Bush to Name Justice Dept. BUILDING After Kennedy - DRUDGE BLOWS IT BIG TIME

ABC News ^ | 11/16/01

[11th Earl of Mar]

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush next week is expected to name the Justice Department headquarters after Robert F. Kennedy, a Democratic U.S. attorney general and brother of former President John Kennedy.

"He is expected to sign a document essentially dedicating the Justice Department building for Robert F. Kennedy," a White House official said on Friday. The official had no further information on the decision.

But Newsweek magazine said Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft would hold the renaming ceremony on Tuesday, on what would have been the assassinated New York Democratic senator and presidential candidate's 76th birthday.

Kennedy served as U.S. attorney general to his brother, President John F. Kennedy, then became a U.S. senator and was campaigning for the White House himself when he was gunned down by Sirhan Sirhan on June 5, 1968, in Los Angeles after winning the California primary.

There have been unsuccessful efforts in Congress to name the building after Kennedy.

While serving as attorney general from 1961 to 1964, Kennedy gained a reputation for doggedly pursuing organized crime leaders. Ashcroft last month cited that reputation in pledging a similar effort against terrorism.

Newsweek magazine reported on its Internet site that several generations of Kennedys would attend a dedication ceremony.

Copyright 2001 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[11th Earl of Mar]

BUSH TO NAME JUSTICE DEPT AFTER A KENNEDY
Fri Nov 16 2001 17:11:47 ET

President Bush plans to issue an executive order early next week naming the Justice Department after the late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, according to sources familiar with the matter.

ROLL CALL Editor Ed Henry is first to break the controversial development.

The timing of the bipartisan gesture, which is expected to occur Tuesday, could be tied to the war on terrorism. In recent weeks, current Attorney General John Ashcroft has said the war being waged by the Justice Department is very similar to the war against organized crime that Kennedy launched as attorney general in the 1960s.

"Kennedy, it is said, would arrest a mobster for spitting on the streets if it would help defeat organized crime," Ashcroft said in a recent speech. "In the war on terror, it is the policy of this Department of Justice to be equally aggressive."

Rep. Tim Roemer (D-Ind.) has introduced legislation in the last three Congresses pushing for the department to be named after Kennedy. While the bill has never picked up enough steam to be signed into law, the retiring Roemer has personally lobbied Bush twice in recent months to act on the matter.

Impacting...

----------------------------------------------------

Bush is naming a building, not the department, after Kennedy. It looks like Drudge has started using DEBKA's sources.

[eddie willers]

Here's a pick.
Now you can go out get some more nits.

[Senator Pardek]

Now let's be fair. Drudge probably thinks the Justice Dept. is a physical place, like the complaint or men's dept.

[Savage Beast]

I still think he should have named it after Janet Reno.

[Danette]

Drudge who?

[Savage Beast]

I mean...where's his sense of humor?

[harrowup]

The timing of the bipartisan gesture, which is expected to occur Tuesday, could be tied to the war on terrorism. In recent weeks, current Attorney General John Ashcroft has said the war being waged by the Justice Department is very similar to the war against organized crime that Kennedy launched as attorney general in the 1960s.

One can only hope we don't have to rely on the FBI to do the job...could we start a petition to rename FBI Hq? Hoover loved the mob.

[steveo]

I mean...where's his sense of humor?

'ey, do you know where my moose is?

[spycatcher]

Drudge is actually quoting from Roll Call sources. **Not a Drudge exclusive**

[CatoRenasci]

Same same. This is a travesty. Robert Kennedy was an evil man, JFK's thug and fixer. Bush has lost me over this one. No gesture should ever be made to any of that foul clan of power hungry womanizing misanthropes who masquerade as tribunes of the poor.

[Rebelbase]

DUH!

[dts32041]

Easy mass still claims maine.

Doesn't want his family compound to become another kennedy compound.

[MJY1288]

"Why is Bush so anxious to bend over for the Kennedys?

Hey Sherlock, Bush did not write the petition, He is just going to sign it. What would like him to do?.. Say hell no, I thing you all should name it after Bill Clinton.

[Tuco-bad]

The timing of the bipartisan gesture, which is expected to occur Tuesday, could be tied to the war on terrorism.

It's ironic because Robert Kennedy was the first victim in the United States of Muslim terrorism.

Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian Arab, assassinated Kennedy because of his support for Israel.

[newzjunkey]

You're waaaaaaaaaay too much of a literalist. I knew exactly what Drudge meant. I'm sure most reasonable people did as well.

[pistola]

I think some of the good folks on this thread are misunderestimating W's strategery.

[rwfromkansas]

It is just a freaking name. Get over it.

[ladyinred]

Ahhh.

[JCG]

Bush is naming a building, not the department, after Kennedy. It looks like Drudge has started using DEBKA's sources.

Eff off.  A distinction without a difference.

 America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America -- here

 For better viewing download 8Mb file here

[NC Conservative]

It is a building. I will not lose any sleep over it. Nothing to see here.

[11th Earl of Mar]

I think some of the good folks on this thread are misunderestimating W's strategery.

I agree. Who cares it Bush gives the Dems symbolism, but not substance. They have been doing it to us for years.

[Uncle Bill]

Click Photo:

[Semper911]

You're waaaaaaaaaay too much of a literalist. I knew exactly what Drudge meant. I'm sure most reasonable people did as well.

I read Drudge after work tonight and I absolutely thought the whole department was being re-named. I remember thinking that it was a bizzare story.

I am a "reasonable person", but I took it literally. It seemed weird, but then I expect to read weird things on Drudge.

I guarantee Drudge will correct it as soon an someone flags him on it.

[Richard M. Nixon]

Damn Kennedys...

[Piasa Bird]

No. The REAL story is that John Ashcroft's changing HIS name to Robert F. Kennedy. Yeah, That's it!

Piasa Bird

[LADY J]

"Kennedy, it is said, would arrest a mobster for spitting on the streets if it would help defeat organized crime," Ashcroft said in a recent speech. "In the war on terror, it is the policy of this Department of Justice to be equally aggressive."

I think this is a shrewd move!! The lefties can't get critical about Ashcroft going overboard with the way he is handling things. What's good for the goose.....

[11th Earl of Mar]

Damn Kennedys...

I know you always hated them.

BTW, good "Checkers" speech.

[blam]

"Here's a pick.

Now you can go out get some more nits.

LOL!

[michaelje]

I couldnt believe my eyes earlier today. I was reading a thread where freepers were praising RFK. I asked myself, is this the same Kennedy family that was involved with the Chicago may-fia and Cuba ? Maybe theres another kennedy clan out there that Ive never heard of.

[floriduh voter]

Well, you know when Janet Reno was there, it was just a building.

[Richard M. Nixon]

Thank you. A career saver, it was!

[GVnana]

Robert Kennedy was an evil man, JFK's thug and fixer.

I guess if I wanted to be really bad, I could say RFK didn't keep his brother from being assasinated, did he?

[BigWaveBetty]

knew exactly what Drudge meant. I'm sure most reasonable people did as well.

I dunno newzjunkey there were lots of people who were getting crazy over it before it was learned the building would be named.

I guess most reasonable people like you and me didn't bother to post to this thread. :-)

[TUX]

It's ironic because Robert Kennedy was the first victim in the United States of Muslim terrorism. Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian Arab, assassinated Kennedy because of his support for Israel.

Indeed, quite ironic. I didnt think of it in that light. Thanks

[jackbill]

As Cap'n Dan Rather would say, here's the real deal. President Bush never liked Marilyn Monroe, so he's honoring the guy who offed her.

[secret garden]

Ditto.

[dpwiener]

Who cares it Bush gives the Dems symbolism, but not substance.

I agree. Feel-good symbolic gestures are an easy and costless way to lubricate relations with political opponents. It's a far better technique than the political logrolling that normally occurs (and costs taxpayers tens or hundreds of billions of dollars).

Sometimes symbolism can be significant, but naming a building? That's about as significant as publically referring to a corrupt politician whose guts you hate as "the Honorable Sen. XXXXX".

[americalost]

Having done my time in DC and hearing the lingo, it's common to say something is "at Justice" or will take place "at SCOTUS" -- in fact, my best friend still lives there and works "at Commerce." It's not that big of a stretch.

As for the conspiracy theories, they're all interesting ...but Reuters does say in the article that "there have been unsuccessful efforts in Congress to name the building after Kennedy." I conclude, therefore, that it shouldn't surprise anybody. It would make even MORE sense if he had been AG at the time of his assassination, but I'm one of those conservatives who questions the renaming of National Airport, too.

But then, what do I know. I'm just a housewife now.

[Conservababe]

I agree. Who cares it Bush gives the Dems symbolism, but not substance. They have been doing it to us for years.

Well, fine. I hope they take as many years to put the official signs up...just like the ones of Reagan Airport.

[ppaul]

It looks like Drudge has started using DEBKA's sources.

LOL!

[americalost]

By the way, this is hardly breaking news.

[concerned about politics]

It's ironic because Robert Kennedy was the first victim in the United States of Muslim terrorism.

Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian Arab, assassinated Kennedy because of his support for Israel.

Oh.....It makes sence then.Good point! He was a victim of the terrorists too.
Anti-Isreal leftie took him out just like the WTC.
He's a martyr for the cause then?
BTW, Why aren't the politically correct Islamic lovers and peacenicks outraged over this then?

[xm177e2]

I was wondering how they could rename a whole DEPARTMENT.

Hypothetical News Clip: "The RFK department settled its lawsuit against Microsoft yesterday..."... it just doesn't sound right.

[Conservababe]

"Kennedy, it is said, would arrest a mobster for spitting on the streets if it would help defeat organized crime," Ashcroft said in a recent speech. "In the war on terror, it is the policy of this Department of Justice to be equally aggressive."

Robert Kennedy went after his family's enemies...and left their mob friends alone.

He also took care of his brother's girlfriends.

Monica should be grateful that she was spared because of Clintons' inepitude.

Oh my yes, we should name the 'justice' department after a gangster.

[TC Rider]

Drudge makes it sound like an auction for naming rights at a coluseum. I always heard that Reagan never wanted his name on any building.

It seems appropriate though, to name buildings after Kennedys.

After all, they are the ones with the edifice complex.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"It looks like Drudge has started using DEBKA's sources."

Yeah, he heard they are a better source than VNS. Remember who STARTED the election 2000 fiasco.
If you recall BEFORE election night Drudge bragged how he would release VNS Poll data BEFORE the networks did.
Sure enough, before the 2nd time zone in FL closed he "announced" Gore won.
Then Fox, according to O'Reilly, was the 1st network to "announce" Gore won before the FL polls had closed.
On election night I was at a friends house while she was on the State of FL election return site,
it showed Bush ahead while Fox and everyone else said Gore won.
I wonder how many Bush votes were lost by the 2nd time zone due to Drudge, Fox etc.

[concerned about politics]

Drudge is national hero.

AAAAhahaha. AHAHahahahaha. LOL!!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Robert Kennedy went after his family's enemies...and left their mob friends alone."

I recall those days. And so did Nixon when he pardonded Jimmy Hoffa.
Fact is back then both political parties consorted with the mob.