s life might be today if she had applied for a White House internship.
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