WASHINGTON, May 17, 2007
Dems Seek No-Confidence Vote On Gonzales
Schumer And Feinstein Say Attorney General Has Been Too Weakened To Do His Job
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(CBS/AP)
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Who's Who Firings Firestorm Justice Department at center of controversy over firing of eight U.S. attorneys.
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Interactive 110th Congress The balance of power shifts and new leadership takes control as the latest session convenes.
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Interactive Political Scandals Politics can be a strange and dirty business. Check out some of the biggest missteps and mishaps in recent history.
The tale inspired Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., to become the fourth Republican senator to call for Gonzales' resignation. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., joined in the criticism.
"When you have to spend more time up here on Capitol Hill instead of running the Justice Department, maybe you ought to think about it," Roberts told The Associated Press.
Mr. Bush has stood by his longtime friend and adviser, the key to Gonzales' hold on his job.
But just when some predicted that Gonzales had survived the furors over the firings, Comey's testimony helped broaden the Democrat-led probe into whether the attorney general politicized the Justice department at the White House's behest.
Gonzales has said only eight U.S. attorneys were targeted for dismissal. But the Justice Department, over nearly two years, listed
The Justice Department said it fully supports all of its current U.S. attorneys. The list of 26 names was first reported Thursday by The Washington Post.
Many of the names on various and changing lists of prosecutors under scrutiny "clearly did not represent the final actions or views of the department's leadership or the attorney general," said Justice spokesman Dean Boyd. He said the lists "reflect Kyle Sampson's thoughts for discussion during the consultation process."
Sampson, Gonzales' former chief of staff, oversaw the review that drove the firings. He resigned in March as a result of the department's botched handling of the dismissals.
The developments came as Democrats sought more testimony from current and former Justice Department officials. House Democrats announced that Gonzales' former White House liaison, Monica Goodling, would testify next week under a grant of immunity.
At issue is whether the department, at the White House's urging, tried to cause problems for Democrats by facilitating voter fraud cases and others involving corruption.
Comey's testimony this week further weakened Gonzales among Republicans as well as Democrats.
Democrats said his testimony appeared to contradict Gonzales' account of the no-warrant eavesdropping program in February 2006, when he told two congressional panels that there had "not been any serious disagreement about the program."
Dean Boyd, a Justice Department spokesman said Gonzales' testimony "was and remains accurate."
Joining Hagel in demanding Gonzales' resignation are GOP Sens. John Sununu of New Hampshire, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and John McCain of Arizona, who is a presidential candidate. House Republican Conference Chair Adam Putman of Florida also has called for a new attorney general.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- bobnjersy.......The problem that I see with the two parties is that in judging themselves they are quite liberal and for the other they are very politically biased. Were you upset at Janet Reno's performance as AG? Or did you let her off like you are not for AG Gonzales?........Regarding my feelings about what was said about the constitution, if it is true just as you posted it, being that they swore to uphold it, they should be tried for treason!....... I am an Independant American Constitutionalist, not left or right wing as I have reason to not trust either side. Anything that is unconstitutional is simply just that. I am upset that JUSTICE does not seem to have a blindfold on anymore.
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- [This problem that the Dem's have with Mr. Gonzales is the biggest bunch of partisan BS that's in the news. The AG who I saw several years ago with real problems was Janet Reno.]
[Posted by cfin5 at 07:59 AM : May 19, 2007]
a classic right wing 'redirection' of the issue onto someone else. it's defies all logic how there could still be anyone who would actually step up and defend this idiot.
don't forget ... alberto gonzalez is a guy who was quoted saying "the constitution is an outdated document" (fyi: gwb said seperately: "it's just a ******** piece of paper")..
now write that down so it's clear and you don't forget it ... the attorney general of the us govt said the us constitution is an outdated document.
put them next to each other ... one on top of the other ... reverse their positions ... use different colors ... write it in bigger and smaller type ... use a different font ... write it like they do in hebrew (from right to left) ... write it updside down.
no matter how you do it ... it's all still the same ... another incompetent loser who was appointed by the chief incompetent loser! - Reply to this comment
- ......after doing a little history research on AG Janet Reno, excuse me a minute......................................................................................................There! I had the sudden urge to lick my un-showered armpit to get the bad taste out of my mouth. I wonder if those Florida State Troopers had to do that too!.....EEEEYYYYYUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKK!!!!
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- This problem that the Dem's have with Mr. Gonzales is the biggest bunch of partisan BS that's in the news. The AG who I saw several years ago with real problems was Janet Reno. It sure does'nt take much I-surfing to figure that out....... When a boss wants a certain job done and the employee refuses to do so, it is the employee who has decided to be fired. The boss just "seconds the notion" on paper. A good employer expects a full days work for a full days pay...... THIS IS "ONE" OF THE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM!
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- "It seems the only person who has confidence in the attorney general is President Bush," Schumer told reporters.
That's so unfair of Schumer. I have confidence in Gonzales too! Confidence he'll keep obstructing justice that is. Har har har!
It'd be funnier if it weren't so true. - Reply to this comment
- Gonzales, 4/19/07: "Looking back, things that I would have done differently? I think I would have had the Deputy Attorney General more involved, directly involved."
Gonzales, 5/15/07: "The recommendations reflected the views of the Deputy Attorney General. He signed off on the names and he would know better than anyone else, anyone else in this room."
Hmm, so confusing. Perhaps our country's highest ranking Justice department official, defender of the rule of law and the truth could clear this up for us. Oh wait, he's the one who can't get his story straight! - Reply to this comment
- The only reason Bush hasn't dumped Gonzales is that he knows he will not be able to get another Republican lap dog confirmed by this congress. He picked Gonzales because he knew that Al would go along with anything the dictators in the White House wanted, regardless of law or the constitution. He will never be able to get one of his party hacks through now. Better to keep an impotent lap dog, than a real AG that cares about the country.
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- I'm thinkin' Bush is keeping Gonzo on so another scandal doesn't erupt. Cause just after everyone of these scandal that calm down a new one crops up.
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- Let%u2019s be very clear this President has again put politics before this country%u2019s interest and safety and undercut to the extreme the war on terror in doing so. By placing political operatives with no or 1 trial experience in US Attorney%u2019s position in the battleground jurisdiction for political purposes he again has made us more vulnerable to criminal elements and home grown terrorist, remember Tim McVey for example. The AG made it clear that a US Attorney%u2019s focus on voter fraud far surpassed any other criteria for ending up on the fire list, the high jackers of 911 and Tim Mc Vey to my knowledge never voted illegally.
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- Let%u2019s be very clear this President has again put politics before this country%u2019s interest and safety and undercut to the extreme the war on terror in doing so. By placing political operatives with no or 1 trial experience in US Attorney%u2019s position in the battleground jurisdiction for political purposes he again has made us more vulnerable to criminal elements and home grown terrorist, remember Tim McVey for example. The AG made it clear that a US Attorney%u2019s focus on voter fraud far surpassed any other criteria for ending up on the fire list, the high jackers of 911 and Tim Mc Vey to my knowledge never voted illegally.
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- Infidel_US - you don't really have to keep proving to the rest of America that you Bush's ain't too swift - we get it already.
The Bush Ship of Fools is emptying out baby - you can either stick with the floundering failing corrupt BushCo or you can re-join America.
Those are your ONLY choices. Be a smart grownup for once - rejoin America. - Reply to this comment
- [A no confidence vote - another meaningless political act ...]
[Posted by mudrose at 09:44 AM : May 18, 2007]
you don't really understand politics very well ... do you? - Reply to this comment
- I'm seeking a 'no confidence' vote on Kennedy and both Houses of Congress!
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- Yea, if only we could have done that to the last Congress, mud.
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- This is sooo past due!
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- A no confidence vote - another meaningless political act. Well, let's see, I guess we can do likewise. We The People have taken a no-confidence vote in this 110th Congress. You are all fired for using our tax dollars on mock trials and grandstanding. Dismissed. Bye-bye. So long. Outta here.
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- cathaleen- you WILL give a $hit about Gonzales and the other Bush conies when you realize this regime is the most secretive, subversive and civil rights removing administration of all time- your civil rights and much more have been subverted by these morons, BILLIONS of dollars has gone unaccounted for, an illegal unjust war costing half a TRILLION dollars because of BUSH- you dam well better care about WHO gets removed from office!
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- This is exactly what it smells like, and Bu$h ordered it done.
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- What about education, health care, social security, etc. Is this all their going to do
is go after the republicans - using our tax dollars and accomplishing nothing. Then they go on vacation. There are so many people in this country that do not have health care - who gives a s--t about Gonzalez. - Reply to this comment
- I don't know. Watching this clown read his 'Rove prepared' statement to congress, I couldn't help but think... 'This guy is dumb!'.
I would like to know where this genius got a law degree, and what were his grades like.
Where the hell does Bush get all these morons? - Reply to this comment
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