Letters to the Editor
MacK..
Published Letters: 477 Editor's Choice: 49
-
Speaking of a ludicrous statment
[Read the article: Poor, poor Gonzales]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]"KELLER: Thank you, Mr. Attorney General. You have been through more public scrutiny, and probably some pain, in the last month, more than most people have in a lifetime. As a prominent Cabinet member, U.S. attorney, or U.S. attorney general, you could leave today and make $1 million a year at a law firm pretty easily, but you're staying on and want to stay on. Is it because of your passion for those three things, violent crime, terrorism and getting after child predators?"
I don't think so. Perhaps if Gonzales had left a little earlier he would have had a chance of a highly paid partnership at a right wing Republican law firm. But at this point he would be very lucky to get a well paid job anywhere for several reasons, in fact he would be lucky to get any interviews at all:
1. He brings nothing to the table in terms of business; he has no clients and it is hard to see how he would now get any.
2. He is completely hopeless for lobbying -- to Democrats at least he is toxic, having him shill on the Hill for you would be counterproductive, while his negatives with Republicans are privately huge.
3. His abilities as a lawyer facially suck, so that is not something you can sell.
4. His management ability is visibly nil, so a big General Counsel slot is a non-starter.
5. He would be hard for even the most conservative think tank to hire now, and they would not pay even remotely close to $1 million
Moreover, he is just too, too toxic. The truth is, I could see how even a dolt like Gonzales could have made some money in private practice before his Bush admin career, but now, he would be luck to be paid a thin dim by a firm, and I cannot think of one that would want his name on their letterhead.
Like a lot of Bushies, he is no longer "ministrable," someone who can credibly be hired for any serious role. And that is why he is hanging on for dear life, as is Wolfowitz (apparently Feith is in the same situation.) And that is why GWB's staff are beginning to support him -- they see a situation where they too have little future in DC, NYC or elsewhere.
-
Make it a roll-call vote of confidence
[Read the article: Gonzales loses another senator, faces "no-confidence" vote]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Tactically smarter -
Republicans might be unwilling to accept a vote of "No Confidence." If the vote is one of "confidence" the entire Democratic caucus except for Lieberman would vote nay, a good few Republicans would also vote nay, an even bigger bunch of Republicans would abstain (and abstention on a vote of confidence is the same as a nay) and only a few would vote Aye.
-
Confidence motion
[Read the article: The no-confidence man]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I saw McConnell -- what a jackass -- he was using the new Rovian talking lline "surrender date" for "pullout date." When are the Republicans learn that childish spin has left the public antagonised.
Speaking though of a bit of spin -- I really think that the Dems should take McConnell at his word and introduce a "Confidence Motion" rather than a No-Confidence Motion -- and phrase it carefully so that it would be a ringing endorsement of Gonzales if it passed (which it cannot.) Such a motion would really place the Republicans in a bind .. what do Hatch, Specter, McConnell do? That there is more Gonzalez follies to come is very apparent . . . that he is incompetent as well as a hack is apparent . . . do they want to vote for a statement that the Senate/House has confidence in Gonzalez leadership of the Justice Department . . . really. This makes voting "confidence" very very tough even for Republican Congressmen and Senators .. result a lot would abstain or absent themselves.
The Democratic line is -- an abstention or absence is a statement of a lack of confidence - "hell the guys own party won't say he should be Attorney General"
I can see it now "This House/Senate reposes its full trust and confidence .. honesty, integrity, competence, [memory, forthrightness] and ability of Alberto Gonzalez . . . to fullfil the obligations of the role of leading and managing the Justice Department . . and his steadfastness as a defender of the constitution of the United States and adherence to the oath of office he took on . . ."
You gotta be kidding.