Bush Administration's "War On Democrats"

Last night, I listened to a story on NPR about the growing resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan. I thought to of the failure to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden when we had the chance at Tora Bora. Inexplicably at the time, Bush did not want to commit the necessary troops and resources to the job in Afghanistan. Instead, these resources - we later learned - were being readied for a different war.

Of course, the war in Afghanistan had no political edge to it as it was supported by large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans; Americans in general. The wedge issue that would divide Democrats and pay dividends to Republicans in the 2002 and 2004 elections was declaring war on Iraq.

Getting Bin Laden was a casualty to the Bush administration's broader demostic policy of crushing the Democratic party.

Thus, only to the likes of a David Broder should it be a surprise that we are discovering the lengths to which the Bush administration has politicized the federal government. Despite the failure of many in the media to comprehend it, the US attorney scandal is not simply about Alberto Gonzales misleading Congress, but is about the use of some of our most important law enforcement resources - the US Attorneys and their offices - for political purposes. Cases against Republicans were being delayed or derailed and charges against Democrats were being chased to the ends of the Earth.

Today's big revelation is more of the same. It has now been learned that, prior to the 2004 election, Karl Rove's bagman, Scott Jennings, gave presentations to the heads of at least 15 federal agencies seeking their assistance in using their resources to assist in danger Republican candidates and to undercut targeted Democratic candidates. TPM Muckraker has the breakdown of the scheme.

The smoking gun evidence comes from Jennings' presentation to the GSA. From The Washington Post:

At its completion, GSA Administrator Lurita Alexis Doan asked how GSA projects could be used to help "our candidates," according to half a dozen witnesses. The briefer, J. Scott Jennings, said that topic should be discussed "off-line," the witnesses said. Doan then replied, "Oh, good, at least as long as we are going to follow up," according to an account given by former GSA chief acquisition officer Emily Murphy to House investigators, according to a copy of the transcript.

"Something was going to take place potentially afterwards" regarding Doan's request, GSA deputy director of communications Jennifer Millikin told investigators she concluded at the time.

The American taxpayers are not paying these people to play politics with their money. They work for everybody. As they have failed to understand this, they must go.

Start with Rove, Jennings and Doan. But ultimately, it all leads to Bush and Cheney.