[Steve_Seattle]

"Clinton fired U.S. Attorneys, who are presidentially-appointed political positions. These were staff attorneys, who are protected by civil service. Big difference."

I still think this is like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500. The Justice Dept. is part of the Executive Branch, and the President has the authority to determine policy and the general direction of the agency. Thus, it is virtually impossible for the agency NOT to have a political agenda.

Over and over again during the Bush administration, we have seen these very same civil service careerists - in DOD, State, the CIA, and Justice - leaking to the press to undermine administration policy. To suggest that these people are "non political" is a joke, a complete joke. Anyone who associates with Democrats knows that for them EVERYTHING is political, and to imagine that they behave non-politically in civil service jobs is to be doing just that - imagining. These underlings doing the hiring were doing nothing worse than trying to hire staff who wouldn't actively undermine the president.

[Lurking Libertarian]

The Justice Dept. is part of the Executive Branch, and the President has the authority to determine policy and the general direction of the agency. Thus, it is virtually impossible for the agency NOT to have a political agenda.

Then repeal the Civil Service laws. Until they're repealed, don't get caught breaking them.