Strategist Says Gonzales Is "Finished"

Senate Investigation Heats Up Amid Calls For Attorney General Gonzales' Ouster

(CBS/AP)  Pressure mounted on the White House Thursday to fire Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for the abrupt dismissal of U.S. attorneys. More Republicans called for his ouster, and one Republican strategist close to the White House told CBS News that Gonzales is "finished."

Congressman Dana Rohrbacher became the latest Republican to say Gonzales should go, reports CBS News White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

"Even for Republicans this is a warning sign … saying there needs to be a change," said Rohrbacher. "Maybe the president should have an attorney general who is less a personal friend and more professional in his approach."

Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday cleared the way for subpoenas compelling five Justice Department officials and six of the federal prosecutors they fired to tell the story of the purge.

The voice vote to authorize the panel to issue subpoenas amounts to insurance against the possibility that Gonzales could retract his permission to let the aides testify voluntarily, or impose strict conditions.

The committee also postponed for a week a vote on whether to authorize subpoenas for President Bush's top aides who were involved in the eight firings, including political adviser Karl Rove, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and deputy White House Counsel William K. Kelley.

The committee approved subpoena power for key Justice Department officials involved in the firings: Michael Elston, Kyle Sampson, Monica Goodling, Bill Mercer and Mike Battle.

Sampson, Gonzales' chief of staff, quit this week. Elston is staff chief to Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, and Mercer is associate attorney general. Goodling is Gonzales' senior counsel and White House liaison, and Battle is the departing director of the office that oversees all 93 U.S. attorneys.

Gonzales has said he would allow the aides still at the Justice Department to testify voluntarily. It was unclear whether Sampson would agree to tell his story without a subpoena.

The panel also approved subpoena power for six of the eight U.S. attorneys fired since December. The six, all of whom testified last week under oath before the House Committee, are: Carol Lam of California, Bud Cummins of Arkansas, Paul Charlton of Arizona, John McKay of Washington state, Daniel Bogden of Nevada, David Iglesias of New Mexico.

The subpoenas are a warning to the embattled administration to follow through on promises in recent days by Gonzales and President Bush to tell the whole story of the firings, beyond the selected details that Associate Deputy Attorney General William Moschella revealed to the House panel last week.

"I want to obtain their cooperation and all relevant information," Leahy said. "But I want people to know that if I do not get cooperation, I will subpoena, we will have testimony under oath in this committee. We will find out what happened."

Gonzales' tenure has been tangled in controversies, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

As the president's chief lawyer, Gonzales sanctioned the widespread use of "warrantless wiretaps," allowing the government to snoop on Americans without court orders.

Citing an urgent need to prevent terror attacks, he also approved the so-called "torture memo," clearing the way for the CIA to use harsh methods in questioning al Qaeda captives, adds Orr.

[us_infidel]

"I've been talking to legal historians all week. None of them can remember something in recent memory where this sort of thing has happened," Cohen said. "There have been presidents in the past who have had a problem with one U.S. attorney here, one U.S. attorney there, but nothing on this scale %u2014 and certainly nothing handled the way this has been handled."

Um, except Clinton in '93. The bias with this guy is INCREDIBLE!!!!!

[skyhawk761]

But Clinton did it, but Clinton did it, but Clinton did it .......... Can't you freaking sheeple come up with anything else? I have a news flash for you, Bill is not the President anymore and cannot be President again, quit worrying about him.

[skyk-2009]

Um, except Clinton in '93. The bias with this guy is INCREDIBLE!!!!!
Posted by US_Infidel at 10:59 AM : Mar 15, 2007

That's RIGHT!! You tell em' The FACT that Clintons "purge happened when HE took office and removed ALL of the First President Bush's appointments should have NOTHING to do with it. The FACT that Bush II Fired ALL of Clintons Appointments when he came into office doesn't matter either. The FACT that the appointments referred to by Mr. Cohen was concerning MID TERM appointments shouldn't matter either. NOTHING should matter here BUT my Fuehrer!! Can all you people here me? It's about the Fuehrer and his RIGHT to use that Justice Department for Political REASONS if he wants. What is wrong with these people anyway...insisting the Fuehrer do the RIGHT thing...where the hell do they get off?

[dallison7]

FOR SALE:

'George W. Bush doll'
(Wind it up, it runs in circles, breaks a few things, falls on it's face then points at the Clinton doll)

[skyk-2009]

Folks they have GOT TO get ROVE on under OATH. THAT would be worth the price of pop corn AND Cotton Candy!! God this is good!!

[dallison7]

Folks they have GOT TO get ROVE on under OATH. THAT would be worth the price of pop corn AND Cotton Candy!! God this is good!!
Posted by skyk


SUBPOENA POWER!!!

THE GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD!!

[skyk-2009]

Sampson is the guy who cut and run here. He's the guy who has the goods on Sir Lies-A-Lot and Rove. I'll give anyone even money that Rove wanted to "Swift Boat" some Democrats and wanted the heat off his own. These Attorneys refused to go along with his wishes and were axed. Sampson KNOWs and has to be put under oath, whatever it takes.

[skyk-2009]

It is time to remove these powers from the hands of a single man. ..."mistakes" have been made.

Posted by mascarponi at 11:21 AM : Mar 15, 2007

it absolutely amazes me how these LOSERS come out and say *** like "Mistakes were made" and we're all supposed to say "Golly Gee, no problem"? Then they always say but we're going to make sure it doesn't happen again. That is REALLY funny. The People who screwed up in the FIRST place are going to "Fix" the "problem"? If that isn't funny enough though there are people out there who continue to buy that line. How stupid is THAT?

[scott4261]

Some of the conservative posters here are suck on "well, look what Clinton did" and they seem to conveniently ignore the fact that every president replaces all the U.S. Attorneys upon assuming office. George W. Bush did this, just like Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan....you can go as far back as you want. They have that right. The difference here is that Alberto Gonzales replaced these prosecutors with interim appointments which do not have to go through confirmation in the U.S. Senate.

Bud Cummins, a Republican U.S. Attorney from my state of Arkansas, who was one of those fired, told 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.

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. And keep in mind also, these prosecutors were all appointed by President Bush, so it isn't as if he is purging a "liberal" scourge. This an effort to replace these prosecutors with Rovian hacks who will skirt the law and the ethical boundaries to the detriment of our civil liberties.

[mcvet]

Well since the Reich seems to have lost it's voice here, I'll give their side. So here we go!

This guy Leahy didn't he want to make Global Warming a focus of Congressional Oversight. Like he knows what's going on here...

What's wrong with the people of VT putting someone like this in office.

Leahy? Right as if HE cares about doing the right thing.... I've heard that he wouldn't even take out his OWN trash.

You can't expect people like this to know what is going on in Government. He's a Liberal.

Sorry folks, I'm tired and I didnt' have time to get to his cat, dog, neighbors, his votes during the 70's and on and on.

[mcvet]

Clinton fired all US Attorneys said Mike Wallace smerking on Fox News. Yes Mike, but Clinton wasn't saying he was a "born again Christian" wanting more Faith based ,etc, etc,. And so how do you "rebuke" Mr. Bush's White House...by saying Mr. Clinton did worse than us? What a very born again Christian thing to do !!!!!
Posted by Apple2pie at 11:30 AM : Mar 15, 2007

LOL It's the same tired old Fascist ***. Clinton replaced the BUSH APPOINTEES when he took OFFICE as is the custom. Clinton DID NOT fire his OWN Attorneys especially for Political Reasons. But hey when your in a fire storm you use any water you can get.

[dallison7]

Clinton fired all US Attorneys said Mike Wallace smerking on Fox News.
Posted by Apple2pie


Bill Clinton hit it on the head in his interview with Chris Wallace. Clinton called him on the 'Fox News' smirk.

If you will notice, the squalking heads on Faux News are all trained to present that same smirk when they are attacking a democrat. Faux news is proof positive that if you repeat something enough times a percentage of the people will believe it. 'Fair and Balanced' my wrinkles old azz!!

[mudrose-2009]

Clinton fired all 93 U.S. Attorneys in 1973 and appointed one of his buddies a Ms. Casey as an attorney in Arkansas. Guess what, she made sure there was no investigation into the Whitewater business Billary was involved in. This is very telling of this Congress. They intend to bog down the White House with one nonsensical thing after another. Who the Dumnocrats have nothing better to do. Just like the b.s. with General Pace, in case no one noticed, there is a law saying don't ask don't tell and the General should have simply stated the law which he was following. They are an aggravating bunch of dolts and we have to endure them for the next 2 years. What a pity.

[forthepeaple]

Who said this statement: If the personal freedoms of all americans by the Constitution and bill of right are Inhibiting the Government ability to (Govern)that meant control, the people of united states of america..Than we Should look to Limit those GUARANTEES #2.The united states Government CAN'T BE so fixed on our desires to preserve the RIGHTS of ORDINARY AMERICANS #3.I can do any ********* thing i want,I'm president of the united states and you dont forget that.....who am I.....

[inventagod]

Rove

Subpoena

Two words that just look really good together....

[theusa1st]

Anybody remember that Leakey Leahy leaked national
security secrets and got kicked off the committee. What the h-e-l-l is he doing being the Judiciary Committee Chairman. It's like putting Ted Kennedy in charge of the bar and secretaries pool. And the lib's think the Republicans are the problem.

[nyckate]

This is NOT democrats going after Bush - this is bigger than that -- this is The US COnstitution, our system of government and our laws and rules trumping Bush's Bully-Boy political thuggery.

Republicans and lawmakers are coming out against what Bush and Gonzalez have done -- its not about republicans/democrats - its about Bush who is neither.

[scott4261]

Clinton fired all 93 U.S. Attorneys in 1973 and appointed one of his buddies a Ms. Casey as an attorney in Arkansas. Guess what, she made sure there was no investigation into the Whitewater business Billary was involved in. This is very telling of this Congress. They intend to bog down the White House with one nonsensical thing after another. Who the Dumnocrats have nothing better to do. Just like the b.s. with General Pace, in case no one noticed, there is a law saying don't ask don't tell and the General should have simply stated the law which he was following. They are an aggravating bunch of dolts and we have to endure them for the next 2 years. What a pity.
Posted by mudrose at 11:39 AM

-------
Oh, really? I thought "Tricky D i c k" Nixon was President in 1973. Anyway, as I've already pointed out, ALL presidents exercise this prerogative. I would address the other issue you brought up, but they don't relate to this topic and it is obvious you've already had way too much Kool-Aid so you are beyond hope.

[mudrose-2009]

Ant, which is an appropriate moniker, that's right. How kind of you to point it out. Janet Reno hired Ken Starr to investigate him and they were exonerated - after Vince Foster died, and McDougal was sent to prison and just about all of their buddies paid the price. They know how to cover their tracks. Wait til your buddies, the Dumnocrats raise taxes. Let me know how you pocketbook will feel then.

[scott4261]

Some of the conservative posters here are suck on "well, look at what Clinton did" and they seem to conveniently ignore the fact that every president replaces all the U.S. Attorneys upon assuming office. George W. Bush did this, just like Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan....you can go as far back as you want. They have that right. The difference here is that Alberto Gonzales replaced these prosecutors with interim appointments which do not have to go through confirmation in the U.S. Senate.

Bud Cummins, a Republican U.S. Attorney from my state of Arkansas, who was one of those fired, told 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.

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. And keep in mind also, these prosecutors were all appointed by President Bush, so it isn't as if he is purging a "liberal" scourge. This an effort to replace these prosecutors with Rovian hacks who will skirt the law and the ethical boundaries to the detriment of our civil liberties.

[nyckate]

MCVet - you lot are either much dumber than anyone suspected or blindly obedient to a now-dying theory of neoconservatism.

MANY US presidents have upon taking office replaced these attorneys - Mr. Bush and Ashcroft had made their own arrangments as well - Gonazlez took over after Ashcroft skedadled. Gonzalez REJECTED firing all and instead Bush's staff went about noting who was 'loyal' not to the nation or the constitution but to Bush and who was willing to do what they were told to instead of what they were doing - things like prosecuting GOP Duke didn't go down all taht well - and well what do you know - she was fired. Oh and Gay-Boy Rove's 'protege' got a position he was unqualified for -- and since had to resign.

Gee - You mean Bush fired people for NOT protecting his thugs and instead of following the laws of the nation?? YES that's exactly what Bush and Gonzalez did.

[bks59]

Gonzales failed to supervise his subordinates, end of story.

[nyckate]

MCVet -- Ronald Reagan also replaced EVERY single US attorney WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE - not until or after they didn't do his personal political bidding.

What is about you lot that makes you defend the bullying and thuggery of Bush?? Let's face it - you for some reason prefer the bullies and thugs.

[mudrose-2009]

bs59, well said.

[nyckate]

bks59 - are you really seriously contemplating the theory that Gonzalez didn't know what his closest aide(s) were doing?? REALLY???????? For the love of Pete - Bush and his cronies could murder someone on the front lawn of the White House and you'd find that he was set up and 'someone' else forced him to do it ... sheesh.

[diamtool]

It is disgusting how these neocons have used 9/11 and the Patriot Act to weasel more power for the Bush gang. This frathouse putsch is just the latest in a long list of failures, scandals and crimes that show complete disregard for our Constitution and our Country. The conservatives are very fond of saying how much they hate big government, well, hopefully the voters will keep them far away from it from now on. Hating big government is one thing, but no one imagined that they would go so far as to sabatoge it with incompetence and corruption.

God help our Country
God Bless our troops
God forgive George Bush

[us_infidel]

"We will find out what happened."
Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy

This is partisan politics at its worst. What happened was, they got rid of 8 lawyers. Probably each one was hoping for a lifetime government job. Nothing here but more dem (anit-Bush) rhetoric.

[us_infidel]

What is about you lot that makes you defend the bullying and thuggery of Bush?? Let's face it - you for some reason prefer the bullies and thugs.
Posted by NYCKATE at 12:22 PM : Mar 15, 2007

There are PLENTY of liberal bullies & thugs to go around, Kate. What's the fundamental foul ball? Clinton fired 93, Bush fired 8.

They serve at his discretion. 6 days, 6 weeks, 6 years.....it does not matter!!! So, besides libs' empty conspiracy theories, what have you got????? Nada!!!!

[scott4261]

US_Infidel,

All eight were Bush appointee. George W. Bush appointed all new prosecutors, just like Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan.... This happens with each new president. The difference here is that Alberto Gonzales replaced these prosecutors with interim appointments which do not have to go through confirmation in the U.S. Senate. This an effort to replace these prosecutors with Rovian hacks who will skirt the law and the ethical boundaries to the detriment of our civil liberties.

Pay attention, man!

[diamtool]

PS. have you noticed that as much as these neocons hate big government they LOVE big business. They hate to see you pay higher taxes but they love to see you pay exxon. Let's give Halliburton another 10 billion to "rebuild IRAQ" (ha ha) and sell our ports to Dubai. Heckuva job neocons!

God help our Country
God Bless our troops
God forgive George Bush

[processorr2]

This Congressional oversight has gone too far! It's an outrage and the American people will not tolerated it. It hurts the troops and emoldens the terrorists. Bush is the Commander in Chief. He decides.

[scott4261]

More Kool-Aid, troll?

[mudrose-2009]

Scott 4261. Typo babe. Typo. 1993. Better?

[dallison7]

So, besides libs' empty conspiracy theories, what have you got????? Nada!!!!
Posted by US_Infidel

I guess we will see about that when the investigations are complete. You just might see some indictments, one thing for sure, Gonzales is history.

[j-whitman]

Processor,,, Adolf Hitler also was against oversight

[randalds]

In a way it doesn't matter. Sure some of the sick underbelly of a crime family posing as an administration will be exposed, but have no doubt that that as*shole Bush has a drawer full of pardons in the Oval Office for everyone of his henchmen. One of the worst parts of the crimes this administration is perpetrating on America is that they all know they'll get away with the thief of hundreds of billions of dollar from our treasury, with violating nearly every law (letter and spirit) to do it and pis*sing on our Constitution and Bill of Rights, because the head criminal Richard Cheney pulls the puppet string on the moronic idiot who can sign all of their pardons. Wake up America, we've all (young, old, democrat and republican) been royally fu*cked. We've been had. We've been conned. We've been robbed.

[nate-dog2007]

The credibility of the attorneys that were not fired is in serious question. They must be the kind of loyal servants the administration needs to balance this house of cards.

[j-whitman]

Nate-dog,,,, I've heard stroy's of young lawyere who just past the bar choosing careers in other fields because it has become totally political.

[starleo146]

Scott4261 You can not make it any clearer my gosh!!!! why don't these Reigh wingers get it. This is not republican or democrat this is political get it.

[chicnlittle]

to diamtool

You are just that: a tool.

[oleander8]

Question To: Processorr2

How much does CBS pay you to come out here and stir up the boards?

[observantx]

Processorr2 needs to be ignored. He obviously is trying to churn up the board here and distract from the real discussion.

Don't feed him any responses, he'll just keep spinning his over the top nonsense to make himself feel important.

I wouldn't be surprised if he is 14 years old and just learned how to spell "Democrat" and "Republican".

Processorr2: Either approach this forum in earnest or go skateboarding or something else as juvenile as what we have seen so far..

[inventagod]

Yet ANOTHER incredible, idiotic Republicon failure. When the tally is over, Michael Moore will have three new movies in the can...

[observantx]

YES!

Get these creeps on the stand and under oath. There's no way they can keep this story straight against the emails, etc. that we have in hand. Keep asking them the questions and sooner or later they will perjure themselves.

The list of suspects:

Albert Gonzalez
Karl Rove
Harriet Miers
William K. Kelley
Michael Elston
Kyle Sampson
Monica Goodling
Bill Mercer
Mike Battle

and when the smelly stuff hits the fan, put GeorgenDick on the stand too.

Don't let these crooks weasel out and bleat any "executive privilege" nonsense.

[gkc99]

"Gonzo, you're doing a heck of a job"--George W. Bushit.

[tejasdemo]

It is time for Democrats to impeach the Bush administration. How much evidence and public polling do they need ? Are they waiting for us to hold their *** hands ?

[processor2]

Clinton fired ALL 93 US attorneys

Bush fired only 8 US attorneys

So, who's the bad guy here ??

...

The real "processor2", not the imposter "Processorr2"

[tuckerndfw]

"Indeed, Gonzales deemed international law - which becomes the law of the United States, under our Constitution, when properly ratified by the Senate - to be "quaint" and outdated when applied to the war on terrorism. To say this, is to say, in effect that the Constitution itself is quaint and outdated."

Source: http://writ.lp.findlaw.com/leavitt/20041117.html

Gonzales, like George Bush, opposes the US Constitution.

The entire Bush administration opposes the US Constitution.

It is little wonder that Bush bootlickers likewise oppose the US Constitution.

[bildooreilly]

I believe Bush and Gonzales are gay lovers, go look at some photos of them together if you don't believe me... The male cheerleader loves his fiery little latino... he'll never make him step down.

[bildooreilly]

I believe Bush and Gonzales are gay lovers, go look at some photos of them together if you don't believe me... The male cheerleader loves his fiery little latino... he'll never make him step down.