Did Gonzales lie? Inspector general plans probe

Even until the end, Alberto Gonzales remained a man of obfuscation if not deceit. Once the word got out that he was resigning as U.S. attorney general, and reporters began to inquire, Gonzales told his subordinates to deny he was quitting. Not exactly an honorable order from the nation's top law enforcement official.

History may view Gonzales' rocky, two-year-plus tenure at the Department of Justice as one mired in controversy over the firings of several United States attorneys, federal prosecutors who are appointed by the president. Some claimed they were the victims of their resistance to political pressure to pursue charges against Democrats, or of their willingness to go after Republicans. And then there was the National Security Agency's anti-terrorist surveillance program, which Gonzales defended even as some in Congress felt it was given to wretched excess.

Gonzales wasn't the greatest defender, he lost ground every time he went to Capitol Hill. Even Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania called him a "wily witness" before the Senate Judiciary Committee and virtually accused him of lying. Critics kept track of the many times Gonzales said "I don't know" and "I don't recall" in his appearances.

Meanwhile, larger questions arose as to Gonzales' competency to run the vast, complex Justice Department.

Gonzales' previous job was counsel to the president, and his downfall surely was brought about in part because he never seemed to grasp the difference between serving the president as a lawyer and serving the American people as head of an agency that is not supposed to be driven by politics. The former Texas Supreme Court judge and secretary of state, who had an inspiring record of personal accomplishment, enjoyed the friendship and sponsorship of President Bush early in his career.

The fault in Gonzales' performance in his last job really isn't entirely his. Bush seems a person driven by, and sometimes trapped by, personal allegiances. He refused to acknowledge Gonzales' shortcomings, and even in commenting on the attorney general's resignation, mentioned "unfair treatment" of Gonzales. Certainly the attorney general became a target for Democrats and politics was undoubtedly one of their motivations, but long ago Gonzales began to lose support from Republicans as well.

The president's loyalty to people may be admirable in some ways, but his tendency to stand his ground even when it is giving way is not good for government and the public he serves. The Justice Department touches millions of lives in one way or another, and it cannot be given over to incompetence and partisan politics at the top. Much damage has been done, and the department is in need of serious leadership with a principled reputation.

Bush made a mistake in appointing Gonzales, though he'll never admit it.

What he now must do is find an attorney general who can right the ship and sail it once it has been repaired.

Let's have no transparent political appointees or old cronies and the like. Instead, it would be refreshing to see someone such as a federal judge, or a respected former member of Congress, or an experienced administrator, or a career Justice official take over this gravely important part of American government.

Did Gonzales Lie? Of course not! He is a card carrying memeber of the GOP! The GOP doesn't lie! And they are not gay and they have never been gay and they don't troll for sex in public restrooms! This is the GOP we are talking about here! The party of Family Values and Nascar and really really wide stances!

Bert Gonzales can't seem to "recall" much of the truth, Cheney must be hiding it from him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IBvZlRqOTw&mode=related&search=

Go, Glenn, go!!!!!

Before resident Bushies Jerry White and John Dyslin come on here defending Mr. Gonzalez and accusing Democrats of a "witchhunt," here is what arch-uberconservative Robert Novak has to say about former Attorney General Alberto Gonazales http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR2007082901927.html

Some excerpts:

"It is not surprising that nobody on Bolten's short list resembles Gonzales (though it would be hard to find anyone else so inappropriate for the job). But the high caliber of possible selections means President Bush is not content with a placeholder sure to get Senate confirmation. It also suggests a seriousness of purpose not evident when Bush transplanted Texas aides to Washington.

The president bemoaned Gonzales's falling victim to a Democratic lynch mob. But silence prevailed among Republicans in Congress who had to deal with the infuriating attorney general (with the exception of Gonzales's fellow former Texas Supreme Court justice, Sen. John Cornyn). Given the president's track record, these Republicans feared the worst regarding Gonzales's successor...

President Bush just went too far in picking a friend who was loyal but also incompetent (a complaint never lodged against Bobby Kennedy). All of Gonzales's senior political positions in Texas -- secretary of state, governor's counsel and Supreme Court justice -- came thanks to Bush's patronage. When he became president, Bush was less interested in quality than loyalty as he brought Texas aides to Washington.

I first met Gonzales in 2001 when, along with other conservative journalists, I went to the White House for a background briefing by presidential counsel Gonzales on the new president's judicial nominations. I was stunned by the incoherence of the briefer. When I checked with several Republican senators, I received the same verdict. Their judgment was that Gonzales was not qualified to hold a senior governmental position.

Gonzales's handling of the crisis over the firing of U.S. attorneys set new standards for incompetence...

In Tuesday's Wall Street Journal, former Republican Justice Department officials said the new attorney general must protect presidential prerogatives against congressional encroachment. That is correct, but George W. Bush can blame himself and Alberto Gonzales for the danger."

Is it a lie if one doesn’t' know the difference? What is the dividing line between blind obedience & incompetence to actually lying?

Sit, Alberto, sit. Speak, Alberto, speak.

Would we call any other lap dog a liar?

Did he Lie? What is that, no What is that? We as American and America only watch Alberto Gonzales lie and circumvent the law for George Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and Harriet Meirs. Since January 2006, he has skirted the rule of law and has circumvented the Constitution of the United States.

WE KNOW IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON FOX NEWS, BUT IT DID REALLY HAPPEN. I SEEN IT, YOU SEEN IT, CONGRESS SEEN IT, MONICA GOODLING SEEN IT, SARAH TAYLOR SEEN IT, FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER SEEN IT. ATTORNEY GENERAL COMEY SEEN IT AND WITNESS IT FIRST HAND. FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT SEEN IT, FIRST HAND ON THE NIGHT THAT HE AND ANDY CARD ATTEMPTED TO SURVEILLANCE GATE HIM IN HIS HOSPITAL BED.

PLUS SARAH TAYLOR, MONICA GOODLING ADMITTED TO "CAGING" THAT IS A FEDERAL CRIME. VOTER SUPRESSION IS AGAINST THE LAW.

HE TOO SWORE TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE RULE OF LAW.

PEOPLE ARE EXECUTED FOR THEIR DIRECT DISREGARD TO HUMAN RIGHTS, HUMAN LAW, AND THE LAW OF THE LAND. THIS MAN, HAS EXECUTED MEN FOR LESS. SO HE TOO SHOULD BE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS. HE RESIGNED.

NOW HE SHOULD GO TO JAIL OR TELL THE TRUTH SO WHOMEVER HE HAS PROTECTED AND FOR WHAT BASIS COMES TO LIGHT AND WE THE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HOLD SUCH PERSON(S) ACCOUNTABLE.

Did he lie??? Is the Pope Catholic? Does a bear...oh, never mind...

Gonzo is a dead horse. Never bother to kick a dead horse when there a plenty of live ones around. Every person involved in the politization of the DOJ will be relieved that the heat is off them and focused on a dead horse.

I cannot recall.

It's not a question of IF Gonzalez lied, it's a question of how many times.

They can't blame this on Democrats or politics either; he was contradicted by his fellow Republicans

Any time someone says they "cannot recall" as many times as Gonzales did and then recall other details, you KNOW he is lying. He is lying about "not recalling."

The difficulty is "proving" he could have "recalled" what he SAID he could not recall.

At the end of the day, the jury will be so confused you would never get a conviction.

You could have 5 people testify that they celebrated his birthday with him, and he could say "I do not recall." Try proving that he does recall.

WHERE'S THE SUPPORT FROM THE (3)NEO CONS LEFT IN CHICAGO.

THE THREE STOOGES.

We need to appoint a special prosecutor to fully investigate this rat. He's a pathological liar. Gonzales has lied under oath, many times, commited perjury, and obstructed justice. Those are the least of his crimes.
This man is a disgrace to the DOJ and the U.S. Constitution. He should be arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned.

What an embarrassment Alberto Gonzales is. These are dark days for real conservative Republicans.

Give it a break! Is anybody as sick of this situation as I am? The guy's gone. There was never a problem to begin with. He didn't have to play with the truth but if he did, he's just not very smart. Move on to the next "scandal," please. How about Hillary's taking money from a fugitive.
Accessory after the fact? Hmmmmm?

Alberto Gonzales,

Those will be some small shoes to fill...

Give it a break! Is anybody as sick of this situation as I am? The guy's gone. There was never a problem to begin with. He didn't have to play with the truth but if he did, he's just not very smart. Move on to the next "scandal," please. How about Hillary's taking money from a fugitive.
Accessory after the fact? Hmmmmm?
Posted by: Damen | August 30, 2007 6:29 PM

Nice try, Dyslin

Duh! And how much is this waste of taxpayer money investigation going to cost us? Did he lie? Does GW and Cheney lie? Nahhh.

It's hard to remember things you forgot.

Give it a break! Is anybody as sick of this situation as I am?
Posted by: Damen

No. We haven't begun to have fun beating this pinata.

Trash washes down the drain. Good riddance, Gonzo.

I don't know the politics of Glen Fine--the problem for Alberto Gonzales is that since trial lawyers fund so much of socialist Democrats politics Justice is teeming with Clinonistas who have buried into civil service.Pat Leahy as I have posted before is a buffoon who only cares about Democrat partisan activities he doesn't care about Justice. He is used to criminalizing GOP members of the government.You leftist loons who post here don't care about Justice either. Jerry White, Springfield, IL

Jerry White,

"He [Patrick Leahy]is used to criminalizing GOP members of the government..."

Care to back that up with some proof, chickenhawk?

Jerry White,

You're making even less sense than usual today. Still carrying water for absolutely anything Bushie eh? Any comment on partisan conservative Robert Novak's take on Gonzalez' character and performance?

You will truly be the last man standing on the Titanic, Mr. White.

Posted by: Damen | August 30, 2007 6:29 PM

Bruce trots out alter-ego Damen. Where is Sierra, Bruce?