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Fast and Furious with the Facts
Author: BobR    Date: 06/28/2012 13:19:12

Before today's SCOTUS decision on the ACA comes down and obliterates every other ongoing news story, it's probably a good time to take a look at the fake Fast and Furious scandal that the Republicans are attempting to use to smear the Obama administration. Poor Darrell Issa - gamely trying to sell his snake oil while the 3 ring circus is setting up its tents.

The so-called scandal is perhaps not so oddly similar to the Clinton witch hunt that started in Arkansas, and ended up on a blue dress. It seems they are on a fishing expedition and latching on to the administration's refusal to turn over documents of an ongoing investigation as proof that there is something to hide, despite the evidence that the original reason for the investigation has shown that there is no "there" there.

That is brought to light in amazing detail by a recent investigative report by (of all places) Fortune magazine. The article is VERY long but also very thorough. The crux of it is that the ATF did not sell weapons - they monitored weapons sales, and then ran up against a brick wall of lax gun laws when they tried to get indictments. There was also infighting and backstabbing going on among the agents. Here are some choice snippets:
Customers can legally buy as many weapons as they want in Arizona as long as they're 18 or older and pass a criminal background check. There are no waiting periods and no need for permits, and buyers are allowed to resell the guns. "In Arizona," says Voth, "someone buying three guns is like someone buying a sandwich."
[...]
Their greatest difficulty by far, however, was convincing prosecutors that they had sufficient grounds to seize guns and arrest straw purchasers. By June 2010 the agents had sent the U.S. Attorney's office a list of 31 suspects they wanted to arrest, with 46 pages outlining their illegal acts. But for the next seven months prosecutors did not indict a single suspect.
[...]
Quite simply, there's a fundamental misconception at the heart of the Fast and Furious scandal. Nobody disputes that suspected straw purchasers under surveillance by the ATF repeatedly bought guns that eventually fell into criminal hands. Issa and others charge that the ATF intentionally allowed guns to walk as an operational tactic. But five law-enforcement agents directly involved in Fast and Furious tell Fortune that the ATF had no such tactic. They insist they never purposefully allowed guns to be illegally trafficked. Just the opposite: They say they seized weapons whenever they could but were hamstrung by prosecutors and weak laws, which stymied them at every turn.
[...]
Irony abounds when it comes to the Fast and Furious scandal. But the ultimate irony is this: Republicans who support the National Rifle Association and its attempts to weaken gun laws are lambasting ATF agents for not seizing enough weapons—ones that, in this case, prosecutors deemed to be legal.

The big raison d'être for the start of the congressional investigation was the killing of a U.S. agent by guns supposedly sold by ATF agents to Mexican drug gangs. Except - that didn't actually happen:
Ten days after the meeting with Hurley, a Saturday, Jaime Avila, a transient, admitted methamphetamine user, bought three WASR-10 rifles at the Lone Wolf Trading Company in Glendale, Ariz. The next day, a helpful Lone Wolf employee faxed Avila's purchase form to ATF to flag the suspicious activity. It was the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, so the agents didn't receive the fax until Tuesday, according to a contemporaneous case report. By that time, the legally purchased guns had been gone for three days. The agents had never seen the weapons and had no chance to seize them. But they entered the serial numbers into their gun database. Two of these were later recovered at Brian Terry's murder scene.

This whole "scandal" was cooked up by one of the agents (Dodson) who was actually the only one who ever posed undercover and sold any weapons to drug runners:
On June 1, Dodson used $2,500 in ATF funds to purchase six AK Draco pistols from local gun dealers, and gave these to Fernandez, who reimbursed him and gave him $700 for his efforts. Two days later, according to case records, Dodson—who would later testify that in his previous experience, "if even one [gun] got away from us, nobody went home until we found it"—left on a scheduled vacation without interdicting the guns.

The big irony in all of this was pointed out by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ):
"The gun lobby is guiding the hand of the House Republicans, and it's never been more clear than with this contempt vote," he said in a statement. "It is preposterous for the NRA to suddenly show concern over guns falling into the wrong hands when for decades they have fought countless proposals to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and even terrorists..."


The idea that ATF agents were directly involved in the transactions, however, is shown by this quote from the above-referenced Lautenberg article:
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) sold thousands of assault rifles and revolvers to traffickers suspected of being linked to Mexican drug cartels.


As we now know, this bit of common knowledge is in fact false.

The lax gun laws that are pushed by Republicans and the NRA are the reason that these guns fall into the wrong hands and ultimately why Fast and Furious failed. Meanwhile here in the U.S., NRA-sponsored laws like the Stand Your Ground laws in FL and elsewhere are responsible for an uptick in killings.

This is a perfect example of reaping what you sow, as well as Republicans deliberately allowing facts to be distorted and lies told in the media (and in this case - people to die) so long as it helps their agenda of making Obama a one-term president. I can guarantee that if President Obama is re-elected, they will be looking for excuses to impeach, just like they did with Clinton.

Fast and Furious indeed.
 

89 comments (Latest Comment: 06/29/2012 03:48:46 by clintster)
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Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 13:25:40
Morning


Any new word on Tri?

Comment by BobR on 06/28/2012 13:29:32
NOTE: I just added to the blog this quote from the Lautenberg article:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) sold thousands of assault rifles and revolvers to traffickers suspected of being linked to Mexican drug cartels.


This shows how wrong the media is about all of this.

Comment by BobR on 06/28/2012 13:30:52
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning

Any new word on Tri?

I talked to Mrs. TriSec last night - they are doing a biopsy on the mass removed from his colon, but won't know anything for a few more days. He will be recovering in the hospital through the weekend.

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 13:36:23
Quote by BobR:
NOTE: I just added to the blog this quote from the Lautenberg article:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) sold thousands of assault rifles and revolvers to traffickers suspected of being linked to Mexican drug cartels.


This shows how wrong the media is about all of this.
Anyone who believes the mess the GOP is making of this should read this entire blog entry. I am going to print it out and carry it with me.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 13:39:40
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning

Any new word on Tri?

I talked to Mrs. TriSec last night - they are doing a biopsy on the mass removed from his colon, but won't know anything for a few more days. He will be recovering in the hospital through the weekend.



Do they need anything?

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/28/2012 13:40:16
Quote by Raine:
Quote by BobR:
NOTE: I just added to the blog this quote from the Lautenberg article:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) sold thousands of assault rifles and revolvers to traffickers suspected of being linked to Mexican drug cartels.


This shows how wrong the media is about all of this.
Anyone who believes the mess the GOP is making of this should read this entire blog entry. I am going to print it out and carry it with me.



Me, I am going to refer them to that bastion of raving leftwingers, "Fortune."

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/28/2012 13:40:56
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning

Any new word on Tri?

I talked to Mrs. TriSec last night - they are doing a biopsy on the mass removed from his colon, but won't know anything for a few more days. He will be recovering in the hospital through the weekend.



Do they need anything?



Good vibes. Positivity. Our love and support.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 13:43:22
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by BobR:
Quote by wickedpam:
Morning

Any new word on Tri?

I talked to Mrs. TriSec last night - they are doing a biopsy on the mass removed from his colon, but won't know anything for a few more days. He will be recovering in the hospital through the weekend.



Do they need anything?



Good vibes. Positivity. Our love and support.


Already sending


Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 14:01:02
BTW, the SCOTUS Live Blog

It is going to be interesting at work today, no question. Shane-O Is at the SCOTUS as we speak.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 14:01:58
Quote by Raine:
BTW, the SCOTUS Live Blog

It is going to be interesting at work today, no question. Shane-O Is at the SCOTUS as we speak.



I have that falling elevator feeling.....

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:07:39
I am wishing the best for TriSec and his family this morning.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 14:09:06
Doesn't Mass have the Indy Mandate? Guess that strikes it down too

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 14:10:26
Individual MAndate gone.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:10:46
SCOTUS Blog: The individual mandate survives as a tax.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 14:11:46
what? I'm confused

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 14:12:06
SCOTUS Blog says it survived, so now I am confused.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:13:05


Scotus blog: So the mandate is constitutional. Chief Justice Roberts joins the left of the Court.

Amy Howe:
The Medicaid provision is limited but not invalidated.



Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:13:36
Scotus blog:

Tom:
The bottom line: the entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal government's power to terminate states' Medicaid funds is narrowly read.


Comment by Scoopster on 06/28/2012 14:14:06
Mornin' all..

The decision on the ACA just came in and while it's very complicated, the quick summary is "...the entire ACA is upheld, with the exception that the federal government's power to terminate states' Medicaid funds is narrowly read."

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/28/2012 14:16:28
SUCK IT RIGHT WING DOUCHEBAGS!

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 14:17:26
CNN got it ALL wrong. It's ALL upheld!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 14:18:44
YA! <-- Happy Dance!

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:19:17
SCOTUS BLOG:

10:15

Tom:
Chief Justice Roberts' vote saved the ACA.
10:18

Amy Howe:
The money quote from the section on the mandate: Our precedent demonstrates that Congress had the power to impose the exaction in Section 5000A under the taxing power, and that Section 5000A need not be read to do more than impose a tax. This is sufficient to sustain it.

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 14:20:36
Quote by Will in Chicago:
SCOTUS BLOG:

10:15

Tom:
Chief Justice Roberts' vote saved the ACA.
10:18

Amy Howe:
The money quote from the section on the mandate: Our precedent demonstrates that Congress had the power to impose the exaction in Section 5000A under the taxing power, and that Section 5000A need not be read to do more than impose a tax. This is sufficient to sustain it.
I am SO HAPPY!

Take a look at the confusion:


Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:23:45
THE Affordable Care Act is upheld.

What we will likely see are states like California and Vermont looking at alternatives to the new system, such as single payer. In the long run, we may move towards single payer as Canada did when the provinces adopted their own plans.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:26:34
More Scotus Blog:

10:24

Amy Howe:
Another way to think about Medicaid: the Constitution requires that states have a choice about whether to participate in the expansion of eligibility; if they decide not to, they can continue to receive funds for the rest of the program.
10:24

Tom:
Apologies - you can't refuse to pay the tax; typo. The only effect of not complying with the mandate is that you pay the tax.
10:25

Amy Howe:
The Court holds that the mandate violates the Commerce Clause, but that doesn't matter b/c there are five votes for the mandate to be constitutional under the taxing power.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/28/2012 14:27:04
Hey Gov. Scott, suck it you creatinous, used douche wad! You failed. Hey Pam Bondi suck it too.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:28:00
More Scotus Blog:

10:26

Amy Howe:
The Court holds that the Anti-Injunction Act doesn't apply because the label "tax" is not controlling.
10:26

Lyle:
Justice Ginsburg makes clear that the vote is 5-4 on sustaining the mandate as a form of tax. Her opinion, for herself and Sotomayor, Breyer and Kagan, joins the key section of Roberts opinion on that point. She would go further and uphold the mandate under the Commerce Clause, which Roberts wouldn't. Her opinion on Commerce does not control. ;

Kennedy is one of the dissenters.


Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:28:53
Quote by Mondobubba:
Hey Gov. Scott, suck it you creatinous, used douche wad! You failed. Hey Pam Bondi suck it too.



I have an idea what both of them can suck, but I imagine that Godzilla would have better taste in lovers.

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 14:30:32
Quote by Will in Chicago:
More Scotus Blog:

10:26

Amy Howe:
The Court holds that the Anti-Injunction Act doesn't apply because the label "tax" is not controlling.
10:26

Lyle:
Justice Ginsburg makes clear that the vote is 5-4 on sustaining the mandate as a form of tax. Her opinion, for herself and Sotomayor, Breyer and Kagan, joins the key section of Roberts opinion on that point. She would go further and uphold the mandate under the Commerce Clause, which Roberts wouldn't. Her opinion on Commerce does not control. ;

Kennedy is one of the dissenters.
That surprises me... but whatever. ACA is upheld!


Comment by clintster on 06/28/2012 14:30:45
Wow! This is a pretty good day so far. As far as CNN's jumping of the gun, I smell a Keyboard Cat coming soon.

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/28/2012 14:31:18
WARNING! I am about to be really gross!


The COOCH can suck the jizz out of used condom. FAIL! HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Gloaty McGloaterson, OUT!

Comment by BobR on 06/28/2012 14:32:16


Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:34:17
Scotus Blog :

:32

Amy Howe:
In Plain English: The Affordable Care Act, including its individual mandate that virtually all Americans buy health insurance, is constitutional. There were not five votes to uphold it on the ground that Congress could use its power to regulate commerce between the states to require everyone to buy health insurance. However, five Justices agreed that the penalty that someone must pay if he refuses to buy insurance is a kind of tax that Congress can impose using its taxing power. That is all that matters. Because the mandate survives, the Court did not need to decide what other parts of the statute were constitutional, except for a provision that required states to comply with new eligibility requirements for Medicaid or risk losing their funding. On that question, the Court held that the provision is constitutional as long as states would only lose new funds if they didn't comply with the new requirements, rather than all of their funding.


Comment by Scoopster on 06/28/2012 14:34:20
This is a really great day guys..

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:35:37
More Scotus Blog:

10:33

Tom:
We're checking on whether the Court is still reading.
10:34

Amy Howe:
Yes, to answer a common question, the whole ACA is constitutional, so the provision requiring insurers to cover young adults until they are 26 survives as well.


Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:37:01
Quote by Scoopster:
This is a really great day guys..



Victory tastes sweet. Okay, enjoy it and let us move forward!

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/28/2012 14:39:42
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Quote by Scoopster:
This is a really great day guys..



Victory tastes sweet. Okay, enjoy it and let us move forward!



Yeah agreed. As Craig Ferguson would say, "It's a great day for America!"

Comment by Will in Chicago on 06/28/2012 14:40:42
Here is the link to the ruling.

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 14:49:46
Quote by Scoopster:
This is a really great day guys..



Comment by Mondobubba on 06/28/2012 14:57:29
On to other topics, if you are interested, Tri is a Auburn Medical Center ( I think). A flurry of cards from 4Fers is in order.

Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 14:59:52
Looks like no DC Sexy Liberal show - they are going to NY in October - just announced on FB

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 15:01:56
Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like no DC Sexy Liberal show - they are going to NY in October - just announced on FB
We WILL however be getting a PSRTour ...

Politics, Sex Religion tour is being headlined by Hal and John...


Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 15:04:12
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like no DC Sexy Liberal show - they are going to NY in October - just announced on FB
We WILL however be getting a PSRTour ...

Politics, Sex Religion tour is being headlined by Hal and John...



oohhh when?

Comment by Mondobubba on 06/28/2012 15:09:19
I've had a think. I mentioned this Bobber last night, blog flowers. Which sounds good, but here's the though I a have now. As show of respect to Uncle Ray, donation the RI community food bank in Uncle Ray and Tri's name.

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 15:11:39
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like no DC Sexy Liberal show - they are going to NY in October - just announced on FB
We WILL however be getting a PSRTour ...

Politics, Sex Religion tour is being headlined by Hal and John...


oohhh when?
No dates yet, but John has said they WILL be coming to DC.


Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 15:12:58
Quote by Mondobubba:
I've had a think. I mentioned this Bobber last night, blog flowers. Which sounds good, but here's the though I a have now. As show of respect to Uncle Ray, donation the RI community food bank in Uncle Ray and Tri's name.
That sounds like a great idea.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 15:13:22
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like no DC Sexy Liberal show - they are going to NY in October - just announced on FB
We WILL however be getting a PSRTour ...

Politics, Sex Religion tour is being headlined by Hal and John...


oohhh when?
No dates yet, but John has said they WILL be coming to DC.



Ya! Tell him Gaithersburg is not DC

Comment by Raine on 06/28/2012 15:15:21
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like no DC Sexy Liberal show - they are going to NY in October - just announced on FB
We WILL however be getting a PSRTour ...

Politics, Sex Religion tour is being headlined by Hal and John...


oohhh when?
No dates yet, but John has said they WILL be coming to DC.



Ya! Tell him Gaithersburg is not DC


Well, we know that Hal already loves the Arlington Drafthouse.... So there is hope.


Comment by wickedpam on 06/28/2012 15:16:58
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like no DC Sexy Liberal show - they are going to NY in October - just announced on FB
We WILL however be getting a PSRTour ...

Politics, Sex Religion tour is being headlined by Hal and John...


oohhh when?
No dates yet, but John has said they WILL be coming to DC.



Ya! Tell him Gaithersburg is not DC


Well, we know that Hal already loves the Arlington Drafthouse.... So there is hope.



Double Ya!