U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned

[He219]

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/9601/24gonzales2600qa2.jpg
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

Attorney General Gonzales resigns: NY Times (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070827/ts_nm/usa_gonzales_dc;_ylt=ArSaKsMk0LoKXXpMTROpaOas0NUE)


******* - 9 minutes ago

WACO, Tex., Aug. 27 — 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.

Mr. 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.
Mr. Bush has not yet chosen a replacement but will not leave the position open long, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Attorney General's resignation had not yet been made public.

[DB-ERAUPilot]

bout freakin time, good riddance

[budgie]

A victory for human rights everywhere

[LMAV]

A victory for human rights everywhere

LOL, what?


All I can say is that it'll be interesting to see how people treat it when Hillary fires a bunch of attorneys for political reasons.

[bugkill]

LOL, what?


All I can say is that it'll be interesting to see how people treat it when Hillary fires a bunch of attorneys for political reasons.

i agree with you that the gonzales deal was a witch hunt, but this guy screwed the pouch by even answering the questions in the first place. the president can fire anybody in those political positions and that is all he had to say, but he made the mistake of claiming that they got fired for their "performance", which played into the hands of the dems.

the guy only has himself to blame and he should have said that the president wanted new blood in those positions, period. this case would have died easily. gonzales just did not know how to play the political game and he got his nuts handed to him on the hill. the funny thing is that there has been no wrongdoing found with ths whole issue and i'm starting to wonder what the hell the dems are doing wasting time with all these political investigations that don't amount to s**t? the only case that had any teeth was the libby case, but that fell well short of what they were seeking and nothing really ever came out of that. the political games are boring and a waste of taxpayers money, and trying to prove this "administration of corruption" crap from their campaign promises is a complete failure at this point.

[LMAV]

i agree with you that the gonzales deal was a witch hunt, but this guy screwed the pouch by even answering the questions in the first place. the president can fire anybody in those political positions and that is all he had to say, but he made the mistake of claiming that they got fired for their "performance", which played into the hands of the dems.

the guy only has himself to blame and he should have said that the president wanted new blood in those positions, period. this case would have died easily. gonzales just did not know how to play the political game and he got his nuts handed to him on the hill. the funny thing is that there has been no wrongdoing found with ths whole issue and i'm starting to wonder what the hell the dems are doing wasting time with all these political investigations that don't amount to s**t? the only case that had any teeth was the libby case, but that fell well short of what they were seeking and nothing really ever came out of that. the political games are boring and a waste of taxpayers money, and trying to prove this "administration of corruption" crap from their campaign promises is a complete failure at this point.

Ok, but a "victory for human rights"? What kind of steaming pile of elephant **** is that?

[SOG]

half surprised, i thought he would have stuck it out. so he fired a bunch of people he didnt like and told the media it was performance related. white lie at best. concerning the politics involved it was performance related. they did not do their job or duties as he saw fit that the current administration needed. nothing new, cleaning house happens all the time when either side takes over. for this to be any sort of issue worth reporting in the news was a bad joke at best.

[dangerclose]

A victory for human rights everywhere


lol


_____________

[dangerclose]

ahem ... William Jefferson, Democrat - Louisiana

[dangerclose]

All I can say is that it'll be interesting to see how people treat it when Hillary fires a bunch of attorneys for political reasons.


see 1993.

-----

[AlterMega]

A victory for human rights everywhere
Oh yes,of course!The tyranny finally ends.:roll:

[Firetxmi]

the funny thing is that there has been no wrongdoing found with ths whole issue and i'm starting to wonder what the hell the dems are doing wasting time with all these political investigations that don't amount to s**t? .

All I have to say is Blowjob investigations.

Its all just politics as usual.

[budgie]

Oh yes,of course!The tyranny finally ends.:roll:

Okay a small victory, but to have the man who claims the Geneva Conventions are 'quaint' finally out of a position where he can abuse them, is a victory nonetheless. Don't take it from me - ask the military lawyers.

[sidman69]

about time this nitwit left.

[LMAV]

Okay a small victory, but to have the man who claims the Geneva Conventions are 'quaint' finally out of a position where he can abuse them, is a victory nonetheless. Don't take it from me - ask the military lawyers.

What I always find funny about like you , is that you act like the good guys are really the bad guys, while the bad guys are out there shaving faces off with piano wire and blowing up whole populations with car bombs. :bash:


Defeating those guys would be a victory for human rights, making your statement down right offensive.


see 1993.

-----

Right, well that was always obvious to those of us who know better. It will be very interesting now that this is all fresh in people's minds.

[Firetxmi]

What I always find funny about like you , is that you act like the good guys are really the bad guys, while the bad guys are out there shaving faces off with piano wire and blowing up whole populations with car bombs. :bash:


Defeating those guys would be a victory for human rights, making your statement down right offensive.


Your right, but doing that does not require negating other human rights.

[The Black Watch]

We have to be better then the people that car bomb and kill people. We have to uphold human rights. You cant fight fire with fire

[LMAV]

Your right, but doing that does not require negating other human rights.

Ok, what does any of that have to do with Gonzales?

[bugkill]

half surprised, i thought he would have stuck it out. so he fired a bunch of people he didnt like and told the media it was performance related. white lie at best. concerning the politics involved it was performance related. they did not do their job or duties as he saw fit that the current administration needed. nothing new, cleaning house happens all the time when either side takes over. for this to be any sort of issue worth reporting in the news was a bad joke at best.

the problem is that he became a "political" liability and he had no choice but to step down. he is in a political position and he failed at it, simple as that. he is gone and time to find an replacement, the machine continues to move along.

[Firetxmi]

Ok, what does any of that have to do with Gonzales?

He supported and found ways for our current govt. to get around "quaint" little things such as the Geneva Convention, and all those other "little" things that are supposed to uphold the rule of law.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

He'd become something of a media lightning rod - so it may be best that he go.

I've been listening to NPR this morning. It's part of a ritual of self-abuse that I enjoy. They've been having "expanded coverage" of the resignation - which could be best described as a leftist circle-jerk - if only the dry-mouthed automatons of NPR could summon the ****** enthusiasm to do something for such prurient reasons. For the most part, it's been a balanced discussion - with guests from both the left and the far left giving their views.

We've heard how Gonzales committed the most serious transgressions against our democracy since Watergate. No mention of Janet Reno's escapades (including the attorneys she fired) - no, this skips over and goes back to Watergate. Well, not that any of it was illegal, mind you, just that it's all very serious. And my favorite - "troubling". Yes, he was troubling. Like when you find little Timmy ******ly spent and asleep on top of his covers, with a copy of Blue Boy magazine. Yes, troubling.

Now credibility will be restored to the justice department, because just as the media describes bipartisanship as doing what the left wants, credibility is defined by action that the left demands.

[Albatross]

the bush administration is falling apart at the seams.....good riddance

[SOG]

I've been listening to NPR this morning. It's part of a ritual of self-abuse that I enjoy.

a little BDSM in the morning eh Two Sheds, NPR and hot coffee... do you like your coffee hot? yes master, i like it hot. ;)


the bush administration is falling apart at the seams.....good riddance

it is? my name is oblivious, apparently.


the problem is that he became a "political" liability and he had no choice but to step down. he is in a political position and he failed at it, simple as that. he is gone and time to find an replacement, the machine continues to move along.

okay, i understand, i just thought from the way the white house was shrugging it off it wasnt as a big deal as made out to be.

[Phaelen]

Regardless of the political hunt that he go caught in (and was either too stupid to get out of or to avoid in the first place) I feel he shouldn't have held the position in the first place so I am glad he is finally gone.

[shocker1]

the bush administration is falling apart at the seams.....good riddance
Nice post, full of information and opining. What a wonderful day, the US Presidency is falling apart. :roll:

wait till Jan 2009 and you will see it really fall apart right into the next Media punching bag.

[bugkill]

the bush administration is falling apart at the seams.....good riddance

why would it be a good thing to see any presidential administration fall apart at the seams? i would want any presidency, democrat or republican, to perform well and get things done. the bush admin. has had its faults, but what presidency has not had any tough times?

you should never want to see any presidency fail or have a tough time, regardless of where you stand on the political issues. the people choose to elect who they want to be the leader of our country. i don't have to agree with them on all the issues, but i damn sure would want to see them succeed in the end if i would like to see it benefit my country, no matter how tough the road could be.

[LMAV]

He supported and found ways for our current govt. to get around "quaint" little things such as the Geneva Convention, and all those other "little" things that are supposed to uphold the rule of law.

What are you talking about? He's broken no laws unless you have some proof nobody else does.


the bush administration is falling apart at the seams.....good riddance


I really hope you aren't actually in the 10th Mountain. Although, Hillary did claim the 10th loves her. Its too bad you have decided that our government falling apart is a good thing. I'd remind you that congress has an even lower approval rating.

[budgie]

What I always find funny about like you , is that you act like the good guys are really the bad guys, while the bad guys are out there shaving faces off with piano wire and blowing up whole populations with car bombs. :bash:


Defeating those guys would be a victory for human rights, making your statement down right offensive.
.


Doh! I forgot. Silly me [slaps forehead]. I'm either with the Bushies or with the terrorists - in this age of absolutes there is now middle ground. Torture is okay as long as it's done to a swarthy middle-easterner right?

Defeating 'those guys' would also be a victory for human rights I agree. Without dolts like Gonzales we have a better chance of doing this. I celebrate his retirement - the GWOT just took a great leap forward.

[LMAV]

Doh! I forgot. Silly me [slaps forehead]. I'm either with the Bushies or with the terrorists - in this age of absolutes there is now middle ground. Torture is okay as long as it's done to a swarthy middle-easterner right?

Defeating 'those guys' would also be a victory for human rights I agree. Without dolts like Gonzales we have a better chance of doing this. I celebrate his retirement - the GWOT just took a great leap forward.

To me, on a forum like this its all about what the person posts. People who post like you do, are almost always completely silent about REAL examples of human rights violations. When confronted, you get the obligatory, "but it goes without saying that they are bad guys". :cantbeli:

I'm sorry, but Gonzales has done nothing, NOTHING in terms of human rights violations. If you want to be outraged, lets see some posts from you on AQ in Iraq or the Taliban in Afghanistan. Lets see some hand ringing about the actions of the prisoners in Gitmo. Lets talk about the real and gory human rights violations perpetrated by Islamic extremists and less about the tin foil hat, politically motivated complaining about the attorney General.....





Now credibility will be restored to the justice department, because just as the media describes bipartisanship as doing what the left wants, credibility is defined by action that the left demands.

x2 on this.

Today on Hardball, Chris kept asking Ed Gillespie if the president "would compromise" by giving in to democrat demands. Someone needs to explain what compromise is to these people.

[dangerclose]

Now credibility will be restored to the justice department, because just as the media describes bipartisanship as doing what the left wants, credibility is defined by action that the left demands.


Thank you.

[DB-ERAUPilot]

and less about the tin foil hat, politically motivated complaining


And so when are you gonna start following your own advice there slick :roll:

[Rictor]

Donald Rumsfeld
John Bolton
Paul Wolfowitz
Alberto Gonzales


...folks, I think we're on a roll!

[DB-ERAUPilot]

Donald Rumsfeld
John Bolton
Paul Wolfowitz
Alberto Gonzales


...folks, I think we're on a roll!

yeah still missing the two most important name on there though...

[bugkill]

Donald Rumsfeld
John Bolton
Paul Wolfowitz
Alberto Gonzales


...folks, I think we're on a roll!

what roll? i hope that you understand that the resignations of these people don't amount to anything and for any average citizen to join in the bull crap that is called "washington politics" is just comical.

all the guys you have listed are going to live productive and lucrative lives, while you sit here and actually believe that something of worth has been done with their resignations. the joke is on you and all the others who seem to want to play cheerleader for each opposing side, but not fully realizing that those guys are all in on the same deal.

how can you be so blind to the fact that they make deals with one another (republican and democrat) and consider themselves "friends on the other side of aisle"? the politicians are there to protect their base of power and they all keep saying the same bulls**t that the average american continues to eat it up.

[Rictor]

Don't pull that jadeder-than-thou crap on me. I own cynical resignation. I'm twice, perhaps thrice as horrified-yet-amused by the situation as anyone else, and I don't even live there.

[JJC]

Well he had to go because in game of politics he was just a bad distraction. I still don't see any evidence of what laws he broke while holding the A.G. office? Ye he fired those attorneys but is it his fault that they current system makes the hiring a firing of federal prosecutors in to a political game?

I don't think he was any worse than Janet Reno and her "noble acts", in fact I believe that future generations and history will give him credit for many things while he held that position.

[throwback]

Gonzo was third string, at best. Definetely not ready for prime time. Poor Monkeyboy: he couldn't find any more quality stooges.

[budgie]

Donald Rumsfeld
John Bolton
Paul Wolfowitz
Alberto Gonzales


...folks, I think we're on a roll!

Karl Rove
Tony Snow

I'd pray for Shotgun **** to go too but since he's actually been president all along it would be more realistic to hope for the chimp to bow out...

[California Joe]

Every administration gets rid of the old attorneys and brings in their own handpicked guys. That's a given.

But when you fire a bunch of your own guys because they aren't being quite zealous enough in certain partisan prosecutions it makes the news. You can spin it anyway you want but that's what happened, and Gonzales didn't have any good answers for why or even who, or when, or if or.....He looked like a complete tool. If I was the Dems I'd have wanted him to hang on forever because he provided a constant source of bad press for the administration.

[shocker1]

Gonzo was third string, at best. Definetely not ready for prime time. Poor Monkeyboy: he couldn't find any more quality stooges.


Karl Rove
Tony Snow

I'd pray for Shotgun **** to go too but since he's actually been president all along it would be more realistic to hope for the chimp to bow out...
Anyone who uses chlidish cutdowns to describe those they do not agree with only shows core intelligence. This kind of partisanship from both sides is a disgrace to your average concerned American. This indignation born out of ignorance instead of rational opposition only damages those who oppose the policies of this Administration. Anyone who derives some sort of pleasure from the problems of the President self inflicted or not is part of the problem not the solution.

[LMAV]

Every administration gets rid of the old attorneys and brings in their own handpicked guys. That's a given.

But when you fire a bunch of your own guys because they aren't being quite zealous enough in certain partisan prosecutions it makes the news.

Go back and read that again Joe. You just admitted every administration does it, than turn around and say its not ok for Bush. Are you seriously trying to argue that Clinton didn't fire attorneys because they weren't lock step with him? Of course he did! The difference is, the media ignored it when Clinton did it and manufactured a scandal when The Bush administration did it.

Sure, Gonzales didn't handle it well but I wonder how Janet Reno would have handled it if her feet were held to the fire?

[California Joe]

I thought Janet Reno was bizarre but that's another story.

As far as I know, it is standard practice for incoming administrations to get rid of all the state attorneys general. Clinton did it, Bush Sr. did it as did W. No one has an issue with that. I certainly don't unless they're filling the positions with imbeciles or something. It's a pretty elite group.

Firing 8 of your own appointees for spurious reasons midterm is why it's different. Sure some of them could have been incompetent. But Gonzales did such a sh*t job of trying to defend his actions that it only feeds into the idea that it was done for purely partisan reasons as all of the fired attorneys testified.

[Beowulf]

To me, on a forum like this its all about what the person posts. People who post like you do, are almost always completely silent about REAL examples of human rights violations. When confronted, you get the obligatory, "but it goes without saying that they are bad guys". :cantbeli:

I'm sorry, but Gonzales has done nothing, NOTHING in terms of human rights violations. If you want to be outraged, lets see some posts from you on AQ in Iraq or the Taliban in Afghanistan. Lets see some hand ringing about the actions of the prisoners in Gitmo. Lets talk about the real and gory human rights violations perpetrated by Islamic extremists and less about the tin foil hat, politically motivated complaining about the attorney General.....




Anyone who uses chlidish cutdowns to describe those they do not agree with only shows core intelligence. This kind of partisanship from both sides is a disgrace to your average concerned American. This indignation born out of ignorance instead of rational opposition only damages those who oppose the policies of this Administration. Anyone who derives some sort of pleasure from the problems of the President self inflicted or not is part of the problem not the solution.

Excellent posts.

[Zoomie]

Donald Rumsfeld
John Bolton
Paul Wolfowitz
Alberto Gonzales


...folks, I think we're on a roll!
How is that a roll? You yourself said you don't even live here, so let me educate you on your ignorance about resignations.
Let's look at Clinton's group of people as he was re-elected for a second term in 1996:

Robert Reich- Sec. of Labor, resigned just after the election.... wrote a book, and became a professor.

Henry Cisneros- Sec of HUD, resigned in 1997 and became President of Univision, and started his own housing business.

Fredrico Pena- Sec of Transportation, resigned in 1997 to become a partner in an investment firm.

William Perry- Sec of Defense, resigned in 1997 to become a professor at Stanford University. He also sits on the board of directors of some companies.

Leon Panetta- Chief of Staff to the President- resigned in 1997 became a professor.

Erskine Bowles- White House Chief of Staff- resigned in 1998 became a member of the board of directors with GM, and Morgan Stanley. Also, is President of U. North Carolina.

Laura D'Andrea Tyson- Economic Adviser- resigned. currently a professor at U Cal Berkley, on the AT&T board of directors.

Maybe if you did a little research before going on your usual rants and cheers, you'll see that this is nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing to cheer about. But the looking at it the way you're looking at Bush's people resigning, I would have to assume that these are people running away from the scandals during the Clinton Administration, or it could be that they're looking to secure a job in the public sector? You tell me.

[LMAV]

I saw a Keith Olberman commercial for his show tonight and it showed Gonzales with prison bars and a mug shot background.

[bugkill]

I saw a Keith Olberman commercial for his show tonight and it showed Gonzales with prison bars and a mug shot background.

olberman is an idiot and he should have stuck with ESPN.

[ElHombre]

Firing 8 of your own appointees for spurious reasons midterm is why it's different. Sure some of them could have been incompetent. EH: Although the Justice Department's own memos said otherwise for all but 1. ;-) But Gonzales did such a sh*t job of trying to defend his actions that it only feeds into the idea that it was done for purely partisan reasons as all of the fired attorneys testified.

It's not just Gonzo, either. Almost the entire politically appointed leadership team at Justice has been resigning in recent months since the Firing Scandal broke. I love how none of them had any idea of what was going on in the department they supposedly ran. :lol:

When the facts indicate that either someone is a)lying, or b) has no f***ing clue as to what's happening in the department they're in charge of, they deserve to be fired.

I wonder who the replacement will be. Bush will want another lackey who's first loyalty is to Bush first and the country second (in other words, a clone of Gonzo).

[EvanL]

Bush's lackeys just keep falling by the minute as of late it seems.

[Trogdor]

Haha short recap:

Dems: "Get him!"
Reps: "Wut?"
Dems: "Get...him!"
Reps: "Wut?"
Dems: "Git 'em"
Reps: "k."

lol

Anyways, it's time for Bush to nominate a centrist or slightly left, high profile individual next.

That way when the Dems beat up on him, it's win win!