‘Fast and Furious’: Internal Emails Show ATF, Justice Dept. Evasive, Nervous Over Lawmaker Inquiry
Following up on The Blaze’s past coverage of the “Operation Fast and Furious” scandal, new emails have come to light that show Washington officials with the Justice Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms sought to evade lawmaker probing into the failed program.
Operation Fast and Furious was a government operation to observe and try to track illegal gun purchases along the U.S.-Mexico border, but the ATF lost track of many of the weapons, including two that ended up at the scene where U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian A. Terry was shot and killed.
Now, according to internal emails obtained by the Los Angeles Times, the Justice Department and ATF officials said only that the weapons found at the scene were not “used” in Terry’s killing, making no mention of whether the weapons were there or not, in response to an inquiry from Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley.
The Times reported:
According to the internal emails, two days after Terry’s killing on Dec. 14 the top two ATF field supervisors in Phoenix were openly discussing that Fast and Furious guns were found at the scene. George T. Gillett Jr., then the acting special agent in charge, sent his boss, William D. Newell, the agent in charge, a “narrative of incident/activity” about the death.
It said Jaime Avila bought three AK-47s a year earlier from a Phoenix-area store and two “were recovered in the area” of Terry’s killing near Tucson. “In summary,” the email said, “Avila admitted to ATF agents that he straw purchased these firearms for an unidentified Hispanic male.”
The emails paint a picture that suggests ATF officials went to close ranks to avoid scrutiny.
After Grassley’s inquiries, Hoover received an internal email alerting him that the bureau was “receiving reports that Grassley’s staff is contacting current and former ATF field agents to inquire about the open investigation into the Brian Terry murder” and Fast and Furious. According to one email, ATF officials believed that Grassley was growing more suspicious because “ATF is not answering” his concerns.
Upon learning of a heated interaction between an ATF supervisor and an employee who had spoken with a member of the senator’s staff, the employee was “ordered to write a memorandum disclosing everything” he’d told Grassley’s staff, with agents worried the supervisor could have violated federal whistleblower protection laws.
According to an email to William J. Hoover, the ATF’s acting deputy director, a suggestion was made to provide a “watered-down” account of what was discovered at the site of the Terry killing, and also said Grassley was “at best imposing an unobtainable standard on ATF.”
Once a two-page response was sent to Grassley’s office, emails circulated among top ATF brass praising one another on their work, including “Nice touch partner” from Hoover and from another official, “Whether or not they buy in, you are a man for supporting us like that.”
In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isnβt really about controlling guns at all; itβs about controlling us. Find out more HERE.


















































































































Comments (167)
ravinginfidel
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:29pmBATF is a rogue agency. Like the IRS they can make their own rules, and enforce them as they see fit. The problem is, you have some good agents, some some bad agents and some good administrators and some bad administrators. They need to follow law and the constitution and not administrative law.
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BIGJAYINPA
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:45pmBATF is definately a rouge agency, but they are only the tip of the iceberg. This ENTIRE administration from top to bottom is rife with anti-American, Constitution hating zealots he**-bent on destroying this country and ALL of the freedoms we hold dear. When are we going to take back our country?? How much longer are we going to suffer in silence??? How much longer are we to stand idly by while SEIU and other union thugs and idiot children agitators trample our rights?? The time is long past to stand up and push back. As I said before I prefer peaceful means but if I feel threatened or if any of my family is threatened I WILL take action…And if you think I am not serious or kidding…TRY ME…..Just sayin’
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dr_funk
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 7:07pmWhat about the State Department selling weapons directly to Los Zetas?
And then BATFE and DoJ are competing by selling to the Sinaloa cartel via straw-purchasers?
Hmmm…the State Department doesn’t coordinate with BATFE and DoJ except through the White House. I think Barry made the call to push weapons into Mexico to create a crisis so that he could restrict or ban guns here in the US.
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AzDebi
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 7:14pmDo you honestly believe that “One Border Guard’s Life” is worth as much as their “Fundamental Transformation”…Really?
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copper
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 7:19pmI’m not exonerating Bush and those under him, but they were NOT anti-gun loons. I also don’t believe Bush was a socialist/marxist. Obama and his gang of thugs however, ARE and are determined to get our guns out of our hands.
They were promoting the lie that 90% of guns in Mexico came from the US which is an absolute LIE. Fast & Furious was a SCAM to get the evidence to back up their ludicrous claims. I don’t fault those on the trail, the hard working agents who take the shots (get killed) and deal with the illegals. It’s his stooges & appointees higher up – they sit at their computers and spin the LIES & DECEIT to do his dirty work, cover his tracks and try to delude us.
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tower7femacamp
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:07pmATF another good place to cut spending
oh never mind we spend stimulus money to buy illegal guns
this is a Police planet !
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tower7femacamp
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:08pmwhy does this story make me feel sick ?
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Viet Vet
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:22pmThe BATF has always been a rogue agency when a democrap is President. Republican presidents have, for the most part, held their excesses in check.
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UlyssesP
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:37pmBATF has been trampling the rights of Americans for several decades, possibly since their very inception.
I Know.
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its_time_to_arrest_our_government
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 1:51amWe all know this was Obama’s call. Holders following orders and set the batf up to take the fall. Obama’s claims of a river of iron was his guns to drug dealers. so he could try and kill our guns rights. this whole DC crowd needs to be arrested and jailed. This whole mess was caused by the people we put our trust in. Trust them to screw us at the first chance they could. Its time to let them know we are done asking our next move is acting.
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wildbill_b
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 7:41amJuly 9, 1953, the Secretary of the Treasury, G. K. Humphrey, by
“virtue of the authority vested in me,” changed the name of the
Bureau of the Internal Revenue, BIR, to Internal Revenue Service
when he signed what is now Treasury Order 150-06. This was an
obvious attempt to legitimize the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
Without the approval of Congress or the President, Humphrey,
without any legal authority, tried to turn a pure trust into an
agency of the Department of the Treasury. His actions were
illegal, but went unchallenged.
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Live_Free_orDie
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 9:19amThis is worse than the IranβContra affair could ever be and you don’t hear crap from the media. BTW where’s the apology from Fox’s anti gun Greta Van Susteran for her reporting that border gun shops where responsible for selling “fully automatic AK-47 assault rifles” (like she knows what that is) to Mexican Cartels.
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shazam3
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 10:06amIssa MUST demand and get every bit of info he asks for or prosecute everybody involved. Not get “shined” for months. Holder will sit and give the usual “I don’t remember” court room term until someone really steps up and offers jail time.
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StonyBurk
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 11:55amI am not convinced that BATF is a rogue agency– I suspect it is an agency operating under the full
knowledge and co-operation of the DOJ. And in this case with the knowledge and supervision of Eric Holder-and authorization from the man in the Oval Office and even compliance from Clinton and her
Dept.
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ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 2:03pmINFIDEL, you hit it on the head. But go one step further, charge anyone that has bypassed, disreguarded, ignored, or has been part of the cadre to overthrow the Constitution with the appropriate laws, Treason, Sedition, High Crimes, Rico, on and on. Apply with ample jail time or death as prescribed by the Constitution and law.
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South Philly Boy
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:26pmDisband BATF and put them all in JAIL
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jim
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:21pmConsciousness of guilt.
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fancydancy
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:20pmMy mother used to say if you give someone who is doing something wrong, they will eventually hange themselves. Are we there yet?
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fancydancy
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:26pmWhoops…forgot “enough rope”. Probably won’t matter as nothing seems to stick to this teflon fella.
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Tyr
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:17pmYeah, I’m investing in rope instead of gold. I figure that when the Socialist/Marxist plunge this country into catastrophe everyone is going to need alot of rope to string up the politicians, bureaucrats, administrators, lawyers, judges, propagandist media employees as well as certain celebrities and TV talk show hosts that are responsible for it. Rope will be at a premium. I’m also thinking about investing in do-it-yourself wooden scaffording kits and those black hoods.
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Mil Mom
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:26pmre : give enough they will eventually hang themselves. Are we there yet?
***
Nope, that only worked until the fools discovered the rope was made of woven hemp; this new breed will only sit down and unwind it so they can smoke it. Then on with there merry way, anything left over can be sold or used to party.
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momprayn
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:14pmPlease God! Let this be another answer to our prayers for TRUTH and JUSTICE!!!! YES !!!
I had been reading for months that this would probably happen & yes, it is like “Watergate” except hopefully bigger. Think Holder will go but don’t know about Obama — he’s always protected. We’ll see…………but good sign anyways!!!!! MORE !!!!!!!!
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TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:29pm“some” people may be hard to reach on the golf course hiding out. . I mean taking time away to think.
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frickasaur
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:13pmGuilty!,….don’t expect it to come from the press but enough of this is already getting to enough of us that this is not going away. In my opinion Holder and Obama are both dirty as sin on this. Clearly, the investigation is digging and it will find things as more folks come forward. When you see Holder decide to spend more time with his family, you will know impeachment is only months away. Until then they are on a mission to destroy this country and will not stop short of a prison sentence.
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TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:20pmIt really gets me about the press.
I think (there may be where I am wrong) that stuff like this is a GOLDMINE for a network.
Instead, they rather pander to the corrupt who will toss them under the bus like the American taxpayers as well.
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PleaseStartBrainb4engagingmouth
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:10pmWhat do I remember about getting an award for “most transparent administration ?”
Keep asking questions Senator and don’t let up …. make them more than sweat !
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Mil Mom
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:30pm@ PleaseStartBrainb4engagingmouth
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:10pm
What do I remember about getting an award for βmost transparent administration ?β
***
Aaaaahhhh! But, the award was accepted in a Secret Presentation, just goes to show you!
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:09pmThe time has come for a legal housecleaning from the President on down among the administration; along with the resignations and criminal prosecutions of Napoletano, Holder, and anyone else who at the top could sign off on this — especially Obama, he had to have known for the authorization to go forward.
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republapig
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:24pmRight on Kitty! Time to clean house & start over!
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Devil Dog 7175
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 9:25pmBurn em all! BATF, Holder Oba-Mao… Disband the BATF!
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I_Object
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:09pmcockroaches scattering as the lights come on.
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TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:14pmNot really,
You will find them smiling ever so brightly at all fundraisers in their behalf.
Obama 2012.
LoL
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Mil Mom
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:34pm@_Object
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:09pm
cockroaches scattering as the lights come on
****
No wonder they’ve banned incandescent light bulbs, probably supplying the cockreaches with sling shots, to hazardous for normal clean-up, the airing out time will let the roaches party down, then disappear by the time you’ve saved enough money for replacement bulbs.
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TurboCat
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 4:54amNo, not Obama 2012, but how about bumper stickers that say: 2012: Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!
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TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:04pmWell, looks like this is another one that “could bring down.. ” yet NONE of these “one thing(s)” actually see the light of day.
The wagons circle and protect The One who causes tingly sensations up Chris Matthews pastey white legs.
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Doug in Seattle
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:03pmClinton was a womanizer and liar. This new bunch go well beyond that.
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loriann12
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:12pmI always said if you’ll lie, what else will you do? Our POTUS lies about everything. If his purple lips are moving, he’s lying.
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Viet Vet
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:58pmKlinton was much more worse than just a womanizer and a liar. The Klinton’s were guilty of serious crimes. Read the book: ‘Sell Out’, by David P. Schippers a Chicago Democrap who was the Chief Investigative Counsel for the Klinton Impeachment. Notwithstanding he was a democrap he was profoundly disgusted that Klinton wasn’t thrown out of office, if not sent to prison. He was privy to all the evidence. But that evidence has been sealed for 50 years.
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EZDOZIT
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 1:16amOn page 2, Schippers said,” Yeah, we knew the President( Clinton) was a serial felon who made Richard Nixon look like a Boy Scout,but we don’t care”.
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EZDOZIT
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 1:45amVIET VET, Daniel Ortega, a devil worshipper,use his oun daughter for sex and communist. The democracts sided with him and cut off funding to Contras, our allies. Reagen tried to keep them fund ed to stop the spread of communism in South America. Thanks to the democracts, they have taken over most of it. Mexico, almost went communist in last election. The dems will be disappointed if they go communist before US. After Democracts took back the Senate and Congress in 2006, the Communist Party USA, sent out a notice that read,”VICTORY VICTORY< VICTORY< WE WON!
When the democract win, america loses.
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Volsense
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:01pmHow does a state like Iowa have lying nutjob like Harkin for a senator? Grassley, I can see, but Harkin is a bad joke.
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blazingaway
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:08pmIOWA … Idiots. Out. Walking. Around
Harkins is one of them.
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Viet Vet
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:09pmHarkin is worse than just an idiot. He’s a communist. He and John F’n sKerry went down to Nicaragua in the 80′s to show the democraps solidarity with Daniel Ortega of the communist Sandinistas. The democraps who contolled both houses of congress passed an unconstitutional bill known as the Bolens “amendment.” This was to prevent Pres Reagan from supporting and aiding the Contra freedom fighters. I have a photo in my files of him and skerry shaking ol’ Ortega’s hand, and **** eating grins on their faces.
Harkin, like many democraps, claimed to have flown fighter jets in Viet Nam (many other democraps claim to be Viet Nam veterans when it turns out they were never in Viet Nam). He was embellishing his record in political advertising. Finally he was called out on it by Senator Barry Goldwater. After that Harkin just claimed to be a Viet Nam era veteran.
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inexiletill2012
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:58pmthis will be Obama’s Watergate
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CatB
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:05pmFAST AND FURIOUSGATE .. now will the MSM do anything? WE MUST DEMAND ACTION!
Note what he says ..
‘the PRESIDENT directed us to take action” !!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KloKRe0Qgs
TEA!
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GOTT-EM-MAUSER
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 11:01pmDon’t “Bet the Ranch” on that. This country has been taken over “Completely” in the last 150 years by the “Republican/Democrat/Progressive/Socialist/Communist/ WHATEVER” groups under the BIGGEST TENT of all, The BIG GOVERNMENT PARTY TENT. Makes no difference whether they were “ELECTED/APPOINTED/HIRED” ALL those in the Government are DOMESTIC ENEMIES of the CONSTITUTION and the FREE PEOPLE of this country. They ALL want the SAME thing, “For US to keep WORKING so THEY DON’T HAVE TO”
This won’t even make a ripple in OBAMA’S pond, much less turn his boat over.
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HK94dude
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:58pmCan we ban the BATFE?
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I_Object
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:10pmand the DEA, and the EPA?
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teddrunk
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:57pmThis stinking thing goes all the way to the AG & Obama. This thing is bigger than Watergate or Iran-Contra combined.
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TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:32pmNow now now. . that’s pushing it.
Obama’s 50th birthday celebration.
Now THAT is going to make the headlines. Move over Royal Wedding.
Really, move over.. now.
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13th Imam
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:46pmJugears giving guns to mexican drug lords. With the help of “My people” AG holder. This is just another example of resume enhancement by DEMOCRATS.
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Dakota Hawk
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:01pmPerhaps the puppet master(s) will be revealed.
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EZDOZIT
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 1:55amSo that why he wants to raise the debt ceiling by 2.5 Trillion…how much is this party going to cost ?
It’s all about the Bling.
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mr.goodvibe
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:56pmBe afraid. Be very afraid Holder! What am I saying? Him and Obama will slip out of any wrong doing.
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oldchevyguy
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:55pmI can’t wait to see how this unfolds.I don’t know how the Justice department is going to spin this.I think heads will role.
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Psychosis
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:53pmthere are videos mentioning this program in 2009 , when it started
these videos provide evidence that officials knew about this program
impeach, arrest charge and sentence these people now ………..including nappypolitano , holder, and obama
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Viet Vet
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:12pmYes, they have evidence showing that Fast & Furious started October 2009.
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Brae
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:52pmHolder should be charged with first degree mur der
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the hawk
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:57pmFrom Waco !
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shorthanded12
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:52pmBring all of them up on charges for any deaths that have occured on both sides of the border in which any weapon can be traced back to the ATF and Justice Dept. Call a public hearing with that Coward Eric “Reckless” Holder the ATF and Big Sis. Make Barrys Crooks squirm in there seats in front of the public than demand they “RESIGN” immediately. This sounds worse than Watergate and The Monica gate.
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republapig
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:26pmGood idea
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the nationalist
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:19pmWish they could but they can’t anymore than gun dealers can be brought up on such charges. This government should just be shelved and all of the politicians forced to work in the normal workforce. The government should be closed for five years, only the beaurocrats stay in place. That way all of the social security checks would get sent out, medicare and medicaid, and military benefits sent out.
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Tyr
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:23pmThey will just refuse to appear, some attorney will block the whole thing….It will never happen! These people are anarchist Socialist/Marxists. Our laws mean NOTHING to them! Have you not figured that out YET?
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Mil Mom
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 10:50pmre : Call a public hearing with that Coward Eric βRecklessβ Holder the ATF and Big Sis. Make Barrys Crooks squirm in there seats in front of the public than demand they βRESIGNβ immediately. This sounds worse than Watergate and The Monica gate.
***
But I thought public hearings Are going on in Congress, isn’t that why the “Debt Ceiling” and UK “Rupert Murdock” hearings are all you can get any news about?
Why should they resign, there are enough fools out there who think this is just another “Right Wing Conspiracy Theory”.
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Mil Mom
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 11:00pmre : The government should be closed for five years, only the beaurocrats stay in place. That way all of the social security checks would get sent out, medicare and medicaid, and military benefits sent out.
****
Who do you think writes ALL THE REGULATIONS AS TO HOW LAWS ARE APPLIED. With bureaucrats in place and the rest of government out for 5 yrs, Obamacare will be fully implemented. Worked for a couple of years as an office asst. in a government ofc. we were local, but got ALL the bigwig state e-mails, it was the # 3 on down people who truly decided what the laws we followed really meant. Elections might change Gov and dept heads 1&2 but as long as the rest stayed in place the same things were going to keep on happening whether good or bad, occasionally a Gov would issue a directive, but the depts. told him whether or not it was do-able.
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Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:48pmThrow them all in jail while their hard drives are gone through with a fine toothed comb. That’s the only way we’ll learn the truth of who’s culpable for Fast and Furious/Gunrunner.
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dwh320
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:57pmThey are just starting to look into the OTHER ATF Obama gun smuggling to drug dealers operations in Florida. The Obama officials at ATF “Operation Castaway” has yet to provide information requested because the are doing all they can to hide its existence.
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blazingaway
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:48pmWish this story would bring down the Attorney General and Obama. However, it probably won’t since Republicans can never seem to figure-out how to properly go after wrong doing. They are more inclined to forgive and forget which is why the Dems always make the headlines and move the masses on emotion and the GOP gets stuck in the mud
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Oh My God
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:47pmUnfortunately, this White House staff can’t seem to find their own butt-holes. I hope Grassley and Issa stay on this and don’t cave to pressures from Obama et al.
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BonnieBlueFlag
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:47pmPut them all on trial including Obama. This President is a bigger criminal than Bill Clinton and *that’s saying something.*
I want the infiltrator sitting in the White House to face a legal firing squad for conspiring against the United States of America.
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TelepromoterNChief
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 6:08pmObama won’t go on trial.
He can’t handle Q&A times he cannot control.
Whatever you do, please do not yell questions at him.
I seriously doubt he will attend a single debate for the 2012 run that started for him in 2008.
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observerrage
Posted on July 23, 2011 at 1:07pmhttp://www.opposingviews.com/i/hillary-clinton-s-assault-on-the-second-amendment
This crime against America and humanity, started in 2009 after the obama regime with his murderous trolls (ezekiel and rahm emanuel, hillory clinton, eric holder, kathleen sibelius…etc. the list goes on!) this is just the tip of the iceberg! Start demanding investigations and hammer the requests to your federal representatives continuously. These crimes have got to be stopped or they will add to the tens of millions of lives they have already adversely affected with the darkness of their murderous agenda!? Above is a link to a detailed story of the many available online, please post it on your facebook pages blogs and whatever social sites you use. The word has got to get out about these souless thugs! God have mercy on our nation!
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FLYOVERSTATEIOWA
Posted on July 22, 2011 at 5:46pmAt least one of my Senators is working! The other one is just seeing how his voice sounds on the TV. Harkin – You could learn something from the G-Man!
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