Tuesday, May 22, 2007

"Heck of a job, Albie!"

Somehow, Alberto Gonzales retains his job.

It's worth bringing up again, in light of James Comey's breath-taking testimony last week, and with Monica Goodling scheduled to testify before the Senate tomorrow ... how exactly does this man continue to hold a high position in government?

Gonzales has, in the last few months, either lied under oath in his testimony before Congress or shown himself to be completely incapable of fulfilling the job requirements of the position he holds. There is no third alternative. Now we have Comey testifying that, while serving as Presidential counselor, Gonzales attempted to induce then US Attorney General John Ashcroft (Gonzales' predecessor), who was recovering from gall-bladder surgery and still in a drugged state in ICU, to reauthorize a wiretapping program (which involved wiretapping of US citizens) which Comey, acting as AG while Ashcroft was recovering, had previously refused to sign off on. Is this the ethical standard we are willing to accept from the top-ranking lawyer in our government?

By the way, a "scaled-back" version of that wire-tapping program was subsequently declared Unconstitutional in a US District Court. The administration is currently appealing the decision.

It will be interesting to hear what Goodling has to say tomorrow. Apparently, whatever it is, she thought it might open her to criminal prosecution ... but it's going to be tough for her to top Comey's revelations.

1 comment:

x4mr said...

The Senate has considered passing a "no confidence" regarding Gonzales. The White House was quick to note the such a vote would have "no impact."

I agree that Goodling's testimony will be very interesting. As history unfolds and we start to gain hindsight, especially after W leaves office, this is going to be one of the nails in the coffin for condemning the tactics and operating philosophy of this administration.

By the way, talk too much about these folks and statcounter will show you some DOJ hits.

They don't post comments.