U.S. Attorney Political Firing Scandal

[Gilding the Lily]

A former top Justice Department aide, Monica M. Goodling testified on Wednesday that she had “crossed the line†in considering the political beliefs of applicants for nonpartisan legal jobs and suggested that earlier testimony by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and another top official about the dismissals of federal prosecutors may have been flawed.

That's not what I found interesting though.

At yesterday’s hearing on Capitol Hill, Steve Cohen, a freshman Democratic congressman from Tennessee, made much of Goodling’s alma mater, Regent University School of Law, a Christian-themed law school founded by Pat Robertson:

Cohen: “The mission of the law school you attended, Regent, is to bring to bear upon legal education and the legal profession the will of almighty God. What is the will of almighty God, our creator, on the legal profession?â€

Goodling: “I’m not sure that I could define that question for you.â€

Cohen: “Are you aware of the fact that in your graduating class, 50 to 60 percent of the students failed the bar the first time?â€

Goodling: “I know it wasn’t good.â€

Cohen then cited reports about the large number of Regent grads holding positions in the Bush administration.

Goodling: “I think we have a lot more people from Harvard and Yale.â€

Cohen: “That’s refreshing.â€


While I understand that Goodling's experience and competency should be questioned, I don't think that any generalizations about her school should automatically be considered as a reflection of her competency. The Congressman's question should have been: Monica, did you fail the bar the first time? Using the logic of the congressman, any person who went to Yale (98% bar passage rate) and failed the bar would automatically receive a get-free-pass because they went to an esteemed school.

 

[Smitty]

I think it is a valid line of questioning. She obviously could not have gotten into a better school. She had no experience she had no pedigree she had nothing. But she was still put in a powerufl position. Stoopid! I dont even think Fallwells school is acredited.

 

[delldude]

I don't see why this is such a revelation.Bill had one of the youngest staff's in years and i'm sure there are huge parallels here.

 

[Garfield1966]

They are addressing quality of education and religious motivation while you are discussing age? Did I miss the segue? How does age corelate to anything being discussed?

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

I don't see why this is such a revelation.Bill had one of the youngest staff's in years and i'm sure there are huge parallels here.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The 2 MOST DANGEROUS "things" here, in the good ol' USA.

More Dangerous than the Avian Flu, MORE Dangerous than Cancer;

RELIGIOUS FANATICS..........and.........BLIND PATRIOTS !!


NH/BB's

 

[delldude]

They are addressing quality of education and religious motivation while you are discussing age? Did I miss the segue? How does age corelate to anything being discussed?

She had no experience she had no pedigree she had nothing. But she was still put in a powerufl position.

Plain as pie Mr.Kitty.........

 

[Garfield1966]

Not really. Your reply has nothing to do with her age. It has to do with her qualifications. Your previous response dealt with her age which was not in question.

You last statement is quite true though. She has no legal history or background other than that she passed the bar exam. She never sat on a law review, never clerked for a judge ... nothing. Yet W hires her out of the RNC to be in the US attorneys office. Previous admins, republican included, hired top rate attorneys and did not base their hiring criteria primarily on their religious and or political beliefs. These attorneys are charged with protecting the Constitution. You would think a POTUS would take that duty a bit more seriously.

As NHB pointed out, religious fanatics and blind patriotism are quite dangerous. Cheney and Co just keep helping the Dems out. You would think they would learn.