DoJ and Bushco's approach to internal dissent

in common useage, "shooting the messenger" simply means giving a hard time to the bearers of bad news... it has become clear, however, in the going-on six years of the bushco reign, that shooting the messenger has taken on a much more literal meaning... from government scientists decrying global warming to political opponents to justice department professionals doing their sworn duty, the specific directions as outlined in the karl rove playbook say nothing less than "destroy the messenger..."

james comey, the former deputy attorney general under ashcroft who dared to disagree with the wiretapping program, detainee interrogation methods, the waiver of the geneva conventions and the authorization of torture, was put in an untenable position... derided, isolated and ridiculed, he finally threw in the towel and left for a private practice... his farewell speech to his doj colleagues is a gem...

On Aug. 15, 2005, in his farewell speech, Comey urged his colleagues to defend the integrity and honesty of the department.

“I expect that you will appreciate and protect an amazing gift you have received as an employee of the Department of Justice,” Comey said. “It is a gift you may not notice until the first time you stand up and identify yourself as an employee of the Department of Justice and say something – whether in a courtroom, a conference room or a cocktail party – and find that total strangers believe what you say next.

“That gift – the gift that makes possible so much of the good we accomplish – is a reservoir of trust and credibility, a reservoir built for us, and filled for us, by those who went before – most of whom we never knew. They were people who made sacrifices and kept promises to build that reservoir of trust.

“Our obligation – as the recipients of that great gift – is to protect that reservoir, to pass it to those who follow, those who may never know us, as full as we got it. The problem with reservoirs is that it takes tremendous time and effort to fill them, but one hole in a dam can drain them.

“The protection of that reservoir requires vigilance, an unerring commitment to truth, and a recognition that the actions of one may affect the priceless gift that benefits all. I have tried my absolute best – in matters big and small – to protect that reservoir and inspire others to protect it.”

it's absolutely appalling to me that the very type of public servants that we WANT and DESPERATELY NEED are the ones being forced out...

(thanks to robert parry and consortium news...)

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