Why Alberto Stays ...
Many top echelon Justice Dept. officials have resigned since TPM broke the US attorney scandal. All were to a great extent "loyal Bushies."
In contrast, few barnacles are more stubborn than Alberto Gonzales, in his loyal clinging to the side of the Presidential hull.
Why ?
Normal Presidential protocol holds that if an underling becomes a public embarrassment or liability, the underling must resign, since they are no longer "pleasuring" the President satisfactorily.
Alberto Gonzales meets this standard, being described by Jon Stewart as willfully playing the role of a "low-functioning pinhead" in order to pleasure the President.
The Bush Administration is a weird one, running on physical laws more akin to a universe on the other side of a wormhole.
In Bushworld, it is of no matter that Gonzales is universally ridiculed and considered guilty of at least serial dishonesty. These traits, it seems, are features -- not bugs -- in Bushworld.
Gonzales is deeply loyal to George Bush. So loyal that he is willing to repeatedly put himself up as national laughingstock to protect Leader Dearest.
So long as Gonzales remains the Little Barnacle That Could, he can shut down Congressional subpoenas and inquiries into White House doings by running aground contempt of Congress actions.
By endlessly rephrasing and reshading his comments for respinning by Tony Snow, Gonzales can muck up and muddle the toy thought train of media's talking heads, spinning a web as complex as it is purposely purposeless.
Gonzales is Bush's monkeywrench, his sugar in the gas tank, his silly string.
Team Bush have studied the Watergate game tapes for many years. Now we are seeing the fruits of their monomania. They know Watergate was winnable, but failed only because of a stupid tape recorder, a communist Supreme Court, and Nixon's less than steely nerve.
Nixon nor Ford nor Agnew ever shot a man in the face. All Liddy did was burn his own hand to impress some low level Cubans. Campfire girls, all of them. Little leaguers. Warren Burger was a weenie.
Bush et al. intend to Win Watergate this time. Their core strategy is simple -- run out the clock.
Keeping Gonzales as AG is critically important -- just as the loss of AG John Mitchell spelled Nixon's doom.
Very well said. You're a GREAT writer!
I agree that Gonzales is the "little Dutch boy" whose finger in the dike holds back the flood of impeachment and trials for crimes against humanity.
That "little finger" has, so far, held back the growing tide of courage in Congress. That "little finger" has, so far, held the blindfold to the eyes of the American people. That "little finger" or, in reality, that "middle finger" is "THEIR" way of saying to "We The People"... "Go on about your business. "WE'RE" the "Deciders!"
Great blog. Thanks for posting it and keep up the wonderful writing.
August 2, 2007 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
What fascinates me is this man's capacity for willing humiliation. And his glee at rendering impotent those whose right to oversee leads to this public humiliation.
The guy is a study in masochism - an exhibitionist of masochism!
August 2, 2007 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
TheraP -- that is precisely the angle that struck me this a.m. before I woke up. I literally wrote this in my sleep. Why is Gonzales so willing to be make himself to be not a crook -- but to be a total imbecile?
He obviously is not an imbecile. But he is willing to play that role on behalf of and in service of GWB. Jon Stewart hit on this a month ago. He is wondering too.
Your query gives me an idea for a second take.
Thanks.
Doug Watts.
August 2, 2007 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink