Reply #6: Connecting the Dots: Bush, Abramoff and Rove = "Gal Friday" Susan Ralston

[L. Coyote]

One thing we can be sure of, Karl does not want us to focus on, Susan Ralston,
Jack Abramoff's aide who moved into the White House to work as his assistant too.
And, Karl does not want you to focus on the e-mail conspiring to keep Abramoff
requests out of the official WH e-mail system, to better serve the lobbyists interests!!

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Connecting the Dots: Abramoff and Rove
Jan 09, 2006 - http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/nataffdaily/story/9130607/connecting_the_dots_abramoff_and_rove

Did you know that Jack Abramoff and Karl Rove shared an executive assistant?

In 2001, Karl Rove needed a Gal Friday, someone to help oversee the "strategic planning, political affairs, public liaison, and intergovernmental affairs efforts of the White House."

He chose Susan Ralston, who came highly recommended from a friend: Jack Abramoff. Ralston performed similar duties for the Don of K Street -- that is until Abramoff realized she'd be far more useful embedded in the West Wing. (Ralston had also previous worked for Abramoff and Rove's fellow College Republican crony Ralph Reed.) ....


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Rove's Worrisome Witness
Robert D. Novak - May 17, 2007; Page A17 - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/16/AR2007051602397.html

On the day presidential senior adviser Karl Rove administered a tongue-lashing to a Republican congressman, disturbing news about his former executive assistant was spread on Capitol Hill. GOP House members learned that Susan Ralston is requesting immunity to testify before Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman's investigating committee.

She was an assistant to Jack Abramoff, Washington super-lobbyist and Republican fundraiser, in 2001 when he recommended her for the top job with Rove as he entered the White House. As Rove's gatekeeper, Susan Bonzon Ralston became special assistant to the president and the highest-ranking Filipino American in the administration. For Waxman, she is a link between the disgraced, imprisoned Abramoff and Rove, a principal political target of the Democratic-controlled Congress. ........


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The Abramoff/Reed Emails - http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1121969,00.html

Subject: Louisiana
From Abramoff to Ralston, Thursday, February 06, 2003, 4:24 p.m:
I don't want to bother you guys with a meeting request, so I was hoping you could pass on to Karl that Interior is about to approve a gaming compact and land in trust for a tribe which is an anathema to all our supporters down there. It's called the Jena tribe, and the politicos (!) at Interior (low-mid level) are agreeing to this. It will cause a major backlash from our coalition and is something which they should not do on the merits. I believe that Steve Griles over there would be opposed, but it's important, if possible, to get some quiet message from the WH that this is absurd. Thanks Susan.

From Ralston to Abramoff, Tuesday, February 11, 2003, 3:04 p.m.:
Karl and others are aware ....

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House Dems Want Former Abramoff, Rove Aide for Questions
By Paul Kiel - March 30, 2007 - http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/002930.php


Much to the chagrin of the White House, House Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) wants to hear from Susan Ralston.

Jack Abramoff's former personal assistant, Ralston became Karl Rove's assistant in 2001, where she was his "implant" at the White House.

But after a report last October by Waxman's committee (then chaired by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA)) showed that Ralston had accepted thousands of dollars in gifts from Abramoff without compensating him, she abruptly resigned.

At the time, the White House was clear that Ralston's resignation meant the end of the issue. "She recognized that a protracted discussion of these matterrs would be a distraction to the White House and she's chosen to step down," said deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino. "We support her decision and consider the matter closed."

But it's not closed ............. According to Time, Bush has ordered his aides to round up all pictures of him and Abramoff .....