# That CRAAAAAAAAZY conspiracy theory: the mass firings of US Attorneys **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 6, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824 "2007-03-06T17:45:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/321 "2007-04-20T01:13:46Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] My daugther is unpredator’d. [/QUOTE] Ummm . . . [_cough_] . . . I don’t quite know how to tell you this . . . ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/322 "2007-04-20T01:14:54Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] I have yet to be sodomized on my street by a roving gang. [/QUOTE] _crosses “Merijeek’s neighborhood” off of my list of “Places to Move”_ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/323 "2007-04-20T01:18:54Z")
I started a new thread: [“Never mind the firings – what did the other 85 USA’s do to keep their jobs?”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=417466) ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/324 "2007-04-20T12:46:35Z")
Recommendation: Withdraw troops from Iraq Bush response: Send more troops to Iraq Recommendation: AG should resign AG response: Not on your life Recommendation: President should fire AG Bush response: I don’t want to and you can’t make me I’m really feeling quite ill; the voices are telling me there is no hope left and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. My dog says the tunnel leads to the abyss and that there is no turning back. I think I will go back to smoking, drinking, and doing drugs; I really need an alternate reality. ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/325 "2007-04-20T13:18:47Z")
If he doesn’t resign at the behest of GWB then things are even bleaker than they they appear. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/326 "2007-04-20T14:59:25Z")
[QUOTE=LouisB] … I think I will go back to smoking, drinking, and doing drugs; I really need an alternate reality. [/QUOTE] I also would prefer to be sane and sober, but sometimes, you gotta pick one. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/327 "2007-04-20T15:12:37Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Ummm . . . [_cough_] . . . I don’t quite know how to tell you this . . . [/QUOTE] You think I’d be upset, however, since I just discovered that my seven month old is talking to perverts on the internet…I think I’ll just start clearing off a spot on the mantle for her inevitable Nobel Prize. -Joe, cool dad ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/328 "2007-04-20T16:02:15Z")
[A next-day analysis of Gonzalez’ testimony.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/19/AR2007041902935.html) [Another, emphasizing that even leading conservative Pubs are turning on him.](http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=188327) ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/329 "2007-04-20T16:12:56Z")
[QUOTE=LouisB] Recommendation: Withdraw troops from Iraq Bush response: Send more troops to Iraq Recommendation: AG should resign AG response: Not on your life Recommendation: President should fire AG Bush response: I don’t want to and you can’t make me [/QUOTE] Hmmm. Maybe we should recommend that he not jump off a bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/330 "2007-04-20T16:14:53Z")
[QUOTE=Merijeek] The government is completely corruption free. -Joe [/QUOTE] You got that a bit wrong. The government is 100% free of unauthorized corruption. It’s controlled by Rove or it doesn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/331 "2007-04-20T16:20:04Z")
According to [this](http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x706259) Democratic Underground thread, subpoenas have been issued for Rove and Miers, it was reported on CSPAN-3 – but I can’t seem to find confirmation anywhere else. Does anybody know anything about this? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/332 "2007-04-21T18:21:57Z")
Now [practically all of Congress is calling for Gonzalez’ resignation, but W still won’t budge.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/20/AR2007042002020.html?hpid=moreheadlines) Despite all this, Gonzalez [still plans to attend tonight’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/20/AR2007042002133.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/333 "2007-04-21T18:56:33Z")
> [@](#): > > “I can understand there are some people who still don’t want to support the attorney general. That is their right,” said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. “But he has done a fantastic job at the Department of Justice. **He is our number one crime fighter.** ” Maybe that explains the hair. No, never mind. Nothing explains the hair. ---
**Author:** ![Burton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Burton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burton)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/334 "2007-04-24T13:10:12Z")
What do you think is happening now? I’ve read and it makes sense, that Bush can’t afford to have someone outside his circle as Attorney General but how far can he go defying his own party leadership? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/335 "2007-04-24T14:06:39Z")
[QUOTE=Burton] What do you think is happening now? I’ve read and it makes sense, that Bush can’t afford to have someone outside his circle as Attorney General but how far can he go defying his own party leadership? [/QUOTE] He _is_ the party leadership. Under the unitary executive mindset, Congress isn’t much more than an annoyance, and Bush will stonewall until he doesn’t have to anymore (i.e., after January 2009). The fact is, the Congressional Republicans being ignored while calling for Gonzalez’s dismissal or resignation have only themselves to blame, as the rubber-stamp they’ve given every expansion on executive power that the White House has tried to push in the last six years is, at this point, going to be VERY hard to revoke. The do-nothing-ness they engaged in when they were in power emboldened, so to speak, this administration in its drive for complete control of the country. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/336 "2007-04-24T14:22:09Z")
I wonder, though, **jayjay** , whether this attitude from His Unitarianistity will backfire on The Decider. Nobody likes to be held in contempt, not even rubber stamps. With re-election looming in their headlights, wouldn’t some of them decide it’s in their own self-interest to swerve from The Course? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/337 "2007-04-24T16:05:58Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] I wonder, though, **jayjay** , whether this attitude from His Unitarianistity will backfire on The Decider. Nobody likes to be held in contempt, not even rubber stamps. With re-election looming in their headlights, wouldn’t some of them decide it’s in their own self-interest to swerve from The Course? [/QUOTE] No, I’m saying that the rubberstamps they gave him BEFORE this whole thing blew up will come back to bite them. They’re actually starting to realize that Bush isn’t really all that into the whole “President and Congress both Republican and equal” thing…he’s more into the “I’m the Deciderer and you’ll give me what I want”. Which, given that previous to this what the Deciderer wanted was pretty much in the same current as what the Congressional Republicans wanted, they never really noticed. Now they’re realizing (belatedly) that Bush is a freaking ten-ton electoral concrete pier tied to their collective ankles and they gave all their jackhammers to him back when the honeymoon was still going. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/338 "2007-04-24T22:31:45Z")
This is interesting . . . The Office of Special Counsel is investigating the attorney firings, the missing e-mails, and Karl Rove’s activities in general. However, [Special Counsel Scott Bloch, head of the OSC and a Bush appointee, is himself being investigated:](http://www.thenation.com/blogs/capitalgames?pid=189590) > [@](#): > > The Office of Personnel Management’s inspector general has been investigating allegations by current and former OSC employees that Special Counsel Scott J. Bloch retaliated against underlings who disagreed with his policies–by, among other means, transferring them out of state–and tossed out legitimate whistle-blower cases to reduce the office backlog. Bloch denies the accusations, saying that under his leadership the agency has grown more efficient and receptive to whistle-blowers. > > The 16-month investigation has been beset by delays, accusations and counter-accusations. The latest problem began two weeks ago, when Bloch’s deputy sent staffers a memo asking them to inform OSC higher-ups when investigators contact them. Further, the memo read, employees should meet with investigators in the office, in a special conference room. Some employees cried foul, saying the recommendations made them afraid to be interviewed in the probe. > > The OSC’s memo, the group said, “was only the latest in a series of actions by Bloch to obstruct” the investigation. “Other actions have included suggestions that all witnesses interviewed…provide Bloch with affidavits describing what they had been asked and how they responded.” I wonder who’s gonna investigate the inspector general? ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/339 "2007-04-24T23:07:06Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] I wonder who’s gonna investigate the inspector general? [/QUOTE] [Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quis_custodiet_ipsos_custodes%3F) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2007, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824/340 "2007-04-24T23:14:38Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] [Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quis_custodiet_ipsos_custodes%3F) [/QUOTE] Well, it’s supposed to be the people, aided by the press, but the American media and electorate seems to have renounced that duty… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-craaaaaaaazy-conspiracy-theory-the-mass-firings-of-us-attorneys/394824.md?page=18)