How do you turn a dream job opportunity into a shame-fest of lawless impropriety and highly publicized congressional hearings?  For a clue on living that nightmare, just ask Monica Goodling, the disgraced aide to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' whose political cronyism may lead to having her law license pulled.

Way to go, Monica.  Now your namesake is twice associated with presidential disrepute.

To get a glimpse on this particular road to ruin, first, graduate from a lower-tiered law school known predominantly for its religious affiliations to the televangelist Pat Robertson and its emphasis on educating law students to "change the world for Christ." Next, get hired after only six months of prosecutorial experience to oversee the ongoing hiring of career prosecutors in the Department of Justice.  And finally, do a bang-up job of highlighting political affiliation over experience during interviews that would include legally relevant questions like "Have you ever cheated on your wife?"

Amidst televised Congressional hearings into the questionable ouster of nine U.S. Attorneys, then Attorney General Alberto Gonzales omitted why he promoted someone to the position of White House liaison, while testifying he had limited knowledge of the practices taking place under his watch.  Goodling resigned last year before testifying under immunity.

Now, the New York Times has released an entire report dedicated to analyzing each instance of politicized hiring at the hands of Goodling (and other Gonzales lackeys).  The report has prompted the possibility of criminal referrals for perjury championed by Congressman and Chairman to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, John Conyers (D-Michigan). 

Granted, current Attorney General Mukasey is "disturbed."  Sure, he is.  His predecessor disgraced the D.O.J.  But his rehearsed indignation comes as too little comfort, too late.

The current administration's dismissal grows ever closer.  The best that has come from the U.S. attorney scandal is seeing Monica Goodling have her law license revoked?  How about those in positions of authority over her, like Alberto Gonzales, who were apparently admirers of the effects of her labors? Sadly, the report offers no recommendations on disciplining her supervisor.

How can voters in this year's election be asked to conveniently forget injustices at the D.O.J. that have gone unpunished?  If for no other reason, independent or socially "liberal" voters would be wise to consider how the religious far-right continues to have a residual effect on nonpartisan agendas.  It's time to vet these past improprieties and bring all those in the soon-to-be previous administration to account for their decisions, and not just those who followed orders.