Lord Acton (John Emerich Edward Acton 1834-1902) is oft quoted for his profound observation: "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." This is the real reason behind the firings of the United States Attorneys – the corruption of power. It is also the explanation for abuse of authority by the Republican Congress and the Bush Administration we have had to endure since their taking office.

The Bush Administration gained power through the huge financial support given to it and Republican candidates for Congress by big business and big oil. In exchange for the right of unrestrained pursuit of profit, the undermining the civil justice system and the packing of courts with judges with a political agenda, the dollars poured in. After the election, the Bush Administration appointed political hacks to important executive positions who then undermined regulatory actions of governmental agencies. (Bush Administration tries an end run around the Senate regarding Susan Dudley 2/19/07) Political appointees blatantly changed scientific reports to put a White house spin on environmental issues. (Mr. Bush’s new executive order to muzzle regulatory agencies 1/30/07). The White House was brazen enough to simply order scientists not to talk about sensitive issues such as global warming and did so without fear of reprisal. (The Bush administration tries to hide the global warming ball again with a gag order 3/9/07) Mr. Bush used the fraudulent device of "signing statements" so he could sign laws he disagreed with, avoid having to veto them, but instead would simply not enforce them.(Mr Bush & impeachable offenses using signing statements 1/5/07) It went so far as to advocate that business clients fire lawfirms who allowed their lawyers to represent prisoners held in Cuba pro bono. (Cully Stimpson should be ashamed 1/14/07)

After the elections the White House had nothing to fear from the Republican Congress which consistently used its power to vote down any attempts to hold the Bush administration or the Republican majority accountable. Attempts to hold hearings or subpoena information or question the actions of the White House were voted down by the Republican majority. Court appointees with a political agenda were confirmed by Congress who became the rubber stamp of the George Bush administration. Judges appointed for their political agendas were confirmed by the Republican majority There was no constitutional balance of power or accountability from Congress or the White House. The result was unrestrained arrogance. (Vice president Richard Cheney – unrestrained arrogance 1/31/07) . The only thing left that had the power to hold both the White House and Congress responsible for their actions was the media. Independent journalism had always been a powerful instrument to keep government in control. But, the Administration had disregarded anti trust laws and allowed mergers of media which resulted a handful of people controlling the majority of the media. The big became huge and the media was not about to bite the hand that fed them by exposing misdeeds of Congress or the underhanded activities of the White house. There was widespread corruption of power without fear of media exposure.

It was this state of affairs in which the plan to fire U.S. Attorneys was hatched. At least two years ago the issue of firing all 93 of them was raised within the Bush Administration. That would have allowed appointment of more politically friendly replacements. A loop hole was created to use the right of firing with "temporary" replacement without congressional oversight. When the eight U.S. Attorneys were fired for political reasons the White House wasn’t concerned about being held accountable. But a Democratic Congress was then elected and things suddenly changed. Inquiries were being made about the firings so the White house did what it has always done, it lied. It claimed the firings was the brain child of White house counsel Harriet Miers on her own. Attorney General Gonzales claimed he had no role and, of course Karl Rove and George Bush were said to have no connection whatsoever. But then E-mails began to surface which showed this was a big lie. The written records revealed that the behind the curtain Bush tactician Karl Rove was the really the one who raised the issue as early as January 2005. Rove’s inquiry was sent to Kyle Sampson, chief of staff to Gonzales. Sampson ran with the ball as directed. But, Sampson has had to resign after he failed to disclose the extensive discussions he had with the White House about this.

As Sen Charles Schumer (D-NY) has said:

"New E-mails show conclusively that Karl Rove was in the middle of this mess from the begriming."

As the USA Today Editorial says it so well "Justice officials have offered an array of shifting and evasive explations , and a gaggle of e-mails forced out by congressional demands reveal how they misled Congress about the purge."

So what does the White house now claim the real explanation is since the discovery of the documents that show they were previously lying? The Associated Press explains it this way:

"The White House has dropped its contention Friday that former Counsel Harriet Miers first raised the idea of firing U.S. Attorneys, blaming ‘hazy memories’ as emails shed new light on Karl Rove’s role."

The truth is the White House was forced to abandon it’s lies and has had to retreat to the "hazy memory" defense. The truth is the firings from the beginning came from the highest level of the White House – Karl Rove and were carried out with full knowledge, approval and action of George Bush and the White House.

So, why were they fired? Gonzales claims "I simply lost my confidence in them." His nose must have grown six inches after that whopper. The evidence is more then compelling that the firings were purely political and the act of political arrogance through the corruption of abuse of power. (See Bush politics and U.S. Attorney Carol Lam 1/26/07) Some firings were to stop investigations of powerful Republican interests. Some, such as Washington’s John McKay, were to punish for not taking action in furtherance of Republican interests even after the U.S. Attorney was pressured to do so. (U.S. Attorney John McKay- another Bush political victim 2/8/07)

Power indeed corrupts and the absolute power the Bush Administration and its Republican Congress have enjoyed for so long corrupted it. It’s time for the truth and it’s time for accountability.