Justice IG Report

It's as if shrill bloggers have taken over The Washington Post: "Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says"

Former Justice Department counselor Monica M. Goodling and former chief of staff D. Kyle Sampson routinely broke the law by conducting political litmus tests on candidates for jobs as immigration judges and line prosecutors, according to an inspector general's report released today.

In addition to inappropriate and illegal politicization, Goodling's habit of asking candidates for career positions "What is it about George W. Bush that makes you want to serve him?" is also rather bizarre and creepy. Goodling, it seems, couldn't even see herself and her subordinates as serving alongside Bush in an effort to advance the larger cause of conservatism. Instead, the entire government is conceived of as existing to personally serve the greater glory of George W. Bush.

Comments

I don't see why it is verboten to test the loyalty to the leader at whose pleasure you are going to serve.

I am surprised that the questions did not include queries on the candidates' understanding of the leader's basic philosophy. Don't they ask such questions in China before you become the ward prefect of the Local Committee to Uphold the Supremacy of the Chairman And His Ideas?

Posted by gregor | July 28, 2008 6:21 PM

Because sailing the seas depends on the Helmsman

Posted by Davis X. Machina | July 28, 2008 6:23 PM

Yeah, it's weird, it's almost what you would expect to happen if the White House were hiring people based on their allegiance to a weird messianic vengeance cult.

That would never happen though because the mainstream media hates Christians and would certainly have pointed out that the entire executive had been taken over by fundamentalist disciples of Pat Robertson.

APS

Posted by Ape Man | July 28, 2008 6:24 PM

Instead, the entire government is conceived of as existing to personally serve the greater glory of George W. Bush.

Didn't Goodling testify that she thought she took a loyalty oath to Bush? This is what you get from personality cults who rely upon personnel from fourth-rate law schools (e.g., Regency) -- fourth-rate people who utterly fail to appreciate the most basic elements of how this country was established and governed. We and our children will be paying for George Bush and "movement conservatism" for generations.

Posted by Edward, the mad shirt grinder | July 28, 2008 6:26 PM

You know, I don't approve of collective guilt, unlike some of the warmonger sickos on this site, but I do think that there are well over 10,000,000 Americans personally guilty of capital political & war crimes who should, after trial, be hanged by the neck until dead. Of course, a few such as Monica Goodling are such trash that a more suitable punishment (after trial and conviction, of course - we must restore the rule of law - should be torn apart and eaten by a pack of starving dogs.

Posted by voice of reason | July 28, 2008 6:36 PM

"What is it about George W. Bush that makes you want to serve him?"

Um, he's the President of the United States?

Posted by dj moonbat | July 28, 2008 6:38 PM

"What is it about George W. Bush that makes you want to serve him?"

Umm, I think he'd go good with a wine sauce and some nice greens?

Posted by MR Bill | July 28, 2008 7:00 PM

I can't tell if it's more funny or more scary that for the last 7-1/2 years, we have been ruled by a Schruteocracy.

Posted by The Confidence Man | July 28, 2008 7:06 PM

"As our bodies are armoured with Adamantium, our souls are protected with our loyalty.

As our bolters are charged with death for the Emperor's enemies, our thoughts are charged with wisdom.

As our ranks advance, so does our devotion, for are we not Space Marines?

Are we not the chosen of the Emperor, his loyal servants unto death?"

As always, Warhammer 40000 provides the necessary wisdom (or satire, take your pick).

Posted by burritoboy | July 28, 2008 7:10 PM

George W. Bush: Great president, or greatest president?

Posted by bwaage | July 28, 2008 7:16 PM

You had to know that those Purity Pledge girls were going to have some long term issues. At some point those unicorn posters have to come down from the dorm room wall and what better way than to project your virginal enthusiasm and sexual frustration on a powerful leader whose poster on your wall the other girls at Regent University won't make fun of you for hanging.

Posted by carsick | July 28, 2008 7:24 PM

I've heard that he goes well with fava beans and a nice Chianti.

Posted by daveNYC | July 28, 2008 7:27 PM

The time to make a Monica Goodling women-in-prison movie is now. Not after she goes to prison, if she ever does.

Scarlett Johansson will be the lead, of course. There should be a few gruff old lesbians with tattoos, one with a heart of gold. Some heavy-metal / punk lesbians, also with tattoos. Some black hiphop lesbians. Natalie Portman should be the serious love interest.

Her Bible fell from her trembling hands.....

Posted by John Emerson | July 28, 2008 7:36 PM

..and this pathetic excuse for a human being is engaged to one of the founders of RedState.com ......... a perfect match!

Posted by chop1 | July 28, 2008 8:03 PM

John Emerson,

if that film gets made, i'd consider the illegal politicization of our Justice Department well worth it. what's allowing a few psychotic GWBush Republican death-culters into positions of authority in our justice system when it gets us a Johansson/Portman prison lesbian love scene?

Posted by BA | July 28, 2008 9:18 PM

I can't say that I have ever seen Warhammer 40,000 used as a political satire here...but as long as we are entertaining the notion, I nominate Monica Goodling as an Ordo Heriticus Inquisitor.

I can just see her in a Court of the Emperor's Justice:

"There is no plea of Innocence in my Court. A plea of Innocence is guilty of wasting my time."

"Guilty."

Posted by celticdragon | July 28, 2008 9:52 PM

Do government officials who break the law ever go to jail?

Just asking.

Posted by jim | July 28, 2008 10:26 PM

Nice work on these posts. Not only is the humor somewhat amusing, but the trolls appear to be repelled.

Better than fire or acid for fighting trolls --the joke!

Posted by Tim Connor | July 29, 2008 2:08 AM

"Didn't Goodling testify that she thought she took a loyalty oath to Bush?" Nope, that was Sarah Taylor, who Leahy indignantly slapped down. But Taylor's overall testimony put bushie disdain for Congress and anything non codpiece on remarkable display. At least Goodling had the character to be respectful in her hearing.

A very creepy YouTube of the Leahy/Taylor exchange is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlSIwJgX5J4

Posted by wvng | July 29, 2008 6:17 AM

I don't see why it is verboten to test the loyalty to the leader at whose pleasure you are going to serve.

I know this was snark, but I have to point out that while political appointees serve at the pleasure of the president, she was interviewing people to fill civil service positions, the holders of which can be fired only according to the civil service rules--not at the president's pleasure. That's why it was improper--and illegal--for her to take politics into account.

James Garfield evidently died in vain . . .

Posted by rea | July 29, 2008 7:30 AM

But Taylor's overall testimony put bushie disdain for Congress and anything non codpiece on remarkable display.

I'd always thought that disdain for Congress was both bipartisan and justified. Am I wrong?

Posted by matt foley | July 29, 2008 8:03 AM

Also, I second the Portman/Johannson prison movie. However, if we can't get Scarlet, I nominate the girl from the Orbit gum commercials.

Posted by matt foley | July 29, 2008 8:07 AM

I wonder how many of those political hires for the Justice Department got their law degrees from piece of shit law schools like Regent or Liberty? What ever happened to the best and the brightest?

Posted by SLC | July 29, 2008 10:13 AM

I haven't seen any reporters ask either the Justice Dept or the White House the obvious question:

"Since the Justice Dept IG has determined that former Justice Department counselor Monica M. Goodling and former chief of staff D. Kyle Sampson routinely broke the law, when will charges against them be brought?"

Posted by dantonj | July 29, 2008 10:05 PM

That's not what the headline on the article says now!

Matt accusing the Post of lefy blogger views reports, Washington Post:
"Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says"

Washington Post current headline,
"Internal Justice Dept. Report Cites Illegal Hiring Practices"

Posted by x | July 29, 2008 10:46 PM

That's not what the headline on the article says now!

Matt accusing the Post of lefy blogger views reports, Washington Post:
"Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says"

Washington Post current headline,
"Internal Justice Dept. Report Cites Illegal Hiring Practices"

Posted by x | July 29, 2008 10:47 PM

That's not what the headline on the article says now!

Matt accusing the Post of lefy blogger views reports, Washington Post:
"Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says"

Washington Post current headline,
"Internal Justice Dept. Report Cites Illegal Hiring Practices"

Posted by x | July 29, 2008 10:48 PM