Gonzales-Bush Loyalty A Two-Way Street

Washington Post Analysis: Examining The Career Of The Attorney General Upon His Resignation

(WASHINGTONPOST.COM)  This story was written by Michael A. Fletcher and R. Jeffrey Smith.

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After arriving in Washington with President Bush in 2001, Alberto Gonzales stood out for his unflappable nature and intense loyalty to the president. With what some called his willingness to interpret the law to fit his boss's priorities and his long political ties with Bush, Gonzales was among the president's closest confidants.

It is for good reason that Bush sometimes referred to Gonzales as "mi abogado" and kept him close by. In 1996, he helped then-Texas Gov. Bush avoid jury duty where he might have been forced to reveal a 20-year-old charge of driving while intoxicated, which later surfaced anyway. Dozens of Gonzales memos to Bush supported the governor's desire to implement the death penalty in Texas.

And as White House counsel and later as attorney general, Gonzales endorsed the creation of the controversial legal framework that guided the administration's war on terror, strongly backed by Vice President Cheney and legal conservatives but opposed by many scholars and partly overturned by the courts.

If Gonzales, who resigned as attorney general Monday, served Bush well over the years, the reverse is also true. Through Bush's sponsorship, Gonzales ascended to the top of the Texas legal establishment before becoming what some scholars call one of the most influential Hispanic officials in the history of United States government. Through more than six years in Washington, Gonzales was unable to expand his base of support beyond the president and his inner circle, and finally appeared to succumb to blunt attacks from Republican as well as Democratic lawmakers over his mishandling of the firings of nine U.S. attorneys.

"He had very much a one-to-one relationship with the president," said David Frum, a former Bush speechwriter. "That is where he started, and that is where he finished."

In the end, Gonzales was a man without a constituency outside of the White House. At a Senate hearing on April 19, he endured withering criticism over his professed inability to recall key events in the attorney firings, including details of a meeting on the topic with President Bush and Karl Rove. As the controversy swirled over a period of several months, conservative figures questioned both his legal competence and his ability to manage the sprawling Justice Department.

"We have never seen evidence that he has a fine legal mind, good judgment, or managerial ability," read an editorial in the conservative National Review in late March. "Nor has his conduct at any stage of this controversy gained our confidence."

The controversy over the prosecutor firings expanded in recent months to encompass other issues, all with a focus on whether lawmakers considered Gonzales trustworthy or competent to run the Justice Department.

In one key example, Gonzales repeatedly testified that the administration's warrantless surveillance program had caused no serious disagreement among Justice Department officials. But that claim was contradicted by testimony from former deputy attorney general James B. Comey and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III.

Both described how Gonzales, then the White House counsel, visited former Attorney General John D. Ashcroft in the hospital in March 2004 after Justice lawyers had refused to reauthorize parts of the program to be illegal. Gonzales said Ashcroft was "lucid" during the visit, while Mueller described him as "feeble" and "barely articulate."

The mounting evidence prompted Gonzales to clarify his remarks about the program earlier this month.

These and other episodes led several congressional Democrats to call for perjury investigations of Gonzales. During a particularly hostile Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on July 24, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., told Gonzales bluntly: "I don't trust you."

[realpatriot1]

Loyalty is a two-way street? The term partners in crime comes readily to mind.

[bareemperor]

It seems that loyality to the US Constitution was never on the table.

[terrapin78]

Even the NRO dis-trusted the POS.

"We have never seen evidence that he has a fine legal mind, good judgment, or managerial ability," read an editorial in the conservative National Review in late March. "Nor has his conduct at any stage of this controversy gained our confidence."

[nyckate]

Sadly Bush and all his cronies took their loyalty to each other much more seriously then they ever did the loyality they were meant to show the nation.

This is what comes of voting for someone who was never mature enough, capable enough, informed enough and simply intelligent enough to be President. They have spent years fostering a false impression of George, hiding from him and the public his inabilities. He''s repaid them well - they too were not competent for the national positions he placed them in.

The Bush Administration is like a High School Class President and his gang - each feeding of each other like a bunch of juvenile delinquents and each protecting each other - also like a bunch of juvenile delinquents. They giggled and bullied their way through the highest office in the country and diminished everything The Office Of President represents.

[one_american]

Now that Gonzales is out, let''s get a good objective professional in his chair to conduct the legal affairs of the White House.

Maybe the first order of business is to start investigations of crooked Democrat leaders like Jack Murtha, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

This game should be alot of fun.

[mudrose-2009]

It seems that loyality to the US Constitution was never on the table.
Posted by BareEmperor

Like most of you people know what loyalty is. Just like Clinton it always depends on what is IS.

[terrapin78]

Bu$h always wants to be the smartest person in a room, that is why he stocks his cabinet with sub-par public servants. He has to get people from Liberty "University" to find those that make him look smart.

[ianlou]

This game should be alot of fun.
Posted by One_American at 03:12 PM : Aug 27, 2007

I know...
Try saying "This game should be alot of fun" three times while clicking your heels together.

[klifton2-2009]

I am sure Gonzales is quite a smart man but unfortunately not smart enough to distance himself from Bush, the hollow man.

[ioweign]

Now that Gonzales is out, let''''s get a good objective professional in his chair to conduct the legal affairs of the White House.

Maybe the first order of business is to start investigations of crooked Democrat leaders like Jack Murtha, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

This game should be alot of fun.

Posted by One_American at 03:12 PM : Aug 27, 2007


You left out those missing WH emails - those WILL be alot of fun !!

[ov442]

"MisHandling" they call it..."missteps" they call it... "embattled" jeeez!
Stop mincing words... call it like it is.
All the current evidence on record shows clearly his intentions from the start to politicize our judicial system as Bush''s crony.

They used our Judicial system for political gain and power grabs. This is a crock. The words used are completely innapropriate here.
you "mishandle" a pot of water. You take a "misstep" when you make a wrong comment in a business meeting. You are "embattled" in a struggle between yourself and another.

This was instead Gonzalez Refusing to divulge incrimminating evidence. This is him Lying to congress, and rehearsing a false testimony, refusing to cooperate, intimidating other witnesses. This is him and Bush not caring one bit about integrity or honesty and telling the 3rd part of our Branches of government to Sc-Rew off with the utmost in disrespect of our government and the constitution.

[micma-2009]

Would someone please just give Bu$h a blowwjob so that we can impeach him?


mudrose?

[katg21]

micma,

Wasn''t funny the first time you said it.

[terrapin78]

Embattled Attorney General''s Name Was "Dragged Through The Mud," President Says

And MUD is not happy to get Gonzo shiite in it!

[antoniof123]

This administration would be funny if it was on the comedy channel. But they really got elected to office and I am trying to figure out how. One good thing I am still young enough to be able to look back years from now and remember the two worst administrations in American history. Bush and Nixon, wow what a pair and both were Republicans I hope you have learned America because if not then you get what you deserve.

[terrapin78]

micma,

Wasn''t funny the first time you said it.
Posted by katg21 at 04:04 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Actually it is sad and FUNNY. We need someone, man or woman, to take one for the country!

LOL

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[bareemperor]

"It seems that loyality to the US Constitution was never on the table.
Posted by BareEmperor

Like most of you people know what loyalty is. Just like Clinton it always depends on what is IS.
Posted by mudrose at 03:15 PM : Aug 27, 2007"

Bringing up Bubba''s name as a knee-jerk to what idiots Bu$hBoys are just makes the 78 percenters miss the man more each day...
Bu$h is spilling our nation''s blood each day he rapes Iraq. That stain is on each of us. Clinton''s failure was in the closet...

[mudrose-2009]

Actually it is sad and FUNNY. We need someone, man or woman, to take one for the country!

LOL

HAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted by Terrapin78

Are you volunteering? mimca can show you how to do it. It''s a pro.

[rushlimpdrug]

". .Bush sometimes referred to Gonzales as "mi abogado""
pronounced "me Abu Ghraib oh"

[tucano2]

Alberto''s so-called resignation speech was the most disingenuous so far of the Bush administration''s gang bangers. Let''s hope others still at the public''s trough are practicing their own resignation speeches in front of a mirror so they will not appear as stupid, inept, crooked, and anti-American as this bozo.

[nyckate]

Chertoff is being mentioned as possible replacement??

Ok -now we are proof positive that George is not dealing with a full deck!

[katg21]

One good thing I am still young enough to be able to look back years from now and remember the two worst administrations in American history. Bush and Nixon,
Posted by antoniof123 at 04:07 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Gonna have to challenge you on that one... Jimmy Carter was the worst.

[mudrose-2009]

Bringing up Bubba''''s name as a knee-jerk to what idiots Bu$hBoys are just makes the 78 percenters miss the man more each day...
Bu$h is spilling our nation''''s blood each day he rapes Iraq. That stain is on each of us. Clinton''''s failure was in the closet...

Posted by BareEmperor

Bringing up bubba''s name isn''t just knee-jerk. It''s a perfect analogy to how you people think. You are selective moralists. Abortion doesn''t bother you. Euthanasia doesn''t bother you. Embroynic stem cell research whereby you take like to say life doesn''t bother you. His failure wasn''t in the closet - African Embassies, USS Cole, WTC I, etc. You''re in the closet. Plus you had a Wacko of an AG in Reno. Please spare us your hollier than thou b.s. and your knee-jerk responses. YOu wouldn''t know morality if it slapped you in the face.

[terrapin78]

Yeah, I''d do it to get the Shrub, Monkey, Idiot war-criminal out of office.

I''d be honored as a National Hero!

[bareemperor]

It won''t matter who Bu$h appoints, the president is now toast.
The only way he will survive his term is if he invades Iran...

[katg21]

Everyday you read about the lies Gonzales told the to judical committee as witnessed by all the contradictory testamony of other government officials associated with him,
Posted by leftyintexas at 04:11 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Really, where can we find these "lies" in print, ''cause as far as I know, the "lies" were never proven. This was a witch hunt plain and simple, Gonzales finally broke to the constant hammering. That''s all.

[gkc99]

"Now that Gonzales is out, let''''s get a good objective professional in his chair to conduct the legal affairs of the White House."--Posted by One_American


This post shows a typical rightie misconception that the AG is the President''s personal lawyer.

He or she is not.

That role is played by White House Counsel.

The Attorney General of the United States is the chief law enforcement officer.

Strange as it may seem to a neocon, executive officers are responsible for their own actions and are not just little puppets of The Decider.

[mudrose-2009]

Chertoff is being mentioned as possible replacement??

Ok -now we are proof positive that George is not dealing with a full deck!
Posted by nyckate

Yeah you must feel it in your gut. Well take heart Orin Hatch''s name is being tossed around too. Maybe Leaky Leahy would like the job. He can hand state secrets right over to Ahmadinejad and not bat an eyelash. He''s done it before, he can do it again. I have faith in his moral and ethical ability to see our intelligence compromised.

[terrapin78]

Mudrose

Do you believe in and practice the 10 Commandments?


Probably only selectively. You are nothing but a hypocrite.

One of them says "Thjou shalt not kill". It doesn''t give ANY wiggle room. So if you support the death penalty, then you do not practice the Big 10.

[mudrose-2009]

One of them says "Thjou shalt not kill". It doesn''''t give ANY wiggle room. So if you support the death penalty, then you do not practice the Big 10.

Posted by Terrapin78

That''s right. Do you believe in abortion? Would you prefer we let murderers out on the street because they had a bad life and they should be rehabed rather than put in jail. Are you some sort of a moron? Selective morality.

[katg21]

Let''''s hope others still at the public''''s trough are practicing their own resignation speeches in front of a mirror so they will not appear as stupid, inept, crooked, and anti-American as this bozo.
Posted by tucanofulano at 04:10 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Oh yeah, let''s all take pleasure in watching resignation after resignation, sounds like fun and really looks good to the rest of the world. What is wrong with you idiots! I swear I''d slap all of you if standing in front of me, you brainless sheep. Real american of you.

[the_truth93]

And another one bites the dust!!! Bush just keeps throwing his people under the bus...What a great leader we have!! NOT!!! But we impeached Clinton for a *******!! Nevermind the mass murders in Iraq and surrounding countries, cheat on your wife and get impeached, kill thousands of US troops and Iraq civilians and you can run and win two presidential elections!! Nevermind the fact that you cheated both times!

Proud to be an American!!
What a joke!!

[the_truth93]

And another one bites the dust!!! Bush just keeps throwing his people under the bus...What a great leader we have!! NOT!!! But we impeached Clinton for a *******!! Nevermind the mass murders in Iraq and surrounding countries, cheat on your wife and get impeached, kill thousands of US troops and Iraq civilians and you can run and win two presidential elections!! Nevermind the fact that you cheated both times!

Proud to be an American!!
What a joke!!

[mudrose-2009]

Really, where can we find these "lies" in print, ''''cause as far as I know, the "lies" were never proven. This was a witch hunt plain and simple, Gonzales finally broke to the constant hammering. That''''s all.
Posted by katg21

You can''t find them because they don''t exist. This was one great big witch hunt. Now they can ocupy themselves with selecting another AG. See, with people like this you have to distract them. They don''t know any better. They can''t function unless they have a conflict so you divert their attention to something positive, like making them think they can select a new AG. It''s like you do in asylums during recreation time. You give the mentally deficient simple tasks so as not to frustrate them. You can make them sing. Congress would like that. Harry and Nancy could sing Kumbia and get them all to join in. Or you can get them to do a simple dance - dance therapy is nice too. You just have to take the lead so as not to upset them.

[gkc99]

"This was a witch hunt plain and simple, Gonzales finally broke to the constant hammering."--Posted by katg21

And keep on hammering to get the rest of the cockroaches out of the wall! The poor little babies!

Bushit is just reaping what he sowed. He was never the President of all the people. He threw people out of public meetings because they wore a T-shirt he didn''t like. His message was that if you didn''t agree with him, you could *******.

Now it''s time for the neocons to *******, Bigtime!

[taddles-2009]

"I have faith in his moral and ethical ability to see our intelligence compromised.
Posted by mudrose at 04:16 PM : Aug 27, 2007"

Good lord you are such a witless putz. Even for a Repuliscum you are incredibly stupid. Your defense of Gonzo smacks of some serious intellectual deficiency. You are the poster child for every thing that is wrong with this country. Defend the liars and the crooks to the end, ignore the damage they have done, ignore the incompetence, ignore the death they have caused. Every family member of every dead soldier has you and your kind to thank for their sons and daughters coming home in a box.

[katg21]

Do you believe in and practice the 10 Commandments?

Posted by Terrapin78 at 04:16 PM : Aug 27, 2007

LOL! Talking about taking it up the bu+ in one post and about the ten commandments in the next, yeah you''re really one to judge someone''s morality.

[nyckate]

tucanofulano - alberto is praying to George that the investigations go away - he must have gone outside the Bush Ranks and gotten some real legal advise that scared the pants off him - he''s probably hoping his resignation will make it all go away.

It shouldn''t - he deserves whatever punishment the courts and congress thinks he should get. He did way too much harm to this nation.

[taddles-2009]

"I swear I''''d slap all of you if standing in front of me, you brainless sheep. Real american of you.
Posted by katg21 at 04:21 PM : Aug 27, 2007"

I''d love that to happen so I could drop you like the vile rabid animal that you are. People like you do nothing but stink up the gene pool.

[katg21]

Now it''s time for the neocons to *******, Bigtime!
Posted by gkc99 at 04:24 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Ooh look, we got a smart guy! Ignorant liberal sheep, can''t stand you all.

[ianlou]

Gonna have to challenge you on that one... Jimmy Carter was the worst.
Posted by katg21 at 04:11 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Maybe for ineptitude, not for honesty.

[nyckate]

This was a witch hunt plain and simple, Gonzales finally broke to the constant hammering."--Posted by katg21


What you prefer NOT to see is that there has been a strong bi-partisan call for Gonzales to be honest, forthright and forthcoming with the hearings and investigations. And when he refused to be there was a bi-partisan call for his resignation.


Alberto was unfit for position as AG - he was put in there not because he was qualified for the job but because he was and is a loyal Bush Fool.

Alberto is not a little kid being picked on - he took on responsibilities and obligations to the country he never intended to honor - all he ever showed that he would protect george at all costs - even the cost of the country and the Constitution. That''s not an American - that''s a Bushit and there''s a world of difference btween the two.

[katg21]

I''''d love that to happen so I could drop you like the vile rabid animal that you are. People like you do nothing but stink up the gene pool.
Posted by taddles at 04:32 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Don''t make me laugh you spineless a$$hole. The only fight you''re capable of is tossing out pointless insults from behind your keyboard.

[nyckate]

katg21 - sweetie - YOU are the sheeple.

You cheer Bush on no matter how many times he fails the nation.

You despise that others dare of question george and his minnions.

You despise that george and his cadred of thugs are answerable to Congress.


The country you are wanting isn''t the US of A - you want Cuba - one party, one Decider and no dissent allowed. Get going - you''re not wanted here - we only want Americans not Bushits - piles of cow manure have more value than you Bushits.

[ianlou]

Don''''t make me laugh you spineless a$$hole. The only fight you''''re capable of is tossing out pointless insults from behind your keyboard.
Posted by katg21 at 04:39 PM : Aug 27, 2007

He doesn''t seem to be alone...

[katg21]

Alberto was unfit for position as AG - he was put in there not because he was qualified for the job but because he was and is a loyal Bush Fool.
Posted by nyckate at 04:37 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Could you honestly say that anyone he''d have chosen would be qualified in your eyes?

[katg21]

The country you are wanting isn''''t the US of A - you want Cuba - one party, one Decider and no dissent allowed. Get going - you''''re not wanted here - we only want Americans not Bushits - piles of cow manure have more value than you Bushits.
Posted by nyckate at 04:40 PM : Aug 27, 2007

Now that''s so funny! You guys are a bunch of socialists and you call us republicans Nazis and Castro supporters?! You are an idiot.

[speakinup]

"we impeached Clinton for a *******!! Nevermind the mass murders in Iraq and surrounding countries, cheat on your wife and get impeached, kill thousands of US troops and Iraq civilians and you can run and win two presidential elections!! Nevermind the fact that you cheated both times!" the_truth93

Another deluded and frustrated liberal. I''m lovin it! Who cares about the BJ. It''s when he stood in front of the camera, shook his finger, and said, "I did not have *** with that woman, Monica Lewinsky" - THAT''s what got him impeached! You can lie as a citizen about the President, you can lie as a President about a citizen in private, and you can even lie about a President lying, BUT, you CAN NOT lie to the public as a President. That gets you impeached (no matter what other excuse they used formally.)

I''m glad you think the republicans ''cheated'' on the last two elections - shows me how frustrated you are, and how stupid you think I am. Go ahead, get Hillary in a one-on-one with the Republican contender - she''s an amateur - and will look the fool before it''s over. I''m glad her fat azz is the target.

[mudrose-2009]

Defend the liars and the crooks to the end, ignore the damage they have done, ignore the incompetence, ignore the death they have caused. Every family member of every dead soldier has you and your kind to thank for their sons and daughters coming home in a box.
Posted by taddles

Please spare me the rhetoric. You are a waste of time.

[pastdue1]

It was time for Gonzales to quit. Unfortunately, we are in for hard times. Regardless, whether Republican or Democrat, the kinds of things that are about to come out that prompted this resignation, will not be what will make us feel good about our nation. Perhaps, even John Ashcroft will be called to explain some of the things that Alberto Gonzales has forgotten. Our best hope, is that the investigation will be far-reaching and help the country to recognize that vigilence is always necessary when dealing with unscrupulous people with power. We need for the American public to learn who really is in power.