[CutePuppy]

Actually, James Comey (D), Deputy AG less than three weeks on the job, pressured AG John Ashcroft to recuse himself from Plame case, then appointed Patrick Fitzgerald, his former coworker, friend and godfather to his son, to the position of SP. James Comey (D) was appointed by Bush on the recommendation by Chuck Schumer (D-NY) because of his aggressive prosecutions in NY (Martha Stewart etc).
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=comey

Of course, all these appointments, including Judge Walton-Ito, required President’s signature, but I doubt he really knew them, they usually come from a list with recommendations of sometimes well-meaning people, supposedly vetted by political and “professional” cadre of WH staff. Of course, “new tone” and “uniter not a divider” attitude played a role. Republicans, like a turtle, never expect a scorpion to bite while they carry one on their back through the lake.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Of course, “new tone” and “uniter not a divider” attitude played a role."

Bush really failed the test of "know thine enemy." He understands al-Quaeda better than he understands the Democrats, and the Dems are every bit as much his enemy as AQ.

Bush should have known that a party that was so brazen as to blame him for the economic downturn before he was even elected (the "Bush is 'talking down the economy' mantra during the 2000 campaign), would never give him a fair shake. And the Florida election debacle just sealed that.

And it was obvious from day one that the Dems - stung by Clinton's lying - had developed a game plan to accuse Bush of also being a liar - about something, anything - and so "Bush lied" became another mantra when the Iraq intelligence appeared to be flawed. The fact that every Dem had said the same things about Iraq was ignored, with cooperation from the MSM.

The Bush family noblesse oblige is simply a suicidal way of dealing with the Dems and the MSM. If only Bush were 1/10th as ruthless as the Dems say he is.