Alberto Gonzalez Resigns

[Elphaba]

Attorney General Gonzalez Resigns

Albert Gonzalez Resigns

WACO, Tex., Aug. 27 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzalez, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. A senior administration official said he would announce the decision later this morning in Washington.

Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, the official said. His decision was not immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch near here.
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I wouldn't be surprised if he did not "recall" resigning and showed up for work tomorrow.

Elphaba

P.S. I just realized why he waited until now. Can you say "recess appointment"?

[FrankJL]

If he's going to recess appoint a new AG, Bush needs to hurry up. The Senate comes back into session on the 3rd, a week from now.

From what I've seen Bush talk about a nomination hearing, doesn't suggest to me that he will try to sneak in a recess appointment. However there is a few end arounds (football analogy) he could run. First of all he can appoint a new temp AG, without senate approval, even if they are in session, and he/she can serve for 210 days (or something like that I don't remember an exact figure), then after that he can nominate a real candidate for AG and delay his confirmation hearing for another 210 days.

So the President has a lot of options at his disposal, considering he has 16 months left in office, has a lot of wiggle room here.

[BenRaines]

I guess that Alberto Gonzalez was the wrong minority to appoint to AG.



Ben Raines

[Elphaba]

If he's going to recess appoint a new AG, Bush needs to hurry up. The Senate comes back into session on the 3rd, a week from now.

From what I've seen Bush talk about a nomination hearing, doesn't suggest to me that he will try to sneak in a recess appointment. However there is a few end arounds (football analogy) he could run. First of all he can appoint a new temp AG, without senate approval, even if they are in session, and he/she can serve for 210 days (or something like that I don't remember an exact figure), then after that he can nominate a real candidate for AG and delay his confirmation hearing for another 210 days.

So the President has a lot of options at his disposal, considering he has 16 months left in office, has a lot of wiggle room here.
[/b]

1. What Bush "talks" about and what he does are often two completely different things.

2. As far as a recess appointment, the reason I think he might take advantage of it is if he has someone controversial in mind that he thinks might have a problem getting confirmed by the Congress. Since his nominees are almost always controversial, and since he has a Democratic congress to contend with now, a recess nominee is the perfect solution. I still think it's a possibility.

3. Having said that, your solution seems viable as well and I hope that's what ends up happening. With a Democratic congress he's actually going to have to search outside of his circle, as I doubt the Congress will confirm anyone who doesn't have exemplary qualifications.

Unfortunately, I don't think Bush will even know where to look. :P

Elphaba

I guess that Alberto Gonzalez was the wrong minority to appoint to AG.[/b]

He was obviously the wrong man.

Elphaba

[pam]

There was an article on ksl.com asking Senator Hatch if he would be interested in the job. He said...NO.

[prisonchaplain]

I nominate John Ashcroft to be brought back. We need an AG who's AG! :-)

[Elphaba]

There was an article on ksl.com asking Senator Hatch if he would be interested in the job. He said...NO.[/b]

That really surprises me. I am no fan of the Senator. However, I think he would have done a decent job. I think he's always hoped he'd be asked to sit on the SCOTUS.

Very interesting.

Did it give a reason why he said no?

I guess I could go find the story, huh?

Elphaba

I nominate John Ashcroft to be brought back. We need an AG who's AG! :-)[/b]

Fine, but can we at least keept the artwork uncovered? :P

Elphaba

[prisonchaplain]

Yeah...that's a fair compromise.

[Elphaba]

Yeah...that's a fair compromise.
[/b]

I never thought the day would come when I would say OK to John Ashcroft. But I have to admit that while I disagree with his politics, he did have the brains to do the job.

Oh, one more thing. He can't sing on camera. Deal?

Elphaba

[prisonchaplain]

No.

No amount of power in the world should take away the song that is in a man's heart.