Washington Post Finds Nothing 'Nefarious' in Attorney Firings -- AP Suggests Otherwise

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Editor&Publisher

'Post' Finds Nothing 'Nefarious' in Attorney Firings -- AP Suggests Otherwise
By E&P Staff
Published: March 22, 2007

NEW YORK The Washington Post in an editorial today declared that it saw nothing unusual or "nefarious in the dismissal process" in the recent firing of eight U.S. attorneys. It called it "the supposed scandal." At the same time, however, The Associated Press is out with a story that suggests that something fishy -- or political, as the Democrats charge -- does seem to surround the move.

The Post warned, "The stubbornness and overheated rhetoric on both sides threaten an unnecessary constitutional crisis that would only bog down the inquiry in a distracting fight over process....

"Lawmakers would do well to demonstrate more understanding of the legitimate institutional concerns at stake here -- is the president not entitled to confidential advice on personnel matters? -- and to remember that the tables could easily be turned, as they were not so many years ago, with a Republican Congress eager to rifle through the files of a Democratic administration," the editorial stated. "At the same time, history does not support unlimited presidential privilege."

The AP story follows.

*

Six of the eight U.S. attorneys fired by the Justice Department ranked in the top third among their peers for the number of prosecutions filed last year, according to an analysis of federal records.

In addition, five of the eight were among the government's top performers in winning convictions....

Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003561554

[Marnieworld]

1. The WP editorials sometimes even contradict their own reporting

It was comical how the editorials depicted the Plame Leak scandal often contradicting reporting on the same page. The editor doesn't read their own paper only RNC talking points.

[EarlG]

2. "Is the president not entitled to confidential advice on personnel matters?"

That's the heart of the executive privilege argument.

So I guess they'll have to adequately explain this:

In response to a barrage of questions from reporters yesterday, White House spokesman Tony Snow said only that Bush had "no recollection of (the firings) ever being raised with him."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3176205

[Jacobin]

10. Yeah. That one is a little hard to reconcile.

:crazy:

[Qutzupalotl]

15. They could still say they're defending the principle

of getting candid advice, but in this case the prez didn't receive any. Not truly a conflict IMO, but it's amusing how the story keeps changing.

[OneBlueSky]

3. remember when the Post was a champion of accontability in government? . . .

when they put their collective asses on the line to get to the truth and report it, even when no other newpapers would? . . . sad what they've become . . .

[madrchsod]

9. i seem to remember

but that was long ago and in a land far away...

[kath]

22. yeah, what country was that?? I have a dim recollection...

[Jacobin]

11. They are now neo-con central

[aquart]

4. WP editorial board is wrong. And they know they're wrong.

Lying slime.

[Supersedeas]

21. the Whorington Post has an ideology to defend

[madrchsod]

5. that darn`d liberal washington post

we got to get rid of them liberal papers in washington who are helping the terrorists

[ShortnFiery]

6. Since the Matriarch passed away, it's considered The Whoreshington Post.

Shame on them. This is not the Fourth Estate.

The Whoreshington Post is merely a mouthpiece of the Political Elites on both sides of the aisle. You know? The ones who think that the American Populace is stupid. If they waltz and feign, we will keep voting democratic, even when many of these representatives are being paid off by the Military Industrial Complex.

I'm sick of the WP and gutless wonder blue dog and DLC democratic representatives. :grr:

[depakid]

25. The Post lost its credibility a long time ago

It's to the point of being a laughingstock these days....

[Ganja Ninja]

7. What would you expect from the paper that is the number one

proponent of pardoning Scooter? It's a paper thats only fit to line a bird cage or wrap a fish.

[UpInArms]

8. Some ousted attorneys were in upper tier

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-03-21-court-record-analysis_N.htm

WASHINGTON — Three of the eight federal prosecutors ousted by the Justice Department as poor performers ranked in the top 10 for prosecutions and convictions by the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys, an analysis of court records shows.

Court records covering the last five years show large volumes of immigration cases helped U.S. attorneys Paul Charlton of Phoenix, Carol Lam of San Diego and David Iglesias of New Mexico consistently place in the upper tier among their peers. The analysis includes each U.S. attorney's per capita record of prosecutions, convictions and prison sentences.

A fourth former prosecutor, Daniel Bogden of Nevada, ranked among the top third of all U.S. attorneys during four of the past five years, according to federal data maintained by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.

...more...

[OHdem10]

12. Nefarious or not--Example should count for something.

The American People are becoming more dissillusioned
with their government and this behavior', nefarious or
not, it brings one more reason to distrust those in
charge.

Our Justice System and the Law are the very foundation
of our Democracy. Diregard of this is serious for
the message it sends.

People and especially our younger people need to have
something to work toward and believe in. If we have
a system where it appears and the President says
I can fire anyone anytime anyplace and there not
be a good reason speaks volumes--the wrong volume.
Yes the AGs serve at the pleasure of the President.
But when 8 with the best records are fired where
at first blush--for political reasons--it does not
create an image to be respected. Six of the AGs were
involved in Corruption Cases. It just raises eyebrows.

We are not babies--we know politics works in many situations
We know people are let go for political reasons. IMO
Politics should not create mass firings of highly
competent Ags all at once. This smacks of abuse of
power. In other words, you can does not always mean
you should.

The Editorial Page of WAPO has carried water for the
Bush Adm since the day he entered office. Most people
expect a Republican slant and a crutch for Bush when
they turn to this page.

[Dr Fate]

13. Sure WP- tells us some more about "Saddam has WMDs" and "Saddam caused 9/11" while you are at it.

n/t

[kath]

23. yes, do expound on that! You're SOOOO good at informing the populace!

[dennis4868]

26. I remember how the Wash. Post....

editorial was demanding accountability before any regarding the whitewater situation....and now, with a criminal in the WH they are sitting back until there is a dem in the WH to make their accountability argument again.

[Tempest]

14. Fred Hiatt at the WP is a Bush asskisser: Washington Post’s Editorial Fantasyland

Astonishingly, everything in this Post attack on Wilson is either a gross distortion or a lie.

http://baltimorechronicle.com/2007/030807Parry.shtml

[badgervan]

17. Hiatt Ruining the Post

Don't forget Hiatt's chief enabler, young Graham ( forget his first name ), Catherine's son. Together, they have been destroying the once superb reputation of the WP for digging out the facts; speaking truth to power. Too bad, as many of us are switching to the internet or to other papers that do realize the duty of a good newspaper is to present readers with the truth, the facts. When 8 solid repub attorneys are fired for partisan reasons, some in the middle of investigations that could do real harm to repubs, and the prez won't let his henchmen testify under oath - our entire Justice system is threatened, and the rule of law in the U.S. is corrupted.
This is damn serious, and we deserve to have Rove, Miers, Gonzo and others under oath. We simply do not trust these people to be truthful, as they believe to their core that the ends justify the means. Too many lies already, and we are sick and tired of a dishonest government. These people work for us, not the other way around.

[Captain Hilts]

19. The reporting in the WP is still good. It's the op-ed page that stinks. nt

[Captain Hilts]

16. The WP op-ed doesn't read its own paper. It's getting like the WSJ. nt

[Spazito]

18. It would seem the Washington Post and the Wall Street

Journal share the same editorial writers, their editorials sure smell the same.

[gratuitous]

20. If Watergate happened today

The Washington Post would be saying, "What's the big deal? It's just some tape on a door!"

[R_M]

24. The Post's editorial board is as right wing as the Wall Street Journal's.