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

[NHGranite]

New CAGING definition: catching Gonzales and Rove by email and caging them in with the truth. BBC reports of finding emailed caging lists that got returned to the wrong website, to a dot.orgg" instead of the president's Georgewbush.com.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caging_list

Somebody on Waxman's team must've found the disparu emails in the justice dept scandal.

[BuzzingAlong]

Greg Palast works for the BBC which broke the story of voter caging, which was ignored by the main-stream stenographers.

For a quick understaining read this:

interview: with titled "I have Karl Rove's emailw" Greg Palast in Dollars & Sense magazine
http://www.gregpalast.com/amy-goodman-and-greg-palast-moms-day-broadcast

or

article: by Dahlia Lithwick (5/31/07): Raging Caging What the heck is voter caging, and why should we care?
http://www.gregpalast.com/raging-caging-what-the-heck-is-vote-caging-and-why-should-we-care

or

article: UD Attorney Resigns Following Conyers' Request for BBC Documents http://www.gregpalast.com/rove-pick-for-us-attorney-resigns-following-conyers%e2%80%99-request-for-bbc

The thing people need to understand about voter caging and the disenfranchisment of minority and poor voters and why everyone should care, is that eventually the reich-wing republicans will get around to trying to steal the votes from non-minorities.

[hidalgo12]

for an interesting take on what latinos are saying about this ignoble end to one of their own -- a perspective absent even in non-MSM outlets -- check this out...

http://brownstate.typepad.com/ken_burns_hates_mexicans/2007/04/you_can_call_me.html

[wmholt]

I think Bush thought Alberto Gonzales reminded him of "Frodo", and, as usual, mangled the name and came up with "Fredo".

[Ranta]

This man needs to come forth and tell all. If he doesn't, I suggest torture.

[Ladyrantsalot]

Like the others, I had always assumed the use of Fredo was a reference to "The Godfather.­" Fredo was the sleazy, toadying, swarthy brother. And it would have reflected the loving but nasty dynamic characterizing Bush's relationship with his courtiers (on the one hand complete loyalty in exchange for their total fealty, on the other, referring to them as Turd Blossom, Fredo, etc. and finding other demeaning ways for them to perform their subservience). But I actually like Nora's explanation better. It reflects good character analysis and a little play popped into my mind as I envisioned Bush calling his new minion by the wrong name and the minion responding to it like a loyal doggie. Eventually, Fredo corrects his master on the name bit. They laugh, but the master continues to use the name Fredo anyway, ostensibly for a laugh, but also just to show who's in charge.

[BobSF94117]

Gonzales resigned now, because Karl told him to. Simple as that.

God knows what they have planned. Well, maybe not God...

[BuzzingAlong]

Larry Flynt?????

[gala1]

MOTHERS FOR ANSWERS
REALLY PAGLIACCI

Short actors?
Save the production some money and just buy a hamster and a wheel.

I don't know about the art thing.
I think the circus is far more appropriate. Ringer Brothers, Numnuts and Barely with all those Liberty, or is it Regent U., alumni juggling away. Not to mention the smoke and mirrors contingent over at the Pentagon.

You could have all the neoclowns piling out of Swiftboats and instead of the GOP portion of Congress you could have an entire act set in the elephant's graveyard.

And of course Dick (They Call Me Mr. Fibs)
Cheney sawing the Constitution in half.

P.S.Nora,w­elcome back. I thought we might have lost you on the dark side of post-production.

gala
hotmail.comotmail.com

[negogato]

Gala you are priceless.

[Doofus]

'... 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.'

That's plausible, but you could also say 'too
deferential'. Could be though that it had to be
'Fredo' just because *nobody* is called 'Berto',
which I believe is how GWB would have worked it out.

In the end, he's gonna be 'Mr Justice Gonzales'.

[altara]

The office of Attorney General Gonzales issued a brief statement saying only that Mr. Gonzales wishes to return to Texas and spend more time with Karl Rove.

homer www.altara.blogspot.com

[AuntSally]

Yes, it really is amazing "how much bad stuff you can continue to do as President, even with poll numbers below 30...."

...that is, as long as you have an utterly compliant Congress - even one in which both chambers are "led" by the opposition.

BushCo is what it is, and a spot in Dante's hell awaits. But not the hottest spot; that awaits current Congressional Dems, who continue to allow this presidency to proceed unchecked. There is an answer, the Framers made sure of it. But they couldn't ensure a congress motivated by conscience rather than perceived short-term political gain.

[cheerleaderBush]

The Bush administration made a calculated decision to keep Gonzo around because they viewed the media attention given to Gonzo (and his lies and incompetence) as a welcome diversion from the TRILLION DOLLAR (of US TAX DOLLARS) disaster that continues to spiral out of control in Iraq. $10 Billion per month and counting.

The distracted and apathetic US public cares little or knows nothing about the whole Gonzo: 1) illegal wire tapping of Americans, 2) authorization to torture prisoners, and 3) the US Attorney "scandal".

Even with a 28% approval rating, the Bush administration continues to HAVE ITS WAY WITH THE US MEDIA... "liberal media" my ass!

[monstabunny]

Bush has painted himself into a corner. But he didn't notice because it was cozy in that corner, with all his handlers buffering him. Now they are falling away one by one, and he will do what any animal does when it discovers itself cornered. Get ready for snarling and last-ditch crazy self-destructive stuff - he will care even less about bringing the country down with him - what has he got to lose? Bomb Iran! Thassall folks! See you in my library!

[ghostsofamerica]

Really, though, the real reason Alberto got nicknamed Freddo has to do with the Godfather movie and books.

Swiftboating and covering up that really Bush was Freddo, or Sonny, take your pick, he named someone else his name, so it would confuse us all.

Years ago I christened Bush Sonny, and Neil was Freddo, while Jeb was Michael.

Swiftboat, a verb

To cover your weaknesses by attacking your opponents strengths.

The innoculation of the enemy with your evils so the propaganda gets to the media FIRST.

[enoughalready]

Bush will do a recess appointment, you just watch. He will surely want a lacky that will protect him from any special prosecutors being appointed to look into his doings. Congress will go wild and I'll bet America will then see that he is truly rotten to the core and has something very big to hide!

[JJ Montana]

I know that what you guys have said is important, but the real meat of the story is the very strange thing FredoBerto (reminds me of Brangelina) said about his Dad during the resignation trauma speech, something like "the worst days I had as Attorney General were better than my father's best days."

Now that is really weird and insulting to his own Dad. And did you listen to Bush's weekly radio address? He was drunk or close to it. LISTEN TO THE VOICE....

Who are all these people in this administration? From Rumsfeld "You fight with the army you've got" to 4th Branch Dick to MC Rove to Wolfowitz and his Middle Eastern Girlfriend. Who are these guys who stole our country and sold it to International Capitalism? (ie, "We think Halliburton will be much better served if we base ourselves in Dubai - and, oh, can we buy your port facilities as well?")

Dude, what happened while we weren't looking? You know the film of GW holding hands with the Big Saudi, but then telling little American kids they can't have health insurance. WTF? I have friends who say we've just gotten used to it.... Pull back for a minute and just see where it's gone.

You might throw up.

[accountability]

exactly right my friend.
we are inured and complacent as a society because we have ours... the big screen, the SUV, the house the schools, the Credit Cards, blahblahbl­ah... and the poor slobs that don't have it? Well, that is their fault, in America everything is possible.
who has time to pay attention, we have to buy all this stuff, it takes time, and then you gotta work a lot to keep it, to throw it out, and to buy more!

I thought it was a very stupid thing to say about his father. It showed where his values are.
He was referring to how hard his father had to work for so little in compensation, for no chance to "better himself" with education. What it showed us was a man who cannot comprehend the goodness of the life his father did live. Without the props of education, money, power, AG doesn't see worth.

I'm not saying he didn't/doesn't love his father or have compassion for him. What I am saying is the words said (to me) my life is way better cause I got the goodies and he didn't.

But I bet his father had self respect.