(Update 3x) Gonzales Resigns, Because Life is Unfair
WACO, Tex., Aug. 27 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned..[...]The official who disclosed the resignation today 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 Mr. Gonzales had made his continuing as attorney general difficult.
“The unfair treatment that he’s been on the receiving end of has been a distraction for the department,” the official said.
Democrats, who have offered up little other than one failure after the next since taking power in January, can take a big step toward redeeming themselves here. No matter what, they must ensure that Gonzales’ replacement is a genuinely trustworthy and independent figure..That means that Democrats must not confirm anyone, such as Michael Chertoff, who has been ensconced in the Bush circle. Instead, the DOJ and the country desperately need a completely outside figure who will ensure that the prosecutorial machinery operates independently, even if — especially if — that means finally investigating the litany of Executive branch abuses and lawbreaking which have gone almost entirely uninvestigated, as well uncovering those which remain concealed.
…in the Beltway world, that is a Draconian step that seems unlikely (though not impossible) for many reasons. Far more likely, it seems, is Bush’s (reasonable) belief that Senate Democrats will be as accommodating as usual and confirm a replacement who is acceptable to the administration.
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Update II:
CNN is now reporting that Chertoff is the “likely” nominee [to replace Gonzales]. Considering that Chertoff presided over the Katrina disaster, his nomination as attorney general would be nothing short of unbelievable.
Comment by Rob —
August 27, 2007 @ 8:13 am
The problem of course is now Bush will try to appoint someone who’ll be even worse (what’s Harriet Miers doing these days?) and then call the Democrats terrorists for not rubber stamping his guy and then put him through as a recess appointment anyway.
Comment by dhex —
August 27, 2007 @ 10:05 am
well it’s as good a time as any to see if the emergency spinal surgery for the dems actually did anything or if crazy-gluing jelly together is counter-productive.
Comment by Thoreau —
August 27, 2007 @ 10:15 am
dhex-
That wording was priceless.
Comment by Ishikawa —
August 27, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Cue the “heightened” security alert right before AG hearings begin.
Comment by KCinDC —
August 27, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Ishikawa, the terrorism scare they used to get the FISA revision through Congress is still on, through September 11. They just need to start paying attention to it again.
Trackback by Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator —
August 27, 2007 @ 11:07 am
U.S. officials say Gonzales has resigned
…
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned, officials said Monday, ending a monthslong standoff with…
Comment by dhex —
August 27, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
thoreau i hope to always entertain you.
also i was curious if some of the team blue trolls had stayed around.
Comment by Ishikawa —
August 27, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
KCinDC: That way of thinking is pre-AG AG; this resignation changed everything. As some nutters might say “A little terror goes a long way to refocus the Dem’s priorities”.
Ah, who am I kidding, you won’t need a fake terror alert. The Dems will huff & puff, act indignant over W’s choice, then approve them w/ 16-20 Dems voting for the guy.
Comment by Eric the .5b —
August 27, 2007 @ 3:58 pm
“We’re still at heightened security status!” is the new “We don’t have a veto-proof majority!” or “C’mon, it’s not the minimum wage or anything!”?
Trackback by Hydrococdone prescription. —
November 6, 2008 @ 10:01 am
Hydrococdone prescription….
Hydrococdone prescription….