Bartholomew Roberts
Moderator
jimpeel, that is an excellent piece of commentary. Thanks for taking the time to make it, regardless of whether it ever sees the light of day in the Washington Post. It looks like it is going down pretty much like we expected. Paul Helmke has written an article that gives a preview of his testimony today and the Washington Post is running an article that purports to be news; but is actually the same content as their earlier editorial. The typical lefty blogs are running with this as well. Pointing out that the existing gun laws were both violated by ATF and then not prosecuted by AUSA Emory Hurley is going to be an important part of challenging this attempt to change the narrative from "ATF breaking the law" to "We need more laws for ATF to break."
The really ironic thing is that the Cummings hearing are apparently relying heavily on Agent Forcelli's testimony without noting the part about AUSA Hurley declining to prosecute cases that were later successfully prosecuted by the Arizona AG. Forcelli called the straw purchasing laws "toothless"; but they aren't at all toothless at the federal level - it is only at the state level where they are weak - and Forcelli was forced to go to the state level because Hurley, who was neck deep in Fast and Furious, refused to prosecute many of the straw purchasers implicated under the stricter federal laws.
Suprisingly, not a lot of traditional news outlets biting on the Cummings hearing so far, it seems more are reporting on President Obama's most recent denial that he knew or authorized such an operation. Once again, a subtle but telling shift from the White House in the denials:
"My attorney general has made clear that he certainly would not have ordered gun running to be able to pass through into Mexico."
Apparently the President is no longer comfortable making blanket claims about what AG Holder knew or didn't know and is now taking the more cautious approach of reporting on what AG Holder has told them. Which given that AG Holder responded to a letter inquiring about Gunwalker from Rep. Issa in February and then in May testified that he had only known about the operation for a few weeks maybe, is probably a smart move for the White House to take.
The really ironic thing is that the Cummings hearing are apparently relying heavily on Agent Forcelli's testimony without noting the part about AUSA Hurley declining to prosecute cases that were later successfully prosecuted by the Arizona AG. Forcelli called the straw purchasing laws "toothless"; but they aren't at all toothless at the federal level - it is only at the state level where they are weak - and Forcelli was forced to go to the state level because Hurley, who was neck deep in Fast and Furious, refused to prosecute many of the straw purchasers implicated under the stricter federal laws.
Suprisingly, not a lot of traditional news outlets biting on the Cummings hearing so far, it seems more are reporting on President Obama's most recent denial that he knew or authorized such an operation. Once again, a subtle but telling shift from the White House in the denials:
"My attorney general has made clear that he certainly would not have ordered gun running to be able to pass through into Mexico."
Apparently the President is no longer comfortable making blanket claims about what AG Holder knew or didn't know and is now taking the more cautious approach of reporting on what AG Holder has told them. Which given that AG Holder responded to a letter inquiring about Gunwalker from Rep. Issa in February and then in May testified that he had only known about the operation for a few weeks maybe, is probably a smart move for the White House to take.
) 
nevermind. Ignore the above. I'll simply say, this ain't Chicago, and...