Graves Pushed Out For Performance Reasons

Why is it reading any story touched by Steve Kraske involving the Missouri GOP like looking for clues on a treasure map? The other day he re-wrote Greg Gordon's excellent story with an eye to hiding Missouri GOP involvement and now he is co-author of a story with the normally outstanding Dave Helling requiring the reader to work hard to find gems sown in the story's lining.

For example a close reading of Dave Helling and Steve Kraske's Kansas City Star article confirms that Graves was fired. In one paragraph they indicate that Senator Kit Bond personally became involved with Graves’ tenure when Graves’ departure was imminent in early 2006.

“Senator Bond … upon (Graves’) request personally called the White House to gain Todd extra time to wrap up case work before his departure,” Marchio’s statement said.

This thread is picked up several paragraphs down when they write

A person in Bond’s office who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the discussions said the White House rejected Bond’s efforts on Graves’ behalf because of “performance” concerns. E-mails from the Justice Department and the White House have used similar language in discussing the other U.S. attorneys who were fired.

If Todd Graves voluntarily resigned why would he ask Bond to contact the White House to gain additional time to finish up his cases? It's pretty obvious that Graves was asked to leave. John Marshall is right. Graves was the 9th US Attorney fired. My question is why can't Helling and Graves report facts using simple declarative sentences?

Please note that there is another very important fact buried in these passages. Bond didn't contact Alberto Gonzales, he contacted the White House. If Bond wanted to help Graves gain a little more time to finish his work why didn't he go to Alberto Gonzales or one of his people?

Two theories have emerged about Todd Graves departure from his US Attorney job in Kansas City. The first is that he was pushed out because he and his wife were involved in a "fee office scandal." Helling does a fine job describing that scandal. I have always thought the fee office scandal was a phony because the "fee office" system, which is without doubt a lingering vestige of corrupt patronage politics, has been a prime tool used by generations of Missouri governors (both Republican and Democrat)to pay off supporters. Democrats bitching about Blunt's fee office appointments is sort of like the pot calling the kettle black. (I know I am going to be pummelled, but that's the way the story looks to the average Missourian.)

The second is that Graves was pushed out because he wasn't a loyal Bushie. He just didn't prosecute Democrats with sufficient vigour and he wasn't in love with voter fraud cases. The appointment and well documented performance of Bradley Schlozman seems to support this theory. Graves public record as US Attorney also supports the second theory. I, for one, have often connected Graves departure to his wife's involvement in the fee office scandal, but on reflection theory number two seems to be closer to the truth.

It looks like Karl Rove's Missouri adventure has come undone. Claire McCaskill was elected and Bradley Schlozman is going to be talking to congress. As for Todd Graves, while he didn't get a signing bonus at some large law firm he has attracted some pretty good young legal talent and has opened his own shiny new law firm.

Now if we could just get Helling and Kraske to write in clear declarative sentences about the hidden activities of Missouri's GOP, all would be right with the world. Of course, reading their stories for hidden clues is sort of fun.

UPDATE: Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post writes in simple declarative sentences.

Graves is the second U.S. attorney whose ouster is known to have been encouraged by the office of a Republican senator. Sen. Pete V. Domenici (N.M.) complained last October about New Mexico's David C. Iglesias, who was later fired.

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Steve Kraske interviews Adam and Beth Taff

Blue Girl asked me to listen to Steve Kraske's interview with Adam and Beth Taff. In the middle of drafting this brief post my time was demanded by something else. It is a work day after all. I thought I saved my notes as a draft. I accidentally published. I have revised that collection of notes. Sorry for my mistake.

I listened to the Taff interview very carefully. I am left with the question, why are we supposed to feel sorry for Adam and Beth Taff? What makes them so special?

Kraske gave Taff every opportunity to make me feel sorry for him. I don't. He was contrite sort of. No real apology. He regrets making an error in judgment, a mistake. I am pretty sure he regrets being caught.

It needs to be remembered that the Judge decided to give him jail time because the scheme was premeditated.

He says that he wants to put his military and prison experience to work for America. While Taff hemmed and hawed about running again, Kraske made it known that Taff is eligible to run for political office.

He did have some passionate things to say about how we fail to provide treatment for non-violent, mostly drug, offenders. Taff argues that we need to do better by the people who are sent to prison. Frankly, Taff's arguments about non-violent offenders were pretty powerful. Maybe he needs to focus his attention on those issues. He might be able serve America best lecturing on how badly we deal with people who commit non-violent crimes. If he does he will lose the votes of law and order Republicans.

At least two of the callers were really down on him. They called him a charlatan or was that a politician.

One caller asked a really interesting question. What makes Adam Taff so special? That's a question I really want answered. What makes Adam Taff any better than any of the people I have known over the years who served time for non-violent crimes. None of them were reintroduced to society by a friendly radio host. What makes Adam Taff so special? Maybe Steve Kraske can tell us.

I wonder what the rest of the net is saying. Sorry again for publishing my notes. I will try not to be distracted again.

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Another Take On Todd Graves

Thomas Charles at Firedup Missouri has a different take on the Todd Graves firing. He agrees that Graves was forced out by main Justice, but only because Graves' wife was a potential target in a local fee office scandal also involving Matt Blunt. It is important to remind everybody that Graves had recused himself from working on the fee office mess and Bud Cummins was assigned to handle the inquiry. Anyway you might want to give Charles' blog a look. Beyond the name calling, Charles and Kraske are simply giving alternative takes on the same set of basic facts. Todd Graves was forced out of office by the Rovian DoJ. He was the 9th, 10th or 11th US Attorney fired for political reasons, depending on how you count them. It's pretty clear from his public statements that he is doing all he can to distance himself from Gonzales and Rove. Anyway, Graves was replaced by Brad Schlozman, a loyal Bushie of the first rank and genuine Rovian operative.

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