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!

Follow Marty Kaplan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/martykaplan

Comments

[Ramus]

The Democrats need to stop Bush from appointing another member of his corrupt gang. Whatever it takes the Democrats must stop this. Patrick Fitzgerald would be an acceptable Attorney General. He seems smart and fair and honest...a­nd articulate­...and he seems to have a good memory. Write your Senators and tell them not to allow a vacation appointment of Chertoff. We really need an honest smart Attorney General.

[Veleria29]

Sorry Ramus apparently it has already been done.

[schatsie]

Drag him thru the courts, he should be Bush's blue dress. He overturned Geneva Convention, privacy and politicized Justice Department. Do you know how many new lawyers were either in the Federalist Society or Young Replubicans and how in the same hill do we clean that up?

[Drill]

He should be Bush's blue dress? Is that what this is all about...re­venge for Clinton and Monicagate? Of course that what this is. The bitter and angry left disgust me today...ce­lebrating the resignation of this good American.

[ManhattanMC]

Drill-your own head for brains-and good luck-

"Bitter and angry left"...
If I had a dollar for every time I've seen that exact phrase on boards in the last three days I'd buy you some brains.

Good Americans don't torture, perjure or pretend to have memory lapses.

If you aren't scared as hell about what Bush and his minions have done to this once great nation-you are stupendously ill informed.

[newsweek1945]

Bill Clinton never! threatened the Constitution by fooling with Lewinsky!!

[CrimsonTom]

1) Lacks a grasp of metaphor
2) Knows neither the definition of "good" nor "American"
3) Not even particularly good attempt at working Clinton's name into the story of the idiot's resignation.

[ike39]

Gonzales will be forgotten in a day or so, if not in a few hours. The Democrats won't have to do any work trying to investigate his administration of the justice department. The Republicans can turn to yet another political hack to take the former AG's place. Congress is as corrupt as the White House. The Democrats that promised us something different are content to sit back and rake in the contributions while tossing a few crumbs to their base.

[philistine]

I hope you're wrong, Marty. I think that maybe - just maybe - the Democrats will keep the pressure on the Republicans by continuing to pursue this.

Cheers!

[MSF31538]

So long Al. W will soon see you in hell,where all your good guys go.

The next appoint from our Mad King George. John Woo-- Bright like Scalia.--E­vil as Bush.

Leave it to our Mad King to give us Hell like Harry Truman, except Truman had a soul.

If you access Freeedompost. You will see a Post or reference to our former Senator Prescott Bush, the original Nazi lover. His organization supplied Hitler with 35% of his war material before the war, and was shut down by our Govt. war Department under the Trading with the enemies act. W is a chip off the old mean spirited rat-line to the Nazis.

Martin S Friedlander, Esq.
[e-mail]

[CaptainObvious]

"The next appoint from our Mad King George. John Woo-- Bright like Scalia.--E­vil as Bush."

I think you mean "John Yoo". God help us if he does.

[JimHinCO]

Very strange that someone of such importance and intelligence could be so forgetful!

[LiberalLibertarian]

(The dreaded BRD) Bush Related Dementia. I think its something in the water....

Quick, someone spike the water supply with Ginkgo!

[formerprof]

The Dems, more than the Repugs, are breathing a sigh of relief this morning. Even though the American people overwhelmingly (according to polls) want Gonzales's skulduggery investigated and hold Congress in low esteem because they haven't done their job, the Dem leadership can now get back to what their stupid, wimpy advisors tell them is important business. A true opposition party would continue the investigations so that this stuff could not happen again. But Congress and the American people never take the longer view--never.

[esquire07]

He will get away with everything. The next AG will no doubt be far worse.

A criminal will be replaced with another.

And ignorant, dumbed down Americans will lose agian.

[TruthSlayer]

Lets see, the Democrat's control the Teacher Union and Teaching Agenda. The Democrats control the Mainstream TV Networks. UMMMM..Is it any wonder why our education system sucks? Is it any wonder why things are dumbed down? It is because the Democrats are made up of Dolts and the Republicans are made up of corporate and religious elitists..

[sqweels]

Dumbed down? Whatever happened to the "elites"?

[ControlledBurn]

TruthSLAYER? As in killer of truth?

[nevergiveup]

If YOU believe the Democrats control mainstream TV networks, then you left your brain somewhere.

Mainstream media is owned and controlled by Corporate America, and THEY got Bush elected.

Dem-controlled MSM--LOL. What a riot you are. And misinformed, too! So many computers--so many dummies. Go read a book. Why DO Republicans hate their country so much? Oh that's right, they love MONEY more than their country.

[LiberalLibertarian]

Do you have any proof for your assertions?Don't you think if teachers were as empowered as you seem to think they are, they would be making a bit more money? Most teachers barely get by on 35,000 a year and use money out of their own pockets to pay for school supplies! And as for this alleged Democratically controlled "teaching agenda", I have no idea what you think it may be; I know plenty of teachers, and no coherent, well funded governing board exists that directs education separate from the federal government (and who has been in charge of that since 2000?) Our education system sucks because it is so totally underfunded and we as a culture do not value the education of our young (and we are already suffering the consequences of that now and it will only get worse.) A dumbed down populace is much easier to control by the ruling class, thus the systematic destruction of public schools and educational loans. Only the rich will be able to afford an education soon, regardless of political tilt.

And the whole "liberal media bias" has been thoroughly debunked time and time again over the years. For gods sake, just look at what gets reported and what gets swept under the rug....

The GOP owns the media and controls the content via editorial oversite. That individual reporters may skew left is of no real consequence when the editors and owners control who to hire and fire and what is "newsworthy" and what isn't. Left wing media bias is a discredited myth.

[smartstuart]

So what YOU want to do is PRIVATIZE everything, making it More expensive-with no proof it will work better....­like the war and so many other parts of Bushco! How about "borrow and spend"...a­nother costly ploy of the right wing fascists(big business+ big government working together at the middle class' expense=fascism!!) you support! Dolts...lo­ok in the mirror for the nuttiest one!!!

[RedWolverine]

Say what you will about John Ashcroft. You may have disliked his poltics but you knew he wasnt a total incompetent. How this guy rose to beomce AG of the US is amazing to me. This guy couldn't manage his way out of a wet paper bag.

redwolverine
http://copiousdissent.blogspot.com

[BigTuna]

He did lose to a dead guy though.

[philistine]

RedWolverine (See profile | I'm a fan of RedWolverine)
...How this guy rose to beomce AG of the US is amazing to me. This guy couldn't manage his way out of a wet paper bag.

Can you say "sycophant?"

The "Cheney and Chimpy Show" only allows yes-men/women to appear as guests. You should know that by now! And Heaven help you if you blow the whistle on them.

[rmreddicks]

Yeah, I think the "eagle soared". He was a total incompetent until they found more useful incompetents. It's like saying Moe was smarter than Shemp. And he was pretty damn vicious to U.S. Citizens he didn't like. I could site references but all you have to do is search on Ashcroft and civil rights.

[TitaniumAvatar]

C'mon, we all know that Larry was the brains of the operation.

[noamjunior]

wrong
Ashcroft WAS totally incompetent- he was the guy that downgraded terrorism as no longer #1 national security issue 4 months before 9-11

I would call that incompetent

[rigel]

Those of us that saw Ted Koppel interview Michael Chertoff, while Chertoff was in New Orleans right after Hurricane Katrina saw a master of obfuscation and spin. Koppel became completely exasperated and told Chertoff all he had to do was turn on a television to see the devastation. Chertoff was unfazed. He did not deviate from his talking points. He was an amazing performance. May we be delivered from this propagandist and not have to suffer him as Attorney General. If he does become AG, he will throw a ton of sand in the eyes of justice. He should never again be a Judge nor serve anywhere in the Justice Department.

[BobHiggins]

Wait,
Have you forgotten all he accomplished?

A few of Gonzale'"a­ccomplishm­ents" while in federal employ:

Illegal use of the USA Patriot act to spy on US citizens
Firing of US Attorneys who didn't toe the party line
Denied that the right of habeas corpus is in the constitution
Volunteer work in hospitals, visiting the sick
Helped to write and implement Bush torture policy

Thanks for the memories Fredo

Bob Higgins
http://worldwide-sawdust.com

[BeyondPopper]

You forgot about his efforts "quaint" to have the U.S. government ignore the Geneva Conventions and any other international agreements that get in the way of their masters' profits and power-hunger.

[LilyMaskew]

I think this is a really good thing for our country to have Gonzales resign. Pundits question "Is this good for the Republicans or for the Dems?" Really, I think it most benefits the American people who deserve to have competent leaders in our government. I personally would like to see another person of Mexican decent appointed to the Dept. of Justice, to forstall any claims of prejudice that may arise.

[Boadicea]

I'm with you, and I'm still of the opinion that most politicians left and right put the interests of the country first. It's just that a lot of them, including some Dems, are delusional these days, and are supportive of trading civil rights for security, never a good trade.

[bachrub]

How convenient. We'll have a distracting confirmation battle when Iraq should be the focus. The media will play along of course, and Bush and the boys will claim that Congress should just be happy to have Gonzo's head and give him another "Friedman" or two for his surge.

[BigTuna]

There will be no confirmation battle because there will be no confirmation. Recess appointments don't have to be confirmed until the end of the NEXT Congressional session, which will conveniently be after the 2008 elections. Whomever is selected this week will have the position through the end of this administration.

[wmbear]

GOOD POINT, BIG T...

But the Senate will probably confirm him or her anyway, out of sheer gratitute to Bush for finally giving Gonzales the boot. (Wimps!)

[americanwhocares]

I, personally, am going to demand that my elected representatives (Congressman and two Senators) continue investigating Rove and Gonzalez and bring charges against them for breaking the law. I encourage all law abiding Americans (counts out most republicans) to also contact their Congressman and two Senators and insist that justice be served by prosecuting these two criminals. You can easily find out how to contact your elected representatives by going to the following web site: congress.org

[mouselion]

I don't have to demand it. I'm from Vermont. My three insist on it.

Damn, it's good to have the right friends!

[PlanetKansas]

sigh...I believe Michael Vick will be the breathless and endless story of the day...

A friend and I were discussing politics this weekend, an educated, intellectual liberal of the 1960's. He has lost faith in the Democrats, who are only slightly better, but just as susceptible to corporate influence and the politics of fear and division. He made the observation, that within 3 more presidential elections, our civil rights, already an abstraction to many, will gradually disappear, paving the way to a sudden totalitarian takeover. Only then will we wake up and realize what it is we really cherish.

For each of this administration's crime's that escapes unpunished, accountability is eroded, and only encourages the same cynicism for future administrations.

[Oragone]

Funny thing, my best friend(old Vietnam Vet, and Redneck Texan) and I(an old longhaired hippie) were discussing politics over a bowl of herbs this weekend. We came up with about the same conclusions. Our outcome was a little different however. Outright class warfare, guns and everything. We dished up another bowl of herbs and said "Shit, we're gonna miss it."

[mouselion]

Ha, ha.