Attorney General Gonzales Resigns

ABC News ^ | August 27, 2007 | By PIERRE THOMAS, JASON RYAN, THERESA COOK and JACK DATE

[Melissa 24]

*snip*

Attorney General Gonzales Resigns Controversy Plagued Top Law Enforcement Official By PIERRE THOMAS, JASON RYAN, THERESA COOK and JACK DATE Aug. 27, 2007

Gonzales will hold a press conference at 10:30 a.m. at the Justice Department to announce the resignation; President Bush is also expected to make a statement at 11:30 a.m.

*snip* The embattled attorney general had withstood months of criticism from both sides of the aisle in Congress for a variety of missteps. Lawmakers blasted Gonzales after his department fired at least nine U.S. attorneys last year and accused him of misusing terrorist surveillance programs. Most recently Democrats charged that Gonzales had repeatedly lied to Congress under oath.

Throughout Gonzales' sometimes rocky tenure, President Bush had defended him in recent months, accusing his detractors of playing politics. The New York Times reported Friday that Gonzales submitted his resignation to the president by phone Friday morning.

Bush has yet to announce a replacement for the attorney general position, but the Associated Press reports a likely temporary replacement for Gonzales is Solicitor General Paul Clement, according to a senior department official.

There are also reports that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be named as a successor to Gonzales.

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards reacted to the news of Gonzales' resignation with a statement that read: "Better late than never."

Fired U.S. Attorneys Tension between Gonzales and Congress ratcheted up this spring after details began emerging about last year's federal prosecutor firings. Gonzales' chief of staff and the department's White House liaison, who later admitted to having little prosecutorial experience themselves, were heavily involved in constructing the list of prosecutors to dismiss.

[taxed2death]

Let’s see who GWB’s next illegal apologist top cop is.

[Loud Mime]

He should claim that the Democrats didn’t like Miguel Estrada or himself in high positions.

Let the “thinking hispanics” figure the rest out.

[tobyhill]

To President Bush,

Do not subject the next nominee to confirmation hearings, recess appoint them and really piss-off the Rats, RINOs and MSM.

[PhilCollins]

I hope that Gonzalez’s replacement will be Asa Hutchison. He’s a conservative who was the U.S. Attorney for Arkansas, 1981-’86; Chairman of the Ark. GOP, 1993-’97; U.S. Rep., 1997-2001; Director of the DEA, 2001-’03; and Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, 2003-’05.

[Williams]

All the articles about this are full of the usual “charges” that amount to nothing.

[coloradan]

Director of the DEA, 2001-’03

Is he the one who wants to prohibit tobacco?

[coloradan]

He was no friend of gun owners. Good riddance!

[MizSterious]

I know a lot of people are glad to see him go, but I hope folks pause long enough to consider the ramifications of this. If he was going to resign, it should have been much earlier; now it cripples the White House—fat chance anyone the President appoints will get confirmed, and now we can look forward to at least another year’s worth of “investigations” and “hearings.”

And then there’s the issue of the fired attorneys—now the ‘Rats are already crowing that they’ve achieved a victory of some sort and demanding yet MORE investigations, prosecutors, and the whole nine yards. That it was totally LEGAL escapes them, and I suspect this will result in a really bad precedent.

I’m not necessarily a Gonzales fan, but this is not a good thing.

[MizSterious]

If the President managed to bring Mother Teresa back to life and appoint her to the job, the ‘Rats would find a way to demonize her and refuse to confirm her. It won’t matter who he appoints, unless possibly it’s Hillary (making warding off evil sign) herself.

[cricket]

He should claim that the Democrats didn’t like Miguel Estrada or himself in high positions.

He should do what the Dems would do; were situation reversed. PLay the 'racism' card. . .claim Dem's racist.

That would have them sputtering. . .and worse.

[vietvet67]

I’m sure Chuck Schumer’s makeup artist is excited about this.

[flaglady47]

Asa Hutchison is a big “amnesty for illegals” backer, worse even than Bush is, if that is possible. Would be a horrible choice for that reason alone.

[jveritas]

Recess Appointment.

[andrew1957]

Two words....John Bolton

[JoeFromSidney]

His departure will create severe problems for Bush. Getting a successor through the Senate will be tough. However, Bush brought the problem on himself. He appointed a man who was a crony rather than a competent attorney. Gonzales was a living example of the Peter Principle in operation. There have been too many of these incompetent crony appointments by Bush. Brown af FEMA is simply another example.

[jim macomber]

Let's see....what if they let Joe Lieberman have a major say in the selection in return for switching caucuses in the Senate? Just a thought.

[flaglady47]

If he appointed Ted Olson, he would make it through the Senate. No one would dare go after him viciously because he is too nice a guy and because his wife Barbara Olson was killed on one of the planes flying into the twin towers on 9/11. Plus Olson should be rewarded for years of good public service to the Pub party.

[Fishrrman]

He was no friend of gun owners. Good riddance!

Wasn't this guy once on G.W.'s "short list" of Supreme Court nominees? And remember how some Freepers actually touted him for that nomination because of (yes!) his ethnicity?

Jeesh.

- John

[gm4363]

Good riddance, maybe he could take Johnny Sutton with him.