A Government That Can't Remember Anything

(CBS)  Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.

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I have a travel advisory for visitors from outer space.

If you've been following the news lately, you can be excused for believing that government service is harder on human memory than Alzheimer's.

As the recent trial of Scooter Libby showed, White House work left him unable to remember anything.

But his problem was nothing compared to the epidemic of memory loss at the Justice Department, where federal prosecutors got fired. The Attorney General couldn't remember talking to his own staff about the reasons why, where as lower officials couldn't remember whose idea it was. And nobody at the White House could remember anything except they didn't do it.

Among the prosecutors who got fired was one who sent a Republican congressman to jail on corruption charges, another who did not push corruption charges against Democrats fast enough – at least not fast enough to please the Republican senator who complained.

Pressuring federal prosecutors to play political games is serious business. The president says he's not happy about it, and the attorney general says mistakes were made. Well, of course they were. But confirming the obvious is not enough. From the top down, the word must go out this will not be tolerated, and those responsible must be held accountable.

Even an alien from outer space can see that or smell it, because this one stinks to high heaven.

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E-mail Face the Nation.
By Bob Schieffer

[judiann22]

Why do we have 93 federal prosecutors anyway there are only 50 states?
are there prosecutors in federal territories and protectorates too?
I though the justice department was creatd as a cabinate post to assure that justice would be fair and just?
if each political party can hire and fire to their own tune how can they be fair or just?

Is this a patronage job like the old post office?
why isent it a civil service job like working for the welfare department?

And how much money do these 100 fair and just solicitors recieve for nada?
And who defends americans if they are prosecutors why dont we have federal defenders also?

I just dont understand whats the big deal about getting rid of employees who are out of step with the latest dictator of our 'democracy'. the US isnt a democracy anway its a republic OYE VEY!
Well little ireland like little italy and little isreal have the right of return and we can take our debit card with us
judiann22

[zoroastor]

Notice how anything on this thread posted by a neo-con is off point and, well, rather pathetic?

Is the steam running out? I mean, at what point does the average Rep. voter throw in the towel and say uncle - "our president sux."?

It's like the losing side of a chess match in - all they can do is try to postpone the inevitable as long as possible. But they are running out of squares that are safe to land on.

[bobnjersey]

[Just can't figure out how to defend the little worm can you?]

didn't that train leave the station roughly six years ago? is this all you guys have ... an incessant focus on what clinton did ... he's gone ... long gone.

who's defending? the law should be changed ... regardless of party. it stinks all the way around! why are US attorney's political in any way shape or form.

they attempted to use provisions of the patriot act (how ironic) to remove attorneys w/ excellent performance reviews for obvious political reasons.

what you say now ... mr. processor2?

[naber1961]

they cant remember because Liars always forget what they have said it the past. This administration has been lying to the American public and the world since day 1. They actually lied before that when they stole the election.

[observantx]

Atta Boy Bob!

Short and sweet and to the point!

You're right, this stinks so bad it would knock a buzzard off a rotting corpse.

[adventurepa]

The sad thing about this is nothing will happen.
An investigation will be nothing but politics and the dog and pony show it has always been.
They will change the subject with some other report to take the focus away from this event and everything will continue as usual.
When will enough be enough?

[condumism]

Ronald Reagan could not remember his role in the Iran-Contra scandal. Now we know that REagan already had Alheimer's, and that the White House was covering that up during his last etem in Office. Now all Rethuglicon's are using the Alzheimer's defense every time they get caught doing their illegal deeds. The amazing part of the story is that there are still a hard core 24% if the America people that support these fascist's no matter how low they go. Thanks God the huge majority of these traitors are in the Southern States where they will soon be voted out of america once and for ever.

[dallison7]

Well,if if some of you believe that,I assume,all
of you are anti_amricans. Thank God for George
W. Bush. America needs people like him.
DEMONCRATS,will destroy our country. They want
the White House to do so. Shame on Clinton.

Posted by j02281


MY GOD!! I WONDER IF THEY LET THIS ONE VOTE??!!!
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE!!
WE NEED AN IQ REQUIREMENT AT THE POLLING PLACES!!

[dallison7]

to all lib's

Were you this upset when Clinton fired attorneys???
Posted by processor2


YADA, YADA, YADA, CLINTON, CLINTON, CLINTON, SWIFTBOAT, SWIFTBOAT, SWIFTBOAT, SLUR, SLUR, SLUR, YADA, YADA, YADA

Just can't figure out how to defend the little worm can you?

[clestes-2009]

AMEN BROTHER BOB!!