Strategist Says Gonzales Is "Finished"

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

(CBS/AP)  Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire on Wednesday became the first Republican to call for Gonzales' ouster. That came just hours after Mr. Bush gave the attorney general, a longtime friend, a vote of confidence.

"I think the president should replace him," Sununu said in an interview. "I think the attorney general should be fired."

Although some Republicans have been tepid in their support for the attorney general, Sununu was the first to go so far in the uproar over the Justice Department's firing of the attorneys and its response to congressional questions, plus a separate report that the administration abused its power to secretly investigate suspected terrorists.

The White House issued a curt response to Sununu's remarks.

"We're disappointed, obviously," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. A Justice Department spokeswoman refused to comment.

Speaking to reporters in Mexico before returning to Washington, Mr. Bush expressed confidence in Gonzales and defended the firings. "What Al did and what the Justice Department did was appropriate," the president said.

Still, Mr. Bush left himself room to sack the attorney general.

"What was mishandled was the explanation of the cases to the Congress," Mr. Bush said. "And Al's got work to do up there."

Gonzales, expected to meet with lawmakers this week, has been fending off Democratic demands that he resign over the ousters of the eight U.S. attorneys, which Democrats have characterized as a politically motivated purge.

"We want Congress to know, to understand what happened here," Gonzales said. "We'll work it out."

Mr. Bush isn't the first president to fire U.S. attorneys and replace them with his own appointments, reports CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante. At the beginning of his first term, President Clinton cleaned house, ousting all 93 U.S. attorneys, which is not unusual; they serve at the pleasure of the president. The difference this time is the charge that politics apparently played a role in their dismissal.

[dallison7]

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

AMERICAN PATRIOTS MUST NEVER FORGET THIS ATTACK ON OUR CONSTITUTION!! WE MUST NEVER AGAIN ALLOW CRIMINALS TO ATTAIN POSITIONS OF POWER!!

[karlimhof]

Bush "administration" is a run-away freight train that has already crashed through numerous Constitutional stations -

I am not an adherent of "shadenfreude", especially since so many unnecessary deaths have been caused by this "war-on-terror" megalomaniac, but I take unbridled pleasure is seeing the complete and utter disintergration of the neoconservative policies and personalities.

May they not rest in peace....

[crater7]

THE PRESSURE IS ON?
Keep the pressure on Gonazlas, and of course C. Rove, lets not forget, that Robert Mueller, FBI, has admitted Illegal acts by the FBI. It's time to clean house of these Corrupt,Incompetant, Crooks.

[tuckerndfw]

Presumably, Senate confirmation is required to prevent presidents from appointing their unqualified cronies to high political office.

From what I've seen, the US Senate acts more as a rubber stamp for the president than as a guard against appointing unqualified people.

It is not unique to this administration, but Bush has taken it to the highest levels. And the Senate has been derelict in their duties.

Gonzales should have never been confirmed in the first place due to his well known personal relationship with George Bush and his lack of qualifications to be Attorney General.

His predecessor, John Aschroft, was similarly unqualified. So long as the Senate acts as a rubber stamp, we can expect more of the same, regardless who is in the White House.

Perhaps presidents should be taken out of the process and not allowed to nominate candidates.

[karlimhof]

What we've taken for granted, and what we are faced with;

- a President does not lie or mislead the people
- a President does not misuse our judicial system for political ojectives
- a President's first responsibility is to protect the people
- a President second responsibility is to strengthen our democratic institutions in line with the Constitiution

Bush has failed on all counts - we have allowed it to happen because we take all our freedoms and principles for granted and are not sufficiently vigilant.

Now there must be reckoning and reform and those who acted not in America's best interests but in their own, or for an agenda - must be brought before the tribunal of American opinion, if not before a Congressional inquiry.

[searingtruth]

"Paul Krugman has a flip side of this story, one that few have been talking about: ..."
DefndLiberty

Indeed fellow patriot, and this is the meat of the story.

Whenever an administration takes power it is customary for all US attorney generals to offer their resignations. If a new party is taking power most resignations are accepted, if the same party retains power most resignations are rejected.

In this case Bush and his henchman conspired to get rid of attorney generals during their second term who would not accept their fascist agenda.
ST

"... My friends, this administrations illegal and covert activities began the moment power was assumed, and one thing is very clear. Instead of working to make America safer after an attack on our nation, as all other American Presidents throughout history have done, George Bush and his accomplices simply used the event as a convenient excuse to accelerate their own attack on American liberty and freedom.

In fact, the terrorists must be ecstatic. To them it looks like they simply attacked once and the American Constitution self destructed."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - wwww.searingtruth.com

[dallison7]

THIS IS HE KIND OF SILLY SH*IT FOX NEWS PUBLISHES.

IT SPEAKS REAMS ABOUT THE MENTALITY OF THEIR AUDIENCE.



Senator Obama Says John Edwards Is 'Kind of Cute'
Thursday, March 15, 2007

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama referred to rival John Edwards as "kind of good-looking" during a recent speech, according the Beltway Web site TheHill.com.

[searingtruth]

"America should not be so concerned with what these eight attorneys didn't do for the Bush crime cartel but rather what the rest of them did do."
dallison7

Indeed.
ST

"Cruelty and brutality are evidence of evil, not strength."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

"More accuracy please. These authoritarian Bushies CALL themselves Republicans, but are not in the tradition of the Republican Party. ..."
DefndLiberty

Then you should register as an Independent voter, as I did long ago. You owe your loyalty to America, not a political party.
ST


"And let history record that in that darkest hour, when loss predeemed history, providence again praised freedom. Providence, and the righteous will and might of the American people."
SearingTruth, A Future of the Brave

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[dallison7]

America should not be so concerned with what these eight attorneys didn't do for the Bush crime cartel but rather what the rest of them did do.

[greco99-2009]

It appears that a highly successful attorney, Carol Lam, is fired for her successful conviction of Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham in a very strong case. And, by firing her an ongoing investigation of Republican Congressman Jerry Lewis is effectively blocked.

Yet, Chris Christie, who brought dubious charges against NJ Democrat Bob Menendez just before a very strategic election is kept on the job. Moreover, details of Christie's investigation were leaked and used in Republican commercials against Menendez. And, Christie in his dual role as a Bush fundraiser (pioneer level raising over $100,000) seems to have violated ethical (and legal?) prohibitions on partisan political activities for a U.S. Attorney.

What appears to be a combination of the use of U.S. attorneys for strategic harassment of Democrats combined with intimidation and removal of prosecutors who pursue cases against Republicans goes against the supposed impartial nature of our legal system. Republicans and Democrats -- and all Americans who support our legal system -- should be outraged.

All of this is happening while violent crime is rising for the first time in years, and administration corruption and failure to comply with clearly defined laws is widespread.

[greco99-2009]

It appears that a highly successful attorney, Carol Lam, is fired for her successful conviction of Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham in a very strong case. And, by firing her an ongoing investigation of Republican Congressman Jerry Lewis is effectively blocked.

Yet, Chris Christie, who brought dubious charges against NJ Democrat Bob Menendez just before a very strategic election. Moreover, details of Christie's investigation were leaked and used in Republican commercials against Menendez. And, Christie in his dual role as a Bush fundraiser (pioneer level raising over $100,000) seems to have violated ethical (and legal?) prohibitions on partisan political activities for a U.S. Attorney.

What appears to be a combination of the use of U.S. attorneys for strategic harassment of Democrats combined with intimidation and removal of prosecutors who pursue cases against Republicans goes against the supposed impartial nature of our legal system. Republicans and Democrats -- and all Americans who support our legal system -- should be outraged.

[Maureen Mellon]

Skyk at

I agree with you. I need to add these 8 attorneys were Bush appointees! This was done prior to a mid term election. They were protecting their butts! They also were protecting their butts with the Military Commissions 2006 act and they made it retroactive!

[searingtruth]

"How can you compare the firing of well healed attorneys with the prosecution and putting in jail for hard time USA border guards protecting our country ?"
hamiltongrad

Ummmm.

OK.

So the majority of the Republican Party is also racist.

I believe you could find more racist friendly forums elsewhere (I think the RNC actually has an official list, just for research purposes of course) but let's go with it ...


"Innocent. They were innocent. But the color of their skin was guilty."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[searingtruth]

Oh come on Republicans, it's early.

You have many thousands of anonymous civilians locked up in hundreds of secret prisons throughout the world, and believe me, they are not sleeping.

They are being tortured by your brethren, until they confess, to something.
ST

"Constitutions need not apply.
This is a Republican America."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[rhs648]

"Using my right to free speech, I'll ask you a question: Have you been brainwashed, or are you getting rich off this administration?"

Posted by omded

Thank you for making me chuckle. To answer your question, I am a hard working self-employed person who gets rich off of every administration, Democrat or Republican. I have two great children, a doctor and a professional performer. I have been married to the same woman for 39 years, own a great home, and have two cars. I am typical by some standards and atypical by other standards. I obey the law, play by the rules, and love America. My question is do we want to return to an America that dictated sexual preferences, required school prayer, prohibited the use of profanity, and made actors and actresses who played the role of husband and wife sleep in separate twin beds? We have more freedom today than ever before. Am I happy with everything that goes on today? No! However I still love this country.

[baldfrog-2009]

To ALL you Republican Bush Hit War Iraq Kissers being paid by Rove more than likely to publish his cockroach fecal matter on here. Yes being paid to go through the net, the press and publish articles in papers and the media you rotten pastie faced Rovian Young Turks.I am not buying it and trust me I know Roves tactics from the Committee to Reelect the President in 1972.He will stoop to anything to make himself feel good. Ask perhaps John Dean and others of that era. I suspect that's you do is go through press articles,the net and call Rush Bimbas, call in show over and over again masturbating him with Republican accolades,yet another turk probably on the Republican payroll.
Hop on over to the recruiters office and Join UP Chicken Poop or if you're to scared check out Joe Bidon's comments on this Bush Hit War over on Keith Olbermann's then join up and go bleed for your beliefs.Otherwise get off the payroll and shut up.

[searingtruth]

"On this I need help. "Please tell me how "we haven't let them succeed." I don't recall court cases or an armed revolt to prevent the Bush administration from taking away our rights. I hear a lot about the war, treatment of an enemy who vows to destroy us, and some questions about listening to telephone conversations. There hasn't been a state of emergency declared suspending our rights or a suspension of the constitution. This is not Thailand where the military ousted elected leaders. Yes, I need help on this one."
rhs648

It's called a bloodless coup, and it happens regularly in "third-world" countries. However, thanks to people such as yourself it happened in America for the first time in history.

History will no longer primarily ask "How could this have happened in Germany?", they will now ask "How could this have happened in America?"

Thanks.
ST

"Terrorists didn%u2019t steal our dignity, liberty, and freedom.
Republicans did."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[beehive21-2009]

He looks like George.Bye george.oooooooooooooooyyothe machine act funny or is it regoded ( fixed )

[omded]

rhs648
Are you a nuclear weapons expert? Does your wife work undercover for the CIA? If so, you'd better not state your professional opinion in public, or your wife's career is over, not to mention that her safety is jeopardized. We, the Citizens of America have elected an opposing party to both houses of Congress so they can put the brakes on this scary administration. Instead of comparing America with other countries, why don't you compare America with the country it will once again become because Americans demand it.

Using my right to free speech, I'll ask you a question: Have you been brainwashed, or are you getting rich off this administration?