A Government That Can't Remember Anything
Weekly commentary by CBS Evening News chief Washington correspondent and Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer.
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.
E-mail Face the Nation.
By Bob Schieffer
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. 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.
E-mail Face the Nation.
By Bob Schieffer
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
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.
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?
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.
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?
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!!
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?