Bush fires MARY FRANCES BERRY from Civil Rights Commission

[electropop]

He did it the instant her contract expired (on the Bush-world calendar) or a month before expiration (in the fact-based reality calendar). I don't suppose it had anything to do with her hearings on the 2000 election?

[SpiralHawk]

1. The PURGE proceeds purposefully

Gack

[Straight Shooter]

2. Those uppity civil rights people have GOT TO GO

I wonder whom he'll appoint in her place, maybe David Duke?

edit: /sarcasm off

[ET Awful]

4. Nah, he'll just change the position so it falls under the controrl of

the Department of Homeland Security (also known as the Gestapo).

[tsuki]

13. Good choice. Won't have to put out extra money

for bedsheets. /sarcasm off

[snippy]

3. Civil rights are bad for corporate profits. n/t

[soup]

5. Guess this was the icing on the cake

Leaders of Civil-Rights Watchdog Blast Bush
Wed Dec 1, 2004 01:57 PM ET

By Alan Elsner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leaders of a divided federal civil-rights watchdog agency accused President Bush of deepening racial divisions, in a parting shot after years of sparring with his administration.

Mary Frances Berry, chairperson of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and Vice Chairperson Cruz Reynoso delivered a 166-page report to the White House harshly criticizing the administration for setting back race relations and failing to promote civil rights in any meaningful way.

But the report is not an official document, because four of the eight commissioners, all of them Republican appointees, voted against adopting it and rejected the charges as politically biased.

Both Berry and Reynoso are due to retire from the commission next month at the end of their six-year terms, giving Bush the chance to appoint their successors and shape a body more supportive of his policies.
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=6969520

--- doesn't sound like she's going quietly ---

Civil Rights Chairman Resists Ouster by Bush

Associated Press
Tuesday, December 7, 2004; Page A05

President Bush moved yesterday to replace Mary Frances Berry, the outspoken chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission who has argued with every president since Jimmy Carter appointed her to the panel a quarter-century ago.

But Berry balked at leaving now, arguing through a spokesman that she and Vice Chairman Cruz Reynoso, who also is being replaced, have terms that run until midnight Jan. 21, 2005. The White House maintained that their six-year terms expired Sunday and that Berry and Reynoso had been replaced.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42225-2004Dec7.html

How dare she question **his authority?!

It's really getting scary out there, isn't it?

[Dinger]

6. Mary Frances Berry for DNC Chairman?

Sheesh, this is sickening! Can anybody do anything, NOW, about this mess???

[nicho]

7. her term ended

there was a dispute about this acouple of years ago with another commission member. the member maintained that the 6-year commission started on the date she was appointed by Pres. Clinton. The Bush administration argued that the commission terms are set and that no matter when a person is appointed within that term, upon expiration of that term that persons service ends. A Fed. appeals court agreed with the administration.

this seems to be the same issue although the difference is only a month between when the term expires and when the anniversary of their actual appointment is. Frankly, its not clear why the commission is picking this fight when the Court has already apparently settled the issue

[newyawker99]

11. Hi nicho!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kellis]

9. 2 of the first things to go

when Fascism takes over are 1)Dissent and 2) Civil Rights.

Its no coincidence that she is leaving and a more fascist supporting bushbot will replace her.

[nicho]

10. she had to go

her term expired. simple as that.

[electropop]

12. why do you trolls bother? n/t

[Razorback_Democrat]

14. It obviously isn't as simple as that!

She was part of writing a scathing report on civil rights under Bush!

this was political as hell


if you can't see that, well, never mind

[Igel]

15. Berry was a political appointee who

was there for two terms. She's had run-ins with Bush before; she's trying to drag out her appointment until January. Why? I don't think there are any more staff reports waiting in the wings. Maybe she's hoping for a Kerry win so she can keep her job.

(Gee, am I getting a bit cynical?)