Rove's Justice Department

Word continues to get out about how Rove's White House operation attempted to damage or derail Democrats before and during elections, using the Justice Department as its tool. The latest evidence comes from a Rethug political operative, who says that an investigation of former Democratic Governor Don Siegelman of Alabama was accelerated by the U.S. attorney's office at the White House's insistence. The heat was turned up on Gov. Siegelman after a meeting of the prosecutors with Rove's office, and right before his reelection bid. If anyone thinks the Bush Assministration wasn't trying to subvert the electoral process (remind you of Florida in 2000?), there's a bridge for sale in Brooklyn.

Cheney: "Nothing To See Here, Move Along"

Unsurprisingly, "Vice" President Dead Eye Dick Cheney thinks the Congressional inquiries into the U.S. Attorney scandal are simply a "witch hunt." He wants the inquiries terminated, no doubt, because Congress is on to something, namely the use of Federal prosecutors in a partisan plan to pursue the Assministration's political enemies and to lay off on fellow Rethugs and corporate buddies. He also gives Gonzo a pat on the back as a "good man and good friend." These two belong in a jail cell together.

"The breadcrumbs. . .have always led to 1600 Pennsylvania"

Subpoenas have been issued by the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to compel the testimony of former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and Political Director Sara Taylor regarding the U.S Attorney scandal, it's being reported. There is growing evidence that the Presidunce's brain, Rove, through the Justice Department, put pressure on U.S. attorneys to come up with "investigations" of bogus voter fraud by Democratic officials, and to avoid prosecution of Rethug politicians, around election time. House Committee chairman John Conyers put it this way: "The breadcrumbs in this investigation have always led to 1600 Pennsylvania." The White House will claim executive privilege in trying to block their testimony. They know that this use of the Justice Department was an attempt to subvert the elections, and they'll go down spinning.

Voter Supression, Rethug-Style

Much of the controversy over the U.S. attorney firings involved their supposed lack of initiative in pressing "voter fraud" cases. In the Rethuglican political lexicon, "voter fraud" is permitting poor and minority citizens to vote Democratic. Greg Gordon, writing for the McClatchy Newspapers, has an excellent report on their strategy in the last election. It's becoming clear that, had the Justice Department not publically fumbled the firings, this strategy would have been in operation in the 2008 elections to try to stem Rethuglican defeats. Key passage:

"For six years, the Bush Administration, aided by Justice Department political appointees, has pursued an aggressive legal effort to restrict voter turnout in key battleground states in ways that favor Republican political candidates. The administration intensified its efforts last year as President Bush's popularity and Republican support eroded heading into a midterm battle for control of Congress. . ."