I do not believe that the publicly acknowledged reason for Kerik's

[KlatooBNikto]

withdrawal is true.The nanny problem, as in so many cases before, is a red herring.Given this Julius Streicher's past, I wouldn't be surprised if his closet holds a lot more skeletons one more bizarre than the next. These have to be totally bizarro in order for this thick skinned rat to pull his nomination.

[henslee]

1. I agree. Anyone who goes from longhair and ponytail to shaved head and

moustache is definitely suspect.

[Newsjock]

2. Newsweek found an arrest warrant

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6697161/site/newsweek/

... But there may have been other issues at play. Kerik, who recently made millions in the private sector, once filed for personal bankruptcy as a New York cop. And just five years ago he was in financial trouble over a condominium he owned in New Jersey. More serious trouble than anyone realized: NEWSWEEK has discovered that a New Jersey judge in 1998 had issued an arrest warrant as part of a convoluted series of lawsuits relating to unpaid bills on his condo. The magazine faxed documents, including the arrest warrant, over to the White House around 6:00 p.m. Friday, asking for comment. Neither Kerik nor the White House had any immediate response. At 8:30 p.m., Kerik had submitted his letter to the president.

[BiggJawn]

8. Is the warrant still active?

Smells like Bobby Knight's inability to return to Puerto Rico....

[radfringe]

3. sounded fishy to me too

with the history of "nanny-housekeeper-gate" incidents that have torpedoed other nominees from past administrations -- this seems pretty flimsy

I would think the "vetting" process prior to naming a nominee would have uncovered this -- unless bush* inc. has exceeded expectations of incompetence

I would also think if bush* inc. had 'discovered' irregularities in the housekeeper's legal status -- and if this is the only "problem" with going ahead of the nomination -- they would have spun it into an issue for pushing "worker guest visas" and screamed how the Democratic Party is discriminating against minorities

Something is very fishy and stinky -- some other "problem" is lurking in the background that would be dragged into the spot light when Kerik went through congressional approval process -- that "something" would be majorly damaging to the bushies and they wouldn't be able to "spin it"

[proudbluestater]

4. There are a few threads on this. Think insider trading

See democracynow.org for more details.

[rzemanfl]

5. Kerik

The AP article on this on Yahoo refers to the stock thing as the "only moderately troubling" thing about Kerik discovered prior to the so-called "Nanny problem." It doesn't mention the fact that his mother was a prostitute (which doesn't bother me much, but might bother those "moral values" folks), the kid he sired in Korea and refused to support, the prisoner tobacco money thing or his bankruptcy. When somebody goes from bankrupt cop to millionaire in under 20 years, something isn't right. Just like when someone goes from unemployed drunk to "President" in a similar short period.

The Bush family doesn't properly check out its appointees, Jeb appointed a guy to head the Department of Children and Families in Florida who had his name attached to an article that advocated biblically beating children and said that women should not work, which alienated more than half the work force he had to supervise before he even started. This "faith based" appointment process results in them getting embarrassed from time to time, but not enough folks at Diebold seem to figure out that it shows they are stupid, arrogant and unfit for office.

[linazelle]

11. "When somebody goes from bankrupt cop...

to millionaire in under 20 years, something isn't right. Just like when someone goes from unemployed drunk to "President" in a similar short period."

THAT quote is priceless. I gotta put it in my sig line. Do you mind?

[rzemanfl]

20. Be my guest

Feel free to quote whatever I say.

[UTUSN]

6. His Attorney on Faux Was Blaming the Wife----HAH!

Some Joe Taran-piscopo-pino said that he THOUGHT the wife had hired the nanny while KERIK was sacrificing himself for his country in Iraq. As hard to believe as it is, the Faux bubbleheads actually asked whether Newsweek allegations of an arrest warrant had anything to do with it. The attorney said he didn't know ANYTHING about ANYTHING ELSE, that he was with this greatest law enforcement officer in the History of the World Part 1, ALL DAY yesterday and the ONLY issue talked about was that dirty nanny.

[imax2268]

7. I didn't think that the whole

nanny thing was the sole issue...this guy is crooked way beyond that...

[UTUSN]

9. MSRNC Is Now Asking, "But WHY???"

Let's see their answer. "An apparent nanny problem." Um hmmmm. "KERIK also said he might not have paid all the taxes for the nanny." Um hmmmm. Anything else? "The White House did not have any inkling. ... Nothing came up until they got to the second round of vetting, when HE found this nanny problem and HE took it upon himself to withdraw."

Nothing else. JUST the nanny. "Thank you for your reporting on this." HAH!

MSRNC poll question (will get link): "Do you believe KERIK should have withdrawn?"

[UTUSN]

10. MSRNC Question of the Day-----------Link------69% Yes

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/

[donhakman]

13. follow the $$$$$$$$$$

He made $6 million as Police Chief by selling the city stun guns

that he just happened to own a great deal of stock.*

*(either before or after the deal was complete) ie kickback

[donhakman]

15. ^ the something else is stunning (stun gun deal)

This is still inside information so do not expect a link.

[nostamj]

14. nothing came up in the vetting?

gee, they should have given the Center for American Progress a call... here's their briefing on Kerik:

HOMELAND SECURITY
Who Is Bernard Kerik?

Over the last several years, former NYC police commissioner Bernard B. Kerik, President Bush's nominee to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security, has become "a multimillionaire as a result of a lucrative partnership with former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani." Indeed, the New York Daily News suggests, Kerik's selection was less based on merit than it was on Giuliani's "pull within the White House" and "Kerik's work on the campaign trail" for Bush. Kerik's record, however, raises serious question about his motives, ethics and ability to defend America. Kerik abruptly quit a critical job in Iraq, mismanaged rescue efforts in the aftermath of 9/11, used his official posts for personal enrichment and has been plagued by serious scandals. Here is a detailed look behind the mustache:

KERIK ABANDONS CRITICAL POST IN IRAQ TO TAKE A VACATION: The Washington Post reports that Kerik's track record on issues of national security is "spotty." Appointed by President Bush to train a new Iraqi police force in 2003, "Kerik came under criticism for inadequate screening of recruits as U.S. authorities rushed to deploy the force. It has been plagued by desertions and by allegations that insurgents have infiltrated the ranks." Worse, Kerik "quit four months into his six-month tenure in Iraq, telling New York reporters later that he needed a vacation."

KERIK CRITICIZED BY CONSERVATIVES FOR POST-9/11 OPERATIONS: A prominent Republican member of the Sept. 11 commission, former Navy secretary John F. Lehman, sharply criticized Kerik "for failures of leadership during the terrorist attacks" of 9/11. Lehman said that Kerik allowed turf battles with the Fire Department to "hamper rescue efforts" and called Kerik's leadership at the time "not worthy of the Boy Scouts."

KERIK SENT COPS OUT OF NYC TO RESEARCH HIS PERSONAL MEMOIRS: As police commissioner of NYC, Kerik used city police officers – who could have been protecting the people of New York – to help him write a book he would sell for personal profit. The Washington Post reports that the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board fined Kerik $2,500 for "sending two police officers to Ohio to help research his best-selling 2001 memoir, 'The Lost Son.'"

KERIK'S STUNNING CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Kerik has made $6.2 million dollars in profits from his relationship "with Taser International, a Scottsdale, Ariz., manufacturer of stun guns." Kerik was appointed as a director of the company immediately after he had the NYPD purchase the guns as police chief. Since 2002, Kerik has hawked Taser's products to police departments around the country. Recently the company has made an "aggressive push to enter markets either regulated or controlled by the federal government, most notably the Department of Homeland Security." Thomas Smith, the company president, said the company would "continue to go after that business" at the Department of Homeland Security should Kerik be confirmed.

KERIK'S DIRTY DOOR DEAL: Failing to follow proper bidding procedures, Kerik spent $50,000 on four security doors for the NYC police headquarters. The doors were all too heavy for the floors of the police headquarters and three are now in storage. Shortly after leaving his post as commissioner, "Kerik became an adviser to a company distributing the doors." He later renounced the post after "the door-maker's president was indicted for defrauding the city."

KERIK SHILLS FOR THE DRUG INDUSTRY: In April, the Washington Post reported that Kerik opened a high-priced consulting firm to sell his New York City police credentials to wealthy corporate bidders. The firm was promptly hired by the pharmaceutical industry's chief lobbying group to build opposition to letting American seniors purchase lower-priced, FDA-approved medicines from Canada. Without any evidence, Kerik claimed reimportation could "invite terrorists to launch a biological attack under the guise of a legal purchase."

KERIK ACCUSED OF FORCING GUARDS TO DO POLITICAL WORK: Newsweek reports that in 1999, Kerik "was named in a civil lawsuit as the architect of a system to force prison guards to work for Republicans in their off-hours." The suit, brought by a warden, claimed that Kerik would "hunt down" anyone deemed "disloyal." The suit was settled, with the warden winning $300,000 and a promotion, while Kerik's protégé was indicted in connection the scandal.

[donhakman]

16. nost..

that is the best list so far

[nostamj]

17. well, thank the Ctr. for American Progress!

www.americanprogress.org

you can sign up for their free daily e-mail briefings (and they come with links!)

i highly recommend it.

[K-W]

12. They couldnt hide his MASSIVE baggage and gross incompetence.

These people never cease to amaze in thier ability to require absolutely not test other than ideology.

[annabanana]

18. Police Money for portrait busts of Kerik.......................AAR

Just heard on repeat of Al's show. Like a dozen portrait busts. Anyone else hear this one? very very funny if true

[rzemanfl]

23. Portrait busts

Now if they can just get a few busts made of *'s ass and put those and his together real close, they will have an image of Kerik's contribution to the 2004 campaign.

[jmowreader]

19. Yes, I believe a nanny problem was responsible for Kerik's withdrawal

I also believe that Bush fulfilled his service obligations in the Texas National Guard; that there were so many minorities in the Army that Tom DeLay couldn't get in; that Dennis Hastert had a knee injury that was severe enough to keep him out of the army but not severe enough to prevent him from accepting a wrestling scholarship; that reading "The Pet Goat" is the correct action to take during a major terrorist attack; that Laura Bush isn't The Joker's kid sister; that Dick Cheney hasn't been the actual president since 2001; that John McNeill was John Kerry's boatmate in Vietnam; that the Ohio election wasn't rigged; that exit polls have suddenly become completely unreliable after being absolutely trustworthy for the past 100 years...

Move along, folks, nothing to see here.

[rzemanfl]

22. One you forgot

That a bad shirt can make a big hump on your back through a $5,000. suit.

[stanwyck]

24. now I'm smiling

thank you very much. Like your laundry list. I also believe Karl Rove had absolutely nothing to do with the outing of Virginia Plame as revenge against Richard Clarke. Or that the appointment of Colin Powell's son to head of the FCC was based solely on merit. I also staunchly believe that Kenny-Boy Lay will be held to the same standard as Martha Stewart and he and Rush will both have their day in court.
And, oh yeah, Bill O'Reilly quickly settled that annoying little lawsuit featuring his erotic fantasies about a co-worker due to expediancy, not guilt.

[rzemanfl]

26. It was Joseph Wilson not Richard Clarke.

Those bastards hate so many people and take so much revenge it is hard to keep things straight. Clarke was the one "who will never make another penny in Washington..."

[stanwyck]

27. thanks! You're right

of course. Sorry. I'm as bad as one of those radio hate talkers. And the DU folks actually know the difference and will catch an error. My fear is that hate-radio listeners don't have the background to know when bad information is aired. I keep getting Wilson and Clarke confused.

[mcscajun]

21. My thoughts, precisely!

When I read the story I wasn't buying it for a minute.

There's much more here than meets the eye...the man was sitting on a powder keg he thought he could keep the lid on...and something, or somebody, more likely...told him the jig was up.

Anyone who believes the nanny story, raise your hand. <looking around> Hmmm...nobody.

[MADem]

25. The Nanny story is great cover for them

Almost as good as blaming Clinton's penis. After all, Clinton "invented" Nannygate...thus, Kerik hiring an illegal alien nanny is obviously the fault of the CLENIS!

You've gotta figure the real story is worse. But hey, if he can play the "contrite" game and get away with it, Rudy won't be too badly damaged. In fact, Rudy is about to make a statement about it, no doubt to limit damage.

If there is an Andrea Mackris in Kerik's recent past, I'd love to hear her tapes...they couldn't possibly be as good as the Dildo Reilly tapes were said to have been...or are they?

What kills me about the Kerik nanny shit is that the idea of the nanny was to support the wife while Kerik was off in Iraq setting up the police force. He LEFT after a few months, for a VACATION. He left the whole effort in a total mess, too.

And the fact that his lawyer is Joe Tacopina .... yecch. It stinks to the highest reaches of heaven!