Reply #6: McClatchy: E-mail excerpts show interest in preserving new powers

[maddezmom]

McClatchy: E-mail excerpts show interest in preserving new powers
E-mail excerpts show interest in preserving new powers
By Margaret Talev
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - In a remarkably candid series of emails, Justice Department officials said its new powers to appoint interim U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation offered the administration the chance to efficiently "get our preferred persons appointed" to the top prosecutors jobs.


Using the authority it quietly inserted into the USA Patriot Act that passed in March 2006, the officials discussed the prospected for a former operative for political adviser Karl Rove was appointed to the U.S. attorney's job in Arkansas, replacing one of eight suddenly fired by the administration.


"Our guy is in there so the status quo is good for us . . . note that he is qualified whenever asked, pledge to desire a Senate-confirmed U.S. attorney and otherwise hunker down," Kyle Sampson, former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, wrote in an e-mail in Dec. 19, 2006.


At the same time, Sampson wondered whether Rove aide Tim Griffin was "the guy on which to test drive this authority, but I know that getting him appointed was important to Harriet, Karl, etc.," Sampson wrote, referring to Harriet Miers, former White House Counsel and Karl Rove.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/16897238.htm

I think this may be the root of all.....preserving power!