Who in their right mind would willingly accept a nomination to serve in this administration at this time?
Who in their right mind would want to head the DoJ at this time?
Would any and all AG nominees see their role to include acting as a firewall for the administration?
Would Mukasey ever get another opportunity to serve his country in a comparable role?
What inducements could this administration offer to anyone credible to convince them to accept the nomination?

Hmmm. wavpeac is right, I just don’t see it.
Serve your country? Or serve in the Bush cabinet?
They don’t seem compatible somehow, do they?

Is it a ‘Fitz crush’, and is it a ‘girl thing’?
Mostly not.

Think back 16 months ago — NO ONE seemed to be standing up for the rule of law. (Well, no one except Valerie Plame, Sy Hersh, Russ Feingold, MoveOn, and a few retired Generals who’d begun to speak out.)
And then along came a pleasant-looking prosecutor who seemed to do his job, stay out of the limelight, and share credit with his team.
O.M.G! How refreshing!

Some of us were blinking and rubbing our eyes in disbelief.
So the shorthand expression for this sense of shock and hope became: ‘Fitz!’

I forget who first put it up at FDL, but it was good for a chuckle.
So it became an FDL meme.

‘Fitz!’ started as a tribute to one man. But the meaning evolved and became more complex as events unfolded to expose mind-boggling corruption.

Jane and Christy’s posts were tutorials about the justice system, as well as the extend of the corruption in national politics, campaigns, and government. As readers were able to ask questions and learn — from Christy, Jane, and each other, readers became more sophisticated. The scope of their questions began to refernce DoJ attys assigned to the Plame investigation, as well as FBI investigators on the case.

As people became more knowledgeable, the expression “Fitz!” evolved into a shorthand expression of support for government employees who honored the Rule of Law, whether they worked for DoJ, or the FBI, agencies, or the military.

No doubt there’s still some ‘girlie’ admiration.
But at least from my observations over time, the core meaning of the ‘Fitz‘ meme is, ‘We won’t sit on our hands in silence while the law is subverted by criminals!’ But it’s evolved into a salute to anonymous, unsung federal employees.

At least, that’s my synopsis.

Blacksite, Achers is the place to be
There, you’ll get your very own detainee
Presidential orders to remove their hide
Take their children and disappear their bride

You’re my detainee
Let’s break that other knee,
Blacksite Achers here we come.

*sigh*

Waxman really needs to cast his net further afield than videotapes

http://news.independent.co.uk/…..239372.ece

Binyam Mohammed, described in that case, was the other “source” for the Padilla arrest warrant and is the Name That Can Not Be Mentioned by Comey press conf on Padilla.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06…..index.html

By accounts, the “corroboration” that Binyam provided can in conjuction with having his genitalia repeatedly razored. Per Ghost Plane, when the CIA did their typical “strip the Arab man and then have a woman photograph every crevice on him” even the woman they produced to take the pictures was shocked.

OTOH, I guess after being so very proud of the coerced Higazy confession prior to coming to DC, Comey couldn’t help but be impressed at how heavily Padilla, being tortured, Binyam – also being tortured, and Zubaydah – uh, also being tortured, seemed to so magically corroborate each other.

COMEY: No, it’s heavily corroborated. And that’s what I meant by the scope and candor and clarity of this document. This bears reading, because what we’ve done is put in there all the interlocking corroboration, as well as where things don’t agree.

I’ve never quite seen candor used in the way Comey uses it in the Padilla press conference. I need to go watch the Princess Bride again for the appropriate reference.

Here is way OT, but, for the life of me, I can’t quite get the Fitz adoration thing here. I have been a regular reader for about 1.6 years. The obsession predates my readings.

Is it an unadulterated crush? Is emptywheel, Fitz’s sister or something? (kidding) Is this a girl thing? what?

Reid considers extending Protect America Act for one month to buy more time

And what manner of fuckery might this be?

I don’t get it.

I guess that’s why I come here. But it’s just astounds me.

Yes! Please! The EW site has traditionally had the highest ratio of content to filler in its comments sections (in spite of my posts).

I’d sure like to read Dick’s “reportedly contentious” Fitz interview in its entirety.

Can we (the new FDL conglomerate) set up a Defender of the Constitution award? Not just a one-shot opinion poll, but one with
* Nominations (e.g., Dodd; Kucinich)
* Basis for nomination (e.g., Dodd’s filibuster of FISA; Kucinich’s Resolution of Impeachment)– kinda like articles of impeachment in reverse?
* Voting held after the Articles for Nomination have all been fleshed out

Republicans and independents would be eligible– if they’ve earned it.
Also prosecutors– e.g. Patrick Fitzgerald

Should organizations be eligible? e.g., ACLU, CREW

It would be especially cool if this could be a coalition project of FDL, DailyKos, MoveOn.org, etc.

Bob in HI

I am game for a citizen action, Bob. If you write to EW, she will send your email on to me. Any other takers, do the same.

In the mean time, try thanking Sen. Coburn who has done what no one in the HR and their so-called ethics committee did not or would not do.

Edward Teller, our Gentleman from Alaska, are you there?

Ouch.