Bye Bye 'Berto

WANTED: Total toady. Not a cut-and-runner. Must love torture. Contempt for Constitution a plus. Amnesia essential. Benefits include media boredom the day your mission is accomplished, plus a tenured position at the George W. Bush Library and Institute.

No sooner did word of Alberto Gonzales's resignation leak than the talking heads on TV started spreading the new conventional wisdom: official Washington is happy to let him slither off to private life without further persecution or prosecution. All that politicization of the Justice Department, forgiven. All those perjury thingies, forgotten. All the stonewalling and can't-recalls, yesterday's news.

Yesterday, his name was "embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales." Tomorrow, he'll swap "embattled" for "former." Not "disgraced." Not "impeached." Not "indicted." Not even "controversial." He'll join Karl Rove in the great reputation laundry, a figure of Beltway sympathy.

"Ya gotta respect a guy with that kind of loyalty," pundits will say, placing his loyalty to a corrupt administration above his loyalty to the American people." Orrin Hatch will contend that he doesn't understand what the big fuss was all about. Arlen Specter will let bygones be bygones. Gonzales's departure, like every other symptom of Republican pathology, will be proclaimed a GOP victory. "Now Bush has a chance to accomplish some major items on his agenda before the end of his term," we will be told. You know, like warrantless wiretapping, swifter executions, phony terrorist busts, corrupt prosecutions, and interference with free elections.

If Americans didn't have the attention span of a newt, if the media cared as much about the health of democracy as the health of the bottom line, if Democrats had the courage of their convictions, the last chapter of the Alberto Gonzales story will not have been written the day he resigned. If, if, if... I know: If Gonzales had had integrity, he wouldn't have been an invertebrate.

UPDATE: Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tx) says it's a sad day for the country when the top Hispanic in the nation is hounded from office. Yeah, and Clarence Thomas is the top African-American in the nation.

UPDATE II: In his brief public appearance, Gonzales says only that he is "concluding" his public service. No "citing personal reasons." No questions from the press. Like Cornyn, he plays the Hispanic card: "My worst day on the job was better than my father's best day." I wonder if his fath-- WAIT! Look over here! It's Michael Vick!

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Comments

[ameliae]

Good one, Mr. K. I read this the day the Liar in Chief talked to his impressed (as in Shanghai'd) audience in Iraq. No US Marine would dis his president, God love 'em all. Too bad Darth Cheney hasn't resigned. I'd rather see him impeached and stripped of pension, but resigned is good, too.

[didereaux]

Sometimes all the blather we can dredge up simply falls short of illustrating our perplexities(not TTHERE'S a mouthful heh). I would bet a pretty nickel that you could find a mashup at this link that would sum up a given thought on the political scene right now. Anwho here it is:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12461951@N03/

As for our situation, I think I am with the majority on this blog this time: we have no choice at all, we simply have to register, drive to the polls and vote for the Democratic candidate...then drive home and OD on Tums and Alka-Seltzers.

[Haz]

Gonzo should probably get Craig an escort as thank you for displacing him from the news.

[Clarabell]

Thanks to those who have written good posts against the "their all the same" (talking point). It is abolutely imperative that we get the Republicans out of office in 2008. Maybe the Dems aren't perfect, but they are all we have -- and our only hope for the salvation of the country.

[Rosey]

Take President Cheney with you!

[steeleye]

"Heck of a job, Gonzo!"

[darker]

Country first! We're US taxpayers and NOT chattel of the ultra-rich who steal public office. We want accountability.

Bush-Cheney's "JUSTICE" DEPT. OF CHAOS under Gonzales must be investigated.

Bush-Cheney's entire chaotic administration must be investigated.
THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY.

ACCOUNTABILITY is the requirement of a Democracy. Bush-Chene­y-Gonzales served up a chaos of "smoke & mirrors" while behaving like CRIMINALS.

All of them must be investigated and held accountable.

[cylindar]

He got while the getting was sorta good. The fact is that Leahy and others were quickly tightening the noose around his neck and he had to quit so he can work on what he is going to have to say to avoid prosecution as a criminal.

[elakelaiset]

Poor guy...he had the worst memory of any Mexican-American ever in the history of the world. And he became Attorney General! How did tha happen again? I forget.

[Catseyes]

Did you see David Gregory interviewing Rove on
"Meet The Pre...,or was it. "Dancing With The
Stars. Whatever show it was, the two dancing stars were Waltzing together once again....
They were so charming together, they looked like lovers to me. Who cares if Rove Criminalized the Executive Branch for the last 6+ years. Torture? Who cares!! Who cares about why 3500+ soldiers are dead. They dance on their bones and wave to their families as the two parrot rapp together. It a great time to be a journalist covering the White House activities. At the end of the day it's "Dance Fever".

[1fliteup]

Well all of you may think the DEMS are wishy washy but you still have to understand that although they are a majority in the House, they are not so in the Senate, and thats where the cluster-f--- is. Reid can/t get by the Co-ruptlicans. They can shut down any good piece of legislation and pass any that makes them $$$>

[1fliteup]

The arrogance of the AG in congress was astounding, what he said in effect was f--you, f--you, f---you. I thought no one could be as bad as Ashcroft, wrong, wrong, wrong. What does our Commander-in-Grief have in store for us now.

[Dap]

Dear Professor Kaplan,

You are a treasure, that was short, sweet and didn't miss a beat. Kudos on ya!
Agape.

[starislon]

If AG Gonzales was a mole, who lived in a mole hill, the DINOs wouldn't make a mountain out of it.

[eplebneesta]

The administration may have made some kind of deal with him to avoid prosecution, but the people didn't.

Surely there are a number of people who can bring legitimate cases against him for violation of their constitutional right. I'm sick (and tired) of these people in positions of power getting off from major crimes simply by resigning. As a person gains more power, hse (he/she) should be more responsible and accountable, not less. And for those who want to know, the color of the sky in my world is the McTavish Tartan.

Unfortunately, he can now be held up by bigots as proof that Hispanics are criminals. IMO, he's earned a dishonorary membership in the Old White Boys Race.

At least he's gone.

E Pleb Neesta
GODISNOWHERE
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