Arkansas Blog: Tim's Law

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Tim's Law

It's gotten scant coverage in the mainstream media, but President Bush yesterday signed the law repealing his ability to use the Patriot Act to install U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation. Use of the provision to make former White House political deputy Tim Griffin the U.S. attorney in Little Rock led directly to this legislation and the growing controversy over the Bush administration's politicization of the Justice Department. Yes, Sen. Mark Pryor voted for the Patriot Act that included this unnoticed provision. But he dogged the issue sufficiently to get it fixed.

But.... not before Bush had used the Patriot Act exception one last time to put a U.S. attorney of his liking in place in California. The new law will give that appointee a maximum of four months as interim, however.

Posted by Max Brantley on June 15, 2007 09:24 AM | Permalink

Comments

and sans signing statement too (kind of a surprise)

p.s. i think JTG's statement yesterday (captured forever on video) about "public service... not worth it", should, in a properly functioning democracy, preclude forever any chance of elected office, by itself.

but then, Americans (and Arkies) are noted (rightly and regrettably) for giving Pols 2nd chances.

keep it all on file, i suspect it will be needed in the future, and many thanks for all the good work Max.

Posted by: muleboy303 | June 15, 2007 09:43 AM

and sans signing statement too (kind of a surprise)

but then, Americans (and Arkies) are noted (rightly and regrettably) for giving Pols 2nd chances.

keep it all on file, i suspect it will be needed in the future, and many thanks for all the good work Max.

Posted by: muleboy303 | June 15, 2007 09:43 AM

Four months is too long, and I don't care who is president.

Posted by: Knoc Knock | June 15, 2007 11:08 AM

Give me one night in a bank vault or a Tri-Delt house, I don't need 4 months to work my evil.

Posted by: Deathbyinches | June 15, 2007 01:17 PM

I heard that part about public service not being worth it too. If he really thinks that --- who would ever want to hire him to do anything government related - lobbying - legal work - anything.? And what right-minded politician would want to hire him for any campaign when he is against public service.

His claim to form a bi-partisan group is interesting -- I think any democrat who formed any group with a person with Tim Griffin's track record of misdeeds should be ousted from the party.

Posted by: hoglawyer | June 15, 2007 01:53 PM

The Brits seem much better at recognizing what is significant in Am politics. They ran the story on BBC reports last nite.

Posted by: Knoc Knock | June 15, 2007 03:09 PM

I did a google search for the signing and there was absolutely nothing in any MSM.

Think Progress had a good article on
Timmy's talk at Clinton School. Perhaps you posted it:
" Rove-Protege Tim Griffin Dismisses Caging: 'I Didn't Cage Animals, I'm Not A Zookeeper' "
click on Knoc

Posted by: Knoc Knock | June 15, 2007 03:15 PM

Knoc Knock- bingo. BBC world service radio is easily available online 24/7 and beats any US MSM, including most of NPR.

Posted by: Eureka Springs, AR | June 15, 2007 05:45 PM

I just heard that Mike Elston, Paul McNulty's chief of staff, is leaving the Justice Department next week. He's the guy who threatened the fired US Attorneys and told them to STFU. His departure leaves another vacuum that adds to the sucking sound around Gonzales.

Posted by: Cassandra | June 15, 2007 07:49 PM

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