George Bush’s Angels: How the Mighty Are Falling
Yet another Bush administration official has bailed, bringing to 33 the extraordinary number of people who have been convicted, copped pleas, indicted or otherwise brought down by scandal.
No. 33 is Julie MacDonald, a deputy assistant Interior Department secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, who has submitted her resignation after being accused of pressuring government scientists to make their research fit her policy goals.
Her resignation came a week before a House congressional oversight committee was to hold a hearing on accusations that she violated the Endangered Species Act, censored science and mistreated staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
MacDonald was recently rebuked by the Interior Department’s inspector general, who told Congress in a report last month that she broke federal rules and should face punishment for leaking information about endangered species to private groups.
Just last week, Deputy Secretary of State Randall L. Tobias resigned after confirming that he was a customer of a Washington, D.C., escort service whose owner has been charged with running a prostitution operation, and Robert E. Coughlin II, who was deputy chief of staff of the embattled Justice Department’s criminal division, resigned because of his ties to convicted super lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Next angel to fall: Johnnie Frazier, inspector general of the Commerce Department. More here.
Click here for a list of the fallen angels. It does not include the latest trio.
30 Responses to “George Bush’s Angels: How the Mighty Are Falling”
ooooooh, ooooh, another one bites the dust, ooooooh, oooooh another one bites the dust
And its a black day for right-wing ideologues everywhere as Bush staffers take their leave for “personal reasons”. Gonzo remains on the ropes, and Wolfie is still in the hot seat at the World Bank. Guess these folks don’t have the best judgement when it comes to their own behavior, but were appointed as arbiters of the behavior of others. Buncha HippoKritters. Is there any doubt that all of the above would have flown under the radar if the 109th were still chairing congressional committees?
Shaun, you are digging deep. “Mighty fallen”…as in the “Deputy Assistant for Fish, Wildlife and Parks”?
A mover and shaker in Washington? “Julie MacDonald”…not exactly a name to conjure by.
How many Bush Cabinet officers have been criminally investigated?
0. Nada. None.
How about historical context here? Recall the Clinton Administration of Blessed Memory:
- Number of Clinton cabinet members who came under criminal investigation: 5 (This is a record. Not even the fabled corruption of the Grant administration surpassed the corruption of the Clinton cabinet).
- Number of individuals and businesses associated with the Clinton machine who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to crimes: 47
- Number of these convictions during Clinton’s presidency: 33
- Number of indictments/misdemeanor charges: 61
- Number of imprisonments: 14
- Number of congressional witnesses who have pled the 5th Amendment, fled the country to avoid testifying, or (in the case of foreign witnesses) refused to be interviewed: 124
- As of June 2000, the Justice Department listed 25 people indicted and 19 convicted because of the 1996 Clinton-Gore fundraising scandals.
Marlowecan:
The following Bushista’s were or are being criminally investigated: Allen, Crawford, Doyle, Druyun, Figueroa, Foggo, Franklin, Griles, Kerik, Libby, Ralston, Roche, Safavian, Smith, Sunderland.
Granted that a few of those investigations were for trivial stuff like pedophelia.
Your point is that it’s okay for Republicans working for or nominated by a president who campaigned on cleaning up the mess in Washington to make bigger messes?
Don’t worry, Marlowe, Bush is fast catching up with Clinton in the corruption dept -Clinton has already greatly surpassed him in competency and approval ratings-(both domestic and international). Remember Clinton had to deal with a GOP congress that did nothing but run investigations of his WH.
Also, Bush said he was going to return integrity to the executive branch, in one of many unkept campaign promises.
Shaun – no, his point was by historical standards Bush is really no worse than other administrations. That is really a sad statement, though, and an indictment of the overall ‘culture of corruption’ that is Washington, not Republicans vs. Democrats. Soon the Feinstein contracts to her husband could be the next big one, then another Republican one, etc.
But, that doesn’t clear the GB WH. I actually have less of a problem with individual-oriented actions of self-enrichment, if you will, only because I believe a lot of people are tempted by money, and nothing can ever stop that, and it isn’t really the fault of the President (regardless of who that is) when those things happen.
But I have more of a real problem with ones like this one, which is using a public office to distort science, and to push political agenda’s against facts. Those I do tend to believe are coordinated at higher levels, are there is no way someone at that level would push such an agenda simply on their own, and for a protracted period of time.
Kritter said: “Clinton has already greatly surpassed him in competency and approval ratings-(both domestic and international).”
Kritter, the easiest way to get good approval ratings is to do nothing. Clinton ran his 1996 election to gain a mandate for…school uniforms.
Reagan and Thatcher were both savaged in the approval ratings – particularly internationally, if you recall – mainly because they changed things.
“Also, Bush said he was going to return integrity to the executive branch, in one of many unkept campaign promises.”
Again, this is one of the least corrupt administrations in recent US history. Less corrupt than Clinton’s for sure. Less than Reagan’s as well. Most unbiased observers give Bush credit for this.
Shaun: You are digging when you include folks like Kerik on your list. Kerik was a failed nomination (which I noted TPMuckraker included to pad out the list). How many failed nominations did Clinton have?
Again, cabinet members under criminal investigation.
Clinton: 5 Bush: 0
(Hmmmm…suddenly I feel as if I am in the stands at a baseball game comparing stats with Shaun and Kritter…”Yah Marlowe, we may have more criminals…but you got worse ones…buncha GOP pervs…throw da bums out!”)
Well, since the DOJ has been totally politicized, I guess we’ll never know how many investigations have been compromised will we Marlowe? It helps to appoint your personal crony and loyalist to the post of AG, doesn’t it?
AustinRoth…I agree. The “culture of corruption” is bipartisan for sure.
Look at Pelosi’s family desmesnes in the Bay area, with its fingers in all sorts of regulatory shenigans my spies in the area tell me.
Or Reid…whose 5 sons are ALL lobbyists in Washington.
But I disagree with you, as I think most Americans find personal enrichment in office particularly troubling. Hence, Reid and Pelosi go to great lengths to cover their tracks…it is when the arrogance is so blatant – as with Abramoff’s various perks to GOP members – that they don’t bother covering their tracks that a backlash occurs.
“It helps to appoint your personal crony and loyalist to the post of AG, doesn’t it?”
And Reno wasn’t a Clinton loyalist? She provided what cover she could.
But when Clinton staffers order the FBI Security Clearance files of top GOP officials of the previous administration for review?
When a missing file turns up magically in the personal area of the White House with Hillary’s fingerprints literally all over it…and the First Lady denies every seeing it?
What was Reno to do?
Gonzo the Great is a doorknob, and can’t cover his own butt, let alone the entire Bush adminstration. Fortunately, he didn’t have to work as hard as Reno.
(Yikes…am almost late…pushing the envelope here…damn addictive TMV….)
I agree with ARoth in that suffocating science is a separate category of corruption and a more troubling one than personal greed. It cuts the air supply from our ability to understand and cope with national and world problems.
I hate, abhor and detest this war of who was/is worse, Clinton or Bush. Even if Clinton had been the worst president ever, that says nothing about what is going on currently.
Children of the world: two wrongs don’t make a right.
I hope we have higher standards that just being one notch better than the worst jerk.
Marlowecan – I didn’t say that personal enrichment was OK, or not troubling, just that it is more understandable, and less of a reflection on more senior administration officials.
It is a singular act of the individual, and his/her conspirators, rather than de facto evidence of an organized, multi-level effort stretching up through an administration to subvert government or justice, depending on the specifics of any given action like this.
I think that Gonzalez and the AG firings (even if they didn’t break the law), and this issue (which also likely did not break the law) are good examples of that. Those are not ‘policy disputes’ in the classic sense.
Feinstein, everyone involved with Abramoff, others from current and past administrations looking for a fast and easy buck, while guilty of crimes and deserving of punishment, didn’t set off to corrupt entire processes and disable various checks and balances, just skirt them for financial greed.
I see them as different, both worthy of condemnation and scorn, but one is, in MY mind, a more serious breach of national interests.
Keeping score is silly. This isn’t sports. This is the heart and soul of American government.
I repeat: Bush campaigned vigorously on a promise to clean up the filth in Washington. Clinton never claimed that he would. By that “score,” the Bush administration has done far worse and it has nearly two years to go.
Interesting. Who were they and what were the results of the investigations?
Former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy walked out of the federal district court in Washington yesterday afternoon cleared of all corruption charges brought against him by Independent Counsel Donald Smaltz.
Donald Smaltz, a Los Angeles defense attorney, spent four years and $17 million investigating charges Espy illegally accepted more than $30,000 in gifts from businesses and lie to investigators.
Sounds like Smaltz should have been investigated. But seriously, other than Cisneros, who was convicted I believe of lying to investigators about money he gave to his mistress, which cabinet members were convicted?
Reagan certainly changed things in Nicaragua with his war of terror. What about when he commited treason by selling arms to Iran. I suppose that changed things too.
Reagan should have lived out his last years in a cold prison. Maybe he’s not the best role model for our Presidents.
I’m not sure that qualifies as treason. But it was pretty bad.
And he made it even worse by keeping the America carrier battle group at sea off the coast of Iran for over 100 days while he was sealing the deal. I remember every one of those days.
But hey, he never got a blow job.
Davebo,
The sale of arms to Iran violated U.S. law. Iran was an avowed enemy.
Our Constitution defines treason as giving”Aid and Comfort” to our enemies. Giving them weapons certainly constitutes aid.
Chris – but it doesn’t define ‘enemies’, and generally, for the purpose of charges of treason, that is defined as countries we have declarations of war or hostilities against.
I agree with Davbo, that Reagan violated US law, but that it didn’t qualify as treason.
Chris,
I’m not about to defend Iran/Contra. But we weren’t at war with Iran at the time. Definately illegal (and a scandal that makes Lewinskygate seem laughable) but not treasonous in my opinion.
And I only point that out because far too many people are throwing that word around of late.
Anyway, after the Clinton years with it’s loads of Special Prosecutors tossing money around like it was confetti, I think the public was a bit tired of it all.
Now we reap the results.
Let’s see:
1) U.S. law prohibited arms sales to Iran
2) U.S.-Iran had no official diplomatic ties, Iran was considered an enemy
3) Iran had very recently held U.S. hostages, and was believed to be holding hostages at the time through Hezbollah
But I suppose it depends on what the definition of is is… and the Vietnam war was not a war but a police action.
Marlowe- Reno was loyal to Clinton, but she didn’t follow him up from Arkansas. As far as I know she never got him out of jury duty so that his DWI wouldn’t surface in the press (while he was governor). She didn’t fill the ranks of the justice system with inexperienced ideologues. She never pushed the USA’s to prosecute voter fraud and issue indictments to prominent Democrats before an election.
And if you go back to Gonzo’s hearing you see much broader access to Justice by the WH in the Bush years. During Clinton, there were 4 people who could access the AG- Bush over 400!
And I don’t remember her being called on cronyism by members of her own party. There’ s a huge difference- under Gonzo there has been a systematic attempt by the WH to politicize the US Atty position and stymie ongoing corruption investigations.
The Clinton investigations were lead by Dimmesdale, Burton and Starr. The Republicans lead a witch hunt and even worried about “socks” the cat. Pedophiles and adulters versus a cat?
That’s right, Rudi. There was an investigation into “Socks” the cat’s fan club , and whether federal funds had paid for it. The Republicans took it very seriously deliberating in special hearings over 800 hours about it. However, in the end Socks was never indicted and left the WH a free cat. So at that time at least, there was still some justice left in the world. They did blow over 100 million on the Starr investigation to come up with the little blue dress. Money well spent, I should say!
here’s where the analysis falls apart, and calls into question not only the integrity of the writer but their abilities.
Johnnie Frazier, Commerce OIG. Yes, he’s in trouble. Yes, he’s a little corrupt. I know the details.
Now you want to know the facts?
1. He’s a CAREER Commerce employee, going back more than 30 years.
2. He was an OIG employee for many years when, because of the problems of Frank DeGeorge (previous OIG), he was appointed IG. DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. HE IS NOT A BUSH APPOINTEE BUT A CLINTON APPOINTEE
3. The man is OPENLY and unabashedly a LIBERAL and a DEMOCRAT. He was retained as OIG when Bush took over, more than likely because he was there, he is cooperative and his is a MINORITY.
once again, when you make such STUPID mistakes, it calls into question your journalistic ability.
Actually that distinction isn’t true at all, Shaun: Clinton went to Washington claiming that he’d run “the most ethical administration in history”, remember? And I’m not sure why it matters whether or not a president has made that promise. Shouldn’t we expect that they all clean up their acts? Why a higher standard if one says one is going to be ethical? And if you are going to put the lens on those who promise to clean up corruption, you may want to take a look at our new Congressional leaders- how are they doing so far?
I’m not interested in keeping score, but if you write a post that is based on the idea that things in this administration are unprecedented, then you have to expect the comparisons. The ethics problems in DC are abominable, and that includes this administration and past ones as well as the recent Congresscritters of both parties.
There’s another twist to the score keeping. First score as many points as you can, and then proclaim that you’re not interested in keeping score.
I’m waiting for the next variety: I’m not interested, but as long as we’re on the subject, let me just pont out that…..
of course, Clinton had quite a FEW scandals — including his OWN personal, tawdry behavior, resulting him in being disbarred.
Whitewater
Cattlegate
Nannygate
Helicoptergate
Travelgate
Gennifer Flowersgate
Filegate
Vince Fostergate
I wonder where those Whitewater billing records came fromgate
Paula Jonesgate
Federal Building campaign phone callgate
Lincoln bedroomgate
White House coffeegate
Donations from convicted drug and weapons dealersgate
Buddhist Templegate
Web Hubbell hush moneygate
Lippogate
Chinese commiegate – Clinton was practically endorsed by red China Update!
Let’s blame Kenneth Starrgate
Zippergate/interngate – the Lewinsky affair itself
Perjury and jobs for Lewinskygate – the aftermath
Willeygate
Web Hubbell prison phone callgate
Selling Military Technology to the Chinese Commiesgate
Coverup for our Russian Comrades as Wellgate
Wag-the-Dog-gate
Jaunita Broaddrick gate
PBS-gate
Email-gate
Vandalgate
Lootergate
Pardongate
You forgot Socksgate and Christmas cardgate.
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