Things that make you go hmmmm

Over at DailyKos, there is a front page diary by Kagro X that deserves some scrutiny:

According to a study published by communications professors Donald C. Shields and John F. Cragan (available at ePluribus Media), nearly 80% of all federal investigations undertaken by the Bush DoJ and targeting elected officials or candidates were aimed at Democrats, with under 18% targeting Republicans. Around the country, that's 298 investigations of Democrats versus just 67 investigations of Republicans. Shields and Cragan theorize:

We believe that this tremendous disparity is politically motivated and it occurs because the local (non-state-wide and non-Congressional) investigations occur under the radar of a diligent national press. Each instance is treated by a local beat reporter as an isolated case that is only of local interest.

Hmmmmmm.....

The diarist goes on to point out how these investigations are strongly tied to the burgeoning scandal regarding the firing of U.S. Attorneys by the Bush Justice Department. According to recent reports Harriet Miers - yes, that Harriet Miers - urged Gonzalez to fire all the US Attorneys and put in more politically pliable investigators.

An earlier diary by Miss Laura and (shockingly) actual reporting by the Washington Post made the connection between the firings and "voter fraud" investigations in multiple states, nearly all aimed at Democrats and timed fortuitously for last November's elections.

Hmmmmmmm......

According to the Post, a list was drawn up by Miers and Gonzalez's chief of staff, the now resigned Kyle Sampson, which:

ranked all 93 U.S. attorneys. Strong performers "exhibited loyalty" to the administration; low performers were "weak U.S. attorneys who have been ineffectual managers and prosecutors, chafed against Administration initiatives, etc." A third group merited no opinion.

I wonder....

Hmmmmmmm.....