“Oops”
That is what U.S. attorney general Alberto Gonzales must be thinking: “The former Justice Department official who carried out the firings of eight U.S. attorneys last year told Congress that several of the prosecutors had no performance problems and that a memo on the firings was distributed at a Nov. 27 meeting attended by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, a Democratic senator said yesterday.”
As Dan Eggen and Paul Kane point out, “the statements to House and Senate investigators by Michael A. Battle, former director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, represent another potential challenge to the credibility of Gonzales, who has said that he never saw any documents about the firings and that he had ‘lost confidence’ in the prosecutors because of performance problems.”
Meanwhile, Gonzales will testify tomorrow (again) and will apologize to the fired prosecutors and will admit that “he has been ‘less than precise’ in describing his role in the firings.”
“Less than precise” is probably a euphemism for “completely wrong”.
Senator Arlen Specter (Pa.) has already suggested that Gonzales should “consider reinstating the fired U.S. attorneys.” That, of course, would be a major defeat for Gonzales and for the White House.
Every day new revelations, new lies exposed and… every day Gonzales continues to fight for his job, spinning here, spinning there, contradicting himself, contradicting his (former) aides, etc. etc.
I find it amazing that Gonzales seems to be determined to commit political suicide as slowly as possible. He also drags his long time friend George W. Bush with him (through the dust). In this particular case, damage control means… get out of the fight now. The longer he puts up a fight, the more lies will be exposed and the more badly it will reflect on the White House.
Bush must be thinking by now: ‘with friends like Alberto and Paul, who needs enemies?’.
To Alberto: Resign man, you’re making a fool of yourself.
27 Responses to ““Oops””
I doubt that damage control means get out now. I assume that get out now would just encourage the partisans on the left and just cause them to move on to the next target.
gonzales could be acting as the fire wall that keeps the Democratic partisans from moving on to their next target.
I particularly liked your title. I believe that’s what Will Smith said when he bumped the alien spacecraft into the wall of the hangar in “Independence Day”.
Robert: yes you are correct.
Superdestroyer: the thing is, if Gonzales would have gotten out asap, the damage would have been limited. We now see that, while attacking Gonzales, the attention is also being shiften to Karl Rove and even, yes, George W. Bush himself.
Gonzales’ refusal to give up makes the Democrats and media dig deeper and deeper and deeper.
One correction, Gonzales will be testifying tomorrow, not today. I know because I contemplated taking the day off to enjoy. Should be more fun than watching my Rangers in the hockey playoffs.
Proud Liberal – thanks.
As a Democratic partisan, I am content to bat Abu around like a cat toys with a mouse for as long as these idiots want to play.
As for the next target, no worries! This clown show of an administration is, how would you say, a target rich enviorment no?
Plus you assume us partisans can’t multi task. That assumption is based on the current idiots seeming inability in that regard. It would be grave mistake to push those incompetence qualities onto ‘Democratic Partisans’.
See: Rove,06, I have the numbers..etc..etc
Smakryshark,
There has actually been several attempts by partisans to start up other controversies such as with GSA but the media just will not multi-task on them. I would assume that people like Emanuel would prefer to handle them serially .
superdestroyer-
You are most correct about the media, sir.
However, congress is not the media, and this week they will be frying several different fishes.
The media I’m sure will be strictly distracted by yet another Paris or Brittany kerfluffal.
Which is fine, as it hastens the irrevocable slide into irrelevance.
What do I care about the sanctioned media when I can watch Gonzo get toasted live on the net on Cspan, or catch the highlights on U-Tube?
SD You are correct about the lefties. We are at present making plans to move up the food chain- Gonzo is just the appetizer. Karl Rove could be considered the main course. In any case, the pressure will be relentless- Wolfie is also in our sights for the unrelated scandal at the World Bank. My advice is for the GOP in Congress to cut and run, because supporting their side will just make them look like fools. But we already know from the e-mail evidence that the DOJ has contacted members on the Justice Committee to get them to lob softball questions. I would expect members like Orrin Hatch and Jeff Sessions to play along. More to follow tomorrow at the weenie roast.
SnarkyShark,
Wonderful word *** KERFLUFFLE *** (kerfluffle not kerfluffal).
I’m not trying to play the ‘typo game’ with you but kerfluffle had such a pleasant ring to it… I had to look it up and see if it actually was a word and, if so, what it meant.
I did… It was… and, Thank you!
kritter
Anytime there is civil right to be destroyed, or some soviets style repression to be done, Orrin Hatch will be there.
I have never seen a man who hated freedom so much.
It seemed like the only word that was fluffy enough to describe the shallowness being exhibited by the press.
Not used to kind words, so I’m kind of feeling awkward here.
Couldn’t you call me commie agitator or something?:)
Well, let me join SteveK in praising our local commie agitator for using “kerfluffle”.
O.K. Snarky,
In truth… I DID mean to call you on your typo.
Hey folks, listen up, “Snarky can’t spell!”
See, now I feel better.
Thanks SteveK and MVDG.
In other news, the Dutch speak Dutch.
Just kidding of course Snark: glad you’re back (your snark has become a bit less snarky, hasn’t it?).
Michael van der Galien
yep….I am kind of beat down thinking about what a hole we have dug.
Another note of interest is the makeup of the Committee. All 9 Republicans voted to approve of Gonzo’s nomination, none of the 10 Democrats did- 8 voted against, 2 were not in the Senate at the time. Gonzo has spent his tax-payer paid time being coached by Fred Fielding and contacting the GOP members to shore up support. My guess is that he’ll get it- and the hearing will turn into another uberpartisan display of political theatre, where the public’s right to the truth and transparency in government is the ultimate victim. The Pubs will cling to the talking points of a partisan witchhunt, and the Dems will look hapless without the supporting e-mails to back up their suspicions of WH involvement.
Neither Bush or Gonzales have anything to lose so why quit? Bush doesn’t give a damn about what people think, and Berto is off to a suh-weet high paying gig in the private sector after he’s done here. All they have to do is run out the clock on a bunch of folks who keep wondering when they will give up because of embarassment. The answer to that is never.
> You are correct about the lefties.
> We are at present making plans
> to move up the food chain-
> Gonzo is just the appetizer.
Who’s next? Or does that depend on what new discoveries are made?
> All they have to do is run out the clock
That’s the general strategy (powered by a confrontational attitude) for the rest of their time in DC.
Well, I do agree with Sam that it is impossible to shame these folks into leaving on their own accord. They can just respond with the lame line about serving at the pleasure of the president until 2008 rolls around. We see that with Wolfie, Gonzo and even Rummy outstayed his welcome for quite a while. My question is what hold does the WH have over Republicans in Congress? Even tho Bush is a weak lame duck, they stick to him like glue.
DLS- Appetizer —- Gonzo
Main Course—– Karl Rove
Dessert——-Dick Cheney- after Tenet’s book is released revealing the manipulation of prewar intel by the VP
um-mmmm… That sounds GOOD! Can I make reservations now? That’s one meal I sure wouldn’t want to miss.
And after that, Kritter and her merry band of Stalinists will:
- Have Arnold Schwarzenegger deported for being Austrian
- Burn Mitt Romney at the stake for being a Mormon
- Hire a random maniac kidnap and cut off Rudy Giuliani’s genitals for having had adultery
…it’s the new, cheerful, victorious Left everyone! Enjoy!
OK, K., thanks for the menu.
QDPSteve-
Actually, my political orientation is center-left- and I believe in capitalism with a safety net for the poor, not Stalinism-socially I’m libertarian- except for an abhorence for the unrelenting sex and violence in our culture-otherwise I like to live and let live.
BTW, I think the Gubernator is doing a grand job in California, would never persecute Mitt for his religion- as I respect Mormonism as any other legitemate religion, and I personally don’t care about politicians’ sex lives- as long as they don’t make hypocritical political points about the sex lives of others. I just don’t like incompetence, self-serving arrogance, corruption and chronic mendacity from our public servants. This group has abused their power, but I would not attack the people you mentioned. Thanks for all the inaccurate assumptions.