First, to extend the metaphor, think of the missile defense system that releases a swarm of bright shiny objects to make it difficult for a missile defense system to distinguish the real missile among the swarm of counterfeit.

But now suppose that the defense system gets smarter, and is not so distracted by the swarm of bright shiny objects. Then what?

We now switch metaphors to football, in which the offense reads the defense to be in a “zone” posture, so it sends 3 WR into one zone, making it impossible for the poor jerk responsible for that zone to cover everyone. Switch metaphors again: One escaped convict fleeing from one bloodhound has less chance of escape than 3 escapees who split up, planning to meet later at a safe location far away. The poor bloodhound cannot follow all three trails, so chances improve that two of them will escape.

Abandoning the metaphors, the bright shiny objects have now become multiple criminal conspiracies that have proliferated to the extent that no one can keep track of them all. In the confusion, some are sure to escape. Low hanging fruit? Oops, I’m reverting to metaphor again. From the perspective of the criminal conspiracy, the objective is to keep the bloodhounds public preoccupied with the small fry, to keep attention away from the big kahuna.

Bob in HI

Well, I guess it all depends on your perspective. What Bush & Cheney needed was a firewall at DOJ to replace their depleted firewall, AGAG. From their perspective, Mukasey is doing a great job, doncha think?

Bob in HI

And by early next month, it’ll be another forgotten drum in the toxic waste dump of BushCo.

Boxturtle (Feeling grumpy and depressed this morning)

Congress and GAO used to order up a report about every two years on Ramspeck Act Appointments (the law which allows political appointees to leap to the front of the line for federal career jobs) and abuses. I haven’t seen one of those issued during the present Admin.

Loyal cronys are installed throughout the federal system and wield tremendous power over remaining government workers.

Fact is, your government is not working for you, but for the wealthy, connected few.

Lucy Dennett is married to Paul Dennett, who is the Administrator of Federal Procurement Policy at the White House Office of Management and Budget. Paul has held this position since 2006, when he took over from Abramoff associate David Safavian – who was on his way to jail.

Before coming to OMB, Dennett was the procurement chief at Interior (MMS is a division of Interior) and Treasury.

If Lucy Dennett gave out a favored contract, was her husband involved since he oversaw all of Interior? Did her husband’s senior position at the White House protect her from prosecution?

I wonder whether we’ll ever know about those conversations Mukasey must have had with the elders last year. Is he going to walk off into the history books as a total mystery?

He certainly will go down as one of the biggest disappointments in history. They really seemed to have something on him.

I think Colbert summed it up well last night during “The Word” when a slide flashed on the screen saying that henceforth, DOJ will be known as “The Department”. Yep, “Justice” is gone, folks.

And to the topic: I wonder whether we’ll ever know about those conversations Mukasey must have had with the elders last year. Is he going to walk off into the history books as a total mystery?

Hey gang, the Digg on the previous thread is sitting at 99. Someone who hasn’t done it yet, please go back there and put us to the magic 100.

Hey, I am glad Conyers is addressing this. To let some of the worst mid level government corruption go unpunished, sends a dangerous message. Although, I think Cheney will get tied to this at some point as well as Abramoff and potentially a funneling of funds to the GOP. I saw in this Interior Department MMA corruption some similarities to the inside corruption here in Ohio under Governor Taft.