Mr. Gonzales also told the senators that President Bush personally blocked Justice Department lawyers from pursuing an internal inquiry into the administration’s warrantless eavesdropping program. “The president of the United States makes the decision,” Mr. Gonzales said, by way of explaining why members of the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility were not allowed to go forward.
And, of course, the justification for this is bullshit:
Mr. Gonzales’s statement that the president had personally blocked lawyers in the Justice Department’s ethics office, known as the Office of Professional Responsibility, from investigating department lawyers who had approved the eavesdropping operation of the National Security Agency came during an exchange with the committee chairman, Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania.
“Many other lawyers in the Department of Justice had clearance,” Mr. Specter said. “Why not O.P.R.?” He then asked if Mr. Bush himself had made the decision.
Mr. Gonzales replied in part that “in terms of who has access to the program, the president of the United States makes the decision because this is such an important program.”
In May, Senator Specter called the denial of security clearances to the Justice Department’s own investigators “incomprehensible.”
When I was a baby lawyer, I wanted to one day work for the Justice Department. Not anymore.
Arlen Specter: doing a better job at representing the people of Pennsylvania than Rick Santorum?
Bush never gave a reason for blocking the OPR lawyers. They just say that he has overriding power. This is ridiculous, and Bush is acting on a power trip! I guess this is one thing that he could brute force his way through.. There is no justification provided anywhere!
Oh! Of course, the age old “Because-I-Said-So” defense. Known the world over by parents, now part of US legal procedure. Wonderful.
On a side note: I read recently that 70% of Americans believe we should expand research into stem-cell research. Bush, however, vows to veto a bill supporting such research.
It’s amazing that the guy hasn’t vetoed a damn thing since he’s been in office, but he’ll kill a bill that could possible help millions of sick people, even when he knows the majority of Americans support this legislation. If that’s not a sign that a dictatorship is in place, what is?
This idiot does whatever the hell he pleases; he’s not our leader, nor does he represent our best interests–he’s a goddamn tyrant.
“Because I said so” is not a justification. I know people attack his intelligence, but he can’t be that stupid to think he can get away with that excuse..
“Incomprehensible”? Does anyone here have a problem comprehending? I don’t. Specter needs to work on his adjective choice, or something.
“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
It’s not the sign of a dictator. It’s a sign of someone who truly, genuinely just loves babies! And life!
When will congress grow a backbone to this administration? I thought he was President, not King.
Oh, but he can. Oh, but he will.
He’s done it many, many other times; why not this time?
I wonder if Bush has anyone in his staff that can give him the complete picture on stem cell research. I know that he is not scienitifically tuned or trained, but he must be forming his opinions from listening to his advisors. I know that the President is to blame for all his policies that don’t work, but so are the advisors. I am mighty curious to see why the lobbyists for anti stem cell research are heard over the pro-stem cell scientists, and other proponents..
I know that is a naive question, but it astounds me.