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Mr. Gonzales's resignation is the latest in a series of high-level departures that has reshaped the end of Mr. Bush's second term. Karl Rove, another of Mr. Bush's close circle of aides from Texas, stepped down two weeks ago.
The official said that the decision was Mr. Gonzales's and that the president accepted it grudgingly. At the same time, the official acknowledged that the turmoil over his tenure as Attorney General had made continuing difficult.
"The unfair treatment that he's been on the receiving end of has been a distraction for the department," the official said.
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57 comments:
Was on the NYT page when it posted. I think there will be great fun in comparing him to John Mitchell. This will make for great reading all day long...and Ann, you blog-scouped Drudge who hasn't posted it yet.
Now watch for the recess appointment.
About damned time.
Poor guy. He really did do the best he could. Constitution, schmonstitution.
hdhouse said...
"Now watch for the recess appointment.
Almost by definition, right? The Senate is in recess until September 4th, and the President is "[em]power[ed] to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate." Unless one believes the AG's seat should be vacant seat until at least September 4, and lord knows how long after that while Senate Democrats play games, a recess appointment - ideally right now, certainly before lunchtime, because you watch to see the Dems race back to Washington to bring the Senate out of recess early - would seem the only rational choice.
I wonder who will be tapped to replace him? I agree that a recess appointment is in the offing (I wonder if any senators are in DC?)
MM - unless they promote internally (Clement, maybe?) the difficulty is finding someone competent to do it who's willing to be the first rat to board a sinking ship.
MSNBC will have to add another hour of three year documentaries to replace the programming devoted to Gonzales.
He's no John Mitchell.
who's willing to be the first rat to board a sinking ship.
I think the rats/sinking ship metaphor will be flying today. The ship also appears rudderless.
This is all a Rovian plot--the bad guys are all leaving--D candidates will now have to turn on each other with even more ferocity. That Rove is an evil genius, I tell you. (as an aside, does anyone recall the last time this country had a decent AG?--has to be the most political office in the country other than the Presidency)
Just one more indication that after GW leaves office, he'll be at his ranch chopping wood. There'll be no friends left to hang around with.
Roger - well, as Dahlia noted earlier this month, "the dustup over Gonzales is proving invaluable to Democrats.... The spectacle of Bush clinging desperately to an inept and untruthful AG is just about a campaign commercial in itself. ... The day Gonzales steps down is the day Democrats must hustle to find a new issue."
While I think he was a mediocre crony and terrible choice, I don't think he was guilty of any particular crime other than competence.
As a rule, I think Presidents entitled to cronies in cabinet Jobs, sadly. Clearly RFK was not qualified to be the AG for example.
smart money: Chernoff. Don't like him much either after his pandering on immigration issues, but he's qualified as an AG.
Chertoff
Re Chertoff - that's a great idea. That way, the dems can not only make the hearings a circus about everything that's been happening (and everything that's been alleged) in DoJ, they can drag Katrina and everything remotely related to it into the hearings. The slogan's "nominate Chertoff - because the dems don't have enough ammunition already."
Back in 2004, when there was the debate about whether conservatives should support George W. Bush for re-election, one argument given in favor of backing bush was the issue of U.S. Supreme Court justices. The counter-argument to that involved the possibility that a second-term President Bush would appoint Sandra Day O'Connor to be Chief Justice, and Gonzalez to the Court. I mentioned that, when the Court vacancies arose, two summers ago. At that time, many of us were concerned that Gonzo would get the nomination. I am glad that was not the case, though I was also opposed to his nomination as Attorney General, as were some other conservatives, one reason of which was his membership in La Raza. Whatever the reasons were, his service as AG has been disappointing... I don't when is the last time that our country had a good Attorney General.
awww. Harriet Myers, Monica Goodling or Ann Coulter..
Why does it seem like Christmas?
Harry - I take it your tongue's firmly in cheek. I like Goodling well enough, and maybe in the future, but she's by no means experienced enough.
yes it is simon.
the white house sure knows how to lead into the news cycle doesn't it!
Its about time.
P.S. If I hear one more fawning John Cornyn-type say that "its a shame" because "a good Christian man" or "a good family man" has been brought down by "Charles Schumer" (note to those of you watching at home: he's a JEW!) and that "this is a good day for the Democrat party, but a bad day for the country," I'm going to throw a brick at the tv.
The Drill SGT said..."While I think he was a mediocre crony and terrible choice, I don't think he was guilty of any particular crime other than competence."
Geeeeee, ya think so?
As for "crime"...we'll have to wait and see.
Why Bush would hang onto this idiot continues to exemplify why he'll be remembered as the worst ever. The term; "cut your losses" comes to mind.
*I also read the Chertoff rumor. Maybe if he gets the job...Brownie can take over at HS.
Vicki Scotto Balachek would be a great choice. Similarly, Gus Contos is over qualified.
Chertoff would be a massive disappointment. I'd rather he appoint his dog AG. Regardless, recess appointments are a blessing these days.
What about Ann Althouse for AG?
Wouldn't it be grand to see her conduct news conferences, a la John Ashcroft, in the rotunda of the Justice Department building underneath the bare breasts of lady liberty?
sure looks like Chertoff...oh this day just keeps getting better and better!
Why not just eliminate the position altogether?
We could have Cheney run it from whatever branch of government he's associated with this week.
He does it already anyway.
There are a lot of good candidates--Chertoff isnt one of them. He's made HS even more dysfunctional than it was designed to be. Quite an accomplishment. How about Ted Roberts?
Bush: "...it's sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person is impeded from doing important work."
The only thing that ever "impeded" Gonzo was ineptitude and corruption."
Medal of Honor on the way...??
Who would be the Elliot Richardson of today? The straight-arrow whose integrity would assure that the misdeeds of the Gonzalez years -- both inside the DOJ and throughout the Bush Administration -- would be dealt with forthrightly. The equivalent to Robert Gates, who I think has been a welcome change at DOD and is increasingly seen as a nonpartisan figure.
The strongest move Bush could make would be to appoint someone who would do professionally what the Democratic House wants to do haphazardly -- drain the swamp.
I know. A dream.
John,
No..."The strongest move Bush could make would be to"...resign.
Lucky Old Son, I didn't know you were such a Cheney man!
Is this some kind of Oedipal thing?
Luckyoldson said...
"'The strongest move Bush could make would be to'...resign."
Seconded. But for the reason John cited, not the one you had in mind.
Why the push for Chertoff, the man is such a weasel.... oh.
I for one am devastated.
I am also grateful that our independent democrat bloggress really had no view of Gonzales during this whole affair.
After our he was the chief legal officer of this country and that is certainly not a topic Althouse could comment on.
Gays for Giuliani is a whole other subject.
Thank god for your independence.
I can see Gonzales doing tours at the Bush Library in his next position. Can you imagine the possibilities of that library...here it the torture room, here is the shredding of hapeas corpus, here is w's first and last coke spoon, here is the room of hating gays, here's is claude allen's video surveillance of him ripping off Target, here is brownie judging horsies. It will be one big marketing/pr bonanza of love and admiration for one of the most incompetent adminstrations in history.
That seems like an appropriate position for him..either that or I can see him being a Texas Supreme Court Judge-sounds like a good place for him.
It will be a sad day when this bunch packs up and rewrites history.
As for bright lights from the past-
Not as bright as RFK; not as able as John Mitchell
Better than Harry M Daugherty – (and thank GOD that “W” did not appoint HIS own brother – or Harriet.)
Aside from that, DE MORTUIS NIL NISI BONUM
...here is the room of hating gays...
This was my favorite one. Imagine an entire separate room dedicated to hating gays.... I cannot wait to see what goes in there. Perhaps there will be numerous posts from Andrew Sullivan ranting about this or that....
How fascinating...
It will be one big marketing/pr bonanza of love and admiration for one of the most incompetent adminstrations in history.
I would love to see your library Titus. Do you have a room displaying all of the Free Mumia placards you have held over the years.... or perhaps a new exhibition dedicated to the achievements of appeasement in history.
Can we start a wish list of who ought to be next? Hmmm ... so many to choose from.
Thought provoking analysis Ann !
Slos would be an exhibit in the gay hating room.
Picture a middle aged, dumpy, white men, with a small penis who hasn't had sex in years with a sign that says "Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve"-or some other creative appendage like that.
Perhaps he would be wearing a t shirt that says, "Hate the sin, love the sinner".
I love the thought provoking analysis by Althouse also on Gonzales's career.
Very insightful. Not as insightful as Hilary's tits or Obama's wife but insightful and definitely independent nontheless.
I am proud to have Al's autograph on my wall, along with those of Priscilla Owen (remember her?) and seven other maligned Texas attorneys on our Supreme Court (1999)
Almost exactly a month ago, Gonzales promised to clean up the department's image. Having suggested at the time that his prompt resignation would be a good start, I'm glad to see he finally figured it out.
John,
Why not present an argument or rebuttal, instead of blowing Bush?
We already know you love the man.
Richard,
Sure we remember her.
Why?
Richard,
Sure we remember her.
Why?
Richard,
Sure we remember her.
Why?
Richard,
Sure we remember her.
Why?
Boy, the regular right wing nuts here sure don't have much to say about this...do they?
C'mon, FEN, SLOAN, Pogo, etc....nothing to say about your ol' buddy...Gonzo??
Boy, the regular right wing nuts here sure don't have much to say about this...do they?
You don't either, it appears, but that has not stopped you wasting mass amounts of bandwidth in the process of saying nothing.
oh, internet...wasting time badmouthing me isn't going to help your little AG buddy.
How about a defense of the asshole?
As the vermin abandon the ship...Gonzales 11th To Exit Admin Since March
As I've never defended him before, disagreed with most of his policy positions, and suggested he should resign long ago, I don't see any reason to start now. I realize it is convenient for you to pigeonhole people who refuse to play along with your juvenile behavior as right-wing enemies. You're wrong about that, but I can understand how your impaired mental capacity can prevent your understanding that idea.
Ronin,
Fuck off.
You and I both know what your political point of view is so get off the "oh, I never liked him anyway" bullshit.
There's nothing worse than one who won't even stand up for their own convictions.
Gutless.
If you think that, it is obvious to me that you haven't got a clue about my political views.
I'm waiting to see who the recess appointment is before I decide whether I'm happy Gonzales is leaving. Ashcroft was replaced with a guy who was just as moralizing and a lot less competent, after all.
Gonzales was in over his head. The Dems did W. and the nation a favor.
Bush could appoint a resurrected Jesus Christ as AG and all we'd hear from the Dems in Congress is how he associated with hookers, made booze without a ABC license, practiced medicine without a degree and anything else they could twist in order to destroy his reputation.
I think W should appoint Ted Kennedy. It would get him out of the Senate and I'd love to hear his drunken stutter during the forever-hearings until Bush leaves office.
Hey Lucky, try beating that "every Repub just LOVES AG Gonzo" strawman with a rattan stick, then set it on fire. You'll feel so much better.
sgt ted
your suggestions are noted. however, as long as president woowoo appoints someone who upholds the law and acts first and foremost on behalf of the citizens of the united states and not on behalf of the president and vice president's personal agendas i'll be fine with it. you should be too.
as to kennedy, i'd rather have a drinking irishman who loves this country and has spent a lifetime in its service than some political hackjob who is in it for the resume and serve the king.
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