Astounding new facts in the Republican prosecution of former Alabama Governor are coming out. The story is a microcosm of what is wrong with the Republican Party today, and how far off the rails they have flown.
Please watch this excellent backgrounder on 60 Minutes if you haven't lately and read my Diary if you are interested in the latest developments:
http://www.cbsnews.com/...
60 Minutes describes how this case is a political hatchet job. Even the "crime" charge was a farce. Governor Siegelman was charged with soliciting money for a state lottery to benefit education in return for putting the donator on a board. By that standard the Fox-Republican officials and politicians are all twice as guilty - they appoint their cronies for everything, and are buddy buddy with Big Oil, the defense industry and so many others (for example: campaign contributions for light regulation).
And the key witness was a crook who gave so many changing stories to the inJustice Department that he had to be interviewed no less than 70 times - and, oh yes, the inJustice Department forgot to tell the defense about this like they were required to by law. And the key meeting in which Siegelman supposedly walked out of a meeting with a check? Turns out it's not possible that it happened because in reality the check was not cut until several days later. But then again who cares about Justice when you are dealing with the fops (Fox-Republican officials and politicians)?
Now, to get to the new part (sorry to take so long), remember the part of the 60 Minutes story in which the reporter recounts how the Justice Department says that US Attorney with ties to Karl Rove's buddy recused herself? Turns out that's a lie. She gave the case to her direct reports and stayed involved up to the second, guiding strategy, according to emails turned over by a whistleblower.
And remember the part of the 60 Minutes story in which the reporter says the Justice Department says a jury of Siegelman's peers found him guilty. Turns out that's a lie too. The same whistleblower brought to light evidence of jury tampering by the Justice Department and serious problems with the jury that normally would result in a mistrial.
You can read the sordid details here: http://www.time.com/...
In fact, just about everything the inJustice Department under Bush says about this case or anything else for that matter is a huge lie.
The Republicans have a really sorry track record of illegality and corruption over the past 8 plus years. Funny how rampant corruption and incompetence go hand in hand.
And by the way, as I type this Karl Rove is still not showing up to explain this as required by his subpoena.
There's something we need to do for America, for future generations, and for the Republican Party itself: clean it up and hold them accountable to the same laws they were derelict in enforcing.