Today's Topic: Alberto Gonzales admits...

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is rejecting growing calls for his resignation today after scores of documents are released outlining a detailed campaign by the Justice Department and White House to purge federal prosecutors. (“Gonzales: ‘I did make some mistakes’”). The attorneys were allegedly fired for not expediting the investigations of some Democratic officials in time for the 2006 election. They have been replaced by Bush appointees. After apologizing, Gonzales put his job in Bush’s hands, saying “that is a decision for the President of the United States to make. I’m focused on doing my job.”

Do you think it’s time for Gonzales to step down? Should President Bush force his resignation? If you were in charge, what would you do to fix this embarrassing situation in the Justice Department? What are the dangers of politicizing the DOJ like this?

Comments: 9

gibbs williams Mar 14, 2007, 12:02pm EDT

Gonzales was a controversial nomination. Note the following: Alberto Gonzales, President Bush's choice as the new U.S. attorney general, told a Senate committee he did not approve of torturing detainees in the war on terror when he was White House counsel and that in his new job he would be independent of the president. NPR's David Welna reports. Thu, 06 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Whatever else Gonzales has demonstrated in his role as Attorney General is anything but independent of the President.

Perhaps this time he and the entire administration has gotten caught in his and their abuse of authority.

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Donna M. Mar 14, 2007, 1:54pm EDT

I cannot think of any President who has made so many bad choices for positions of such importance in my life as a voter...and its been over 50 years...regardless of the party in the White House...this man is an embarrassment as is Cheney, Rove, and the man sent to help the Katrina disaster..(to name a few!) .one day he's the best guy for the job and our Pres has all the confidence in the world in him and the next day he is fired...how anyone with any education at all, even if it is only grade school, can buy the crap he dishes out is beyond me...

The scary thing that came to my mind when I read the paper yesterday and the reference to Harriet who our President hand picked and trusted... wanted her to be a Supreme Justice (yikes)...suggested firing all of them - all I could think of was Thank god she didn't get in....but concerns me about the other 2 he hand picked...

This administration is becoming a 2 car funeral....waiting for an accident to happen...

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Holly C. Mar 14, 2007, 3:43pm EDT

Gonzalez didn't make any "mistakes". He knew exactly what he was doing when the attorneys were fired. He knew that the attorneys were fired because they were defending the justice system instead of Bush's political agenda.

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Joe T. Mar 14, 2007, 3:51pm EDT

In all of my life - I've never seen such shenanigans as this administration's modus operandi. Of course, Holly, you are right. Gonzalez did not make any mistakes. He did what he wanted to do. These people see everyone who doesn't do things the way they want as a problem. Following the laws and previous precedent is just plain good lawyering. This story is disgusting.

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Chris W. Mar 14, 2007, 9:42pm EDT

Yes agreed, it was no mistake. it was intentional on Gonzalez part.

Do you suppose that he checked with GWB or just did it without asking? I'll tell you one guy who knew about it in advance: Karl Rove. I'm starting to wonder if they tell George anything. This administration is in disarray.

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Carolyn G. Mar 15, 2007, 10:08pm EDT

All you have to do is read the emails to know that there were no innocent parties in all of this. It was pure political chicanery and the typical lack of ethics.

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