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Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

APR 07, 2007 10:31 AM

Alberto Gonzales couldn’t manage his way out of a paper bag. In fact, his administrative abilities are so poor that the entirety of his staff seems to be either on their way out or incompetent or both. Were he the lead key at Jack In The Box, this would be bad. But Big Al’s the Attorney General of the United States and head of the Department of Justice. So it becomes a bit bigger issue.

First Alberto fired eight US Attorneys for political reasons. Then his chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, resigned amidst the furor. Sampson then testified under oath that his boss was lying about the firings. Now comes a double human resources headache for Big Al.

First came the news that four Assistant US Attorneys in Minnesota took a voluntary demotion rather than work with one of his toadies.

It’s a major shakeup at the offices of new U.S. Attorney Rachel Paulose. Four of her top staff voluntarily demoted themselves Thursday, fed up with Paulose, who, after just months on the job, has earned a reputation for quoting Bible verses and dressing down underlings.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marti is just one of the people dropping themselves in rank to simply a U.S. Attorney position. Also making the move are the heads of Paulose’s criminal and civil divisions, James Lackner and Erica Mozangue, respectively. All three, according to a spokeswoman for Paulose, have "decided to go back to being prosecutors."

Reportedly, the office's top administrator, Tim Anderson, also has given up his management role.

The move is intended to send a message to Washington – that 33-year-old Paulose is in over her head.


Well, we know how good the Bush Administration is at getting messages! I’m sure they’ll take the hint.

While Paulose has not yet been implicated directly in the firing scandal (yet), she’s certainly got some strong connections to it.

She was a special assistant to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, worked as a senior counsel for deputy attorney general Paul McNulty and is best buds with Monica Goodling – the assistant U.S. Attorney who recently took the Fifth rather than testify before Congress.


Which brings us to Fun Big Al Managerial Story #2 for the day. The aforementioned Goodling just resigned. Boy, does he know how to pick ‘em!

Goodling was among the senior Justice Department officials who participated in meetings and e-mail exchanges about the planned dismissals. She went on paid leave as the controversy grew.

In a brief letter to Gonzales, Goodling gave no reason for her resignation but said it would be effective Saturday.

"I am hereby submitting my resignation to the Office of the Attorney General, effective April 7, 2007. It has been an honor to have served at the Department of Justice for the past five years," Goodling wrote.

"May God bless you richly as you continue your service to America," she wrote in the letter.


Yes, Alberto. May God bless you richly as you continue your shitty, shitty service to America. Amen.

Horrorflick

Horrorflick

Detroit, MI
February 2003

APR 07, 2007 10:46 AM

Just shows you what "outsourcing" your government does for you. (Didn't the current administration make such a big deal out of him being the "son of migrant workers" and all that horseshit?) He is such a complete douche. (I don't have anything against "migrant" workers, but I do so love to see this administration bite itself in the ass, again and again, even if I'm on the receiving end of it!) This whole administration is the boss' son who works over you just because he has a pulse and is related to the boss. (I used to work at a bookstore where the fucktard offspring of the people who owned it worked there, he tried to tell me what to do (I ignored him most of the time) while sneaking porn out of there on a regular basis!)

ericwine

ericwine

Charlotte Hall, MD
January 2007

APR 07, 2007 10:52 AM

Gonzales is definitely over his head as AG. He should've stayed on the Texas Supreme Court instead of following Bush to DC. More of the general incompetence that pemeates the Administration. surreal

cunninglinquist

cunninglinquist

Quakertown, PA
November 2003

APR 07, 2007 12:03 PM

no it is the rats jumping off the burning ship

malkav11

malkav11

Saint Paul, MN
July 2003

APR 07, 2007 12:08 PM

Subrosa said:
First came the news that four Assistant US Attorneys in Minnesota took a voluntary demotion rather than work with one of his toadies.



It's this sort of thing that makes me think maybe I *can* tolerate the god-awful climate.

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

APR 07, 2007 12:13 PM

malkav11 said:

Subrosa said:
First came the news that four Assistant US Attorneys in Minnesota took a voluntary demotion rather than work with one of his toadies.



It's this sort of thing that makes me think maybe I *can* tolerate the god-awful climate.



It's the bluest state in the union!

zoom image

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

APR 07, 2007 12:20 PM

Subrosa said:

malkav11 said:

Subrosa said:
First came the news that four Assistant US Attorneys in Minnesota took a voluntary demotion rather than work with one of his toadies.



It's this sort of thing that makes me think maybe I *can* tolerate the god-awful climate.



It's the bluest state in the union!

zoom image


You betcha!

malkav11

malkav11

Saint Paul, MN
July 2003

APR 07, 2007 12:30 PM

Subrosa said:

malkav11 said:

Subrosa said:
First came the news that four Assistant US Attorneys in Minnesota took a voluntary demotion rather than work with one of his toadies.



It's this sort of thing that makes me think maybe I *can* tolerate the god-awful climate.



It's the bluest state in the union!

zoom image



What they don't tell you is that the blue is from frostbite.

skeptik

skeptik

New Orleans, LA
February 2004

APR 07, 2007 12:32 PM

You mean it's not from the balls?

darwinsjoke

darwinsjoke

Virginia Beach, VA
July 2003

APR 07, 2007 12:32 PM

Minor quibble, Abu Gonzales didn't fire the USA's because the authority to hire and fire them rests with our dear leader, who appointed them. Our dear leader may have delegated that authority to Abu but the responsibility, and authority, for their firings rests with our dear leader. Authority can be delegated but the accountability and responsibility cannot be delegated along with the authority. Remember wingnut talking point #1 regarding the whole thing, "they serve at the pleasure of the President." They don't serve at the pleasure of Abu Gonzales.

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

APR 07, 2007 12:50 PM

skeptik said:
You mean it's not from the balls?



No. I can testify to that.

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

APR 07, 2007 12:50 PM

darwinsjoke said:
Minor quibble, Abu Gonzales didn't fire the USA's because the authority to hire and fire them rests with our dear leader, who appointed them. Our dear leader may have delegated that authority to Abu but the responsibility, and authority, for their firings rests with our dear leader. Authority can be delegated but the accountability and responsibility cannot be delegated along with the authority. Remember wingnut talking point #1 regarding the whole thing, "they serve at the pleasure of the President." They don't serve at the pleasure of Abu Gonzales.



Yeah, fair point. He only recommended it to happen.

Also, Abu Gonzales is fantastic.

meatpieboy

meatpieboy

Korea, D.P.R.
June 2004

APR 07, 2007 12:52 PM

Subrosa said:

skeptik said:
You mean it's not from the balls?



No. I can testify to that.



We have saunas.

mrnonel

mrnonel

Los Angeles, CA
August 2004

APR 07, 2007 01:56 PM

I predict a sex scandal will be uncovered between Alberto (or some other White House executive) and Rachel Paulose and/or Monica Goodling, and that will be the Administration's ultimate undoing.

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

APR 07, 2007 02:06 PM

Well, there goes my appetite.

SignalNoise

SignalNoise

USA
February 2004

APR 07, 2007 02:34 PM

I hope Gonzales writes one of those "tell all" books someday.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

APR 07, 2007 02:50 PM

This is one mighty fine Justice Department we got ourselves here. Yup, mighty, mighty fine. How could anyone even consider taking Ms. Goodling's taking of the fifth, or her subsequent resignation (on this very day), as some sort of red flag that wrong-doing has taken place?

Though, it does make you kinda wonder: Why would Ms.Goodling need to take the fifth (and resign) if everything is on the legal up-and-up with the firing of the Attorneys? Woo, mysterious.


SPOILERS! (Click to view)
Minnesota does have some really talented representatives. *envious*

Zarth

zarth

Seattle, WA
December 2004

APR 07, 2007 02:55 PM

wildswan said:
This is one mighty fine Justice Department we got ourselves here. Yup, mighty, mighty fine. How could anyone even consider taking Ms. Goodling's taking of the fifth, or her subsequent resignation (on this very day), as some sort of red flag that wrong-doing has taken place?

Though, it does make you kinda wonder: Why would Ms.Goodling need to take the fifth (and resign) if everything is on the legal up-and-up with the firing of the Attorneys? Woo, mysterious.


Because federal prosecutors serve at the pleasure of the President and nobody complained when Clinton fired all ninety-three.

Man, it's like you haven't even been listening.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

APR 07, 2007 03:34 PM


Zarth said: Because federal prosecutors serve at the pleasure of the President and nobody complained when Clinton fired all ninety-three.

Man, it's like you haven't even been listening.



Oh, snap! That's, like, sooo cool.

You mean, if I were to become President, I could make sure Federal Prosecutors didn't investigate my friend for, say... taking bribes. Or, say... killing a prostitute!

Rad.

Domo_Kun

Domo_Kun

Rockford, IL
March 2005

APR 07, 2007 03:35 PM

Zarth said:

wildswan said:
This is one mighty fine Justice Department we got ourselves here. Yup, mighty, mighty fine. How could anyone even consider taking Ms. Goodling's taking of the fifth, or her subsequent resignation (on this very day), as some sort of red flag that wrong-doing has taken place?

Though, it does make you kinda wonder: Why would Ms.Goodling need to take the fifth (and resign) if everything is on the legal up-and-up with the firing of the Attorneys? Woo, mysterious.


Because federal prosecutors serve at the pleasure of the President and nobody complained when Clinton fired all ninety-three.

Man, it's like you haven't even been listening.



He did so at the beginning of his first term, which seems to be SOP. However, firng them in the middle of the last term of yoru administration is pretty unprecedented.

A March 13 McClatchy Newspapers article titled "Current situation is distinct from Clinton firings of U.S. attorneys" noted that "[m]ass firings of U.S. attorneys are fairly common when a new president takes office, but not in a second-term administration." The article added that "Justice Department officials acknowledged it would be unusual for the president to oust his own appointees." In addition, on the March 13 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, former GOP presidential candidate and MSNBC political analyst Pat Buchanan said that "it is not unusual for all U.S. attorneys -- or almost all except some outstanding ones, to be replaced when a new party comes into power, say, in 1993 or 2001." Similarly, in a Washington Post online chat on March 14 -- noted by the weblog Talking Points Memo and Media Matters for America -- Stuart M. Gerson, assistant attorney general in the administration of President George H.W. Bush, observed, "It is customary for a President to replace U.S. attorneys at the beginning of a term." Gerson added that "Ronald Reagan replaced every sitting U.S. attorney when he appointed his first Attorney General."

clicky



The two situations are not even comparable.

skeptik

skeptik

New Orleans, LA
February 2004

APR 07, 2007 03:37 PM

He was using sarcasm.

Just so ya know.

wildswan

wildswan

I'm lost
June 2006

APR 07, 2007 03:39 PM

skeptik said:
He was using sarcasm.

Just so ya know.



Dude.

Domo_Kun

Domo_Kun

Rockford, IL
March 2005

APR 07, 2007 04:16 PM

skeptik said:
He was using sarcasm.

Just so ya know.



I know he was. I was taking an opportunity to preempt the freepers/neocon trolls.

skeptik

skeptik

New Orleans, LA
February 2004

APR 07, 2007 04:19 PM

Domo_Kun said:

skeptik said:
He was using sarcasm.

Just so ya know.



I know he was. I was taking an opportunity to preempt the freepers/neocon trolls.



Well then ...

Carry on.

Stiles

Stiles

Oakland, CA
November 2002

APR 07, 2007 06:14 PM

wildswan said:
This is one mighty fine Justice Department we got ourselves here. Yup, mighty, mighty fine. How could anyone even consider taking Ms. Goodling's taking of the fifth, or her subsequent resignation (on this very day), as some sort of red flag that wrong-doing has taken place?



I'm astounded that a highest-level executive at the Department of Fucking Justice can take the Fifth with a straight face at all.

What.
The.
Fuck.

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