Gonzales will have to take the fall (by Marianne Means)

[marmar]

from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

Gonzales will have to take the fall
By MARIANNE MEANS
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

WASHINGTON -- Sir Walter Scott got it right eons ago when he wrote, "Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!" He was both poetic and profound. And his words are relevant to the current political tangle over the botched firings of several U.S. attorneys, for which the administration has produced an array of conflicting and lame excuses.

A friend, a former naval officer very clued into the judicial system, called in high umbrage recently. He reminded me that he might be the only American who still likes President Bush. Then he asked, outraged voice rising, "What were they thinking?"

The answer has to be they weren't thinking, at least not above the level of partisan-political robot. The Justice Department is caught in a stunning web of deceit that is bound to propel Attorney General Alberto Gonzales out the door. The White House cannot restore faith in the rule of law unless he leaves. And even then, it will be an uphill task. Bush is famously loyal to old friends, and Gonzales is an old friend. But the president cannot be the fall guy -- that is a role designated for those less lofty, which means fingering someone expendable.

The White House actually tried out Harriet Miers, but that seems to be collapsing. Then the official story went to a Gonzales deputy, who has since resigned. That isn't holding up well, either. Karl Rove, political plotter in chief, is wrapped in the presidential cocoon. Who's left?
....(snip)....

But the new scandals on Capitol Hill are drawing him in. He has had his hand in every political mud pie and now some of the grime is sticking. It is hard to wash off.

The complete piece is at: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/308465_means22.html

[Atman]

1. "Look, Speedy, the bus I'm gonna throw you under is gonna hurt. Hurt big..."

"But when you finally git up, I promise, you and Mrs. Speedy will be taken care of. You know The Family always take of their own."

.

[Solly Mack]

2. Yep - Gonzales has to go

and even though Bush is posturing and blustering right now, Gonzales will go

but I could be wrong lol

[L. Coyote]

3. WHEW! "White House cannot restore faith in the rule of law ..."

"The White House cannot restore faith in the rule of law unless he leaves...." seems a bit misplaced and an understatement. The real concern is with the fact that if the fired attorneys were unwilling to play politics with their power in the Justice Department, what does this tell us about all the other US attorneys. We need to consider a review of all US attorneys at this point and reforms regarding future appointments to ensure that the appointees, be that Dems of Repubs, are not political agents of the President.