Comments on: Paulose Scandal Continues to Unravel, Coleman Seen as Complicit

By: Colemeleon | Coleman Changes Position on Paulose Facts at MNpublius.com

Colemeleon | Coleman Changes Position on Paulose Facts at MNpublius.com — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 03:22:40 +0000

[…] how do you forget that you submitted someone for nomination!? Given that many people have said that Coleman didn’t want to submit her for nomination and merely submitted to the Bush Administration’s pressure, but […]

By: Ditto at MNpublius.com

Ditto at MNpublius.com — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:23:51 +0000

[…] More on the Paulose scandal and how Coleman ties in. […]

By: IgG4

IgG4 — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:08:38 +0000

I wonder if Speedy was getting some “special favors” from his special assistant?

Perhaps Rachel has a blue dress or two stashed away as insurance?

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:27:24 +0000

I could have sworn that Paulose got put on hold for a little while because of Dayton, that he’d blue-slipped her because the White House/Justice Dept. hadn’t consulted with his office or done so much as a courtesy interview with him. After that was resolved, I believe Dayton supported the nomination…

The mass resignation/demotion is a bad sign, though.

By: RandyH

RandyH — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 22:25:14 +0000

New reader here.

I get a real funny feeling about this whole thing. I hope it gets fully investigated. One thing that seems to show up in case after case of the US Attorney Purge is the placement of “loyal Bushies” in places where they could use the justice system and create bogus charges and “Federal Investigations” of Democrats to be leaked to the media in upcoming elections. They know they’re likely to lose a Senate seat (Coleman) in 2008 and this may just be preparation for the dirty tricks they will pull on Al Franken and other prominent Democrats in Minnesota, like we’re just discovering they did in Wisconsin the last time around. They also pulled similar tactics in Pennsylvania in the Santorum/Casey race and in New Jersey in that Senate race.

It is really startling that the Justice System is being used for partisan political dirty tricks. And it could turn out to grow much wider. But this needs to be brought to light before the end of this year. Let’s hope.

By: a

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:37:27 +0000

I think the media is missing a layer to this.

What do you think of this gloss on the story?: It might be worth asking whether the US Attorney purge is linked to a longer term goal of impacting the federal bench…getting more administration-apporoved conservatives credentialed for appointment to the federal bench. It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but placing people in US attorney roles is often a stepping stone to an appointment as an Article III judge.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 21:00:59 +0000

A few thoughts Pat:
1) excellent work. Both articles are tremendous.
2) I agree, I think that Heffelfinger was an original target but regardless, the Paulose scandal stands on its own as an affront to the US system of Justice.
3) The Coleman wrinkle is interesting indeed, but the contribution is not. $1200 is fairly insignificant in a Senate campaign, certainly insignificant in light of the magnitude of this decision, and it isn’t even the maximum amount possible. The contribution is only interesting to the extent that it displays how Paulose is a loyal GOPer.
4) Dayton was the senior Senator at the time, but tradition dictates that it is the most senior Senator of the President’s Party that gets to nominate. These are, after all, political appointments and Party preference has a role to play. So, Coleman was the appropriate Senator to make the nomination although the other Senator is often consulted and peripherally included in the process.

By: Pat Smith

Pat Smith — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:12:18 +0000

smit2174 is me. If you haven’t already, you should read this other piece I did on why I think Heffelfinger WAS an original target of the purge:

http://mncampaignreport.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=326

The Coleman information is really interesting — it adds another wrinkle. If true, it seems that Norm could have stopped the whole “purge” from going down by challenging Paulose’s appointment rather than accepting it under the guise that she was his own choice.

If this were true, how would Paulose’s campaign contributions to Sen. Coleman fit into the picture.

It also makes me wonder — wasn’t Mark Dayton the senior Senator at the time? Although he wasn’t running for re-election, why wouldn’t it be his privilege to nominate the next US Attorney?