Bring Me the Head of Alberto Gonzales

Attorney General resigns

Published on August 27, 2007 By singrdave In US Domestic

This morning the New York Times is reporting that Alberto Gonzales has resigned.

The protracted Gonzales character assassination has afflicted Washington for a couple of months now. Calls for his resignation have been superceded with accusations of perjury and mismanagement. It has been a long several months of hearings and recrimination.

From the New York Times:
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. A senior administration official said he would announce the decision later this morning in Washington. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, the official said. His decision was not immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch near here.

From The Economist:
Mr Gonzales is currently at the centre of a constitutional tug-of-war between Congress and the White House. Congress has subpoenaed two former White House aides to answer questions about the dismissal of nine US attorneys, or government prosecutors, last year. (The Democrats say they were sacked because they refused to do the bidding of George Bush's political machine. The administration denies this, but has failed to produce a plausible counter-explanation.) Expect plenty more tugging and counter-tugging in the weeks to come. A second tussle is going on over documents relating to a wiretapping programme operated by the administration without proper authorisation.

These two affairs have already done a great deal of damage to the Department of Justice, which the attorney-general heads. Mr Gonzales himself has destroyed whatever reputation he might have had with his lobotomised performances on Capitol Hill. (During one session he said that he “did not recall” events related to the controversy no fewer than 70 times.) Senior staff have jumped ship. Others describe the morale of the place as “rock bottom”. Politicians on both sides of the aisle describe the department as “dysfunctional”, “crippled” and “a shambles”.

In my personal opinion, this guy was a small man in a big firestorm. He was collateral damage in the ongoing war against George W. Bush. Gonzales was smacked down by a Democrat bullying squad trying to find chinks in the armor of the President. They couldn't "get" Don Rumsfeld -- they got Scooter Libby instead. They couldn't "get" Dick Cheney -- but now they have gotten Alberto Gonzales.

Comments (Page 1)

singrdave

on Aug 27, 2007

Oh man, it was a race between me and Terp for first to report to JU. Looks like Terp won, darn it.

singrdave

on Aug 27, 2007

Ahh well, we all know the Dems are used to settling for second best.

Alberto's persecution (not prosecution, persecution) and subsequent resignation is definitely part of the larger anti-Bush campaign. Though he was particularly inept under scrutiny, he would have been a perfectly adequate AG if not for the hatred for all things Bush.

Yeah, terp is a regular town crier. (all link, no substance.)

Yeah! Mine has pictures! And commentary! (Love ya, Terp!)

terpfan1980

on Aug 27, 2007

all link, no substance.

Please show me the link? Oooops, wait, there wasn't one.

Lack of substance? What substance did you want on this one? Should I be dancing in the streets? I don't think so.

Should I be pointing out that people like Dave here that are celebrating Gonzales resignation should be careful what they wish for? Yes. I did just that with the reminder that before Gonzales there was the supposedly reprehensible god fearing John Ashcroft that was the worst thing that could ever have happened to the office until, well, Gonzales got the job.

You want more, feel free to spin it however you want. Personally I don't think either Gonzales or Ashcroft did a bad job, but then I'm not a liberal that fears that my rights are being trampled upon every second of every day that those folks have the job.

(On the other hand, well, I was absolutely no fan of Janet Reno and her term in the office, so perhaps that makes me and the liberals even here... I don't know.)

singrdave

on Aug 27, 2007

people like Dave here that are celebrating Gonzales resignation

Oh no, I am absolutely not cheering and crowing about this. I think that Gonzales was an adequate AG, did what was expected of him, and his only perceived crime was being associated with GWB's administration. I feel that Gonzales was a victim of the Democrat-led anti-Bush witch hunt.

terpfan1980

on Aug 27, 2007

Oh no, I am absolutely not cheering and crowing about this. I think that Gonzales was an adequate AG, did what was expected of him, and his only perceived crime was being associated with GWB's administration. I feel that Gonzales was a victim of the Democrat-led anti-Bush witch hunt.

I'm glad you are able to acknowledge the work done by Gonzales and also acknowledge the other truth you've acknowledged above. Gonzales may have made, and probably did make, lots of mistakes along the way, but I don't think he was intentionally trying to trample freedoms or destroy people's careers. He was doing the best he could to make sure the people working for him agreed with his philosophy and platform (or the platform of his boss).

That people wanted his head, especially people like the Clueless One, shows much more about their own faults and issues than about anything done by Gonzales.

Island Dog

on Aug 27, 2007

Gonzales may have made, and probably did make, lots of mistakes along the way, but I don't think he was intentionally trying to trample freedoms or destroy people's careers.

Agreed, but unfortunately anyone associated with Bush is part of the conspiracy to take over America.

singrdave

on Aug 27, 2007

I'm glad you are able to acknowledge the work done by Gonzales and also acknowledge the other truth you've acknowledged above.

I'm not saying you don't get it, but just in case: the headline may indicate that I am personally calling for the destruction of Gonzales' career and character... quite the contrary! The headline is an homage to the film Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia. Nothing more.

singrdave

on Aug 27, 2007

Chucky Schumer was just quoted as saying that under Alberto Gonzales, "the Justice Department was a sinking ship."

What he neglects to add is that the ship was torpedoed by deranged anti-Bush zealots in Congress.

ParaTed2k

on Aug 27, 2007

Once again we see that the smear machine of the Pelosi/Reid Congress and the DNC is better at leaving bodies in their wake than actually accomplishing anything. They call themselves "the progressives"... but doesn't progress require at least some accomplishment or forward movement?

Gonzales retired, but when will Pelosi or Reid even start working?

Daiwa

on Aug 27, 2007

Schumer is a putz, pure & simple.

Don't those Dems do themselves proud? They look so masculine with all those scalps on their belts.

Island Dog

on Aug 28, 2007

Once again we see that the smear machine of the Pelosi/Reid Congress and the DNC is better at leaving bodies in their wake than actually accomplishing anything.

And they wonder why they have record low approval numbers? Republicans could definitely use this against them in the coming election, but being that most of them have turned into wimps who don't fight this nonsense, it won't even get mentioned.

singrdave

on Aug 28, 2007

They call themselves "the progressives"... but doesn't progress require at least some accomplishment or forward movement?

For them, this is progress. They're dismantling the efforts of the past two administrations, one appointee at a time. The chorus of cheers yesterday in the MSM was deafening. Absolutely shameful.

Deference

on Aug 28, 2007

Those wascally democrats didn't 'get' Gonzalez and they didn't 'get' Scooter. As you all know, the democrats have been too fucking incompetent to 'get' much of anything (done). These guys shot themselves in the foot - they fucked up and they got called on it.

Unless you're totally blinded by bias, you've got to think that maybe all of the AG's ducking and diving, not remembering and contradicting as of late is stereotypical behavior of a guilty liar.

Some people who believe in Justice think that someone who advocates torture and lying deserves a cheer for finally being relieved of his job particularly this job.

Where are the moral absolutists?

singrdave

on Aug 29, 2007

Unless you're totally blinded by bias, you've got to think that maybe all of the AG's ducking and diving, not remembering and contradicting as of late is stereotypical behavior of a guilty liar.
Some people who believe in Justice think that someone who advocates torture and lying deserves a cheer for finally being relieved of his job particularly this job.

I can honestly say I haven't followed the AG's meanderings, convenient non-remembrances, and unanswered questions on a DAILY basis. But I have got to say that he was not a forthright, rambunctious Attorney General. He tried to stay well below radar.

I personally find all his swerving and ducking of questions reprehensible. He was spineless and wishy-washy when it came to morally repugnant practices like torture and rendition -- where typically the nation's chief law enforcement officer ought to be a little more forthright in his or her condemnation.

He was definitely a weak link in the Bush Administration. But IMHO he was part of a larger campaign by the Left to undermine and subvert everything that's happened in Washington since Al Gore lost the contested 2000 election.

Dr Guy

on Aug 29, 2007

I feel that Gonzales was a victim of the Democrat-led anti-Bush witch hunt.

I posted a comment similar to this on Terps blog before I read yours! So needless to say, I agree completely.

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