Gonzo's Gone - well, make that going

[Rumple Foreskin]

This should gladden the hearts of both Democrats and Republicans.

WASHINGTON - Alberto Gonzales, the nation's first Hispanic attorney general, announced his resignation Monday, forced from the helm of the Justice Department after a wrenching standoff with congressional critics over his honesty and competence. (click for link for full AP story)

AG Gonzales Resigns

Rumple Foreskin

 

[rgraham666]

The images of rats leaving a sinking ship pops into my mind.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Does this clear the way for Purgery Charges against Gonzo for his lies to the Senate Investigating Committee? We can only hope.

Actually, this is really a pretty sad situation. All other things aside, the Judicial System in the U.S. has always been the one thing that we could count on to be fair and inpartial - That is, until Bush and Gonzo came along and perloined the DOJ for their own purposes.

 

[S-Des]

Actually, this is really a pretty sad situation. All other things aside, the Judicial System in the U.S. has always been the one thing that we could count on to be fair and inpartial

You're kidding, right?

 

[DeeZire]

You're kidding, right?

The point being, the ideal is something we could always count on. Of course, the ideal was upheld to varying degrees of success over the years. One recently retired justice department employee, who was present during Watergate, said that the Gonzo version of the DOJ was the worst he'd ever seen.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

The point being, the ideal is something we could always count on. Of course, the ideal was upheld to varying degrees of success over the years. One recently retired justice department employee, who was present during Watergate, said that the Gonzo version of the DOJ was the worst he'd ever seen.

Unfortunately, the problem now goes beyond the Department of Justice. With Bush's appointments of two imcompetants to the Supreme Court even trying the Constitutional Mess Bush has made of the Presidency would be difficult. Good thing - Bush and his cronies will be gone in about 16 months. Bad thing - We will have to live with the High Court for the next 20 years.

 

[Guest]

I saw the title to this and thought you meant the muppet. He was always my favorite, right behind Kermit.

 

[sr71plt]

Does this clear the way for Purgery Charges against Gonzo for his lies to the Senate Investigating Committee? We can only hope.

Unfortunately, probably not. The administration will accord him the same blanket of whatever protection they can provide regardless of whether he is in or out of office (especially since obviously this buck stops higher in the chain than Gonzalez). And, as Cindy Sheehan has been pointing out about many similar issues, the Democrats are likely to drop it as resignation being enough of a victory, because they seem more concerned with making skirmish points than actually getting to the bottom of anything. One of the differences between Democrats and Republicans. With the Democrats it's voicing the position and taking the posture that is everything--in the same scenario, the Republicans would ride this horse into the grave (and in similar scenarios have done so in the past).

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Unfortunately, probably not. The administration will accord him the same blanket of whatever protection they can provide regardless of whether he is in or out of office (especially since obviously this buck stops higher in the chain than Gonzalez). And, as Cindy Sheehan has been pointing out about many similar issues, the Democrats are likely to drop it as resignation being enough of a victory, because they seem more concerned with making skirmish points than actually getting to the bottom of anything. One of the differences between Democrats and Republicans. With the Democrats it's voicing the position and taking the posture that is everything--in the same scenario, the Republicans would ride this horse into the grave (and in similar scenarios have done so in the past).

I'm not sure what you are saying is true. Bush has already allowed Gonzo to testify. It's obvious that he lied under oath. For Bush to claim "Executive Privilage" now would be unacceptable and possibly illegal.

This is quite a legal quandry. Maybe to understand it, one has to know if Gonzo was fired or the resignation was entirely voluntery. I suspect he was fired. I say that because from the time Gonzo graduated from Law School he has worked for Bush. He's never had a job in the real world. He's leaving a $120 K position with no prospects of employment. Would you do that?

This is a man with a tainted reputation and no real-life legal experience. What legal decisions he has made have been faulty to a high degree. He's pretty much unemployable.

Bush could pardon him, but not until after he has been tried and found guilty of purgery. In the trial everything the Senate Investigating Committee wants would come out. That's not really to Bush's benefit, but he will do has he always has in the past and claim this guy is just another "disgurntaled employee".

Yeah. Right.

Which really happened? I don't know for sure. I suspect we will find out eventually, though.

 

[sr71plt]

Yep, we'll have to see on this one. But I'm betting with Cindy Sheehan--that the Repubicans will do all they can to shield Gonzalez and that the Democrats won't ultimately go for the jugular because they have the attention span and sense of purpose of a gerbil. An argument I'd rather lose, though.

 

[DeeZire]

...the Democrats won't ultimately go for the jugular because they have the attention span and sense of purpose of a gerbil. An argument I'd rather lose, though.

It could be more of a philosophical difference - vindictiveness vs. pragmatism.

Speculation points to Gonzo actually quitting, since Bush is loyal to a fault. The republicans are very good at employing their disgraced cohorts - it's almost a badge of honor - and there will undoubtedy be a bidding war for Gonzo's services in the field of corporate law. Hopefully, his career in public service will be over, but who knows? He could do very well in a Red state. Or perhaps become a legal correspondent for FOX.

 

[sr71plt]

It could be more of a philosophical difference - vindictiveness vs. pragmatism.

Agreed. But both would be headed toward a goal. Beginning to wonder what the Democrats' real goal is.

 

[3113]

Democrats it's voicing the position and taking the posture that is everything--in the same scenario, the Republicans would ride this horse into the grave (and in similar scenarios have done so in the past).

You forget that in "similar" situations in the recent past, the Republicans had a majority--a BIG majority in congress and so didn't need many if any democrats to help them run things into the ground (and lucky for them, sucker Democrats were interested in appearing impartial and often went along with such investigations).

The Dems are barely a majority and they need Republicans to back them up if they want to ride something into the grave. If they had a bigger majority, maybe they'd be willing to do more.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Agreed. But both would be headed toward a goal. Beginning to wonder what the Democrats' real goal is.

I think that's perfectly easy to understand. They want to get Hilary elected in 2008 so she can do to the Republicans what Bush did to the Democrats.

I bet they won't like it.

 

[sr71plt]

I think that's perfectly easy to understand. They want to get Hilary elected in 2008 so she can do to the Republicans what Bush did to the Democrats.

The Washington Democrats I talk to are scared as hell that Hillary might get the nomination. (doesn't scare me, though.) No, I think the Democratic scrambling and scrabbling on topics like Gonzo are congressional position infighting--and have very little to do with getting anyone elected president. If they were solidly behind this, we'd have a clear path to slicing and dicing Republican administration arrogant bumblers.

 

[Carnevil9]

Excellent news! Now we can bring Ashcroft back and really get this country back on track!

 

[Lee Chambers]

Excellent news! Now we can bring Ashcroft back and really get this country back on track!

Don't make me hurt you.

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

If Gonzo did nothing else as AG, he almost managed to make Ashcroft look good in comparison, or at least less bad.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[Lee Chambers]

If Gonzo did nothing else as AG, he almost managed to make Ashcroft look good in comparison, or at least less bad.

Rumple Foreskin

I can't say I agree. Gonzo's actions make me want to smack him over the head with a shovel. But Ashcroft fucking scared me. When that man dies he needs to be incinerated and have his ashes mixed with holy water before being scattered to the four winds.

 

[S-Des]

This is a man with a tainted reputation and no real-life legal experience. What legal decisions he has made have been faulty to a high degree. He's pretty much unemployable.

What is with you today? You're telling me that no law firm or other public business would hire him, even if he was completely disgraced? Please . . . name me a single Washington insider who couldn't find employment after a scandal. I'm not saying he'll be arguing cases before the supreme court, but even as marketing ploy someone will hire him. In fact, I'd be shocked if he didn't have a high six-figure job before Christmas. I know everyone around here hates Bush, but lets try to have a little perspective.

 

[rgraham666]

I don't hate Bush. I regard him as utterly incompetent and that he has done damage to the US that will take decades to fix.

But he's too sad a human being to hate.

 

[shereads]

This should gladden the hearts of both Democrats and Republicans.

Until the next nomination...

 

[shereads]

For Bush to claim "Executive Privilage" now would be unacceptable and possibly illegal.

And that would be a problem?

 

[shereads]

I don't hate Bush. I regard him as utterly incompetent and that he has done damage to the US that will take decades to fix.

But he's too sad a human being to hate.

Sad? He's about as sad as Alfred E. Neuman.

I think I get your meaning, Rob. It's tempting to see Bush as too shallow to be truly evil; he's Cheney's willing dupe, which is bad enough.

But I remind myself that there's a nasty side of Bush that the public never sees. In "The Price of Loyalty," there were flashes of vindictiveness and cunning, in startling contrast to the Good Ol' Boy routine.

He may not be the sharpest cuticle scissors in the manicure set, but he was shrewd enough to turn 9/11 to his advantage. For that alone, he's easy to hate. Then there are all the lives he's wasted, and the way he allowed his re-election campaign to pit Vietnam veterans against each other. He's dumb as cotton houses, but he's far from naive.

Most of all, I hate the fact that he's not sorry, not sad. He should be terribly sad. He should be sick with remorse. Instead, like his buddy Karl Rove, he'll retire rich and smug and happy.

This administration finally brought home to me what "Fear and Loathing" meant to Hunter S. Thompson. I wasn't old enough or politically aware enough to hate Nixon; I hated him on principal, but I didn't feel it. It didn't eat at me. That kind of hatred - that loathing - was awakened by GWB and Cheney. It's been like watching a long, tortuous train wreck staged by a spoiled boy and his butler.

----

Hey, Rob - I know what will make you hate GWB: when he "writes" his book.



He will, you know. And it'll be a bestseller.

 

[Chantilyvamp]

I saw the title to this and thought you meant the muppet. He was always my favorite, right behind Kermit.

bwahaha.....I did as well I've got the bloody muppet song stuck in my head now