How to suck up to the boss, Monica Goodling edition

An odd note from the recently released Monica Goodling files. During the weeks when she was busy purging U. S. Attorneys for investigating voter discrimination and replacing them with Karl Rove proteges she had a habit of tagging this quote to the end of her email messages:

"[W]e rededicate ourselves to the ideals that inspired our founders. During that hot summer in Philadelphia more than 200 years ago, from our desperate fight for independence to the darkest days of a civil war, to the hard-fought battles of the 20th century, there were many chances to lose our heart, our nerve, or our way. But Americans have always held firm, because we have always believed in certain truths: We know that the freedom we defend is meant for all men and women, and for all times. And we know that when the work is hard, the proper response is not retreat; it is courage." - President George W. Bush, July 4, 2005

"Tim needs to be carefully managed"

Following the catastrophic loss of both chambers of Congress, the A.G.'s office pushed forward in appointing Karl Rove's political apprentice, Tim Griffin, as a U.S. Attorney for Arkansas. Senators became alarmed when they realized that a clause in the recently reauthorized Patriot Act enabled the A.G. to appoint USA's without Senate confirmation.

From the House Judiciary Committee document dump:

From: Sampson, Kyle Friday, December 15,2006 4:45 PM
To: 'Oprisan. Christopher G.', Goodling, Monica

Importance: High

The Senators' Chiefs of Staff now have been notified of our intention (1) to put Griffin in as USA under an AG appointment and (2) to issue a press release our of DOJ today stating the same.

Chris, I think the While House (you) needs to continue the dialogue with the Senators re our desire to have the President nominate, and the Senate confirm. Griffin. They think they smell a rat, i.e., that we are doing an end around of their advice and consent authority by exercising the new, unlimited AG appointment authority.

Monica, please be sure that the Griffin meeting with Sen. Pryor gets scheduled.

Kyle Sampson
Chief of Staff
U.S. Department of Justice

This plan blew up when Arkansas Senator Pryor (D) objected to Griffin's appointment and the attempt to cut the Senate out of the process. The press quickly caught wind of the scandal and by February, Griffin was panicking and in daily contact with Monica Goodling over his status.

From: Sampson, Kyle, Friday, February 02, 2007 2:35 PM
To: Oprison, Christopher G.; Scott Jennings

Here's the letter the AG sent to Sen. Pryor this week. Bill and Sara both signed off on it; I should have sent to you two as well. I think it lays out the way forward pretty clearly.

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From: Oprison, Christopher G., Friday, February 02, 2007 2:42 PM
To: Sampson, Kyle

Was Tim provided a copy of this letter or informed of it in sum and substance. If not, should he, as a courtesy? I defer to you on that

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From: Sampson, Kyle Friday, February 02, 2007 2:45 PM
To: 'Oprison, Christopher G.'
Cc: Goodling, Monica

Tim needs to be carefully managed

monica (cc'd hereto) is the one here who tim calls regularly as tim is frequently calling you also, perhaps the two of you should compare notes
monica, what say you?

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From: Goodling, Monica Friday, February 02, 2007 2:57 PM
To: Sampson, Kyle; 'Oprison, Christopher G.'
Subject: RE: E.D. Ark. - Griffin

Yes, Tim and I speak daily. It's likely to be discussed on Tuesday at the hearing, so he should know. I pondered this yesterday, but when we spoke he was spun up and I didn't think it was the best time. Yesterday's issue has now been resolved, so barring any concerns from you guys, I'll let him know today that the AG and the Senator have continued their discussions and that the AG sent the letter up as part of that dialogue. (And share it with him.)

Griffin, Sampson and Goodling have since resigned.

Griffin now stands accused of engaging in voter "caging": attempting to deny Democrats the right to vote by challenging their residency status.

Let's find a way to blame Bill Clinton

From Monica Goodling's email files:

Andrea, do you want to send this to the Counsel's office? Please check this, but I think we have data on all the Clinton USA nominations in the last 3 years of his Administration - there were 19 new USAs. Can we make an argument that Pres. Bush has sent fewer nominations up (that it is quite normal for USAS to resign 2 years before the Admin ends), and how can we discover the circumstances of the Clinton Administration USA resignations? I will send out to judiciary staff soon. What do you think?

And her reply?

It is true that it is common for many U.S. Attorneys to move on for various reasons, but I don't think we want to say that we have sent fewer nominations up.

Clinton had only 122 nominated and confirmed U.S. Attorneys -- so about a third of his districts turned over and had two U.S. Attorneys nominated and confirmed. President Bush is already at 124 so we are running pretty close to the same amount of turnover right now, but our number will climb higher by the end.

From 1/1/1999 to 12/5/2000,19 Presidentially-appointed and senate-confirmed USAs resigned their positions.

Rats.

Darn Clinton.