Know-Nothing Gonzales

National Review Online: Alberto Gonzales' Inability To Explain Or Remember May Seal His Fate

(National Review Online)  This column was written by Byron York.

---

Judging by his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, there are three questions about the U.S. Attorneys mess that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales wants answered: What did I know? When did I know it? And why did I fire those U.S. Attorneys?

As the day dragged on, it became clear — painfully clear to anyone who supports Gonzales — that the attorney general didn’t know the answers. Much of the time, he explained, he didn't really know much at all — he was just doing what his senior staff recommended he do.

Gonzales began the day with an apology. "Those eight attorneys deserved better," he said in an opening statement. "They deserved better from me and from the Department of Justice, which they served selflessly for many years." Gonzales also took the blame for his own statements about the case that were, in the words of Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, "at variance with the facts."

"My misstatements were my mistakes — no one else's," Gonzales told the committee. "I accept complete and full responsibility."

It wasn't a terribly auspicious beginning, and it's fair to say that things went downhill from there, despite Gonzales' weeks of preparation. And it did not take long for it to become clear that Gonzales' big problem was not with committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy and his fellow Democrats, who brought righteous indignation and little else to the hearing, but with Republicans, who brought simple, straightforward questions — questions Gonzales often failed to answer.

Under examination from Republican Sens. Sam Brownback, Lindsey Graham, Jeff Sessions, Tom Coburn and others, Gonzales maintained, in essence, that he did not know why he fired at least some of the eight dismissed U.S. Attorneys. While Gonzales was able to give a reason for each firing, it appeared that in a number of cases, he had reconstructed the reason after the fact; he didn't know why he fired the U.S. Attorneys at the time, other than the dismissals were recommended by senior Justice Department staff.

Brownback began his questioning in a gentle, collegial way. "I'd like to get just a series of facts and the factual information out on the table on why this list of U.S. Attorneys out of the 93 were terminated," Brownback said. He then methodically went down the names of the eight U.S. attorneys who had been fired, starting with Daniel Bogden, the U.S. attorney in Nevada sacked in the group firing of last December 7.

"Senator, this is probably that one that to me, in hindsight, was the closest call," Gonzales began. "I do not recall what I knew about Mr. Bogden on December 7th. That's not to say that I wasn't given a reason; I just don't recall the reason. I didn't have an independent basis or recollection of knowing about Mr. Bogden's performance."

Gonzales explained that, after the Bogden firing, he went back to look at documents relating to the matter. "It appears that there were concerns about the level of energy, generally, in a fast-growing district," Gonzales explained, "concerns about his commitment to pursuing obscenity… and just generally getting a sense of new energy in that office." But after the controversy over the firing blew up, Gonzales continued, he wondered whether getting rid of Bogden had been the right thing to do. So he asked a top staffer whether he should stand behind the decision. "I went to the deputy attorney general," Gonzales said, "and I asked him, ‘OK, do we stand behind these decisions?'" The deputy attorney general said yes, so Gonzales stood by his decision. In the end, Gonzales explained, even though he did not know why he fired Bogden, "I believe it was still the right decision."

What about Margaret Chiara, the U.S. attorney fired in Michigan, Brownback asked. "Quite candidly, senator…I don't recall the reason why that I accepted the decision on December 7," Gonzales said. "But I've since learned that it was a question of similar kinds of issues: poor management issues, loss of confidence by career individuals."

How about John McKay, the fired U.S. attorney in Washington state? "When I accepted the recommendation on December 7, generally I recall there being serious concerns about his judgment," Gonzales testified. "That's what I recall when I accepted the recommendations. And what I've since learned, of course, is that it related to an information-sharing project. … He was doing a good job with respect to that. It's the way he pursued it, in exercising poor judgment."

Gonzales was even less clear a little later when he was asked about a U.S. attorney who had been on the firing list but was later spared. Why? Gonzales didn't know. "This was a process that was ongoing that I did not have transparency into," he said.

It's safe to say that no senator, Republican or Democrat, was terribly moved by Gonzales' explanations. Why was he so removed from decision making? Why didn't he know what was going on? When it came his turn, Sen. Graham cut to the essence of the story. "Is it fair to say," Graham asked, "that when you made your final decision, it was based on trust of your senior team more than it was knowledge?"

"I think that's a fair assessment," Gonzales answered.

And so it went. At times, Gonzales seemed not only removed from the decision-making process in the U.S. Attorneys matter but also removed from his daily life as attorney general. For example, Leahy brought up an October 2006 meeting at the White House in which President Bush told Gonzales about concerns that some allegations of voter fraud weren't being pursued. What did Gonzales remember about that? "There was a meeting in October, with the president, in which the president, as I understand it, relayed to me … concerns about pursuing election fraud," Gonzales answered. At that, a number of observers scratched their heads. As I understand it? Gonzales spoke as if he hadn't been there, but someone had told him about it.

The attorney general faced even more trouble when Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions questioned him about his statement at a March 13 news conference that he "never saw documents" about the firings and "never had a discussion about where things stood." Documents released later showed that Gonzales did attend at least one meeting, on November 27, 2006, at which the U.S. attorneys matter was discussed, and he likely had greater knowledge of the matter than he told the press in March.

Sessions, a former U.S. attorney himself, wanted to know more. "Senator, I have searched my memory," Gonzales said. "I have no recollection of the meeting. My schedule shows a meeting for 9:00 on November 27th, but I have no recollection of that meeting."

"This was not that long ago," Sessions said. "This was in November of last year?"

"According to my calendar, November 27."

"And [former Gonzales chief of staff Kyle Sampson] seemed to indicate that he really — he understood it was a momentous decision," Sessions continued, "that there would probably be political backlash. He even performed some outline about how that should be managed. And you don't recall any of that?"

Gonzales didn't.

"Well, I guess I’m concerned about your recollection, really, because it's not that long ago," Sessions said. "It was an important issue. And that's troubling to me, I've got to tell you."

By that time, Gonzales could see that he wasn't going to get a break, certainly not from his own party. And in the end, it was a senator no one had expected, Republican Tom Coburn, who delivered the most devastating blow. The Justice Department had described the U.S. Attorneys firings as performance-related, Coburn said to Gonzales. "Why should you not be judged by the same standards by which you judged these dismissed U.S. attorneys?"

Gonzales explained that he had admitted his mistakes and had taken responsibility for them. "Well, I believe there are consequences to a mistake," Coburn replied. "And I would just say, Mr. Attorney General, it's my considered opinion that the exact same standards should be applied to you in how this was handled. And it was handled incompetently. The communication was atrocious. It was inconsistent. It's generous to say that there were misstatements. That's a generous statement. And I believe you ought to suffer the consequences that these others have suffered. And I believe that the best way to put this behind us is your resignation."

And that was that. After the hearing ended, the White House went into damage control mode, issuing a statement that President Bush was "pleased" with Gonzales' performance and has "full confidence" in the attorney general. Perhaps that's true. But things can change. If Gonzales has lost the support of Sam Brownback and Jeff Sessions and Lindsey Graham and Tom Coburn and other Republicans on the committee, he might soon lose his support at the White House, too.

[zertrat]

Give me a break. Listen to all your noise.

Gone-zalez lied lied lied about not remembering things. Lied. Gone-zales is (was?) a Public Servant. The means, he was supposed to serve the public, and be accountable to the public. His job was to do things that the public wanted to be done and wanted to know about. He worked for us. I don't care whether you are democrat, republican, klingon, giraffe, infant, asteroid or blue-winged teal. None of you can actually believe that Gone-zales he did not lie. And why did he lie? He could have said, "I fired these guys for the following reasons," listed them, and it would have been perfectly legal. Instead, he lies and the relevant emails have become extinct. What amazes me about this fiasco is what should have been an easy, simple lie for the expert lying Republicans has degenerated into a mess. This is like the little girl with her hand stuck in the cookie jar. The questions now are "What was the cookie?" and "Why did the hand get stuck?"

[skyk-2009]

guess he should have ignored national security and terrorism cases completely and focused only on hiring and firing of US Attnys. Why should firing 8 US Attnys be high on the priority list, when the AG job entails so much more? Can any of you libs answer that one? Or would that involve some thinking? Same to you CBS for that misleading headline!
Posted by henry6543 at 01:05 PM : Apr 21, 2007

Get a grip there pal. Maybe you think "I don't know" SEVENTY ONE times is something a COMPETENT leader of the Justice Department does... for me? He's nothing but a Go Fer in the Administration of the WORST President in US History. He HIRED 150 UNDER Qualified 4th RATE Attorneys from that "Great" college of Law, Regent University or as most call it Pat Robertson's School for the Religious Reich. He didn't go for the Best or the Brightest, he went for the stupid and the bigoted. How long do you think we will be free IF we continue that kind of Garbage?

[skyk-2009]

Perfect!!! Now America has a match:

Know-Nothing Gonzales & our DO-NOTHING DEM CONGRESS.

I thought things were suppose to get better.......their not.

When's 2008? Mit Romney America awaits you...!
Posted by perception5 at 06:31 PM : Apr 21, 2007
+ report abuse

This poor fascist has been lied to so long he can't figure out who is who. LOL. But can you blame the poor fool? He's been trying to spin the failures of Bush and the last Congress so long he doesn't even know what a real congress is supposed to be about. LOL I don't understand the Romney remark though. Has he gotten into double figures with Republican's yet? I KNOW he's not close to that with American's who are VERY fed up with the LAST Republican they voted for. LOL

[gkc99]

Wow, if even the "mouth of Sauron" NRO neocon talking heads are trashing Gonzo you'd think that Boss Bonzo would see the writing on the wall. Bushit's total disconnect from reality should be apparent to all. Are there really any supporters of Bushit out there with an IQ over room temperature?

Dems, show some spine for once in your lives--Impeach NOW!

[perception5]

Perfect!!! Now America has a match:

Know-Nothing Gonzales & our DO-NOTHING DEM CONGRESS.

I thought things were suppose to get better.......their not.

When's 2008? Mit Romney America awaits you...!

[sparks224]

Actually, at this point I hope W doesn%u2019t fire him.

He%u2019s become one more political liability.

Besides he%u2019d just be replaced by another incompetent Republican hack anyway.

[sparks224]

So, henry6543, you really don't know what this is about, do you.

[henry6543]

Wow look at all the subversive Janet Reno supporters scream "hang the republican".

Let's fire everyone who did 1% of his job by using the rubberstamp while he focused on the other 99%, as he should have.

I guess he should have ignored national security and terrorism cases completely and focused only on hiring and firing of US Attnys. Why should firing 8 US Attnys be high on the priority list, when the AG job entails so much more? Can any of you libs answer that one? Or would that involve some thinking? Same to you CBS for that misleading headline!

[sparks224]

"I accept complete and full responsibility."
posted by Alberto gonzales

Ok, then your're fired (that's what "complete and full responsibility" means).

[sjc_1]

It seems a bit like the Reagan Iran Contra defense to me. It goes something like, "I did not know about it and if I did, I did nothing wrong." You are either to blame or incompetent. One, the other, or both are grounds for removal from office.

[lastdance2]

Treason" Has no dignity


Lastdance

[elz523]

It is good to see even the cons start to show indignation over the Alice in Wonderland answers of the representatives of this administration.

[bluestardad]

HIT THE ROAD GONZO!

now on to other subjects!

Two Nights ago Chris Matthews on Hard Ball spoke with a Republican Congressional Supporter of the War who Claimed that General Petreiaous developed this Iraq Surge plan. Chris corrected him and said something like You guys know who came up with this plan it was the American Enterprise Institute. So I have researched and given you their contact information so we could ask them to come up with an exit stratigie!

Contact Us Print Mail

The American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

Main telephone: [phone]
Main fax: [phone]

Questions or comments about the website: [e-mail]

Media Inquiries:

Veronique Rodman
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Conference Inquiries:

Elizabeth Bowen
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Corporate Relations:

Jason Bertsch
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Government Relations:

Andrew Levy
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

Website and E-mail Newsletters:

Elizabeth Roodhouse
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]

[karlimhof]

Speedy doesn't know anything....

except what bushit and co. tells him ....

we've gotton rid of;

rummie
scooter
wolfie
feith
bolton
ashcroft
powell (who sold his soul but isn't really a neocon)

now speedy goin' home to texas or mexico, wherever he cam from and so folks, let's keep chipping away at the rotton neocon tree that has become our government - until it falls.

[jonny_chaos]

oh, and for calrity, this aint a war, were killing civilens. this is an occupation.

[jonny_chaos]

look this government is so lame and incompetent the only way they can find a terroist is to search all our mail. can anyone really tell me that the *** in power are worth ***? who is smoking what. if your scared your a ***. i'm gonna die with a broken heart like all those before me. so will all the rest of us. death is scary. if its a bomb or a heart attack, its the end. are you really willing to live like a child? we can fight them without the cops and soldiers. or i can. freedom. thats all i care about. aitn nowhere free. who said this was the land of the free was a liar. best country and it still sucks.

[cruzn66]

Anyone, and I mean anyone, who can actualy tell me that such memory lapses as described by the current U.S. Attorney General is acceptable is way beyond perceiving reality. Such lapses in in memory and judgement in the private sectoe would, without a doubt, get an individual fired immediately. So if you are willing to accept this overwhelming amount of BS as acceptable, check your brain at the door, and check into therapy A.S.A.P.. No self-respecting professional would continue to profess themselves capable of doing there job if they were to offer such lame excuses for failing to uphold their responsibilities. How Gonzales can expect the American public to buy into such hogwash only goes to prove how little respect he has for the American public as a whole, and his position as AG in particular. What a shame that his boss is so blind to the inherent damage being done to the Justice Dept. as a whole.

[knyghtwolf]

The problem shanev137, is that people are not sure what to do. The bush administration has things so fouled up, going in so many different directions, no one knows where to start and bush itself has a lot of people thinking it has a sort of pseudo black ops team waiting to strike down any and all opposition to it's whims, wants, and desires. No one wants to believe that our country is as far gone as it is, no one wants to think the unthinkable, that the United States is basically history and the bush administration handed our country's pride, honor, and way of life to a bunch of neoconistic no brainers for nothing more than 30 pieces of silver. bush is to America as Judas was to Christ, end of story. Ya'll have a good night and sleep well.

[rafterman1]

"Are they tapping YOUR phone, Johnny??? Are "they" opening YOUR mail? The only "joke" is that people don't realize we are at war and that there are people living among us who are more than willing to die in order to take as many of us with them as they can."

This is a weak-a$$ and cowardly view. Just because they aren't reading average American's mail now doesn't mean they won't in the future. I don't trust the government with this kind of power. Period. War or no war. The Constitution doesn't have an asterisk on it describing situations when it doesn't apply. It applies always. I'm sure Germans in 1933 didn't think giving up some rights would affect them, just their "enemies". Sack up and grow a pair and stop being afraid of terrorists so much that you would hand over your rights little by little.

[shanev137]

The Bush Administration is a corrupt pathetic sham and most Americans are OK with it, the same way they are OK with $3 gasoline. The people in this country are real morons.