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• Wednesday, January 7, 2009 02:47 PM

  From: No Comment, without comment

  Tyrants, Aristotle writes in the Politica, rule by fear and attempt to turn those who would expose them into criminals. One of the tactics for which the Bush years will long be known is its heavy-handed wielding of secrecy. This case demonstrates the technique perfectly. Tamm, exposing their criminal subversion of the FISA process, becomes a threat. It is therefore imperative that he be silenced and discredited. And this they pursue through a criminal investigation for breach of the secrecy rules through which they attempt to shield their crimes. Tamm had a serious fault–he treated his oath to uphold the Constitution and laws seriously. And that’s why for this and future generations, Tamm will be viewed as a hero while those persecuting him will be listed with the perennial dimwits who confuse fidelity to the leader with devotion to the law. - Scott Horton (12/15/08)

  http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/12/hbc-90004022

  At the Justice web site, Tyrrell describes himself as a “dedicated public servant,” and he outlines the work his department has done. His group is the one that should have managed a probe into the Madoff affair and myriad other frauds and schemes that have damaged the nation’s finances. Instead, while white-collar crime prosecution all but came to a standstill, the resources of Tyrrell’s department were turned to attacking the administration’s political adversaries like Tamm. Perhaps Tyrrell is just a loyal Justice department functionary doing as instructed–but in doing so he is failing to exercise the independent discretion that used to be the hallmark of the Justice Department.

  I hope that after January 20 Mr. Tyrrell will find some time to engage in actual law enforcement. Even better, perhaps he can focus his sights on the criminal conspiracy that led to the systematic circumvention of FISA. As it stands now, what he claims is an enforcement action is certainly viewed by many as another extreme effort to cover up the most criminal chapter in the history of the Justice Department. - Scott Horton (1/7/09)

  http://harpers.org/archive/2009/01/hbc-90004144

  —bystander Read bystander's other letters
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