Democrats Fail Again, Mukasey Steps Up

Hey folks,

Once again, the Dems have failed. Actually twice.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After months of stalemate, the Senate late Tuesday passed a huge government spending bill that includes billions of dollars requested by President Bush to continue the war in Iraq.

The roughly $555 billion bill -- which passed 76-17 -- also preserves thousands of earmarks for lawmakers who will deliver them to constituents just in time for the holidays.

The final vote came at about 11 p.m. ET Tuesday -- after hours of debate that included two more attempts by Senate Democrats to tie war funding to a plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.

Those efforts failed, as have dozens of others in the House and Senate since Democrats took control of Congress last year.

Dozens? Try just about EVERYTHING. What is the count now? like 40 attempts to end the war? I told you they would cave on this and do the right thing. But they HAVE to put on this show for the Loons out there who make up the majority of their base. It was Showtime again, but in the end, they funded the troops and the war.

Then you have this. Mukasey is stepping up. Doing the right thing. Yet the LWL {Left Wing Loonies and some in the Main Stream Media will NOT like this. I think it's about time.

You know, EVERY job I have EVER had, there has been a standard rule. NO ONE, but those designated by the powers that be, talk to the Press. NO ONE. If you did, you were gone. Why? One reason is, if the Press is fishing for information, for the most part, they are NOT friends. They do NOT have YOUR best interests in mind. Believe me, I learned a long time ago, they can do a three page story on "No comment."

So according to the AP - Mukasey to restrict case discussions

By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer
Wed Dec 19, 8:15 PM ET

The Justice Department on Wednesday limited the number of its employees who can discuss investigations with the White House, seeking to end any political meddling in sensitive cases.

About time. But I can hear it now. "What are they trying to hide? More evidence of questionable doings by Bush. They are covering stuff up." ETC.

The change rolls back a more lax policy, set under former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, that critics said allowed hundreds of Justice Department and White House workers to communicate about topics that only a few people should have handled.

In a memo Wednesday to department lawyers, Attorney General Michael Mukasey said that only he and his deputy attorney general can initiate conversations with the White House about civil and most criminal cases — and then only to the president's counsel and deputy counsel. Only cases deemed necessary to the president's duties can be discussed, Mukasey said.

"This limitation recognizes the president's ability to perform his constitutional obligation to 'take care that the laws be faithfully executed' while ensuring that there is public confidence that the laws of the United States are administered and enforced in an impartial manner," Mukasey wrote in the two-page memo.

GOOD! Like I said, about time. This is standard practice with MOST companies. So why would it NOT be standard for the White House?

After initial conversations, the attorney general or deputy attorney general can designate aides to continue the discussions when needed, Mukasey wrote. "In all such circumstances, this designation will be limited to the fewest number of people practicable," he wrote.

And in some rare cases, the associate attorney general and solicitor general — the department's No. 3 and 4 officials, respectively — can discuss civil lawsuits or legal appeals with the White House without first running it through their bosses, Mukasey wrote.

Could CREW and the idiotic Lawsuit of dates and times of Religious Leaders have anything to do with this? I bet you it does.

The memo did not limit the discussions about national security cases, however, which Mukasey said should not be slowed by a bureaucratic approval process. He had promised the new policy shortly after he was nominated as attorney general in September.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who sought the changes, said Mukasey's policy was "a clear, unmistakable and welcome repudiation of the Gonzales era."

Absolutely.

"This change takes a significant step toward restoring Americans' confidence in the integrity of our justice system," said Whitehouse, D-R.I., a former U.S. attorney.

For the critics out there, get this.

During President Clinton's two terms, discussions of sensitive cases were restricted to six people — two at Justice and four at the White House. In 2002, a year after President Bush took office, the number of people was greatly expanded — to what Whitehouse estimated to be 417 White House staff members and 42 Justice Department employees.

This IS the right thing to do. I'm glad to see Mukasey stepping up here. Maybe this will end some of the stupidity of everyone knowing what is going on at all times. Maybe instead of having to defend everything in public, these cases and idiocies will be handled where they SHOULD be, in court.

Peter

Sources:
CNN- Senate passes budget bill that includes Iraq war funding
AP - Mukasey to restrict case discussions