As time moves and the scandals mount, every now and then it is good to pause and reflect on scandals past. Over this past weekend, I was considering creating a taxonomy of Bush Crime Family scandals so that each could be uniquely identified, with hopes of cross-referencing, and publishing the work in several volumes circa 2015-20 when they are complete.
Whilst reflecting on today's news about an ex-Deputy at Interior pleading guilty, I recalled a letter that I wrote to the good Senator from California almost exactly one year ago. Naturally, the good Senator never responded--they never do--but, every word of my letter was spot-on and I am glad I kept it. The only thing that I was in error about is the last line where I cynically say the crony would get a 94-5 vote; actually, it was by voice vote!
Lets get
today's felonout of the way:
Mr. Griles, 59, the Deputy Secretary of the Interior under Gale N. Norton from 2001 to 2004, was a high-profile lobbyist for oil and gas companies before joining the Bush administration. Once in office, he came under scrutiny for continuing contacts with his former industry clients, and then for his relationship with Mr. Abramoff. After leaving the Interior Department, he resumed his former career as a lobbyist.
Mr. Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to charges that stemmed from his lobbying activities, is now in prison. He has cooperated extensively with investigators.
A collective yawn. Another Bush Crime Family member to put on the stripes and serve a few months playing checkers in the break-room with a guy from Texas who embezzled money from his bank or something.
America has grown numb to the scandals. It is understandable, really.
But, here is my idea: Collect all the scandals by, say, cabinet level. Perhaps when looked at en masse, the quantity will at least make people look twice.
I have nothing. Screaming at the television, voodoo dolls, and burning tiny effigies of the Bush Crime Family are just not getting it done... Every Keith Olbermann show ought to be enough to have people march on D.C. with lit torches and chains, but, nothing happens...
Oh well.
March 16, 2006
Senator Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C.
VIA FACSIMILE
Re: The nomination of Dirk Kempthorne as Secretary of the Interior
Honorable Senator:
Greetings. As you are a member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, I write you today to voice my objection to the nomination of Mr. Dirk Kempthorne. As I am sure you know, his record in the State of Idaho is less than admirable with air quality significantly worse than when he began, and toxic emissions significantly higher than the national average. He also fought against the EPA in the Coeur d'Alene Basin Superfund clean up effort. And, I am sure you know that he is essentially a re-treaded crony of the Bush Administration having not been chosen for the EPA position. Naturally, he is an advocate of the Bush plan to open 58 million acres of national forest land to logging. Bush appointed Mr. Bogert—Kempthorne’s staff general counsel from 1999 to 2004 and Kempthorne’s private lawyer in 2005—who went on to help his former client fight the EPA's plans for an expanded Superfund cleanup at Kellogg, Idaho. Kempthorne also supported the Bush administration’s efforts to remove Idaho wolves from federal protection.
Also, Senator Feinstein, I wanted to bring to your attention my concern that the underlying reason for Norton’s departure—in addition to Abramoff ties—is her abysmal handling of the Indian Trust Matter aka Corbell v. Norton. Frankly, Senator, I am astonished that your committee hadn’t expressed more concern over this matter. Arguably, Norton should have been impeached.
Judge Lambeth, in an opinion in that matter wrote:
For those harboring hope that the stories of murder, dispossession, forced marches, assimilationist policy programs, and other incidents of cultural genocide against the Indians are merely the echoes of a horrible, bigoted government-past that has been sanitized by the good deeds of more recent history, this case serves as an appalling reminder of the evils that result when large numbers of the politically powerless are placed at the mercy of institutions engendered and controlled by a politically powerful few. It reminds us that even today our great democratic enterprise remains unfinished. And it reminds us, finally, that the terrible power of government, and the frailty of the restraints on the exercise of that power, are never fully revealed until government turns against the people.
This is relevant to the Kempthorne nomination as well. As Governor of Idaho, he negotiated with the Nez Perce Tribe over water rights in Idaho Kempthorne protected his special interest cronies by proposing an agreement which would protect irrigators, loggers, and landowners from endangered species-based lawsuits. Therefore, I do not believe he will treat Native Americans any differently than any other Bush appointee.
Senator, it goes without saying that he fits into the Administration quite well: He is against the environment, takes care of lining the pockets of his special interests, disregards native Americans, and is in general, is not the proper person to fill such an important position. He will fit in perfectly in this dysfunctional group in the White House. However, I think there is some value in going through the motions and opposing his nomination, even when the inevitable result will likely be a 94-5 vote.
Respectfully yours,
s James J. Risser
James J. Risser
It sickens me to the point of throwing-up a bit in the back of my throat when I re-read the letter; especially the words of Judge Lambeth. We are screwed. Does anyone care?