I doubt they'll ask for this resignation. Who else would they get? All the folks with the inside track are already part of the attorney purge. And if they brought in a true outsider, then we would get to the bottom of it, and thats not something the administration needs, or wants.

Not immediately. That would look like Bush lost. Government is not about public service with Bush, but about winning and losing. Fredo will go after it looks like they were not forced into it.

You know you're in deep trouble when the only GOP senator backing you in today's hearings was Orrin Hatch. Yikes.

I felt sorry for Gonzales. His performance was terrible. I don't see how the White House can continue to tie its neck to this huge anchor of an AG.

I see another recess appointment in the cloudy crystal ball. Fred Fielding or some younger lackey?

You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.--- Friedrich Nietzsche

Well, there's a large group of former Republican senators and representatives now floating around Washington.

Or did they all become lobbyists?

My real guess, though I suspect he only has a very outside chance, would be Mike DeWine, former Ohio senator. Real rightwing (he was one of the strong anti-Miers people) but he has no ties to GWB that I know of.

Larry Epke

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself!" - Franklin Roosevelt

I think it all depends on what story the media decides it wants to tell. I have a hunch AG AG's testimony was intentionally all over the map. That kind of thing flumoxes the pundits.

Anybody's guess, but the real fight is joined right now. Go make some noise. Make sure *we* get to tell this story.

Colorado Bob

The money quote from the Gone Zales hearing via CNN’s Dana Bash [unnamed republican] …”Like watching the clubbing of a baby seal”.

I think he will resign within the next few days. The only reason for doubt is that Schumer made it clear after the hearing that Abu's resignation would not stop the investigation, so the WH may feel they have nothing to gain by him leaving. They are just that tone deaf.

As for a replacement, personally I think it should be one of the fired USAs - David Iglesias would be a fine choice.

Here's a real cringe-inducer - imagine the private conversations between Bush and Gonzales. Talk about a meeting of the mindless. After listening to Gonzales all day all I can do is marvel anew at the sheer ineptness of this administration. And to think that if this all hadn't happened he might very well have gotten a SCOTUS nomination at some point. Let's thank the fired 8 for taking one for the team.

What difference does it make? Keep Gonzo, or boot him and go into confirmation hearings for another crooked Bush crony, which takes more focus off Iraq and the rest of the CheneyBush scandals?

The real issue, as Josh continues to point out, is that Gonzales is a cog, and we need to go after the machine itself. Next week, Kucinich is going to introduce articles of impeachment against Cheney. They won't work, but at least it'll get people thinking in the right direction.

I don't see how actually impeaching Cheney does us any good; Bush can just replace him with Jeb, or McCain, or whoever, and get a leg up on 2008. And if you impeach Bush, Cheney steps up and replaces himself as VP the same way. Cheney and Bush have to get the boot at the same time. It's the only way to be sure. They need to be disgraced publicly, not allowed to slink away quietly back to their millions. That's how you prevent an even worse Presidency from taking hold in the near future. Make an example of them.

If I were Dem leadership, I would prefer he stay around for another couple of weeks keep this story alive. If I were a Republican, he couldn't go a way soon enough.

"like the clubbing of a baby seal" and those other remarks seem scripted. I think those remarks originated on Rove's new email program, and this is a setup by Rove who knows that Abu's continuing presence will harm the GOP in the 08 elections and further erode the strategy of bringing bogus "vote fraud" cases. Word of that is out, and that's why so many stalwart Goopers are throwing him off the bus.

Im wondering if we'll be hearing "General Olson" soon.

When do we get to see Bush walk to the podium of a presser (a morning presser) holding a margarita? It has to be soon. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. He's gonna snap, YEA !!! Reccess appointment, they can't withstand an actual confirmation process. Not possible. And, as for Orin Hatch, Good god, WHAT A TOOL.

Joe Valachi and Jimmy Hoffa were better witness before a Congressional committee than Gonzales. It took him weeks to rehearse, "I don't recall if I did but I don't recall if I didn't. Absolutely pathetic for an Attorney General or Paris Hilton. This administration has no shame. I would be so embarrassed to have appointed such a weasely nin-com-poop I would resign. The way Bush operates he will be high fiving Bozo,I mean Gonzo for doing "a great job." Coburn said he should resign, but that could just be a token. Several times I wished Coburn would resign.

If the White House were smart, he'd be gone tomorrow, and that would diffuse the focus on what really seems to be scaring them shitless: i.e. the RNCmail backchannel.

So, my prediction is he stays, and gets the heckuva job seal of approval. The Bush Crime Family looks after its own as long as they don't betray the Boss, even if that loyalty ends up bringing down the whole enterprise.

He's gone. The Decider may not give a damn about the future of the Republican party, but Rove does. So does Graham and Grassle and their cohorts. Toss in the fact that in spite of his chuckleheaded efforts to fall on the sword (without bleeding), he's done nothing but wave a javelin sized pointer at the White House.
Very nice indeed.
If I knew how pools worked, I'd start one on the date and time.

He'll either be gone on a Friday afternoon (may be next Friday after the bubbub has died down) or here until the end of Bush's term. Bush could only confirma successor who is Gates-like in their establishment stature and someone like that would probably have a measure of independence from Rove, which would not be appraciated.

In the bigger scheme of things, he is a sideshow and, unlike Goodling, seems unlikely to be immunity material. The Dems could impeach him; they could force various confrontations on DoJ appropriations which would force Bush to take unpopular stands. The Administration is digging in for the long haul, but the Congress can go far in weakening it.

Im wondering if we'll be hearing "General Olson" soon.

We'd better not. I think a Democratic congress could ask some mighty interesting questions of Olson, though.

I expect Bush to just sit on it and dare Congress to impeach him: 'You can't make me fire Gonzales.'

He's a Bush "made man"-- a capo, not really a consigliere, since he only gets orders and doesn't give advice to Bush. Made men don't resign, their fate is up to the don.

Whomever President Cheney nominated to be VP would have pass through the Senate and there is absolutely no reason why the Senate has to have an "up or down" vote. The Senate could just keep the position open - ummmm - til the clock ran out.

I've never been able to accurately predict just how low this administration will stoop, but this time I don't think they can afford to keep him.

I think he'll regretfully resign to preserve the hallowed standards of the Justice Department he's been so devoted to. And soon. The remaining rats on the sinking ship need to throw the wounded overboard.

I don't see him resigning. Gonzalez is way beyond shame and embarrassment. He's been Bush's clean-up guy for so long he's forgotten what integrity feels like. And all signs point to the President restating his confidence in the "fine job" the AG is doing. Bush is basically a weak man whose psyche won't allow him to look flexible because he sees it as a sign of weakness.

The time that goes by without Gonzo's resignation is a yardstick for just how ugly the truth is behind this. It is an indication that there is no viable replacement for Gonzo who would destroy their career and legacy by continuing the cover-up. Anyone who could get confirmed would come in, assess the situation,a nd refuse to go down in flames for Karl and Harriet. Mark my words on this. This is the only explanation for a white house that would actually endorse today's train wreck. Fact is, they know that if GOnzo resigns, judiciary is just going to relentlessly move forward on this. GOnzo will continue to take the bullets i am afraid. That's why Judiciary needs to start issuing subpoenas.

Wisdom of crowds? Looks pretty close to an even split.

The AG is gonna burn for this...and that was probably the plan all along.  He will be the fall guy and everything will be pinned on him in an effort to keep the scandal from going any higher up.  He is done like dinner stick a fork in...just not a question of if, just when.

And I see a recess appointment too.  If I had to guess I would say John Yoo...which is a scary thought actually.

Hatch looked completely self serving to me since rumor is he wants Al's job (so he shouldn't look like he's piling on).

I don't know why you'd leave your job as a Senator to be AG for 20 months but then I've never been able to figure out how (if?) Hatch thinks.

NPR has mainly paid attention to Virginia Tech, with a few words thrown in on Gonzales. Don't watch TV but would be very curious to hear from those who do how much attention this is getting. Have to admit that I haven't gotten much work done today. I watched the testimony (on the computer) on and off all day. I thought he was pathetic. I don't have a clue what Bush will do.

The DNC today sued for DOJ/RNC emails.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/4731173.html

Am merely wondering if this bumps the speed of a process that otherwise would take forever at congressional pace. Have seen no speculation about approaches like this. Or is it just to get more media attention, not likely to actually go anywhere?

P.S. I think Gonzales will be gone this year, but not right away.

It was interesting that Gonzales worked hard to provide no new information. He even went so far as to say that he understood that he had a meeting with the president, not admitting to it.

I think the strategy here was to provide no new information. When asked about Goodling, he couldn't recall anything she did. And she was his interface to the White House.

Schumer's impromptu press confrence after the hearing was telling. He said that the investigation will not end. I suspect that whether it's Gonzo or another AG it will be twice a week until the administration leaves.

The President is showing that his policy is to not admit anything and the country can go to hell.

I agree that Rove is their target this time. That news conference as well as Leahy's closing statement point the way. I think the question is ot so much whether Gonzo goes but how he goes.

Bush has been playing chicken with Congress since the election. The only way to get rid of this crowd before they run out the clock (or take a knee, since they're behind) is to impeach them all.

"Reader poll: the end?"

No. And barely the beginning.

As Josh reminds, the scandal doesn't "end" with Gonzales any more than Watergate ended with Mitchell.

Yes, Republicans (and apparently some Democrats) would gladly settle for Gonzales' scalp to end this here and now, to distract public attention from the stew of lawbreaking cooked up at the highest levels of a lame duck administration. But Gonzales was never the head chef and everyone, including Republicans, knows it.

Witness Lindsey Graham (via Josh's link) and the risible alibi Graham proffered that "most of them [the U.S. attorneys] had personality disagreements with the White House [so Gonzales] made up reasons to fire them."

Does this sound like someone close to the truth with no fear, every intention of "going there?"

For all the bitch slapping that Specter did to Gonzales, in the end, Specter pulled a Pontius Pilate and wiped his hands clean of the mess -- but instead of leaving it up to Gonzo's "accusers", he puts it back into the hands of the Decider Godfather.

I am looking into my magic Hubris ball...it says, AG stays. 

Dissent Protects Democracy.

Bush says there is no need for Rove and Miers to testify under oath because its already a crime to lie to Congress.

Gonzales and his Deputy, McNulty both lied to Congress. Why aren't they being charged?

After watching the first Gonzales hearing and this one for about 2 hours and listening to Gonzales' answers, (or non answers) I expected some Senator to ask Gonzales the following:

"Do you think you're qualified for the job you have?"

duplicate

Pepino will stay as long as it serves Rove's goal of changing the shape of this government from serving the citizens to serving the Republican party in perpetuity.

As we speak, the differing departments of this government are being politicized in the same way as the DOJ. The newest one to come to light is the GSA, with many more yet to be discovered.

This coup-de-etat has been "bloodless" so far- no guns, no bullets, just the manipulation of every machinery of government to suppress a democratic (small "d") outcome in any facet of the public view.

With the DOJ, the tactic has already been put in force, with the remaining USA's on notice:

The Republican "elephant" has a long memory, and if you go against it, you will be punished. The step up in pay and reward for USA's is incredible when you go along to get along.

No, Pepino will go when they are good and ready for him to stop distracting our attention from the other criminal acts that are ongoing.

Then they will throw him under the bus and eat him .

Alphonse ( Al ) Kada
Iranians are fighting the Americans in Iraq so they don't have to fight them on the streets of Tehran

I think the Bush cabal is trying to take over the GOP with a permanent grip, just like they want to take over the USA. If they destroy the GOP in the process, bad luck.

Some Republican leaders can see this happening, but they remain in the minority. Grassroots Repugs have their heads stuck as deep into the sand as they can get them.

On the News Hour, Specter was tap dancing all over and actually looked scared. Really rattled. The bloody eye didn't help.

He was pleading it was all a personality conflict, and the Bush admin should just fess-up to a minor cover-up, and get it behind them. Desperately suggesting that narrative. Specter kept repeating "incompetence, not politics, just incompetence" till it was kinda sad. Which is exactly what Linsey Graham was pleading for in the hearings.

So, either that's the confession and resignation in the works, or Republicans are scared this WH is just crazy enough to take them all down.

Leahy was grinning the whole time. At one point Leahy mentioned the WH intent to use the Patriot Act provision, and it sounded like Specter choked off camera. lol. Leahy sounded very strong on subpoenas, Specter desperate to plead for the minimum.

Josh was right all along. It's that bad. Regardless of Gonzo, it's just beginning to get good.

I think they learned from Nixon. The inner layer around the president insulates the oval office from attack. Jettisoning the AG won't make the dogs go away. And as long as they have a Gonzo chew-toy they are less likely to bite where it really counts.

Everybody who listened in on the hearings knows what happened in there. But for all his vacuous nonsense, contradictions, and iforgots, the AG did not break down and say you got me I lied we did it. The operative principle here is that you are guilty only if you admit it. The loyalists will always accept the denials and contradictions, no matter how flagrant.

The AG in particular cannot resign because it is essential to hold Main Justice. If a non-loyalist gets control of Main Justice then some people from this administration and their hangers-on could do hard time.

This situation cries out for a special prosecutor. If the Republican abuses of Whitewater made that impossible, then what is important is to keep the pressure on to limit their power to grow a Republican police state, and also to get legislation in place that can reinforce the independence of the surviving watchdogs in the executive branch in future administrations.

The rule of law is at risk in this country.

He's a firewall, and he'll be jettisoned if and only if it is perceived that he is at the end of his usefulness in shielding the WH from trouble.

If the shield is broken through, you drop it. And if it gets stuck with so many arrows that it's too heavy, you drop it. Those are the only two conditions under which they'll drop him.

Personally, I think the second is closer than the first, and it's pretty close. But it doesn't really matter what *I* think.

As to his replacement, maybe also Orrin Hatch.

From the White House release: "He admitted the matter could have been handled much better, and he apologized for the disruption to the lives of the U.S. Attorneys involved, as well as for the lack of clarity in his initial responses."

Wait a second, he's only apologizing for "the lack of clarity in his initial responses?"

Is that it? Just his "initial responses"?

What about the lack of clarity in his opinion columns, press briefings and prior appearances before lawmakers?

He revealed himself to be nothing more than a puppet for this administration. How can any American have faith in our judicial system with this level of incompetence at the helm?

I'll believe it when I see it.

Let's recap. Congressional Democrats huff, and they puff, and then they surrender. Everyone move on, nothing to see here.

Look at Obama, he got caught venting his natural born urge to surrender. Kennedy voted for No Child Left Behind. 12 Democrat Senators and 40 Democrat reps voted for the Military Commissions Act to authorize torture and terminate habeas corpus. All those guys are still there.

What would be the danger of confirmation hearings? They'd be about then new guy, not about anything past. And if he appointed someone squeaky clean and well-liked I suspect he'd sail on through. Remember the Senate is just barely in Democrat hands. This isn't 1974 when they had a commanding majority against Nixon.

Re: I think the Bush cabal is trying to take over the GOP with a permanent grip

I'd out that in the past tense. The effort was made and it has failed. Moreover there's no heir apparent. Jeb, the smartest of the Bush boys, knows which way the wind is blowing, and he's very lying low. The rest of the Clothes-less Emperor's Court is as unpopular as Bush himself. McCain has made the fatal mistake of trying to cozy up to Bush at exactly the wrong time. The rest of the 2008 GOP field is keeping a studied distance.

Power of the purse... When will the boys and girls on the Hill remember the words of America's early political scientists.  They don't have to fire the SOB, they can put text in the budget that prohibits its use to pay him or McNulty, or any of the rest of the Regent's University and sycophant crowd.  List them by name and prohibit any money being paid to them, period.  Attach it to the next appropriation (if Bushie vetos the current time table on Iraq bill, all the faster).

These people don't know how to play rough. 

They pretty much did (even a republican) His answer: Yes, I am qualified.

(Which shows anew how disqualified he is -- enter Kafka)

Jan

I think that because Bush fears a long and heated confirmation process for a replacement that he's going to hold out.

I'm going public with that prediction because I am notoriously wrong about these things. Now that I've said Bush will hold out, Gonzalez could be gone by tomorrow.

thosethingswesay.blogspot.com

For the political junkies perhaps, but I didn't hear anything that would reach out and grab the average non-political American.

sPh

It's the President's policy. No matter how many new rats jump on board, it's still the same sinking ship. It was President Bush's policy for United States Attorneys to function as partisan hitmen. Bush wanted them to harass Democrats with trumped-up "voter fraud" investigations. Bush wanted them to ignore Republicans' flagrant, old fashioned graft and bribery, while moonlighting as private lawyers for the GOP faithful. Rumsfeld's long-awaited resignation didn't change a damn thing. Rumsfeld was a picture perfect representative of George W. Bush. When Gonzales finally becomes a "family man" again, it won't change a damn thing either.

Others have used similar metaphors, but the Bush administration is a zombie. The whole thing is dead & rotting, but it can still move & it can still do a great deal of damage.

We all thought Rumsfeld would be gone after Abu Ghraib. He stuck it out for another three years. Josh Marshall indicated that Sen. Domenici or Heather Wilson would be gone by now thanks to the revelations about their election tampering. They seem secure at the moment. In any normal administration that cares about appearances, crooks like Gonzales would be kicked out. But in this administration, loyalty trumps competence and P.R.