Arlen Specter: Re-Hiring US Attorney Generals not a bad idea.

[Eric J in MN]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20070415/pl_bloomberg/a8zc7nyappek_1

``It's kind of hard to unscramble these eggs,'' Specter, speaking on ABC's ``This Week'' program, said of the dismissals of eight federal prosecutors last year. Gonzales ``ought to have a case-by-case analysis, and either justify the reasons for replacing them, or concede that he was wrong.''

...Specter said some of the attorneys released are under a professional cloud because the Justice Department initially said they were fired because of their performance.

``If they were released improperly, there ought to be a statement to that effect,'' the Pennsylvania Republican, 77, said. ``If he was wrong, replacement -- reinstatement wouldn't be a bad idea if it could be done administratively.''

I want the fired Attorney Generals re-hired. If they aren't, then Attorney Generals in the future will feel they have to be serve the president, and prosecute or not prosecute based on what will boost his party.

An Attorney General should serve JUSTICE.

[aquart]

1. Agreed.

Hire the eight and, on a case by case basis, fire the ones who toed the line.

[GregD]

2. The WA guy already said he didn't want the gig back

Not sure if he would change his mind, but I do recall his responding to such an idea.

[Solly Mack]

3. "mistakes were made", "I take responsibility" and now

"I concede that I was wrong"

snort

Why not just literally slap AG Abu Gtmo on the wrist...

"Specter and fellow Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record) also said Gonzales will have a difficult time reestablishing his credibility with lawmakers because of the way he's handled the firings and the aftermath."

That statement lets people know that as far as Specter and Graham are concerned that Gonzales shouldn't be out as AG and they don't expect him to be either...only that gee, he might have a hard time with his credibility.

As if anyone in Bush Inc has ever had one iota of credibility to begin with

[Robbien]

4. Wrong. The fired attorneys were GOPers

Every single USAttorney is a GOPer.

Almost every single USAttorney is a Federalist.

To create balance, we need non-GOPers/non-Federalists.

[TahitiNut]

7. It's not true that "Almost every single USAttorney is a Federalist."

What is true is that non-Federalists were replaced with Federalists. (i.e. members of the Federalist Society ... fascists)

[TahitiNut]

5. We can't unring the bell. The message is still clear. Don't prosecute GOPhers.

The chilling effect of that message is immeasurable, imho. What GOPhers have skated on criminal charges? What prosecutions were shit-canned? How many blind eyes have been turned? How many Federalist Society tumors are more firmly entrenched only to climb the crony ladder and metastacize in our legal system?

Methinks Arlen is merely doing a damage control placebo in protecting the cancer. Snake oil.

[Selatius]

6. Wake me up when Gonzales has been fired.

If I were in their shoes, I would not want my job back if it meant working under the same boss who fired me in the first place.

[Eric J in MN]

10. This isn't an ordinary job.

Being a US Attorney is a powerful position.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. You mean US Attorney

US Attorney General is Gonzales' job. US Attorney is the job that these people had before they were fired by Bush/Gonzales.

[Eric J in MN]

13. Thanks, fixed above post.

Too late to fix original post of the thread.

[Raksha]

11. I agree...Gonzales shouldn't rehire them.

But the new Attorney General who replaces Gonzales should review the firings and offer the U.S. attorneys who were fired for bogus reasons their jobs back if they still want them.

[rateyes]

8. None of the rest of the Attorneys General should

stand for what has happened to their colleagues. I wonder about those Attorneys General who have NOT been replaced. Are they Bush lackeys?

[MagickMuffin]

14. The Fired Prosecutors were United States Attorneys, They Are NOT AG's

there is a BIG difference to a AG and US Attorneys.

In my state we vote for our AG. However, we do not get to vote for our USA's.... Maybe we should look into that though.

I only wanted to correct you so you wouldn't keep making that mistake. :hi:

[rateyes]

15. My bad. I read Attorneys General in the OP

and just went with it. I knew better. Thanks. :hi:

[MagickMuffin]

16. I noticed the subject title in the op

however, it was too late to change it. Just wanting everyone to be careful about getting the two mixed up. :thumbsup:

[EST]

9. Even that sucky little weasel, Specter, has a good idea once in a while.

Sadly, I fear this is just another of his slimy notions designed to hand Speedy Gonzo a fig leaf.

One must remember it was he who enabled the insertion of the clause that allowed this fiasco to almost succeed.
Peerhaps I am not being charitable and Pat Leahy wasn't available to appear on slimy step-n-fetchit's tv program, but Specter is not the chair of the judicuary committee. Why in hell is it he who is called upon to give opinions.

I'll accept charges of bias, but I, by far, prefer the righteous outrage of the inimitable Mr. Leahy to that grinding, calculating little creep.