Live Blog IV: Monica Goodling

Do NOT Recommend this Diary.  Recommend the Master:
Monica Goodling vs. House Judiciary Committee Liveblog

Links
C-Span3 with Links to View or Listen
Drational's Goodling Testimony Preview. Some great analysis by drational, as always.

Master Diary by Live Blog is Here.  Rec only the Master.

List of Volunteers

  1. Live Blog

  2. donnamarie

  3. asimbagirl

  4. joanneleon

  5. shayera

  6. gchaucer2

  7. Crashing Vor

  8. boofdah

  9. kate petersen

 10. roadette

 11. On The Bus

 12. Miss Blue

 13. Sassy

14.
15.
16.
17.

 18. fabooj

19.
20.

The usual rules apply:

   * No pictures please as a courtesy for ALL users.
   * New diary starts when current one reaches around 250 comments.

•  "EARS" evaluations?

  by Pyewacket on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:19:53 AM PDT

  •  Covered at length with GONZO

    its the annual audit of the US Attorney offices

    by Wisper on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:20:45 AM PDT

  •  So far, I don't see any justification for the

    immunity.  Any attorneys out there explain this?

    by feelingsickinMN on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:21:10 AM PDT

    •  Just the political

      considertion in hiring issue thus far.  She's full of it and I hope SJC gets a whack at her.

      by gchaucer2 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:15 AM PDT

      •  Goodling said she pleaded the fifth

        because McNulty was trying to blame her for not preparing him to testify properly.  She claims he lied in his testimony and blamed her.

        by Boston Boomer on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:28 AM PDT

        •  I expected some serious revelations from Ms.

          Monica in return for the immunity.  Where's the incriminating stuff??????  People already knew about the improper hiring; there are witnesses out there.  So WHY was she granted immunity when they could have got her on this anyway, if they wanted?  Her testimony is not necessary on this issue.  WHY THE IMMUNITY?

          by feelingsickinMN on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:36:55 AM PDT

          •  She's a liar.

            Let's hope the pathetic Dems call her on it.  She also admitted to some criminal acts, but her testimony can't be used against her.  Perjury can though.

            by Boston Boomer on Wed May 23, 2007 at 03:19:23 PM PDT

    •  She just admitted her guilt

      though she "didn't mean to."

      by Timroff on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:28:57 AM PDT

  •  If I understand EARS correctly

    they are performance reviews for the USAs.

    by kml on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:21:14 AM PDT

  •  Go Bobby Go!

    Finally calling a felon a felon!

    by never forget 2000 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:59 AM PDT

•  Thanks for posting the diary. n/t

  by gchaucer2 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:21:24 AM PDT

  •  indeed, thanks

    but can we please ask the following (I admit I asked it last diary)

    Guilty of it myself in the previous diaries, can we avoid having 19 people breathlessly point out the exact same thing?

    Perhaps we can designate one or two people who can point out the running score, kinda like a baseball "Play by play" commentator, and the rest of us can take the secondary "color commentary" job...

    by Timroff on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:48 AM PDT

    •  Timroff

      I think that multiple postings is pretty typical of group live blogging. Is it that big a deal for you to scroll down? Not being snarky - really wondering why it's an issue for you,

      thanks,

      Lisa

      by Boston to Salem on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:28:38 AM PDT

      •  If we take a break in everyone repeating the same

        thing, the liveblog will fill up less quickly, and we can pay more attention to the commentary. Let's have a chance for dialogue like this rather than just scroll, scroll, scrolling along.

        by Timroff on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:31:04 AM PDT

    •  Kepp posting that

      maybe it will take eventually LOL.  Fabian has a transcription diary where s/he is doing just that.  It's still on the recent list.

      by donnamarie on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:29:47 AM PDT

      •  I like having something to reference within

        the diary -- just not from everyone.

        What if the diarist for that particular live blog diary was the play-by-play person? Do the play-by-play in the actual diary and leave the comments for people to, well, comment?

        Then people with slow connections can keep an eye on the actual testimony (by turning comments off and just refreshing the diary) and the rest of us can comment away like usual.

        by Timroff on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:42:37 AM PDT

    •  i like this idea

      two teams, if you will.  it's got merit, but there's no way to get it going for today.  next round, though...

      by Cedwyn on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:38:12 AM PDT

•  Performance evaluations (EARS)

  Aren't necessarily reviews of the USAs; they're about the "nuts and bolts of the offices".

  This girl can spin, spin, spin.

  Small wonder that she was "promoted" 5 times in 5 years.

  by Jennifer Clare on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:21:28 AM PDT

  •  Her positronic subroutines

    were embedded deeply in her neural net.

    by litigatormom on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:33:16 AM PDT

•  Monica's Strategy so far

  1. Blame Sampson and McNulty (Already fired) for all the ills.

  2. Minimize her known role in working with Jennings in dealing with Griffin.

  3. Be FULLY candid about her Hatch act violations, for which she has immunity.

  She is being a Loyal Bushie, obscuring the WH role.
  
  She continues her mission of serving the administration, but not the Constitution.

  Dems need to:

  1. Forget her nasty Hatch Act Violations

  2. Focus on her role with Jennings and Griffin.

  3. Focus on her role in the coverup.  Who was asking her to research firing justifications?  Was there any Justification that she saw, before the firing?

  by drational on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:21:29 AM PDT

  •  Ask how she could be liaison w/o talking to peopl

    by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:31 AM PDT

    •  Because she is so shy and hates talking

      What a chatterbox!

      by bernardpliers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:23:38 AM PDT

  •  Why not lie??

    There doesn't seem to be a downside to it.

    by Da Rock on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:32 AM PDT

  •  McNulty and Sampson resigned,

    didn't they?  I don't think anyone has been fired in the miserable, God forsaken Justice Department except the U.S. attorneys.

    by Boston Boomer on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:27:11 AM PDT

    •  Mostly resignations

      Most (all ?) of the US attorneys in question resigned.

      Above a certain level, you aren't fired, you are asked to resign.

      by Frank Palmer on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:18:26 AM PDT

  •  "I didn't mean to violate the Hatch Act"

    Translation from Bushit to English: "I didn't mean to get caught."

    Unintended hilarious comment: reporting that William Mercer, USA for Montana resident in D.C.,  criticized by Montana judges for never being there, criticizing David Iglesias for being an absentee landlord.

    Only problem with USA Replacement Plan: we didn't tell the fired prosecutors the trumped up reasons for firing them.

    by litigatormom on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:32:30 AM PDT

•  God, I wish the Senate was doing this!!!

  No real hard questioning--and not long enough time.

  Meanwhile, she's lying through her teeth!!

  by Phil S 33 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:21:34 AM PDT

  •  Will the Senate get a shot?

    by MrBoomer on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:48 AM PDT

    •  Not sure--probably not.

      by Phil S 33 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:31 AM PDT

      •  bugger.

        by MrBoomer on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:19:36 AM PDT

•  Slow the F down already!!!

  Try a little content rather than max words that mean nothing.

  Sounds like my teenager.

  by Da Rock on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:01 AM PDT

  •  The curse of many

    30 somethings and below -- speed talking goes along with their frigging text messaging.  Hence, Dana Perino's blather.

    by gchaucer2 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:05 AM PDT

    •  omg

      like what the heck are you talking about we do not! cause i was telling my friend the other day oh my god these old people just talk soooooo slowohmygod!!! and then they're all like "bla bla bla" and "whatever" and i'm all "jeez come on stfu!!" and they're all like stop talking so much and i'm all make me omg rofl!!!!

      by my pet rock on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:35 AM PDT

      •  tl; dr.

        heh

        by JLongs on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:34:54 AM PDT

  •  No - in a way it is great because she'll slip

    up going that fast - it is likely.

    by inclusiveheart on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:06 AM PDT

•  "Evaluating" meaning, screening for Bushiness

  by bumblebums on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:07 AM PDT

•  Nadler

  N: to assert fifth amendment privilege, in effect you are aware of crimes that have been committed... what crimes are you aware of

  G: don't believe i committed any

  G: believed dep atty general implied

  N: you testif that mcnulty which you said wasn't correct in all respects, you talk about he testif that he didn't have any knowledge about how griffin ... status of AR came up freq in your conversations... he testif that he didn't know griffin caged black votes... these would seem to be direct contradictions... dep AG misinformed

  G: i gave him a lot of info, he had it but didn't use it

  N: he said things directly contrary

  G: conclusions for others to draw

  N: about asking pol questions of nonpolitical hirings... robin aston... accord to article - had a "Monica problem" ... did you seek to deny her a promotion because was a dem

  G: not my decision... was actually excited about ms aston, we would complement each other very well... two type A women

  N: you didn't?

  G: don't really recall

  N: you've said you asked political questions

  G: yes but let me clarify

  N: did anyone tell you or agree that you ask such types of questions

  G: in some cases related to immigr judges, WH legal counsel said we could consider other factors in those cases... civil div came to diff decision... we froze hiring in rel to immigr judges... there were some other times i was asked to consider republicans

  by joanneleon on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:13 AM PDT

•  one of the important things that's been lost

  is that the USAs serve at the pleasure of the preznit - hell - I keep forgetting that - it's a good thing that the rethugs are willing to remind us.
  
  
  ````
  peace
  
  

  by peace voter on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:14 AM PDT

•  Job Repsonsibilities

  1. Hiring political appointees - one of 3 or 4 evaluating hires

  2. Information requests btw White House & DOJ (ie: she was the travel agent)

  3. Morale boosting - she was Julie the Cruise Director - who wanted to go the White House & meet famous people

  by thebes on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:17 AM PDT

  •  But she never talked to Rove or Miers

    by Niniane on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:26 AM PDT

  •  I couldn't believe that one

    When people like the Stanley Cup winners came to the White House, Little Miss Goodling Twoshoes arranged for people from the DOJ to come over and meet them. That's the job of the White House liason. Oh my God.

    by dotsright on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:46 AM PDT

    •  Proves to me what I've said for a long time

      We could eliminate a LOT of political appointees and not lose anything in terms of productivity.

      by leevank on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:28:23 AM PDT

      •  AT LEAST

        2 of every three could be dismissed and things would be no different.

        by wozzle on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:43:15 AM PDT

        •  I would abolish all non-career SES positions

          The great majority of the people who occupy these positions, in both Democratic and Republican administrations, are far from being what anybody in their right mind would call "senior executives."  There have been a number of them who came directly from positions as associates in law firms.

          by leevank on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:51:58 AM PDT

    •  and she hired and fired

      US attorney's--BUT did she make good coffee as well?

      by Wary on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:43:55 AM PDT

      •  Good Coffee?

        No, but apparently she made a great tour guide when Stanley Cup champions were coming to the White House.

        by dotsright on Fri May 25, 2007 at 08:03:30 AM PDT

•  "nuts and bolts of the offices"

  how many nuts an bolts you got in yours?

  by signalcamp on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:20 AM PDT

•  Thanks for the smooth flow of these diaries! n/t

  by Its any one guess on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:34 AM PDT

•  OMG, I can't take her speed rap anymore!!!!

  by Pyewacket on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:22:56 AM PDT

•  Her job was getting DOJ employees

  face time with Stanley Cup champions.  Ahhhh. . .

  by Crashing Vor on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:23:01 AM PDT

  •  Seriously. WTF?! n/t

    by pontechango on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:27 AM PDT

    •  I've been saying the same thing

      for about 7 years now.

      by willers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:05:10 AM PDT

•  So she's a

  fuking cheerleader?

  Why didn't the guy from NY ask her WHO (name a name) WHO decided why political affiliation mattered??????

  by PsychoSavannah on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:23:07 AM PDT

  •  This is just BS, pain & simple

    If you read even just a handful of the emails, she's right in the middle of everything.

    by thebes on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:01 AM PDT

•  The immaculate aggregation

  Did you ever see the list?

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:23:21 AM PDT

  •  rofl

    by bumblebums on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:00 AM PDT

  •  Wish I could rec you 10 times for that comment!

    by Jennifer Clare on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:12 AM PDT

•  LOL, "morale-boosting" events

  Hey, who wants to see Chimpy McCokespoon board Marine I?

  by boofdah on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:23:31 AM PDT

  •  She bought the donuts n/t

    by bernardpliers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:24 AM PDT

•  Hmmm "Moral Boostings" for employees.

  Took a fair amoung of time - so that appointees could go to the White House for special events.

  Interesting little program - she says it took the most time.

  by inclusiveheart on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:03 AM PDT

  •  Morale Boosting?

    Wasn't the "other" Monica doing something like that?

    by Niniane on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:52 AM PDT

  •  A number of years ago, we had a guy in our office

    in charge of arranging things like that for summer law clerks.  I thought it was a ridiculous waste of time for them.  The idea that political appointess were wasting time doing that kind of thing is fairly shocking to me.

    by leevank on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:30:09 AM PDT

  •  yeah -

    she's the fucking cruise director for the White House.

    Lisa

    by Boston to Salem on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:33:01 AM PDT

    •  And if you're a Democrat you can't get on

      the boat!  Woo hoo - shuffle board is starting on the Lido Deck right now people and the President is going to be there.

      by inclusiveheart on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:36:09 AM PDT

•  Lawyers smiles at the Stanley Cup line.

  You know that he coached that to make her look like an insignificant patsy.

  by Night Owl on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:10 AM PDT

  •  Why control personell ??

    So, if she was a "morale booster," why did the AG name her as one of the two people to whom he delegated US attorney personnell matters??

    by Frank Palmer on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:25:23 AM PDT

•  Didn't the "other" Monica also do some

  "morale" boosting??

  by Da Rock on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:22 AM PDT

•  So basically she was Julie the Cruise Director

  I think we called in the wrong little girl

  by Wisper on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:22 AM PDT

  •  That's what they want you to think. n/t

    by Night Owl on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:27:25 AM PDT

•  asdf

  This is just a huge waste of time

  by BDA in VA on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:26 AM PDT

  •  I don't think I intended to commit crime.

    Jeez either you did or you didn't intend.

    by Da Rock on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:43 AM PDT

  •  So Far, But

    isn't Rep. Watters on this Committee? She asks it like it shd. be asked.

    by Existentialist on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:27:02 AM PDT

•  Culture of loyalty more important!

  Hiring incompetents par for the Bush admin

  by Its any one guess on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:24:45 AM PDT

•  Don't REC this thang

  by RF on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:04 AM PDT

•  I think

  she is auditioning for the chipmunks

  by folgers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:15 AM PDT

  •  Alvin and the Chipmunks

    C-H-I-P-M-U-N-K

    We're the Chipmunks!
    Guaranteed to Brighten Your Day! :)

    by cskendrick on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:30:20 AM PDT

    •  My favorite Falwell moment--

      Around 20 years ago on the Jerry Falwell xmas special they had three guys from Liberty University on their knees wearing bathrobes lipsyncing to the Chipmunks' Christmas Song. At the end, Jerry did the segue out with an avuncular shake of the head, saying "Oh, those pesky Chipmunks". It was a sureal moment.

      by homogenius on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:02:53 AM PDT

      •  so that is what he was into.

        if tinky winky had been into nibbling wood he would not have been chastised.

        by AltruisticSkeptic on Wed May 23, 2007 at 10:49:06 AM PDT

•  Forget the editorializing, Scott

  ASK QUESTIONS

  But not about Hatch Act issues.
  It's the firing.

  by drational on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:15 AM PDT

  •  She's got immunity

    Get to the others

    by drational on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:26 AM PDT

  •  Right on!

    Why do the soap box?

    by mayan on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:41 AM PDT

•  "I don't believe I intended to commit a crime."

  OK then, where did you lose your way?

  by MajorFlaw on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:21 AM PDT

•  !!! I don't believe I intended to commit a crime

  by bumblebums on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:26 AM PDT

  •  No criminal ever

    'intends' to commit a crime. Or at least, that's what they'll tell you.

    by mmacdDE on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:45:42 AM PDT

•  "I don't believe"

  should have been the drinking game phrase!

  by PsychoSavannah on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:25:36 AM PDT

  •  it is. Vodka.

    Ao far it's working.I haven't smashed the TV.

    by TheMomCat on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:28:04 AM PDT

  •  that would explain

    the haze i've been living in for the last few weeks...

    +hiccup+

    by my pet rock on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:28:56 AM PDT

•  Answer the question Monica

  Dodger.  Was it legal??? or not.   "Crossed the line"   Man, she took Spin 101.

  by pink panther on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:10 AM PDT

  •  That was a required general ed. course

    at Nutball University where she got her "law" degree.

    by willers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:08:22 AM PDT

•  "I don't believe I intended to commit a crime"

  But I do believe if you heathens ever got your hands on those documents I have under my pillow you would know damn sure I committed a crime.

  by geomoo on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:12 AM PDT

  •  First thing you learn in law school

    Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Regent U right?

    by never forget 2000 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:29:01 AM PDT

  •  as someone said on another thread

    the traffic cop doesn't care whether I intended to be speeding.

    by TrueBlueMajority on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:34:08 AM PDT

•  Rep Scott from Virginia...

  asking whether she believed they were illegal.  Is it illegal to take political considerations into account?

  She took political considerations into account?  

  He's pressing her...she admits that she crossed the law.  She didn't mean to.  Boo hoo...poor you!

  by mayan on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:16 AM PDT

•  So on some occasions she "broke' the law

  she can't ADMIT SHE BROKE THE LAW...didn't mean it though...BLAH

  by Its any one guess on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:17 AM PDT

•  There is no Monica Goodling

  this is really Dana Perino with a long blonde wig.  Has anyone ever seen them together in the same room?

  Squeaky-voiced, motormouthed, blonde, neocon clone.

  by greggp on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:19 AM PDT

  •  Well, the do come from the same factory.

    Just like most of these Republican women we see.

    by Rasputin on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:35:49 AM PDT

    •  I found Ann Coulter

      in the irregular department.

      by willers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:09:30 AM PDT

      •  Excellent!

        by Rasputin on Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:10:43 AM PDT

•  I don't believe I intended to commit a crime

  Nice.

  by Dr Colossus on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:20 AM PDT

  •  What a great line!!!!

    by Phil S 33 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:27:34 AM PDT

•  Bobby Scott's nailing her to the wall

  by bumblebums on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:23 AM PDT

•  "I broke the law"

  "... but I didn't mean to!"

  Holy shit!

  by schlouse on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:24 AM PDT

•  Who is questioning

  I missed it.

  by gchaucer2 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:24 AM PDT

  •  Bobbie Scott

    from Virginia.

    by mayan on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:27:14 AM PDT

    •  Thanks.

      by gchaucer2 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:27:45 AM PDT

  •  Bobby Scott - D-VA

    by PsychoSavannah on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:28:02 AM PDT

•  She's a freaking lawer! Answer the question!

  by ArgusRun on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:27 AM PDT

•  G: i crossed the line of civil service rules

  scott: civil service laws.

  dohhhhhh...

  G: i didn't mean to.

  by MarketTrustee on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:29 AM PDT

  •  Rules ...

    she only went as far as civil service "rules."

    by Caneel on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:27:40 AM PDT

•  Rep Scott D-VA

  was it illegal to take political considerations into account when hiring?

  Won't admit breaking the law, but she "crossed the line".

  by MyBrainWorks on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:30 AM PDT

•  Haha. She's gonna start crying. She knows she's

  in trouble now.

  by pontechango on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:30 AM PDT

•  I only believe in GAWD!!!!

  by Da Rock on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:31 AM PDT

•  I believe I crossed the lines

  but I didn't mean to.

  by ukben on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:31 AM PDT

•  Scott nails her!!!!!

  "I crossed the line--didn't mean too!!!"

  by Phil S 33 on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:31 AM PDT

•  Monica Is a Major Chattering Bullshitter

  Give her enough rope. She is not used to having people review or question her BS. Her testimony will not stand up to review.

  by bernardpliers on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:35 AM PDT

•  and we've got a lawbreaking winner!

  She admitted it, even in that terrible, evasive language, she admitted crossing the line and breaking civil service rules.

  Ladies and gentlemen, that is a gun, and smoke is billowing from it.

  by wolverinethad on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:43 AM PDT

•  "I know I crossed the line"

  "I didn't mean to to break the rules".

  Scott:  "Laws.  you broke the laws"

  Good.:  "I didn't mean to"

  Hang her high!

  by PsychoSavannah on Wed May 23, 2007 at 08:26:45 AM PDT

  • <