Is the US Attorney story

[cali]

a distraction or does it have real potential to morph into a Watergate type scandal with all the attendent repercussions?

[acmavm]

1. Right now my opinion is that the dems will screw this up big time.

They've forgotten why they were elected, which was because the majority of the people in this country wanted this mess (Iraq, the corruption of the administration and the republican party, etc.) cleaned up NOW.

[cali]

3. Well, I'm biased.

Senator Leahy's my senator and he's long been one of most dogged investigators of corruption in Congress as well as being an experienced and effective Prosecutor. I don't think he's forgotten who he represents.

[KittyWampus]

4. Yeah, like Leahy and Conyers.

[Ninja Jordan]

2. No, because ultimately there is no underlying crime.

[cali]

7. What about obstruction of justice?

Honestly, I don't know how you can make such a sweeping statement. We don't know what crimes are there. And never forget, quite often it's the coverup that screws people. Scooter's been convicted in a case where no underlying crime was claimed.

[Ninja Jordan]

11. Does this argument apply to the executive branch? He can hire and fire whomever he wants.

At any time.

Please, do not get me wrong. It looks bad, and the crime is possible perjury, but I fail to see the bombshell criminal act here.

[cali]

12. There doesn't need to be an underlying bombshell

criminal act. And if it can be demonstrated that they manipulated the Justice Department in order to go after dems and back off of repubs, that would be enough, I believe, to force him to resign.

[Ninja Jordan]

13. The question, though, is whether it has the potential to morph into a 'Watergate-type' scandal

I agree that Gonzalez will step down, but for my reasons mentioned, this won't develop into a Watergate type of scandal.

[KittyWampus]

8. Abuse of Power most certainly is a crime. As is Obstructing Justice.

[pampango]

10. Agreed in that their firings were not a crime.

The investigation should be targeted at what they, and others in particular, did while on the job. Did they target Democrats or ignore Republican crimes.

[KittyWampus]

5. Two posts already and they are both trashing Dems who are handling this brilliantly

I really dislike DU at times.

[Solly Mack]

6. Other: wait and see mode, while knowing there is more there than just gristle

The sluice gate of corruption needs only a bigger opening to come flooding out...keep prying

but don't stop at just enough...because it's never just enough...expose it all and hold them accountable.

[SmokingJacket]

9. We have seen so many scandals just dry up and disappear

that it's hard not to be cynical. However, this is the first biggie with a Dem congress, so I voted "wait and see."