If you don’t believe the U.S. Attorneys scandal is a big deal, consider the way the administration viewed Patrick Fitzgerald. Money quote:
U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald was ranked among prosecutors who had "not distinguished themselves" on a Justice Department chart sent to the White House in March 2005, when he was in the midst of leading the CIA leak investigation that resulted in the perjury conviction of a vice presidential aide, administration officials said yesterday.
The ranking placed Fitzgerald below "strong U.S. Attorneys . . . who exhibited loyalty" to the administration but above "weak U.S. Attorneys who . . . chafed against Administration initiatives, etc.," according to Justice documents.
The chart was the first step in an effort to identify U.S. attorneys who should be removed. Two prosecutors who received the same ranking as Fitzgerald were later fired, documents show.
The complete politicization of the justice system – completely of a piece with the methods and rationale of men like Rove and DeLay – is a real threat to the impartiality of American justice, and the important appearance of impartiality. That this news comes on the same day that Bush has reaffirmed support for Gonzales is a reminder of how deep the rot (or the denial) goes.
The Dish 