Letters to the Editor
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gonzales incompetent? Nope.
a couple posters wrote, in part:
either/or...
Gonzales is either unquestionably the most politically corrupt Attorney General in the history of his position, or the most incompetent
Both, I'd say... his corruption makes competence completely outside the realm of possibility. Having people like him in charge of the US justice system is pretty much
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No, no, no. Even a cursory reading of what's going on here argues strongly for the notion that, far from being incompetent, Gonzales is a genius. For his boss.
I believe something was here in Salon recently making essentially that point. Gonzales is lying beautifully for the administration. He's doing EXACTLY what he was brought in to do: cover up Bush Administration crimes, and commit more crimes, all while sounding like a deferential dunce.
It's a brilliant performance. I'm sure Gonzo will make millions in private practice. I can't say I've ever seen a lawyer deliver one bald-faced lie after another with more aplomb.
He's not incompetent folks. He's brilliant. Doing exactly what he was hired to do.
And if you think you've heard a lot of "I don't recall" just wait until Goodling takes the stand.
The GOP and Bush and Cheney and Rove are going to stonewall this one, precisely because this is a strand that could start unraveling in a major way at any moment. So, there will be no slip-ups beyond the initial slip-up of screwing up the firings so badly.
The reason these GOP house members are acting so stupid is less likely because they're actually stupid, and more likely that they've been put on notice that there is to be no screwing around: the stakes are too high. And these GOP congressmen know it. If this strand really unravels, the GOP could be done as a political party, forever.
I'm not sure anyone realizes just how seriously dangerous this investigation is. It could bring down the Administration. Why do you think the GOP is fighting so hard to end it? If it wasn't much, they'd let it go, figuring it to be a welcome distraction. They protest too much. Act too stupid. Something's in the wind, folks.
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had_enough
Perhaps I should clarify-- I agree that Gonzales is doing an amazing job as a simpering, deliberately obtuse toady for a corrupt administration. He's just not competent if one uses as a standard the proper role of the Attorney General of the United States, because he's a corrupt toady. Can't serve two masters, etc.
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Gloves need to come off now!
Pelosi and Reid need to stop pussy-footing around commence impeachment proceedings immediately against Rice, Cheney, and Gonzales. Ms. Rice continues to demonstrate her contempt of congress, refusing to honor a subpoena. Gonzales shows up and repeats the exact same testimony. I say fine. Impeach him, let these idiot Republicans go on record supporting him, and pay the electoral consequences. Until the Democrats muster the stones to impeach someone who so obviously deserves it, they will continue to be smirked at by self-serving imbeciles with no respect for the rule of law.
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Gonna lay my head on the railroad track
and wait for the double-EE
The railroad don't run no more
Poor, poor pitiful me
Poor, poor pitiful me
Poor, poor pitiful me
These Demomcrats won't let me be
Lord have mercy on me*
* with apologies to Warren Zevon
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By Setting A Dangerous Precendent, The Republicans Have Given The Dems A Powerful Weapon
Once we Dems take back the House, we can use the now-corrupt and politicized DOJ to completely outlaw and dismantle the GOP. Thanks for the shortsightedness, Republicans - we're going to use it to destroy you, your families and everything you hold dear.
And you won't be able to say a goddamn thing about it.
ROFL!
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He's giving Congress the runaround, successfully.
He's basically saying, "I'm not going to get to the bottom of this by speaking to any of the involved people (in order to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, according to him).
So, he leaves the investigation up to Congress, but will answer none of their questions about individuals actually involved in coming up with the target list (those same people that he's not talking to).
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I watched part of this hearing yesterday, and pretty much decided I could never be in Congress... even the Democrats were so damned polite...
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It's funny how a guy who is going so far out of his way to prove his incompetence in order to avoid answering questions is still successfully arguing that he's competent enough to continue running the Department.
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I don't think it's right to call them stupid
It's just that they don't understand the issue given the context of Gonzales having an R after his name, and his being appointed by a Bush. To them, that "R" is some kind of guaranty for... what ever it is they associate with it. They don't have a problem with tyranny, per se, because they see it as being a compassionate tyranny, necessary for the good of the country.
They are not stupid, just blindly partisan. Remember back in the late '90s when they were all howling about the dangers of an "Imperial Presidency." Now that is an actual fact and reality, not one of them seems to give a shit about it at all. It's the same deal here.
If Gonzales had been up to the same tricks and was a Clinton appointee, they would understand the issue completely, and that right quick. Special prosecuters would have already been assigned, with a blank check attached for investigative powers.
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Mo' Money
Generally, the revolving door in Washington creates six-figure plus incomes from Ex-Cabinet and other highly placed government officials. As a former recruiter for the legal profession, I could not honestly doctor up a resume for Alberto Gonzales which would offer him a lateral position sufficient to a position with a solo practice civil office in Louisiana or, with his high contacts, a marketing job with a major bail bonds agency.
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Fallout
In the last week, I have seen two different USAG's on The News Hour. Both of them focused on how the professional they were. To me, it seemed as if they were trying to pre-emptively deflect partisan criticism.
What this administration has done is to put our entire federal system of justice into question. The results? Defense for those accused, and a break-down of our fedreal justice system. If you get indicted for something -- claim it's political.
That only adds to the problem rather than solving it.