Political Bulletin

WASHINGTON NEWS

US Attorneys Story Sparks Media Frenzy

Media coverage of the controversy surrounding the dismissal of eight US attorneys took a new turn yesterday, following the release of documents that suggest that White House officials played a key role in the prosecutors' firing. News outlets, in reports that were almost universally negative toward the Administration, alternated their focus between analyzing the White House's role and tallying the mounting criticism of Attorney General Gonzales. The Wall Street Journal reports, "Emails between White House aides and...Gonzales's chief of staff show an orchestrated effort to fire several US attorneys, counter to Mr. Gonzales's previous assertions that the firings weren't instigated by the White House." The newly released documents, says the Los Angeles Times, "offer an extraordinary look at political tactics within the Bush administration, and show the White House working closely with the Justice Department to justify the firings. The administration even adopted contingency plans for how to 'quiet' anyone who complained." McClatchy notes the White House memos "include a five-step plan for executing the dismissals and dealing the anticipated political firestorm." McClatchy also says that Justice officials "discussed the prospects for" Rove aide Tim Griffin who was appointed U.S. attorney for Arkansas. Kyle Sampson, former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, "wondered whether Griffin was 'the guy on which to test drive this authority, but I know that getting him appointed was important to Harriet, Karl, etc.'" Sen. Charles Schumer, on MSNBC's Hardball said, "Gonzales' chief of staff has admitted firing U.S. attorneys for political reasons. It's very, very hard to believe that the chief of staff did something so major, something that was never done before, and the Attorney General didn't know it."

The New York Times, in it's front page piece, reports that Congressional Democrats, "demanded" that President Bush and Karl Rove "explain their roles in the dismissals." The White House "insisted that the president's role had been minimal and laid the blame primarily on" former White House counsel Harriet Miers, who suggested firing every US Attorney after President Bush's reelection. And The Hill says that Senate Judiciary chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy "listed several witnesses whom he plans to question publicly," including Gonzales and Sampson, as well as Rove and Miers.

The New York Times notes "several leading Republicans -- among them Senators Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, John Ensign of Nevada, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and George V. Voinovich of Ohio -- said Tuesday that they...had concerns" about Gonzales' handling of the issue, with McClatchy and Wall Street Journal noting similar GOP criticism and USA Today reporting on "a wave of criticism of the administration on Capitol Hill."

The Washington Post's Dana Milbank claims Gonzales, who held a press conference yesterday, "faced the cameras for all of nine minutes yesterday, but he managed to contradict himself." The opinion pages this morning are no kinder to the Attorney General, or to Bush: The Washington Post's Ruth Marcus writes, "Is there anyone left -- seriously, is there a Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee -- who has confidence in Gonzales's capacity to fix this mess?" The Los Angeles Times in an editorial titled, "Blame Bush, Not Gonzales," writes, "Don't blame [Gonzales] for the lack of principled leadership at the Justice Department. Blame his boss. President Bush appointed a man clearly unqualified for the job." The New York Times editorializes, "We wish we'd been surprised to learn that the White House was deeply involved in the politically motivated firing of eight United States attorneys, but the news had the unmistakable whiff of inevitability." The Washington Post says that although the administration "is entitled to prosecutors who reflect its policies and carry out its priorities. It is not entitled to treat federal prosecutors like political pawns -- nor is it entitled, any longer, to the benefit of the doubt about the propriety of its conduct."

  "Mistakes Were Made" Line Thrills Media All three networks led with in-depth reports on the controversy last night, and this morning's major dailies are devoting their front pages to the story. And in an apparent attempt to tie this current controversy to political scandals of the past namely comments by Nixon officials during Watergate -- the New York Times, Washington Post, Financial Times and Los Angeles Times all run headlines that include Gonzales' passive acknowledgement that "mistakes were made."

White House Defends Itself Responding to the growing scandal, the White House insists that the fired prosecutors' failure to probe allegations of voter fraud spurred firings. However, the White House's line is getting little media play. According to the Washington Post, White House officials said President Bush "mentioned" to Gonzales in October "that he had heard complaints from Congress that some federal prosecutors were lax in pursuing voter fraud."

Meanwhile, White House counsel Dan Bartlett appeared on MSNBC's Hardball, where he maintained that "the decision to remove these seven US attorneys was made at the Justice Department. They were made on an individual basis based on a totality of evidence from a management standpoint. And we stand by those decisions. ... The role that the White House played was not...to craft a list or to add or subtract from the list, but the ultimately sign off on the list. And that's an appropriate role for...the White House to play." The Washington Post claims the White House response "underscores the inexperience of a White House accustomed to having its own party in control on Capitol Hill."

Were The Firings Unprecedented? McClatchy, in an unattributed analysis piece, contends this morning that though Bush defenders "like to point out that" the current President isn't the first one "to fire US attorneys and replace them with loyalists," the "current case is different. ... Prosecutors are usually appointed for four-year terms, but they are usually allowed to stay on the job if the president who appointed them is re-elected." Likewise, the Los Angeles Times runs a "Question and Answer" feature on the controversy in which one of the questions is "Are US attorneys regularly removed from office at the direction of the White House?" The answer provided is "No."

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal, in an editorial, reminds its readers that former Attorney General Janet Reno "simultaneously fired all 93 US Attorneys in March 1993. ... At the time, Jay Stephens, then U.S. Attorney in Chicago, was investigating then Ways and Means Chairman Dan Rostenkowski, and was 'within 30 days' of making a decision on an indictment. ... By dismissing all 93 U.S. Attorneys at once, the Clintons conveniently cleared the decks to appoint 'Friend of Bill' Paula Casey as the U.S. Attorney for Little Rock. Ms. Casey never did bring any big Whitewater indictments."

Anti-War Liberals Take Pelosi To Task

Leaders of the Democratic "Out of Iraq" caucus confronted Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday on the issue of her Iraq plan, in what the New York Times calls "soul-searching discussions" in the Democratic fold. Democratic leaders, however, told the Times "they were confident they were making progress in building a majority" for their proposal to fund the President's "surge" while setting a conditional pullout deadline. The AP offered a less positive view of the Democrats' debate, reporting "tempers flared" as Pelosi "fielded criticism from an anti-war congresswoman over liberals' concern that the party is not doing enough to end the war."

As the debate draws near, there are conflicting reports on whether House Democratic leaders will pressure members to toe the party line. The Hill says the Democratic leaders "will not whip the Iraq supplemental spending bill, on grounds they don't want to apply political pressure on a matter of war and peace." But another AP story reports House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said, "We're going to be whipping and counting votes, and I think we're going to get the votes."

Senate GOP Won't Block Debate Meanwhile, The Hill reports the Senate is "slated to vote today on invoking cloture" to end debate "on a Democratic-backed resolution setting a March 2008 deadline for completing troop withdrawal from Iraq." Majority Leader Harry Reid "declined to set a benchmark for success, noting that 11 Republicans would need to support the binding Iraq measure in order to begin debate." But the New York Times says that "in a shift of strategy, Republicans announced Tuesday that they would not exercise their rights to block consideration of the measure. Several Republican leaders said they would relish the debate, which they said would highlight the flaws and dangers of what they asserted was Democratic 'micromanagement' of the war."

That doesn't mean Republicans will allow the bill to pass: The Washington Times says Senate Republicans they "likely will kill the bill with a filibuster if they remain dissatisfied with the legislation or if Democrats refuse a broader debate of Iraq policy," according to Don Stewart, spokesman for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Meanwhile, Roll Call reports Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia have "quietly entered into talks on the possibility of drafting a new bipartisan resolution addressing the Iraq War despite growing pressure from GOP and Democratic leadership to maintain party loyalty in the increasingly partisan debate, sources close to the issue said." The possibility of "a new Warner-Nelson bipartisan resolution appeared to catch senior leadership aides in both camps off guard."

Pelosi Booed At AIPAC Conference The Hill reports this morning members of the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee booed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday at their annual conference "after she said that the Iraq war has been a failure on several scores." The boos, "mixed with polite applause, contrasted starkly with the reception House Minority Leader John Boehner received minutes earlier" when he said the US "had no choice but to win in Iraq."

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Pace Doesn't Apologize

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, published yesterday, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, expressed his personal view that homosexuality is "immoral." The remarks sparked an outcry from gay activists, Democrats and GOP Sen. John Warner, a former secretary of the Navy. In response, says today's Chicago Tribune, Pace "expressed mild regret Tuesday for voicing his belief that homosexual acts are 'immoral,' but he stopped short of an apology." In a statement, Pace said, "In expressing my support for the current policy, I also offered some personal opinions about moral conduct. ... I should have focused more on my support of the policy and less on my personal moral views." But "that statement did not mollify critics who called the general's statements insensitive and outrageous and said he should apologize." Weighing in against Pace this morning are the editorial pages of the Washington Post and USA Today, and also former GOP Sen. Alan Simpson, who in a Washington Post op-ed relates that he has changed his mind of the issue of gays in the military since voting for the current policy in 1993.

Pace's comments have reopened a debate over the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Fox News' Special Report reported Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi "said the military should carefully consider changing its policy." Pelosi was shown saying, "We need the most talented people. We need patriotic Americans. We do not need a moral judgment from the chairman of the joint chiefs." Fox noted Pelosi "failed to point out that the military policy emanates from a law passed by Congress." The New York Times, Financial Times, AP and USA Today survey the renewed debate, with USA reporting that "during an interview on the Pentagon Channel," Defense Secretary Bob Gates "declined to give his opinion on the current military policy."

The Washington Post reports, "The number of homosexuals discharged from the U.S. military under the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy dropped significantly in 2006, according to Pentagon figures released yesterday -- continuing a sharp decline since the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts began and leading critics to charge that the military is retaining gay men and lesbians because it needs them in a time of war." The Washington Times, meanwhile, notes "the furor around Gen. Pace, who is Roman Catholic, came on the same day that Pope Benedict XVI called on Catholic politicians 'to introduce and support laws inspired by values grounded in human nature.'"

Senate Defying Veto Threat On 9/11 Bill

In a 60-38 vote, the Senate yesterday passed an anti-terror bill that that includes recommendations from the 9/11 commission. The measure has drawn a veto threat because is expands union rights for airport screeners. The Washington Times notes GOP Sen. Judd Gregg, arguing the Administration's case, "said collective-bargaining rights for airport security screeners would be akin to allowing unions in the military." The New York Times reports that "bolstering the veto threat, Senator Jim DeMint, Republican of South Carolina, sent a letter to the White House last month signed by 35 other Republican senators who said they were prepared to sustain a presidential veto." The AP and Washington Post also report on the Senate action.

Democrats' Budget Doesn't Roll Back Tax Cuts

USA Today reports Senate Democrats "will unveil a 2008 budget today that would boost spending for uninsured children, students and veterans without cutting funds for defense or the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." The budget "would not roll back any of President Bush's tax cuts after 2010, when they are set to expire. It says the tax cuts can be extended if they are paid for." The budget is "notable for what it would not do, despite Democrats' attacks: reduce Bush's war spending or tax cuts." The New York Times says that the Democrats' blueprint "would reject...Bush's spending cuts for health care and education, would keep taxes low and would eliminate the deficit by 2012. There is only one catch: they cannot say where all the money will come from." The "most costly initiative would be to keep taxes low." The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal run similar stories.

Bush 41 Jokes About Fainting Spell

The CBS Evening News reported last night about "former President Bush fainting on the golf course over the weekend. In Los Angeles last night, he showed he's still in good health and good humor." George HW Bush was shown saying, "And the ugliest part was my dear friend from Las Vegas, Sid Rogich, was giving me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. I had about six beautiful girls there, and there was Sid doing his part."

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CAMPAIGN NEWS

Clinton Says Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy Still Alive

The AP reports Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday "described past Republican political malfeasance in New Hampshire as evidence of a 'vast, right-wing conspiracy.'" The comment "revived a term she coined for the partisan plotting during her husband's presidential tenure and echoed remarks she made last weekend in New Hampshire, which holds the nation's first primary." The Washington Post reports that in remarks to "the National League of Cities yesterday, Clinton said the 2002 phone-jamming scandal in New Hampshire, in which two Republicans pleaded guilty to seeking to block Democratic get-out-the-vote calls on Election Day, was yet more evidence of a coordinated national effort by GOPers to influence elections by any means necessary." Clinton "first uttered that famous phrase in 1998 in response to rumors -- which wound up being true -- regarding President Bill Clinton's relationship with a former White House intern named Monica Lewinsky."

Giuliani Scores, McCain Flops With Conservative Group

Roll Call reports that Rudy Giuliani "may find an unlikely ally for his 2008 presidential bid" in the fiscally conservative Club for Growth. Roll Call adds that this is "the first White House contest in which the conservative anti-tax group expects to play a role in the GOP primary process, and it has released three 'white papers' so far detailing the economic records of a trio of Republican hopefuls." While the group's "distaste for Sen. John McCain (R) was made plain in the white paper it released Tuesday detailing the Arizonan's record, [Club for Growth] had kind words for Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R), who rounds out the trio of top-tier GOP contenders." The Hill adds that the group yesterday "cautioned" against electing McCain president.

Meanwhile, Jason Horowitz writes in the New York Observer that the Giuliani campaign is talking up his record as NYC mayor rather than running away from it. Horowitz writes, "If you support Rudy Giuliani, here's what his campaign wants you to talk about: Mr. Giuliani had success as Mayor in lowering the number of crimes. He weened people from welfare. And he lowered taxes. The information comes from a letter sent out by the Giuliani campaign to supporters: an easy-to-digest single sheet of talking points entitled 'the Rudy record by the numbers.'" The memo is set to be delivered across the country to Giuliani backers.

McCain Hits GOP Congress On Excesses

Campaigning in California yesterday, Sen. John McCain blamed corruption and spending for the GOP defeats in 2006. The Riverside (CA) Press-Enterprise quotes McCain saying, "I hope they've learned the lessons that the American people are sick and tired of this incredible waste of tax dollars. We Republicans came to power in 1994 to change government, and government changed us. And that's why we lost the election: We began to value power over principle." The San Bernardino (CA) County Sun (3/14, Watson) reports that McCain said, "We need to reform. We need to veto spending bills and we need to stop the earmarking and pork-barrel spending, and I am committed to that."

Pennsylvania May Join National Primary

February 5 of next year is looking more and more like it will be national primary day. With more than 20 states already looking to hold their primaries that day, the AP reports this morning that Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) said yesterday that he wants his state to move its primary up 11 weeks to that date. Rendell said, "It is manifestly unfair that Pennsylvania and its voters, who arguably are among the two or three most important states in determining the outcome of November's presidential election, have virtually no say in choosing the respective parties' nominees because our primary is so late." However, the state GOP and local officials (who would have to fund the election) are opposed to the move.

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POLITICAL HUMOR

The Latest From Late Night Comedians

Jay Leno: "Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is coming under scrutiny for firing eight US attorneys, apparently for political reasons, at the request of the White House. Yeah. Things are looking so bad for Gonzales right now, he might have to shave his head and go into rehab."

Jay Leno: "Let me tell you, see, [if] you want to get rid of attorneys, you don't use Gonzales, you bring in Dick Cheney."

David Letterman: "President Bush...is in Mexico. It's all part of his program 'No Margarita Left Behind.'"

Conan O'Brien: "President Bush was in Mexico today. And he met with Mexican President Calderon to talk about immigration issues. That's right. Yeah. Unfortunately, things were cut short when during the meeting, President Calderon immigrated to California."

Conan O'Brien: "While in Mexico, true story, President Bush visited the ruins of an ancient Mayan city. That's right. Yeah. And there was an awkward moment when Bush said, 'We will get the evildoers who did this.'"

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