'It's Like They're Bringing al Qaeda Lawyers Inside the Department of Justice'

The most honest, ethical, transparent administration ever, blah blah blah.

The Justice Department's disclosure that nine of President Obama's appointees had either represented or advocated for Guantanamo detainees has touched off a firestorm of criticism.

The surprising admission came three months after Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa asked Attorney General Eric Holder for a list of names of Obama DOJ appointees who had been involved in legal work for Gitmo prisoners.

Holder, in a letter to Grassley, admitted that nine of the agency's appointees had done some kind of work on behalf of terror suspects.

"To the best of our knowledge, during their employment prior to joining the government, only five of the lawyers who serve as political appointees in those components represented detainees," said Holder in the letter, which is dated Feb. 18.

Only five? Why, I feel better now know only five of Obama's appointees represented these monsters. Now if it were, say, six or seven, then I might have a problem with this insanity.

"Four others either contributed to amicus briefs in detainee-related cases or were otherwise involved in advocacy on behalf of detainees."

Holder refused to reveal the names of any of the DOJ lawyers who worked on behalf of terrorists or their positions in the department, except for two officials whose advocacy for Gitmo detainees had already been reported.

Neal Katyal, the department's principal deputy solicitor general, was once the lawyer for Osama bin Laden's driver. Jennifer Daskal, part of Obama's Detention Policy Task Force, advocated for detainees at Human Rights Watch.

Nice to see we have terrorist advocates in or Justice Department, huh?

But the revelation that the DOJ had staffers who had once backed America's enemies left many critics fuming.

"It's like they're bringing al Qaeda lawyers inside the Department of Justice," said Debra Burlingame, who lost her brother on 9/11 and a board member of the advocacy group Keep America Safe.

Long Island GOP Rep. Peter King said he was perplexed why Holder didn't reveal the names of appointees who had worked for terrorists.

A DOJ rep reiterated that no ethics codes were broken.

"The department's attorneys are subject to ethics and disclosure rules . . . which are the strongest in history," said spokesman Matthew Miller.

It's historic!

If the disclosure rules are so strong, how come we don't know their names? We pay their salaries so we deserve to know who these people are.

Stunner: Obama Using Government Website for Propaganda

Actually, the stunner would be finding a givernment website these days that isn't promoting Obama's shameless propaganda.

Senate Finance ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is raising concerns that a Department of Health and Human Services Web site that urges visitors to send an e-mail to President Barack Obama praising his health care reform plan may violate rules against government-funded propaganda.

The Web page is accessed through a “state your support” button featured prominently on the HHS Web site and carries a disclaimer that the Web site is maintained by HHS.

In a letter sent to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Tuesday, Grassley warned that “any possible misuse of appropriated funds by the executive branch to engage in publicity or propaganda in support of an Administration priority is a matter that must be investigated and taken seriously,” noting that in 2005 Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) argued that “the use of official funds for similar activities were 'underhanded tactics' and that these tactics 'are not worthy of our great democracy.'”

Of course that was then and this is now. Pelosi also said she was restoring integrity to the Congress.

OK, stop laughing.

Ironic, isn't it, that despite all the efforts, slobbering media coverage and owning the state-run media, Obama is now opposed by a majority on virtually every issue.

Just imagine where he'd be if there was integrity in government and a fair a balanced media. This is worthy of investigation but you can almost guarantee it will be ignored by the Obama lackeys in the lamestream media.

The form letter on the “state your support” page includes language hailing Obama's efforts. “We strongly support your commitment to comprehensive health reform. This is not a luxury. The continuing, sharp escalation of health care costs for families, businesses, and government is unsustainable. Reform is imperative. We believe that health reform must be enacted this year,” the letter says.

Additionally, the form letter says that signatories will back Obama's efforts. “During these extraordinarily challenging times, we need to put aside past differences and address the health and economic crisis. Our shared interest must come before narrow interests so we can achieve a health system that is affordable and provides high quality for all Americans. We will support your budget with its reserve fund dedicated to achieving health care reform in a fiscally responsible manner. Each of us must be prepared to contribute to achieving this fundamental goal. By signing this statement we affirm our commitment to work with you and our Congressional leaders to enact legislation this year which provides affordable, high quality coverage for all Americans.”

The page requires signatories to provide their name, zip code and e-mail address, and also asks for their mailing address and phone number, although that information is not labeled as required.

Incredibly creepy. Sounds to me like you're signing over your allegiance to Dear Leader.

'You're Going To Destroy My Presidency'

Recall Barack Obama whining the other day how "this isn't about me"?

Well, that's nonsense. Of course it's all about him.

A telling episode recounted by Senate Finance ranking member Charles Grassley reveals the Obama administration might be more worried than they are letting on that a Republican senator's comparison of the healthcare overhaul to Waterloo might be dangerously close to the truth.

Grassley said he spoke with a Democratic House member last week who shared Obama's bleak reaction during a private meeting to reports that some factions of House Democrats were lining up to stall or even take down the overhaul unless leaders made major changes.

"Let's just lay everything on the table," Grassley said. "A Democrat congressman last week told me after a conversation with the president that the president had trouble in the House of Representatives, and it wasn't going to pass if there weren't some changes made ... and the president says, 'You're going to destroy my presidency.' "

Somebody please send Baracky a waaaahmbulance.

Oh wait, are they covered by his plan?

Grassley should soon expect a withering personal assault by Obama's persons of hench in the far left blogosphere.

Instapundit links. Thanks!

Update: Thanks also to Ace, Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, and Allahpundit for the links. Great point from AP:

Consider this a complete vindication of DeMint’s point, which Obama pretended to take such offense at, that if the GOP defeats ObamaCare “it will be his Waterloo, it will break him…” Evidently The One couldn’t agree more, and with good reason. If he can’t deliver on his centerpiece policy goal with bulletproof majorities in Congress, not only will it haunt him in 2012 but he’ll have to reconsider the public’s appetite for the whole Hopenchange/Great Society agenda.

Tonight's press conference should be interesting, unless, of course, it becomes the usual twinkie-munch lovefest we're accustomed to. Obama has a glass jaw, he's on the ropes and it might not take that tough a question to floor him.

Update: Thanks to everyone who's linked the past 11 hours. This is probably the most visited post ever in our two-plus years here. Check out the comments. The Obamatons are out in force. With it today came plenty of hatemail from the angry left, best summarized by this deep thinker, no doubt a product of the Chicago public schools.

Your so call opinion about President Obama
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 3:52 PM
From: "xxxxxxxxx@aol.com"
Add sender to Contacts
To: undisclosed-recipients
So Jammie,

Regarding your blog in regards to you thinking that President Obama is "whinning" about it not being about him, well...let me remind you that it was all about George Bush and no one else. He could care less about anyone but himself or the cronies that he calls his friends. Sorry to disappoint you, but it's not about President Obama, it is all about all of us and I find that quite ineterestin that you chose the word "whinning" when referring to him. I doubt that you did the same when Bush LIED about so many things for 8 years straight. It's amazing how people like you think and hide behind the computer to express it.

NSF Researchers Apparently Researching Too Much Internet Porn

It never ceases to amaze how stupid people can be to use their work computers to surf for online porn. Don't they realize this is a primary reason people have home PC's? Of course any effort to withhold funding from the National Science Foundation will be met with huge resistance.

The ranking GOP member of the Senate Finance Committee wants Congress to reconsider new funding to the National Science Foundation amid allegations that top staffers spent long stretches of their day surfing the Internet for pornography.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, sent a letter to the foundation's Office of Inspector General on Tuesday seeking all documents it has related to the inappropriate use of the foundation's network.

The foundation is the major source of federal backing in fields such as mathematics, computer science and social sciences.

Grassley told The Associated Press on Thursday he wants Congress to reconsider $3 billion in NSF funding that is included in the current stimulus bill until his questions are answered.

"I think they ought to. I think they need to," he said.

The senator said he sought the information after a team of staffers led by his finance committee aide discovered numerous investigations into the misuse of the Internet by science foundation employees. The investigations were buried inside a semiannual report on NSF's activities, he said.

According to the report, one senior staff member spent as much as 20 percent of his time during a two-year period at lurid sites and in sexually explicit chat rooms. That time cost taxpayers more than $40,000, the report stated.

Other employees were also alleged to have watched, downloaded and e-mailed porn.

Senate Panel OKs Subpoenas

Shameless political whores Charles Schumer and Patrick Leahy know when they have a good thing going, and they plan to milk this nonscandal for all it's worth. Schumer, in particular, is obsessed with Karl Rove, his intellectual superior, and just hates the fact he's never been able to nail him for anything.

Senate Panel OKs Subpoenas for Key Aides

A Senate panel, following the House's lead, authorized subpoenas Thursday for White House political adviser Karl Rove and other top aides involved in the firing of federal prosecutors.

The Senate Judiciary Committee decided by voice vote to approve the subpoenas as Republicans and Democrats sparred over whether to press a showdown with President Bush over the ousters of eight U.S. attorneys.

Democrats angrily rejected Bush's offer to grant a limited number of lawmakers private interviews with the aides with no transcript and without swearing them in. Republicans counseled restraint, but at least one, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, backed the action.

A House Judiciary subcommittee authorized subpoenas in the matter Wednesday, but none has been issued.

Democrats said the move would give them more bargaining power in negotiating with the White House to hear from Bush's closest advisers.

"We're authorizing that ability but we're not issuing them," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the subpoenas. "It'll only strengthen our hand in getting to the bottom of this."

Republicans countered, however, that subpoenas were premature.

"I counsel my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to work hard to avoid an impasse. We don't need a constitutional confrontation," said Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the panel's top Republican.

Still, in the end, I think the truculent, childlike behavior by these buffoons will backfire. The White House needs to stick to their guns, however, and cannot fold under the relentless pressure from the drive-by media.