Developing Story! White House Giving World Bank, Wolfowitz Green Light To Blame McNulty

New Strategy Of Leveraging Scandals; Cheney Says Embattled Hero "Definitely In Final Throes" At World Bank

In a stunning reversal, where, up to now, the White House has offered consistent, but hands-off, support, sources have told The Garlic that, after a late night meeting last evening, the World Bank, and its' embattled President Paul Wolfowitz have "top level approval" to spin the blame of their scandal on former Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty.

This could signal, say White House watchers, a new strategy by the Bush Grindhouse, heard in whispers on the cocktail circuit recently, to begin leveraging the multitude of scandals they find themselves under, ostensibly, to keep Congressional investigators, and the media, off-balance.

"The boys in the West Wing are working overtime," said Dix Whitcomb, editor of the newsletter 'Our Laws Are Different', "to keep any hint of scandal away from The Commander Guy."

It's not clear, just yet, if "top level approval" means that President Bush has authorized Wolfowitz, and the World Bank, to move forward with blaming McNulty.

It also remains a question if this is a new "blame" strategy, or if the Bush Grindhouse is applying its' "Hello, We Must Be Going" policy to a new problem.

Pieces begin falling in place on Tuesday, when Crony General Alberto Gonzales emphatically laid blame for the U.S. Attorney Firing Scandal at the feet of his former #2 man at the Justice Department, McNulty, with extremely little blowback.

However, Gonzales' attempted deflection got washed over by the news of another former Deputy Attorney General, James Comey - serving under Attorney General John Ashcroft - and his testimony before Congress that Gonzales, along with former Chief of Staff Andy Card, attempted to get a ailing and hospitalized Ashcroft to sign off on the Bush Grindhouse's illegal wiretapping.

This didn't go unnoticed by the White House, and soon, according to sources, the plan to begin blaming McNulty, and others, were being drawn up.

Pinning the blame on McNulty for Wolfowitz's lack of ethics was actually the second option, according to a party close to the West Wing.

"The first choice was retired Lt. Gen. Philip Kensinger, from the Pat Tillman cover-up, but Kensinger balked at it ... I don't think he really understood what the White House was trying to do, not grasping the concept of crossing these scandals, but he knew enough to say no ..."

Other names that were drawn up for possible scapegoat usage for the World Bank and Wolfowtiz included former Vice President Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the convicted "King of K Street", lobbyist Jack Abramoff, former FEMA Director Michael Brown, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nation, John Bolton and even former Bush Domestic Policy Advisor Claude Allen, who resigned from the administration after being charged with shoplifting.

Bolton, our sources told us, exploded in anger with the notion of taking blame for "that candy-ass wus".

Vice President Cheney deflected any comment on the new "blame strategy", only saying that "it appears one of the heroes of the Iraq war is in his final throes."

With no movement today, either by the World Bank, or by Wolfowitz, who is asking for $375,000 to leave his post, it is not known if pinning the scandal on McNulty was implemented or not.

"This is a very fluid situation," offered David Aaronson, editor of 'What Color Is My Coat Today?', the Capital Hill Newsletter that tracks politicians who turn on their own party.

"With the way things are lining up against the Crony General," continued Aaronson, "he could end with the entire mess pinned on him."

Bonus Links

Barry Crimmins: Wolfy At The Door

Sidney Blumenthal: All hail the king

Juan Cole: Paul Wolfowitz's fatal weakness

Yes, Wolfie, People Will Be Talking, For Years, About You ... The Results - The Garlic Weekly Poll

The World Bank President, and former architect of the Iraq Invasion and Occupation fiasco, Paul Wolfowitz may be feeling a bit boxed in, as he waits for a scapegoat, and a bag big enough to haul off $375,000

Cold Body Assoc. Denounces Gonzales For Finger-Pointing, Break In Tradition

"Blaming McNulty At This Point In Time Is Scurrilous"; CBA Membership Upset, Fears Could Be "Open Season" On Scapegoats

In a stinging, biting statement, the Cold Body Association denounced Crony General Alberto Gonzales this afternoon, for his comments this morning, blaming Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty for the U.S. Attorney Firing Scandal that has engulfed the Justice Department.

"Blaming McNulty," said CBA President Hiram Jenkowski, "at this point in time is scurrilous."

McNulty had, only yesterday, announced his resignation, indicating he would leave the department at the end of the summer, or, if a candidate was approved by the Senate sooner.

Gonzales, speaking at the National Press Club this morning, laid the blame for the scandal clearly at the feet of McNulty

"You have to remember, at the end of the day, the recommendations reflected the views of the deputy attorney general. He signed off on the names. And he would know better than anyone else, anyone in this room, anyone — again, the deputy attorney general would know best about the qualifications and the experiences of the United States attorneys community, and he signed off on the names."

The Crony General, who has testified twice before Congress, has defended himself , saying there was "nothing improper" in the firing, of now, up to 12 U.S. Attorneys.

Calls for Gonzales to resign have grown, and his appearances in testifying have left lawmakers stunned, at his lack of memory and knowledge on the workings of his own department.

"This is a profound break in our tradition," continued Jenkowski. "The Crony General knows better than anyone on how egregious his comments are. It's very clear in our by-laws, that you wait until a person has resigned or retired - the proverbial door-hitting-them-on-the ass moment - before you go around finger-pointing and laying blame."

The Cold Body Association claims to have "thousands" of members and is often relied on to mediate, and at times, intervene, in firings and resignations, ruling on what slurs, slams and other unjustified statements can be made, by both employer and employee.

"This has upset our membership terribly," said Jenkowski. "We've been flooded since this morning, with telephone calls and emails, all asking what this means ... Is it open season on us? ... Some have told us that they are holding off on retiring, fearing, instead of receiving a gold watch, they'll get buried in accusations ... At least six different members have said they've torn up their resignation letters."

Jenkowski stopped short of saying the CBA would lodge formal charges against the Crony General.

"He's on thin ice, as it is. If he gets fired, or impeached, than it's out of our hands and over to our sister association, the PPA.

The Political Patronage Association (PPA), a non-profit organization based in Chicago, is supporting the CBA in their protest and has called on Gonzales to retract his comments and immediately name a friend, donor or unqualified private or government employee to fill McNulty's position.

The PPA represents everyone, from political appointees, political hacks, No-Show employees and generations of relatives hired for government positions in which they are not qualified, and came to the defense of former FEMA Director Michael Brown back in 2005, after Brown was fired and blamed for the poor response to Hurricane Katrina.

"If by his statements today," added Jenkowski, the Crony General wants to start burning bridges, then so be it. We have a few CBA members that are still to testify before Congress, so, you can expect some fireworks and, likely, a few words about Gonzalez may just may make their way into the transcripts."

In a related matter, the CBA did approve a request from the World Bank, so that they could begin making defaming statements about bank president Paul Wolfowitz "before the door hits him in the ass."

"This is a situation," claimed Jenkowski, "that the smears and innuendo serve as the catalyst for forcing the departure, and in certain cases - certainly pertaining to Wolfowitz - we allow it."

Bonus Links

Administration Withheld E-Mails About Rove

Voter-Fraud Complaints by GOP Drove Dismissals

Fingerprints

Alberto Gonzales Sings 'Justice For Sale'












Crony General Alberto Gonzales has run afoul of the Cold Body Association, for his comments today, placing the blame for the U.S. Attorney Firing Scandal on Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty