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Gonzales' self-inflicted wounds
By WASHINGTON POST
Published April 25, 2007
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' testimony last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the dismissals of eight U.S. attorneys "increased my confidence in his ability to do the job," President Bush said this week. Maybe that's because he didn't actually watch the testimony - he was on the road that day. In fact, Gonzales' testimony was anything but reassuring about his capacity to lead the department. He emerged, once again, as a negligent manager, scarcely aware of the major personnel moves his department was about to make in the president's name. "I now understand that there was a conversation between myself and the president," Gonzales said at one point, acknowledging that he had discussed New Mexico U.S. Attorney David Iglesias with Bush, though he didn't actually remember doing so. The president had acknowledged that Gonzales had work to do to repair his credibility with lawmakers. Does it not matter that he failed to do so? We're not talking about Democrats. Republicans, and not just mavericks, are fed up. "The attorney general's testimony was very, very damaging to his own credibility. It has been damaging to the administration," Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the Judiciary Committee's top Republican, said Sunday. At some point, the president has to take that into account.
[Last modified April 25, 2007, 01:23:23]
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by md
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04/26/07 09:55 AM
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I would like to believe that it was not for politicol reasons, but often where there is smoke, there is fire. "There was no smoke." became "I was not aware of the smoke." became "It was not my fire." You begin to suspect the worst at that point.
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by JT
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04/25/07 03:34 PM
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So much for sensible and civil discussion in the comments section. Spud's intended racially sensitive insult is obvious hate speech and should not have been put forth in this forum. Expressing your opinion is one thing being so crass is another.
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by Mr. Redneck
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04/25/07 02:30 PM
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Spud,
Maybe you should learn to spell before you use big words. :) On a serious note, the Bush cronies are lame ducks and liberals are doing anything they can to bring them down. All politicians are concerned with one thing only...power. It's sad
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by md
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04/25/07 02:18 PM
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Changes to personnel when a new administration comes to power is not new. Changes during midterm are unusual. The problem here is that the reasons and story keep changing, and the AG seemingly has little recall of basic facts.
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by jj
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04/25/07 02:06 PM
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Sam & Spud: I'm simply stating a fact that the Att. Gen. has the full power to fire any attorney under the power of the President. Clinton fired 93. Facts don't lie, politicians do. Sorry for being devil's advocate, the story seemed 1 sided to me.
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by spud
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04/25/07 11:50 AM
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jj spews is the typical Repub supporter. I maintain that the 29 percent of Americans that still support the Bush Administration breaks done as follows:1 percent super rich and 28 percent rednecks.(sorry if I used big words)rednecks
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by Sam
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04/25/07 11:33 AM
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Dear JJ: The only thing NOT blamed on Clinton, to date, by the 20 something % of Bush fans is the Civil War!!
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by jj
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04/25/07 11:05 AM
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Let's not forget that Clinton fired 93 US attorneys. Gonzales gets heat for firing only 8. The attorney general has the power under the President to fire all of them if he pleases. Do your homework next time Post & SPT.
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by jim
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04/25/07 06:07 AM
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If only the Post (and the Times!) had soe carefully scrutinized the Clinton scandals.
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by Fair
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04/25/07 02:44 AM
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Attorney Gonzales is an early Christmas gift for President Bush. While the press is going after the red herring Gonzales and as long as Bush says Gonzales stays that's that, then Bush can play the press for stupid which everyone knows they are.
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