• Gonzales Resigns - Chertoff New AG? Hillary Slams Chertoff

      Posted on August 27th, 2007 by rageditor

      21b645a8-9cb4-4526-bff9-b14119234d87_ms.jpg 

      UPDATE: 12:34 p.m. EST Read Pres. Bush’s statement on U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales resignation here. 

      View Gonzales’ letter of Resignation here.

      4/27/07 11:30 a.m. EST: Alberto Gonzales is out.

      But we knew that was coming.

      The battle worn U.S. Attorney General who was scandalized after news broke that his office unethically fired 9 federal attorneys and mishandled FBI terror investigations  - quit today after months of intense criticism.

      It has been one of my greatest privileges to lead the Department of Justice,” Gonzales said, announcing his resignation effective Sept. 17 in a brief statement. Gonzales took no questions and gave no reason for his resignation.Both Republicans and Democrats have since repeatedly called for Gonzales’ resignation while President Bush maintained his support.

      Presidential candidates didn’t waste any time to comment…..Better late than never,” said the increasingly vocal Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

      I have long believed that Alberto Gonzales subverted justice to promote a political agenda, and so I am pleased that he has finally resigned today,” Ill. Senator & presidential candidate Barack Obama said.


       chertoff1b.JPGTalks are already swirling about who may replace Gonzales only moments after his exit.

      Many political analysts are pointing to the Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff as a likely candidate.

      Chertoff (also called Skeletor - do we have to explain why? - by political junkies) has amazing legal creds - receiving his law degree from Harvard University, once serving as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice William H. Brennan Jr., & becoming a U.S. attorney in New Jersey. While in N.J. Chertoff had a hand in reforming the state’s handling of racial profiling cases.

      Politically, Chertoff co-authored the USA Patriot Act and was involved in the Whitewater scandal investigation of Bill and Hillary Clinton. We know one person who won’t be supporting his nom. Chertoff has been loyal to Bush, even helping him draft the uber unpopular immigration bill (Strike #1) earlier this year, so really his nomination will come as no surprise.

      Still, expect many critics to cite Chertoff’s (since dubbed “Michael Jerkoff”) handling of the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster as an example that Chertoff is unfit for the post. Couple that with his support of the immigration bill, and Chertoff doesn’t have too many friends on the Dem or GOP side.

      *As much as I cringe at the idea of another Bush cronie taking up a significant position that has already been marred by a previous Bush cronie - I do believe Chertoff maybe a good choice for this post. 

      I’m not convinced that his handling of Hurricane Katrina has any real bearing on how he’ll perform as Attorney General. His support of the immigration bill is really more cause to pause.

      Still, the man knows the law and if he can keep above the political pressure (which should be diminished by the lame-duck status of our president) he should do the country well.

      The standard has obviously been lowered anyway - You can’t really do much worse than Harriet Miers or Gonzales.

      *UPDATE  5:30 PM est: Just as we speculate how presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will handle a Chertoff nomination, Clinton takes an early jab at the man today:

      The second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is one more reminder that the President must appoint someone to lead the Department of Justice with the leadership and competence necessary to defend the Constitution,” Clinton said in a statement.

      *chuckle - ouch. Clearly this statement underscores that critics don’t plan to put aside Chertoff Jerkoff’s handling of Katrina - a fight Bush may not want as he strives to leave his office without further embarrassments.

      [?]
      Share This Article Sphere: Related Content

        None Found


      Filed under: TheRag

      Leave a Reply
    Next Entries
    Previous Entries