Rules Are Rules

Rules are rules, unless you’re George W. Bush or Dick Cheney, of course.

I agree with Josh Marshall about the Blagojevich/Burris matter. You can’t blame Burris for accepting the appointment, however. It has given him much publicity. I wonder if it will come back in the future and bite him on the ass; say, the next time he runs for office.

I don’t understand why the media is giving this topic so much exposure.

From Alas, I Think She's Right by Josh Marshall:

But Blagojevich is the governor of the Illinois. And the Governor appoints senators to vacant seats. He hasn't been convicted of anything, which is no mere technicality. And I don't think anyone has seriously claimed that this appointment is tainted by corruption.

If there was a real belief that Burris's appointment had been bought, then I think more aggressive and expansive refusal would be justified. But as I said, I don't think anyone is really suggesting that. So as awkward and untoward as the whole thing may be, I really question the wisdom and possibly also the legality of not swearing him in. Rules are rules.

I could be persuaded otherwise. And I'm not losing much sleep over Burris's plight. But rules are rules. And I'm not sure what's being accomplished with this spectacle.

Why go after Blagojevich and Burris with such intensity while omitting Bush and Cheney from accountability? Why go after Thomas Tamm with such intensity while omitting Bush and Cheney from accountability?

From The DOJ puruses the "real criminal" in the NSA spying scandal by Glenn Greenwald:

That's America's justice system in a nutshell: the President who deliberately and knowingly violated our 30-year-old law making it a felony offense to eavesdrop on Americans without warrants has the entire political and media class eagerly defend him against prosecution. Those who enabled him -- in both parties -- block investigations into what was done. Ruth Marcus and Cass Sunstein and friends offer one excuse after the next to justify this immunity. But the powerless and defenseless -- though definitively courageous -- public servant who blew the whistle on this lawbreaking is harassed, investigated, and pursued by the DOJ's Criminal Division to the point of bankruptcy and depression, while the lawbreakers and their enablers stand by mute and satisfied.

We desperately need to hold the most powerful among us accountable for what they do. We will only be screwed over and over again until we do. Pardon me from the sins of the rich and powerful.

Here is the address of the Thomas Tamm Legal Defense Fund:

Thomas Tamm Legal Defense Fund
Bank of Georgetown
5236 44th Street
Washington, DC 20015.