It's not as far-fetched as you might think. Patrick Fitzgerald's term ends this October, and there is no guarantee that he will be reappointed. Tradition holds that the President consults with a senator from his party in the state in question prior to appointing US Attorneys. However, both senators from Illinois are now Democrats (Durbin and Obama), it is not inconceivable that Chimpy McCokespoon will ask Hastert for his opinion.
Details below the fold.
Says former Republican senator Peter Fitzgerald (no relation) who originally recommended Patrick Fitzgerald for the job:
I'd be pleasantly surprised if Speaker Hastert recommended Patrick Fitzgerald for reappointment. But I'm beginning to sense that a lot of people, a lot of criminals, may hope that October brings them a new U.S. attorney in Chicago, one perhaps a little bit more malleable and acceptable to influence from leading Republicans and leading Democrats.
Now, keep in mind that this is only speculation at this point and it would be a pretty ballsy move to yank this guy at this stage in the game, but remember two things:
- The party is more important than anything else, including justice and the safety of our nation; and
- Sometimes, I think Idiot Boy does things just to prove that he can (e.g., Bolton) -- "It's my country and I'll run it however I please"
The full story is in the
Chicago Tribune.
[editor's note, by Matt in GA] I'm surprised at how many people in the comments section are dismissing this possibility out-of-hand. I agree that for a normal, logical, reality-based person, the idea of firing the person investigating you appears to be not only morally reprehensible but crooked and absurd as well. But, if we have learned anything from this administration, it's that they don't care anything at all about that stuff. When you recall that this is an administration that (a) lied to get us into a war that has seen tens of thousands of people killed; (b) explicitly condones (through threat of veto) the "blatantly sadistic, cruel and inhuman" treatment of people who haven't even been accused of a crime; and (c) overtly thumbs its nose at science in deference to religious fundamentalists and big business, I don't see the firing of a special prosecutor (or US Attorney) as that great of a stretch.