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April 27, 2007
And The Hits Just Keep On Coming
It's widely known in American politics that second terms for U.S. presidents are often beset by scandal -- think Watergate, Iran Contra, Monica -- you get the picture. But this is getting ridiculous folks.
Just a few days after the LA Times broke the story of a new investigation into the Bush administration's "improper political influence over government decision making", we are hit with a new trifecta of breaking stories.
First, Republican Congressman Rick Renzi of Arizona, who has been in the news in recent days over a possible improper land deal, denied rumors Friday that his resignation from the House is imminent. Renzi may not quite be warm in the center yet, but this roast is about done. Interesting, but sadly a bit "de rigeur" these days.
Next we learn that Robert E. Coughlin II, a Justice Department deputy chief of staff in the criminal division overseeing the investigation of disgraced and convicted GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff, has resigned his post because of his possible connection to... you guessed it, Jack Abramoff. Ouch.
Finally, late tonight comes word that Randall Tobias, the Bush administration's head of foreign aid programs -- USAID -- "abruptly resigned after his name surfaced in an investigation into a high-priced call girl ring..." You've gotta be kidding.
Remember folks, this was the administration that was to restore "honor and dignity" to the White House. Right... nothing more dignified than a perp walk.
Posted by houtopia at 11:24 PM
April 24, 2007
Luck Running Out?
It probably isn't much fun to be Karl Rove these days. Now 6 months after the midterm election which left his grand strategy to create a permanent Republican majority in tatters, Rove's boss has job approval ratings stuck in the Nixonian mid-thirties, and each week seems to bring a new scandal to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. One important feature of Democrats' newly regained control of Congress is the ability to hold investigations and subpoena witnesses, and they are using it, which can't make life easy inside the White House.
Of course, some investigations began well before the Democrats took back Congress; we all remember the mess surrounding disgraced -- and now convicted -- lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and who could forget special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's work in the Valerie Plame spy outing case, for which Scooter Libby took the fall? Apparently, Rove himself narrowly escaped indictment from Fitzgerald. He appeared three times before the grand jury before Fitzgerald finally declined to charge him last year. It seemed the always careful Rove had once again insulated himself from legal jeopardy, despite heavy suspicion of his involvement in leaking Plame's classified identity to the press.
Don't breathe easy just yet Karl -- it seems you've got more trouble coming. In today's LA Times, Tom Hamburger reports that the White House's Office of Special Counsel is "launching a broad investigation into key elements of the White House political operation that for more than six years have been headed by chief strategist Karl Rove."
Uh-oh. This could be a problem, and isn't even one of those "Democrat witch hunts" that Tom DeLay so loves to complain about; it's coming from within the administration. Office of Special Counsel head (and Bush appointee) Scott J. Bloch pledged not to "leave any stone unturned." Et tu, Scott?
Apparently the investigation will center on "improper political influence over government decision-making". It's about time.
Posted by houtopia at 08:45 AM
April 19, 2007
The Bank
From Phil de Vellis, the guy who brought you the "Hillary 1984" ad viewed widely on You Tube, comes his latest oeuvre -- The Bank. Paul Wolfowitz must be overjoyed. Thanks to Politico for the tip.
Check it out.
Posted by houtopia at 09:03 PM
A Nice Little Chat
After being a granted a two-day reprieve due to the tragic events at Virginia Tech University earlier in the week, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appeared for a friendly little chat before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The subject? Gonzales' role (or lack thereof in his view) in the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys.
William Branigin has the rundown late this afternoon in the Washington Post.
Mr. Gonzales, conveniently, suffered from numerous memory lapses upon being questioned by senators from both parties. While his testimony demonstrated contrition (Gonzales apologized for his mistakes and the poor treatment of the fired attorneys), he balked at repeated calls for his resignation. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) criticized the AG's incompetent handling of the U.S. attorney matter, and pressed him to quit. Gonzales wouldn't budge, however, claiming he would only step down if he could no longer be effective. Hmm... not sure what Gonzo's standard for ineffectiveness could be, but in our view he crossed that threshold long ago.
So, Gonzales' enemies are gunning for him, from the left and the right (which has never liked or trusted him, and sees an opening to take him down), but the boss is sticking with him for the moment. President Bush, ever consistent, hasn't let the legion calls for his staff's hides move him in the past (remember Don Rumsfeld?), so why should this time be any different?
Equally interesting, and mentioned at the end of Branigin's piece, is what will come of the revelation that Karl Rove "accidentally" deleted an enormous number of emails from a several-year period, an act that appears illegal on its face.
To us the notion that Rove, a master political tactician, would do any such thing accidentally strains credibility, to put it mildly. We shall see.
Posted by houtopia at 07:47 PM
April 10, 2007
Trying To Pull A Fast One
With all the activity surrounding each biennial session of the Texas Legislature, it is easy to overlook seemingly minor pieces of legislation; legislation which might have more than minor consequences. Lawmakers often try to fly bills through -- during the heat of the battle -- under the radar. Such legislation might benefit constituents, contributors, an ideological agenda, or friends and family.
The 2007 legislative session is no different, and one current piece of pending legislation, if passed, could have some interesting implications here in Harris County. State House member Dwayne Bohac, who represents District 138 in the Spring Branch area, has filed a joint resolution changing the "resign to run" requirements for county or district elected officials seeking another elected office.
Current law says that a county elected official who has a year or more remaining on his or her unexpired term, must resign that position immediately upon becoming a candidate for another office. Representative Bohac's legislation would extend that requirement by 60 days, meaning the official would have to resign to run if more than 14 months remained on the current term, rather than twelve.
What, you may ask, is the difference? Well, consider that the Legislature is now seriously considering joining several other big states in moving Texas' 2008 presidential primary up to February 5th. If that happens, candidate filing dates for party primaries would likely be moved up to November 2007, 14 months before January 2009, when certain county officials' terms expire.
One Harris County elected official -- Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt -- has skin in this game. His term expires in January 2009, and he has expressed interest in seeking another office -- U.S. Congress. Under current law, if the primary and filing dates get moved up, he would have to quit his current position to run for something else. That means no salary.
So why not get your fellow Republican pal in the Lege to carry a change that let's you keep your taxpayer-funded job, and campaign for another office? Wonder what other GOP contenders for the 22nd Congressional District think about that?
We find it especially delicious that Bettencourt, the self-annointed (and nauseatingly self-righteous) defender of taxpayer rights wants the Harris County ratepayers to float him while he tries to further his political career. Once again, "conservative" candidates reveal what's really behind their rhetoric on fiscal responsibility. Laughable.
http://www.tax.co.harris.tx.us/welcome.asp
Posted by houtopia at 03:26 PM
April 04, 2007
Obama-rama
Running for president in today's American media circus is a wild ride, to say the least. So much of the contest, particularly so long before anyone actually votes, is managing the expectations game among media and political insiders. While most Americans have given little thought to whom they will elect, either as their party's nominee, or in the November 2008 general election, the media/insider campaign has been churning for months.
This week, of course, offered a first solid indication (polls are pretty meaningless at this early date) of where the candidates' campaigns stand. Money, as they say, talks, and some candidates are speaking more loudly than others this week, as each campaign has released its fundraising totals for the first quarter of 2007.
New York Senator (and presumed early frontrunner) Hillary Clinton burst out first on the Democratic side, reporting on Monday an enormous $26 million first quarter, shattering previous comparable totals for either party. Mitt Romney led the GOP field, with an impressive $21 million showing, while Republican frontrunner John McCain took a hit by running third in the fundraising race. John Edwards raised a very respectable $15 million for his effort. Conspicuously absent from the early week's discusssion, however, was a total from Democratic newcomer Barack Obama.
In a masterful political stroke, Obama has gotten the last word. Today his campaign announced it had nearly matched Clinton's astounding total, raising $25 million of its own in the first quarter. Nearly $7 million of his total came online, and Obama boasts an enormous 100,000 contributors -- double Clinton's number.
Team Clinton is likely sweating a bit today, as well they should. They've got a real fight on their hands.
Posted by houtopia at 10:47 AM