By Stewart N. Thorpe of Citizen Press Revolution
As if the FBI didn't have a gluttony of power enough granted to them by the Patriot Act, a watchdog (we need more watchdogs) exposed them to be illegally abusing their bloated Patriot Act granted powers. In response, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says that "there needs to be accountability, and so there will be accountability".
I couldn't roll my eyes back enough for this if I tried.
This same Attorney General Alberto Gonzales raised the possibility of prosecuting journalists in May 21, 2006 for leaking information about illegal activities of NSA surveillance. He doesn't believe in accountability. President Bush still has not been held accountable for breaching that law.
Not only does Gonzales not believe in accountability, he believes that those that expose illegal acts committed by the government should be threatened and intimidated.
It comes down to this. Both the FBI and President Bush were committing the same act: illegally obtaining information secretly.
As the media and people as a result have terribly short term memories, we need to put this event in its context.
After May 21, 2006, the political tables turned (slightly, don't kid yourself about any saintliness of Democrat politicians). The mid-term elections ended deridingly against the Bush Administration. Meanwhile, the political climate is edging (slowly) away from neoconservatism and its attitude that civil liberties and a free press are obstacles against America instead of what they are: guardians of democracy.
Gonzales, some people forget, was once being seriously considered for the Supreme Court when Sandra O'Connor stepped down. While many people have forgotten this, Gonzales certainly has not forgotten. And this is why he is upset, if he is upset at all. This might interfere and disrupt his record for consideration in the future for the Supreme Court.
Like the exposing of Bush's illegal spying activities, he is upset that a watchdog group exposed FBI's illegal spying activities. But this time around the political balance and climate has shifted. No longer can he effectively use the political terror tool of neoconservatism to justify the FBI's illegal spying activities.
Gonzales is a politician. Don't kid yourself that the Supreme Court is apolitical. Far from it, it is a political process and effort like any other branch of the government.
Gonzales is attempting to portray himself as a man about "accountability" and "the law" instead of the executive branch stooge that he is. Once being a Bush stooge gave one a lot of political power, the Bush ship, however, is demonstrating that it hasn't sunk to its lowest depths yet. It is still sinking. And Gonzales is trying to act like he isn't on the same ship too.
More Information on the new FBI scandal:
Schumer Calls on Gonzales to Step Down
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6473543,00.html
FBI broke law in prying, Gonzales, Mueller admit
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2007/03/10/news/news10031007.txt
