Speaking of Paranoia

You know how right-wingers are always going on and on about crazy things they think that liberals are up to ("death panels", etc.) whereas liberals are always going on and on about things that conservatives are actually up to? And how liberals are almost always actually right? Well on that note (h/t DougJ):

The dismissal of New Mexico U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias in December 2006 followed extensive communication among lawyers and political aides in the White House who hashed over complaints about his work on public corruption cases against Democrats, according to newly released e-mails and transcripts of closed-door House testimony by former Bush counsel Harriet Miers and political chief Karl Rove.

A campaign to oust Iglesias intensified after state party officials and GOP members of the congressional delegation apparently concluded he was not pursuing the cases against Democrats in a way that would help then-Rep. Heather Wilson in a tight reelection race in New Mexico, according to interviews and Bush White House e-mails released Tuesday by congressional investigators. The documents place the genesis of Iglesias's dismissal earlier than previously known.

The disclosures mark the end of a 2 1/2 year investigation by the House Judiciary Committee, which sued to gain access to Bush White House documents in a dispute that struck at the heart of a president's executive power. House members have reserved the right to hold a public hearing this fall at which Rove, Miers, and other aides could appear.

House Judiciary Chairman John M. Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) on Tuesday characterized the role of Bush White House figures in the firing episode as improper and inappropriate.

Let's see, what did I write way back when this investigation was first launched in early 2007?

By now, it should be completely obvious to anyone without a political bent that the DOJ was blatantly politicized so as to serve the interests of the Republican Party. I predict with 100% confidence that any further revelations brought about the Congressional investigations will only provide more evidence of that fact.

I'm pretty much willing to put my predictive powers up against those of your typical right-winger just about any day.

UPDATE: This Politico headline makes things a little clearer: "Karl Rove key to New Mexico attorney firing." It also appears that the only reason we're hearing about Rove and Harriet Mier's testimony before the House Judiciary Committee is because Rove apparently violated terms of an agreement with the Comm. that would keep his testimony unreleased, by downplaying his role in the firings to the media. Oops.

Legislative Update VII

Congress passed a stopgap funding measure to keep the government running a few more days after Republicans stalled the Senate vote on an omnibus spending bill.

By a 234-191 vote, the House passed and sent on to the Senate a bill that includes a provision to allow bankruptcy judges to modify the terms troubled homeowners' mortgages. Meanwhile, the US Senate Intelligence Committee said it will conduct a one-year review of the CIA's handling of suspected terrorists, including interrogation tactics widely seen as torture.

Last, but certainly not lease, Karl Rove and Harriet Miers are finally going to testify by the House Judiciary Committee on the politicization of the Justice Department during the Bush years.

Bolten, Miers face contempt charges; Gonzales not off hook over wiretapping

We're getting closer to a showdown:

The White House chief of staff faced possible contempt charges after a congressional panel on Thursday ruled as invalid President George W. Bush's bid to limit the probe of the firing of federal prosecutors.

On a party-line vote of 7-3, a Democratic-led House of Representatives Judiciary subcommittee rejected Bush's contention that his claim of executive privilege shields the top aide, Joshua Bolten, from having to turn over subpoenaed documents.

"Those claims are not legally valid," said panel Chairwoman Linda Sanchez, a California Democrat...

Last week the panel moved toward contempt proceedings against former White House counsel Harriet Miers after she declined to appear at a hearing. It rejected Bush's claim that Miers did not have to show up.

If the White House doesn't yield and produce the documents, the full House Judiciary Committee could vote to hold Bolton and Miers in contempt of Congress. If the entire House then concurs, the case would be referred to a U.S. attorney to seek grand jury indictment.

Oh, and Alberto Gonzales still has some troubles of his own.