Garling Gauge

Gonzales is Gone

R.I.P. Alberto Gonzales

Who will be the 81st Attorney General?

The New York Times reports that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned last Friday by phone to President Bush, according to a senior administration official.

White House officials have confirmed the resignation and Solicitor General Paul Clement is set to lead the Justice Department temporarily.

An announcement is scheduled for 10:30 AM EST.

NBC News reports the resignation caught the Justice Department entirely off guard.

Resigning over the controversial firings of U.S. attorneys, Gonzales is yet another in a long line of Republicans to fall from grace.

On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough called it an “economic earthquake” while expressing concerns over the market.

Political pundit and former presidential hopeful Pat Buchanan called the show saying this was a good time for Gonzales to go, noting Labor Day is just around the corner and summer is winding down.

While deflecting political heat for the White House, Gonzales has been a weight on the administration. It is openly discussed that he lied to Congress in his incompetent testimony on the attorney firings. With documents and his staff contradicting his own testimony, Gonzales has been a blight and embarrassment on the judiciary.

Loyalty > Competence

By throwing his allegiance to President Bush instead of the rule of law, Gonzales failed to understand the basic premise of his position as Attorney General. Just imagine if he had been the Supreme Court nominee.

Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Sen. Orrin Hatch have been suggested as possible replacements.

Victoria Toensing, formerly of the justice department, said on Morning Joe that Chertoff would be a “superb” choice to succeed Gonzales.

Responding quickly, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards stated “Better late than never.”

The White House and Republican candidates running for office are most likely breathing a sigh of relief, free now from defending the embattled Attorney General.

President Bush has yet to choose a replacement.

If by chance you feel a pang of sorrow for the Gonzales, fret not, he probably doesn’t remember what happened last week anyways.

Bush announcing Gonzales’ nomination to succeed Ashcroft
in the White House Roosevelt Room, November 10, 2004

It is a good day for justice in America.

Good riddance.

*

Update: Gonzales to leave September 17, 2007

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