Gonzalez resigns

Shock horror - for once, could The New Statesman actually be right?

Because the breaking news is, hot on the heels of Karl Rove, Attorney-General Alberto Gonzalez is resigning. Finally.

It was clear that his position was becoming untenable when Lexington, the chronically even-handed Economist columinist, wrote a scathing piece like this:

Mr Gonzales himself has destroyed whatever reputation he might have had with his lobotomised performances on Capitol Hill. (During one session he said that he “did not recall” events related to the controversy no fewer than 70 times.) Senior staff have jumped ship. Others describe the morale of the place as “rock bottom”. Politicians on both sides of the aisle describe the department as “dysfunctional”, “crippled” and “a shambles”...

Mr Gonzales was arguably the worst person possible for the job. People who have worked with him describe him as neither particularly bright nor particularly forceful. The “forgetful” performance on Capitol Hill may have been tactical. But he clearly took a lackadaisical approach to his job. The prosecutor for Arizona objected to Mr Gonzales's decision to seek the death penalty for a drug dealer who was accused of murder on the ground that, among other things, no body had been found. Mr Gonzales's aide said the attorney-general had invested a lot of time in the issue—perhaps “as much as five to ten minutes”.

That was published one month ago. The only wonder is how Gonzalez lasted so long.

Comments

[Chips Westwood]

I was surprised when he was confirmed, having watched the Confirmation Hearings live and witnessed his refusal to answer questions -- he looked shifty and uncomfortable throughout the hearings. Made me believe that Republican Senators were sadly lacking in brain power!

[jane]

Maybe now we will get an Attorney General that doesn't consider the Geneva Conventions quaint and outdated in the GWOT.

[JOHN CHUCKMAN]

Likely the only truly ethical act with which Gonzalez can be charged in his entire career.

The man is pure Bush sleaze.

[Bethany Wright]

Bush must see that he has not chosen able people to run his team: his administration has been a complete failure in every aspect of foreign and domestic policy,
The best thing he can do is to admit his own incompetence and resign. of course he will not do that so we have to put up with the incompetence for another 15 months.

[Joe]

King Rat has left the sinking USS G.W.Bush. Good riddance to the worst Attorney-General ever to have held office, during the term of the worst president ever to have stolen an election victory in the history of the USA.

[B ill Rohan]

How about replacing Gonzales with Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald. He is a person with integrity, is against lying, and recognizes corruption when he sees it. He would look like a terrorist to Bush who would be terrified of him! Bill Rohan

[Luis Hernandez]

The first Hispanic to hold the office of Attorney General and he screws it up beyond comprehension. He had a chance to elevate our people but instead becomes a corrupt clown, a court jester to the most foul and corrupt "king" we've ever had sit on the throne. He is a disgrace to our people.