WASHINGTON D.C. March 11, 2007
Schumer Calls For Gonzales's Resignation
Appearing On 'Face The Nation' Schumer Says Gonzales Behaving Like A Lawyer For Bush
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Play CBS Video Video Senators Debate Justice Dept. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn, and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, discuss the scandal-plagued Justice Department and President Bush's recent request for additional troops for Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Sen. Chuck Schumer D-N.Y. says that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should step down. Sen. Arlen Specter also appeared on Face the Nation. (CBS)
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Sen. Charles Schumer's comments come after a week in which the Justice Department found itself on the defensive over the dismissal of U.S. attorneys and the FBI's misuse of a type of subpoena known as national security letters.
Appearing on Face the Nation Schumer said Gonzales repeatedly has shown more allegiance to President Bush than to citizens' legal rights since taking his job in early 2005.
"Attorney General Gonzales is a nice man," Schumer said. "But he either doesn't accept or doesn't understand that he is no longer just the president's lawyer, but has a higher obligation to the rule of law and the Constitution, even when the president should not want it to be so. And so this department has been so political that I think for the sake of the nation, Attorney General Gonzales should step down."
Schumer said that unlike other cabinet officers as attorney general, Gonzales is not obligated to follow the president's orders, but is actually supposed to question them. His ultimate obligation is to the Constitution.
"Attorney General Gonzales in his department has been even more political than his predecessor, Attorney (General) John Ashcroft," Schumer said.
There have also been allegations that some U.S. attorneys were fired by the attorney general because some Republicans felt they weren't doing enough to file corruption charges against the Democrats in their states.
Also appearing on Face the Nation Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Gonzales' resignation was a "question for the president and the attorney general."
"I do think there have been lots of problems," said Specter, who last week suggested that a Gonzales tenure may have run its course. "Before we come to conclusions, I think we need to know more facts."
Specter said Congress should roll back some of the power given to the FBI under the Patriot Act because it has "been very badly abused."
"The only reason it was checked was because when we reauthorized the Patriot Act last year, we inserted the provision for the inspector generals to report it, and that has disclosed these problems," he said. "And I think that the hearings ought to go beyond an analysis of the failures to comply with the law, but very active consideration about withdrawing some of those powers."
Justice spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the attorney general had made significant strides to protect national security, increase prosecutions of sex offenders and immigration offenses and fight gang violence.
"The attorney general demonstrated decisive leadership by demanding a new level of accountability to address systematic problems in oversight over some of the FBI's national security tools," Roehrkasse said.
On Friday, Gonzales and FBI director Robert Mueller acknowledged the FBI had broken the law to secretly pry out personal information about people in the U.S. as part of its pursuit of suspected terrorists and spies.
The admission came after a blistering 126-page report by the Justice Department's inspector general that found agents improperly obtained telephone records and demanded sensitive data. The information was obtained via security letters, which are special warrants issued without judicial approval.
Under criticism by lawmakers, Gonzales also agreed to tighten the law for replacing U.S. attorneys and to let Congress hear from senior department officials with roles in the ousters.
Several U.S. attorneys allege they were unfairly dismissed without reason after they declined to rush corruption investigations into Democrats before last November's congressional election. Gonzales and other officials have denied the charge.
Over the weekend, Bush pledged an end to the FBI lapses that caused the illegal snooping but expressed confidence in the response by Mueller and Gonzales. Mueller has accepted responsibility, and both have pledged to fix problems.
Mr. Bush said that while the inspector general's report "justly made issue of FBI shortfalls, (it) also made clear that these letters were important to the security of the United States."
On Sunday, Specter and Schumer called the FBI abuses unacceptable. They noted it was Congress that demanded the inspector general review the program even as Justice Department officials were providing assurances the government's surveillance programs were being run responsibly.
In coming hearings by the Judiciary Committee, senators plan to review whether it might be appropriate to scale back some of the government's law enforcement powers in light of the abuses.
"What we found in the Justice Department over and over again is a lack of respect for the rule of law," Schumer said. "There's a view that the executive should be almost without check."
"And that is so wrong," he said. "That's one of the reasons I think we need a change at the top in the Justice Department."
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I have read in various blogs from conservative posters that Bill Clinton dismissed all U.S Attorneys upon assuming office. Yes, and every president has that prerogative. George W. Bush exercised it as well.
Bud Cummins, a Republican U.S. Attorney from my state of Arkansas, who was one of those fired, told Dan Eggen of the Washington Post that he was surprised to find out that a Karl Rove protege was taking his job. This prompted the Justice Department to call him about his interview with the Post. Cummins then crafted an e-mail to his former colleagues, warning that the Justice Department would come after them if they, too, spoke out.
Along with shock, there is rage that Alberto Gonzales, with the White House's blessing, has tampered with the long-standing tradition of changing U.S. Attorneys only when an administration changes hands, unless a prosecutor engages in misconduct. To my knowledge that is certainly not the case with Cummins.
Of course, U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. But something tells me that something much more sinister is at play here and it leaves a rotten taste in my mouth!
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Here it is! Something more sinister! It appears that the White House is ACTIVELY trying to makes sure that Republicans have the best odds to STEAL ELECTIONS! I'm SHOCKED! No, not really. I'm not even surprised. This is their modus operandi.
Posted by gunnerv1 at 11:11 AM : Mar 12, 2007
Um...no actually. It was the Gingrich republicans who wanted term limits. It was part of their supposed contract with America. They campaigned on that when they took over Congress ion 1992 and then forgot about it as soon as they took over.
Treason - (Merriam-Webster)
1 : the betrayal of a trust : TREACHERY
2 : the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which
the offender owes allegiance.
There is a lot more going on, than what the news media. Is willing tell the American People.
The American people are not all that dumb and stupid.
Allthough ! Pres. Bush - Gonzales and Mueller, would like to belive so.
Both Gonzales and Mueller, should be charged with Treason.
Each - should face the "Gallows" - or a long stay on "Queens Row".
Lastdance
Klingdon69, The Revolutionary war was fought because a bunch of rich aristocrats didn't want to pay taxes. The point is that in both cases, not just the one convenient to the right, we are better off for it. In order for people to be "sheep," they need shepards. Those in the best position to influence (lead) are those with money and power. The corporate plutocracy in this country is omnipotent. It isn't the black family next door, the gay couple around the corner, the mexican man who fixes your car or the devil corrupting the minds of liberals that we have most to fear. It's the money and power elite... those who control the markets, those who have commercialized us into a socially irresponsible, materialistic, mass consuming, self destructing, obedient herd.
There are unfortunately a lot of folks that will always vote for the righty candidate, no matter how lousy, and conveniently justify it as the "lessor of two evils" with the help of GOPer, swift boat type, smear jobs and superficial observations of appearance, etc.
The American people have been conditioned to be sheep. They will follow whatever their leaders say. Sadly this has been happening for many years. One of thye first was the Emancipation Proclamation. Now I am not a racist, not do I support the slavery institution. But, the War was not fought to free the slaves. Lincoln himself said if he could heal the nation without freeing a single slave, he would. That war was fought for economic reasons from the North, and for states rights from the South.
The forced freeing resulted is hard feelings that seem to persist until today.
I myself voted for Dubya. I felt he was the better choice of 2 evils. Let's see, the first election the Dems proved one thing, if at first you don't suceed, cry whine and moan for multiple recounts.
And the last thing we needed was Frankenstein-looking Kerry. I Hope there is someone better running this next time, for dear lord we do not need another Clinton or Bush running this country. Maybe someone who has not been in politics since Christ was a corporal can do some good for this country. Oh, and for all the Libs out there who said," Well the election is behind us and Bill is the president, even if you didn't vote for him, let's all get behind him since he is the president."
Why have I seen none of this sentiment for Bush?
All I know about Schumer is that he was one of Bubba's slavering gun grab hounds. I did try to listen to him once during Clinton's reign and found that usually he went back to crying about those evil, wicked, murderous guns.
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If you are active duty, reservist or national guard, please Sign this Appeal.
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Our government has been highjacked and a parallel system, fueled and protected by unwitting Republican partisanship, has been operating to evade the rule of law and circumvent oversight. The attorneys were fired for not shielding friends and persecuting enemies. This is a small fragment of a much larger picture. The office of the vice presidency is at the core of the iceberg, secretive, calculating and distaining the %u201Cg*dd*med piece of paper%u201D called the Constitution of the United States. George, D i c k, Rummy, Alberto, et al, repeat McCarty%u2019s tactics. Substitute the word terrorism for Communism in the following:
%u201CHis primary achievement has been in confusing the public mind, as between the internal and the external threats of Communism. We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men.%u201D %u2013 Edward R. Murrow.
Posted by lars008 at 02:26 AM : Mar 12, 2007
Care to tell us all when and under what conditions these statements were made LARS? You see YOU have the same problem all Fascist have. You can't quote from your own kind because THEY, like you have never actually DONE anything. You can only quote from old DEAD Liberal's and you can't reveal who they were fighting and why they were fighting because that would reveal the HISTORICAL YOU. sieg heil.
Bud Cummins, a Republican U.S. Attorney from my state of Arkansas, who was one of those fired, told Dan Eggen of the Washington Post that he was surprised to find out that a Karl Rove protege was taking his job. This prompted the Justice Department to call him about his interview with the Post. Cummins then crafted an e-mail to his former colleagues, warning that the Justice Department would come after them if they, too, spoke out.
Along with shock, there is rage that Alberto Gonzales, with the White House%u2019s blessing, has tampered with the long-standing tradition of changing U.S. Attorneys only when an administration changes hands, unless a prosecutor engages in misconduct. To my knowledge that is certainly not the case with Cummins.
Of course, U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. But something tells me that something much more sinister is at play here and it leaves a rotten taste in my mouth!
Promising to not commit future crimes does not eliminate prosecution. If it did, we could close down all criminal courts and empty all the prisons.
Those "law and order" Repubs sure seem to have a flexible definition for what constitutes "getting tough on crime."
George Bush is the worst president in US history and should be in prison. Along with his entire administration.
IF CONGRESS DOES NOT PASS THE IRAQ WAR SUPPLIMENTAL BUDGET REQUEST THE IRAQ WAR STOPS!
CONGRESS DO NOT PASS THE WAR SUPPLIMENTAL BUDGET!
CONGRESS FIDDLES WHILE IRAQ BURNS!
Write your Representatives and Senators! HERE ARE THE SENATORS UP FOR REELECTION IN 08!
SHOW THEM YOUR DISDAIN OF THEIR COWARDOUS ACTIONS WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE BEING KILLED! http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN)
Allard, Wayne- (R - CO)
Baucus, Max- (D - MT)
Biden, Joseph R., Jr.- (D - DE)
Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA)
Cochran, Thad- (R - MS)
Coleman, Norm- (R - MN)
Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME)
Cornyn, John- (R - TX)
Craig, Larry E.- (R - ID)
Dole, Elizabeth- (R - NC)
Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)
Enzi, Michael B.- (R - WY)
Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC)
Hagel, Chuck- (R - NE)
Harkin, Tom- (D - IA)
Inhofe, James M.- (R - OK)
Johnson, Tim- (D - SD)
Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)
Landrieu, Mary L.- (D - LA)
Lautenberg, Frank R.- (D - NJ)
Levin, Carl- (D - MI)
McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY)
Pryor, Mark L.- (D - AR)
Reed, Jack- (D - RI)
Roberts, Pat- (R - KS)
Rockefeller, John D., IV- (D - WV)
Sessions, Jeff- (R - AL)
Smith, Gordon H.- (R - OR)
Stevens, Ted- (R - AK)
Sununu, John E.- (R - NH)
Warner, John- (R - VA)
If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
The House Speakers email address: AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov
It's "You have nothing to fear unless the government is doing something wrong."
SearingTruth
"Some judged them misguided, or unusually patriotic, but in truth they were just evil."
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com
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