I've Been to the Mountaintop ... and Then I Razed It

by emptywheel

Republicans must go to Hallmark wilderness rhetoric training school or something. First there was Scooter Libby's remarkable Aspen Turning letter. And now there's Gale Norton's resignation letter (PDF), boasting of pillaging the wilderness in the language of a stoned nature lover (or, of a bad high school poet).

Mr. Bush, this department has climbed the mountaintop in terms of achieving the goals we set out to accomplish.

[snip]

Now I feel it is time for me to leave this mountain you gave me to climb, catch my breath, then set my sights on new goals to achieve in the private sector.

[snip]

As I leave the mountaintop of service in your Cabinet, I will always remember the time in 2001 when we climbed Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park and saw for ourselves America the beautiful.

Uuuff. Did they fuck on Moro Rock? Or does she really mean this stuff? Besides that bit about the private sector, I mean. I'm sure she's got some breathless gig in the private sector, at least until Abramoff's prosecutors catch up to her.

Worry not, behind all the empty imagery, Norton is quite pragmatic about her accomplishments. Three of the accomplishments she is most proud of?

Hundreds of communities are better protected from catastrophic wildfire. [Otherwise known as the leave no lumber behind act]

We have re-engineered our Indian trust system to provide better service to beneficiaries. [Goes right to the heart of the swindle Abramoff pulled on the tribes ... and says nothing about actually paying the tribes the money they're due]

We are on track to meet the tasks Congress and you set in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. [Razed the mountaintop to get coal, we did, all at Dick Cheney's secret bidding]

Seriously though, those three accomplishments place Norton right at the heart of the Abramoff scandal, selling access so corporations can pillage the land. If that's not enough to tip you to the reason Norton is leaving, she admits to being tired of the "partisanship" in DC.

As a person deeply committed to bipartisan and civil public discourse, one aspect of Washington I will not miss is the divisiveness that too often prevails.

Mr. Bush, Gail Norton says. I've been to the mountaintop. And they yelled at me there. They yelled at me for raping the land. When I broke the law, they told me I broke the law. Mr. Bush, they were mean to me on that mountain. I tried to steal money and they held me in contempt. Mr. Bush, I don't like this mountaintop, I don't like this mountaintop at all.

Martin Luther King Jr. must be rolling in his grave right now.

Comments

[viget]

I love it, "the leave no lumber behind act." Priceless..

Excellent as always, EW.

[Mimikatz]

Moro Rock is no big deal. A nice view, but not really a "climb".

Good riddance, but I have no hope for a decent successor.

[John Casper]

"Hallmark wilderness rhetoric training school," spewed coffee all over.

[emptypockets]

that letter sure is a mountain of something.... a big, steaming mountain of something...

[mainsailset]

She & Harriet Meirs went to the same grade school.

[emptywheel]

The more I think about this letter, though, the more I wonder whether Norton meant the MLK Jr reference, and if so, what she meant about persecution?

Is she insinuating that the same kind of conspiracy that haunted MLK (and killed him the day after he gave the speech) is haunting her?

Here are the last two paragraphs of MLK Jr's speech:

And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?

Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

[emptywheel]

I mean, is this (like the Aspen turning letter) a threat?

Norton lists the things she has done that could bring Bush down. Did he make her quit, to avoid the stench of Abramoff? And is she saying, "there's a conspiracy out after me. but don't you forget, Mr. President, that I went to the mountaintop with YOU. I did these things for you!

[Sally]

Barf.

[Ardat]

Are these letters meant for aliens? Really, who on this earth believes this bullshit?

[hauksdottir]

Please notice that Bush's shoes are not dusty. Please also notice that nobody in the party is wearing climbing shoes or carrying ropes and "pro" (a rack of slings and metal gear weighing around 20 pounds).

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/05/images/20010530-1.html

There are 3 ways to get to the top of Moro Rock: actual technical climbing (which involves some ability and gear), walking (there are stairs!!!!! all the way up), or helicopter (which involves getting out and looking around at the view).

Ms Norton did NOT climb Moro rock. Bush did NOT climb Moro Rock. They may actually have walked a bit. Gee, whiz, but they did not climb.

I still have my climbing gear. I never climbed Moro Rock, but I've climbed other routes in Sequoia and Yosemite (and illustrated a guidebook to the climbs around Tuolumne Meadows). Those domes have some of the most beautiful texture around. We are not apt to see any real climbers in this Administration, though. We never take the easy way, so bribery and corruption isn't an inducement.

Ms Norton's letter is just as fake as Libby's aspen-turning prose, and probably just as full of veiled hints. ptui!

Carolly

[jwp]

EW,

We may have to round off a few of your rough edges before we run you for Big John's seat, but you are very entertaining.

Or, we could just run you for his seat under a different name.

Anyway, on a slightly adjacent point to your post, it is very frustrating that most people do not understand the importance of political appointments. Many folks think we should argue over policy, not people.

People ARE policy. As a practical matter.

Clinton crowd never understood that. Wanted to stay out of civil service "personnel" matters. (Promotions and such.) Consistently suckered by the top level right wing career bosses.

Even now, in Congress, watch the Senate lie down.

[emptywheel]

jwp

The Claude Allen story is gonna get interesting. Anyone want to bet he is a shoplifting addict and that Rove knew that going in? With a lot of these folks, it seems like the only thing keeping them in line is that Rove knows where the bodies are buried. What an easy way to get a compliant African-American leading your attack on birth control--to hire him knowing of his shoplifting addiction, keep him in line by holding that threat over his head.

I just heard Bush on the radio. Said if the allegations are true, then Allen lied to his Chief of Staff and his Legal Counsel. No mention of Rove though.

And I'm reminded of the total lack of vetting done with Bernie Kerik.

[jwp]

DC is a strange place.

Very clubby.

Various cliques. And talent is not required. Indeed, talent can be a liability if it implies loyalty to the mission instead of the clique.

Much that I don't know, because I am not a member. But even what I see makes me wish I knew less about the whole scene.

If only it were safe to be apathetic.

[Sasha]

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[Damn]

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