It was you, Fredo

For several months I have considered the continuing presence of Alberto Gonzales a personal failure on my part. I had wished him gone. I had said insulting things about him to my friends. I had written things about him, although I didn't quite finish any of them. He deserved to be gone. Nonetheless he was still there.

I just couldn't believe that a man who had lied under oath that often was still the attorney general of the United States. I couldn't believe that those of us on this side of things had been utterly ineffectual at getting rid of him. What's more, I have to admit, I became almost awestruck at his ability to hang in there. Which goes for the whole crew, by the way: say what you will about George Bush (and there is almost nothing I won't), he's still president, and it's amazing how much bad stuff you can continue to do as president even if your poll numbers are below 30.

In any case, Gonzales has resigned. I wish him a happy time hiring lawyers and living off the slush fund someone will set up for him. Soon we will know why he left at this particular moment. The mind reels at the possibilities. What could possibly be even worse than all the things he's survived? At some point we'll find out. Stay tuned.

I hope he's not worried about his legacy, because he will have one, and it will be not unlike what awaits almost all the members of this administration: they will be fodder for art. Yes, art. Dick Cheney said a couple of months ago that history would be his judge, but I beg to differ: history will be nothing compared to the plays. This administration will be the subject of hundreds of plays; the playwrights will be drawn again and again to the astonishing, amazing panoply of evil and complicity the Bush Administration has provided. Gonzales will be a hilarious comic foil in most of these productions -- a jack-in-the-box who will pop out, say he has no recollection whatsoever of anything, and pop back in. Short actors will kill to play him.

By the way, I have a pet theory about Alberto Gonzales: I've always believed that the reason the President called Gonzales Fredo was that when they first met, Bush incorrectly believed that Gonzales' first name was Alfredo, and Gonzales was too much of a toady to correct him.

I meant to download that theory before it was too late, and the good news is, where this administration is concerned, it's never going to be too late.

Comments

[realpolitic]

Resigning is by far too dignified an option for this cast of characters. They should be handcuffed and marched out of the Whitehouse, and then taken to the nearest detention facility to serve as guests. There, they can detail their moral failings in office. When they have been absolutely truthful, they can be released. (A Mao-like punishment, but necessary in this case).

[factanonverba]

Yes, the Bush Administration as theater . . . Roman farce or Greek Tragedy?

For the film version, the one scene I must see the Card and Gonzales mad dash to GW Hospital to Ashcroft's sick bed. When reality beats fiction, that's really quite a feat.

[csbrudy]

There are two words which explain why Bush is still there: Pelosi Conyers.

[IMPRISONBUSH]

I DONT KNOW IF " GONZOS " FATHER IS STILL ALIVE BUT MANY LATINOS HAVE PRIDE IN THERE CHILDREN.
AND IF THE LIKE MANY HEAR AND READ BOTH SISES OF A STORY AND WATCHED THE HEARINGS HE MUST BE VERY UPSET THAT HIS SON WOULD LIE, COVER UP AND DELIBETLY REFUSS TO TELL THE TRUTH HE WOULD NOLONGER WELCOME IN HIS HOME.
I THINK MR GONZALAS (FATHER ) AFTER LIVING HIS LIFE TOSEE HIS SON HAVE ABETTER ONE WOULD NEVER LIE TO CHEAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ,WHICH HIS SON DID.

[BrooklynBookWorm]

Myself, I think of Jose Jimenez, and his repeated plea, "Not my job," pronounced "HOB."

On "Laugh-In," it was a joke. Before the Senate Judiciary Committee, it's an embarrassment -- to the Bushies and to the Latino community. Surely there are scores of more competent Latino lawyers who can do justice to the Department of Justice.

This shameless toadie has been too long in a position of influence. Good riddance, and best wishes for his successor.

A sensible Preisdent would pick someone outside the Beltway of unimpeachable integrity -- as Gerry Ford did -- but "W" being a petty-minded twit, he's likely to pick a highly divisive, patently incompetent ideologue.

May the Lord God save us till January, 2009!

[Wyndespelle]

What really cracked me up was Bush's comment the Gonzo's 'Reputation' was 'Dragged through the mud'. Mr. Bush ~ he is not now nor has he ever been, elected President ~ has simply dragged his friends and neighbors down into the muck with him and had a seven-year mudslinging and wrestling contest to see who emerged the filthier yet unimpeached, in 2008. It is apparent that Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney are in a dead heat for the Chimpionship as we go into the final 15 months. Mr. Bush will win by cancelling the 2008 Presidential Election, declaring martial law and dismissing Congress or maybe, with any luck at all, disappearing them !!! Maybe, but just maybe, the American People will do what they should have done when the Supremes hijacked the 2000 election and installed this cretin in office, and rebel en mass. There is no way there are enough Blackwater Troops to control a population of 300M with its collective tit in a wringer. Especially not when we have most of the rest of the world on our side. A revolution is long overdue and Mr. Bush and his Gang of ne'er do anyone well have it coming. When it happens, the MIC needs to be forced into making Dolls for China AFTER all of its Executives are imprisoned for Treason and summarily executed ...

[anotherbozo]

I need to announce why Gonzalez resigned when he did: The Daily Show is in re-runs.

[nevram]

WHEN SHORT MEN CAST LONG SHADOWS- YOU KNOW THE SUN IS SETTING ON THEM - so was it with Gonzo.Neville Ramroop

[Lemoco]

Good point! I sure rather Howard Zinn write my sorry story than Tennessee Williams.

[Rosey]

See ya Al! Take some CQ10 for your memory, try honesty next time, tone down your bad attitude (remember you put your pants on one leg at a time) and take President Cheney with you!

[mick3]

I noticed that when a senator (or representative?) was suposedily grilling Gonzalez about whether or not there was just one of a certain, supposedly critical document, Gonzalez kept dodging with the reply that "there was one. Yes." He never once said "just one" which was the whole point of that day's "investigation." He left himself an out, as usual. And that questioner, surely a lawyer, either couldn't figure that out or didn't want to and just let Gonzalez get away with it. Which? If the first, why is he in office? If the latter, why is he in office. And why didn't anyone else catch on? Or did they????

[lepere]

The point not yet taken is that Fredo was never actually either the Attorney General of The United States, White House Counsel or Counsel to the President but rather G.W.Bush's personal lawyer and flunky. Any of the other posts would require a knowledge of the Constitution and Federal law and precedent. Fredo would not be invited to a real estate closing if a lawyer was required. But if you need somebody to make a National Guard service record dissappear then he's your guy. Of course he had Karen Hughes' help.

[bartonfink]

clearly alberto the troll's departure was timed to take advantage of an off week for the daily show and the colbert report. both have brutalized this poor bastard as if he was tied to a waterboard, not that he didn't have every lick coming to him, and I can hardly wait for them to come back next week...

[jaygirl]

I wouldn't count on the removal of Gonzales to make any positive changes in the rule of law in the United States. I hear that Joe Lieberman might be the Bush candidate for "general". This questionably brilliant tactic is being credited to Karl Rove. We thought he was gone too, didn't we? Well, I doubt if either Rove or Gonzales will be without considerable influence in the Bush/Cheney administration. If Lieberman is confirmed, which could be easy because he was a Democrat, then we can expect more of the same shameless destruction of America. We now know that power equals money, although I have always stated that money equals power.

[jimmyaj]

"This administration will be the subject of hundreds of plays; the playwrights will be drawn again and again to the astonishing, amazing panoply of evil and complicity the Bush Administration has provided."

...And Tom Stoppard to be the Shakespeare of the 21st century!