More Bush Administration Arrogance: Gonzales Vows To Stay

Gonzales Vows To Remain Attorney General

In another obvious thumbing of their collective noses at Congress, President Bush and Attorney General Gonzales have taken the arrogant position of vowing to keep Gonzales in office, despite the calls for his resignation from many corners, the outrage and disgust with Gonzales's testimony before Congress in regard to the US Attorney scandals, the continuing saga of improper/illegal spying on US citizens, and the utter contempt for our civil liberties, privacy and the Constitution.

Alberto Gonzales, with a fresh vote of confidence from President Bush, vowed Monday to remain as attorney general despite lingering differences with senators over the firing of federal prosecutors.

Appearing at a news conference on identity theft, Gonzales said he will remain "as long as I can continue to serve effectively."

The arrogance is further demonstrated by the lack of support coming out of the GOP side of Congress, including statements and calls for resignation from Senator Arlen Specter. While Specter has had his moments of wavering from support of President Bush and the Bush agenda, he has ordinarily remained publicly supportive of the president and his gang. But in the case of Gonzales, Specter is clearly stating that his continued service as the US Attorney General is hurting the Justice Department, and definitely implying that he is hurting the Bush administration and the GOP.

If anyone cares to keep track, the number of Bush administration folks that have been hurting the president, the congress, their agency and our nation continues to grow. The list includes John Ashcroft, Donald Rumsfeld, Tom Ridge, Michael Brown (FEMA), Monica Goodling, Scooter Libby and now Alberto Gonzales. I would venture to say that the list is actually quite a bit longer than that, but we do not get to know what is going on in our own government. But then there is another list of people that left the Bush administration for the sake of their own reputation, including Colin Powell, any number of retired flag officers, and numerous career diplomats (i.e. Mary Ann Wright, et al.)

The number of senators that are getting riled in response to President Bush's contempt for Congress is growing. Despite it being redundant, I reiterate my call for impeachment as the only real solution for Bush's contempt and disregard for Congress and the American people.

Specter Says Gonzales Is Hurting Justice Department

Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales is hurting the Justice Department and the Bush administration by not resigning.

Gonzales testified before the committee last week, addressing questions about whether the Justice Department dismissed federal prosecutors for partisan purposes.

Specter did not call directly for the attorney general to step down, but said Gonzales's testimony "was very, very damaging to his own credibility. It has been damaging to the administration."

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), the Judiciary Committee chairman, upped the stakes on the White House by saying on CBS that it is not enough for Gonzales to resign; he must be replaced by someone more independent.

"If the White House is continued to be allowed to interfere with the criminal justice system throughout this country . . . then it does no good," he told "Face the Nation."