Government – Page 27 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Speculation Melson Won’t Fall on His Sword

I doubt that Melson would have had direct contact with Napolitano on this kind of clandestine effort, though.Â That seems to be much less likely than Melson having something on Holder.Â If (a veryÂ big â€œifâ€) Melson can show that Holder lied to Congress about what he knew and when he knew it â€” the old Watergate question â€” then Holder will have no choice but to resign or face impeachment.Â In fact, it hardly seems worth the effort for Melson to hold out on a resignation just to get Breuer.

Read the whole thing. It’ll be important to implicate higher ups, because otherwise the position of the Administration is going to be that we need Andrew Traver more than ever. The Administration has to take some bruises over this, or I think we’re likely dealing with Traver at some point, probably as a recess appointment.

The Weekly Standard to the Bathyscaph WaPo

It’s got to be difficult getting the message down so far in the tank, but Mark Hemingway of the Weekly Standard is trying:

And the NRA bears responsibility here how? There is no concievable law enforcement scenario where putting 2,500 guns into the hands of criminals would be justifiable. Ever. The ATF should take it’s lumps, and anyone who suggests that gun rights advocates are to be blamed here should have their head examined.

I’m going to agree with Mr. Hemingway’s assertion that we ought to get to the bottom of this before drawing conclusions. To anyone who isn’t the Washington Post editorial board, that’s really the most sensible thing.

Issa Says WaPo Apologist Piece Wrong

Just to show how poor the integrity of the Washington Post has become, the Daily Caller notes an Issa Spokesperson saying:

â€œWe have had people who have contacted us before the Washington Post,â€ Hill said. â€œThey told us people in the Justice Department were trying to push this story and I think a number of publications didnâ€™t think it was credible or, for whatever reason, decided not to run it.â€

I don’t think the WaPo cares much how credible it really is, as long as it fits the narrative. CBS News apparently isn’t buying it either.

Investors Business Daily Joining “Ridiculous Conspiracy Theory”

Our opponents like to suggest the idea that Fast and Furious was actually a plot to drive trace numbers from Mexico up to make the case for new gun controls is crazy talk whipped up by Fox News. Now that right-wing militia rag known as Investors Business Daily is fanning the flames of this conspiracy.

I’m generally to quick to try to put a fork in screwball conspiracies, but I don’t find this one far fetched. In fact, it’s really the only explanation that fits the facts.

Really Glad the Feds are on the Case

I for one feel a lot safer that our wonderful federal overseers have seen to rid the county (my the county) of the scourge of fake cosmetics at local flea markets.

I’ve been having a hard time sleeping because of all the hope and change, but now I will sleep like a baby knowing our federal friends are on the case. Obviously preventing petty fraud is well beyond the capabilities of state government, surely requiring strict federal intervention.

To be sure, I think the government has a role in preventing fraud. My main beef here is priorities, and which particular sovereign is doing this. I’m going to bet not expending federal monies sending guns to Mexican drug cartels is probably a better life saving proposition than raiding flea markets in Solebury Township, PA.

I guess I should just be happy they didn’t send in the SWAT team with helicopters.

Traver to Replace Melson?

The real risk in shaking up the leadership of ATF is that the Administration would take the inevitable position that it’s time for some adult leadership at ATF. Unfortunately, that appears to be coming in the form of Andrew Traver replacing Ken Melson This may not end up being a successful ploy by the Administration, but the obvious path toward political cover. While Obama can’t ram him through the Senate necessarily, he can always recess appoint him.

Fast & Furious Updates

None of the higher ups knew about it? That’s funny since this morning, the House Oversight and Government Committee uploaded this video that highlights how ATF’s Acting Director was briefed on the program to knowingly run guns into Mexico weekly last year. Rep. Darrell Issa says that the ATF leadership was actually “excited” by the program to the point that they sat around watching these sales happen on video.

Department of Education SWAT Raid

Uncle notes that now we know what the short barreled shotguns they ordered were for. Tam thinks this is indefensible. Â Dave Hardy notes “[F]rom the list of matters to be seized it sounds as if they suspected her of getting student loans without being enrolled at a college. OK, send out a squad car and knock on the door.”

If a federal agency has a SWAT team, they are going to end up using it to justify its existence. I’ve long believed that there’s too much federal law enforcement, and it should all be consolidated under either the FBI or US Marshall’s service (since they’ve been around longer). It would be a huge cost savings, and you don’t have to worry nearly as much about the left hand not talking to the right hand.

First Gunwalker Hearings

CBS News is reporting that the first hearings start Monday, June 13th.

Copywrong

Clayton Cramer has a post up on copyright law, and how Righthaven screwed him with it. I’ve never been of the opinion that our current copyright laws are well suited to how we use and consume information in the 21st century, but there are too many vested interests who’d like to keep everything the way is. One reason I’m considering establishing an LLC to run the blog.