Ed Brayton is a freelance writer and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media.(static)
Ed Brayton also blogs at Positive Liberty and The Panda's Thumb
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Posted on: May 8, 2008 9:28 AM, by Ed Brayton
The Office of Special Counsel was raided this week by the FBI as part of one of the many investigations of wrongdoing by Scott Bloch, the director of the agency that is supposed to protect whistleblowers from reprisals and federal employees from discrimination and political interference. Bloch is a first class butthead and political hack and he is going down like Pamela Anderson at a rock concert.
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Comments
Aw shucks - I read the headline and was hoping the feds were finally taking down Orson Scott Card...
Since we have to settle for second best, my main question is: how has the FBI retained enough independence that they can pursue a high-level Bush appointee so close to the White House, without even a known sex scandal?
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | May 8, 2008 10:22 AM
The FBI has traditionally retained its independence pretty well, because of its very strong organizational culture. One of the critical moments in Watergate was when Nixon had the CIA tell the FBI to back off the investigation on the grounds that it was a national security issue. IIRC, the FBI didn't (but I'm open to correction of my memory).
Posted by: James Hanley | May 8, 2008 2:46 PM
On Dunford's blog in a comments discussion last week of l'affaire Sternberg, Larry Fa(r)farman claimed "the OSC had no ax to grind" in its report, and "a Congressman issued a report", objective and fair, too. When the characteristics of Bloch and far-right theoCongressman Souder were pointed out to him, Larry announced he knew nothing about them.
"Pontificating From Ignorance" is on the Fa(r)farman family crest.
Posted by: Foggg | May 8, 2008 6:31 PM
I must confess my disappointment that the Sternberg fiasco does not appear to be subject of any FBI investigation.
On the other hand, I wonder why such a bizarre politicization of this group, which is supposed to protect federal workers, was ever allowed to happen. Back in the day, Reaganauts wouldn't have thought of such lack of responsibility.
Posted by: Ed Darrell | May 8, 2008 11:19 PM
Bloch made a splash when he took office by cracking down on agencies that made a policy of not firing employees merely for being gay. He claimed he was acting to enforce federal EEO laws which don't specify sexual orientation, even though the agencies were acting under an executive order signed by Clinton.
However, anyone spending more than five minutes listening to this guy talk about any topic could hardly ignore the Catholic dogma that oozed out of Mr. Bloch's every crevice, permeated his mission and corrupted his official duties.
As for the FBI and Watergate, I think there was sufficient skepticism within the agency because Hoover died just before the break-in and Nixon was free to appoint a loyalist to director. Felt gave Woodward FBI files because the agency was not agressively pursuing the matter, at least, in his opinion.
Posted by: Kudosdc | May 9, 2008 6:37 AM
One will note that, thus far, the pretendsident hasn't said "helluva job, Blochhead!".
Idon't know about "Sternberg" but one of the investigatins the Feebs did mention was that one about Condi Rice using federal funds to fluff Bush during the '04 cycle. The other was investigatin of recently self-shitcanned GSA chief, Lurita Doan. In both cases Bloch gave them clean bills.
Posted by: democommie | May 9, 2008 7:21 AM
"The FBI has traditionally retained its independence pretty well, because of its very strong organizational culture."
Three words: "Slam Dunk"
Posted by: Gingerbaker | May 9, 2008 9:29 AM
As in, proof that the Iraqi's have weapons of mass destruction is a "slam dunk".
How in the world can you claim, James, that the FBI has shown independence?
Posted by: Gingerbaker | May 11, 2008 11:36 AM