That depends on your definition of "discussion"

Gonzales is starting to sound like Clinton. We impeached Clinton, as I recall (though true he wasn't convicted). So maybe Gonzales should resign, seeing as he is in the same boat. Only logical.

Gonzales went on live TV and claimed he was not involved in any "discussions" about the plan to fire the federal prosecutors, and he "did not see any memos." Now we have an email that proves he attended at least one meeting, an hour long meeting no less, devoted to nothing but that very topic. Gonzales says he didn't lie in his statement before because he didn't really participate in the meeting. Oh really. Not only would that make him an ineffective leader if true, but it sounds like a lie on top of the first lie he told about not being involved in discussions. He is digging himself a hole and should resign before he reaches China.

I found a great blog entry over at CBS that explains this all better than I could. Here it is:

Cool CBS Blog

Enjoy!

PS Oh, and about Clinton firing all 93 attorneys: he did it at the beginning of his term, which I'm told is common, and without regard to what they were investigating. Plus he had Congressional oversight. Bush fired attorneys that he himself had appointed, in the middle of his term, without Congressional oversight and to stop particular investigations they were doing (specifically into corrupt Republican politicians), all of which is unprecedented and all of which is creepy. We need to shine the harsh light of day onto the dealings of this administration and we need to do it now.

Just Testify for Gosh Sakes!

Karl Rove should testify under oath and with a transcript. That is what testify means. This is nonsense that it ought to be behind closed doors and with no record. What is Bush thinking? Doesn't he remember that 47 Clinton advisors, including one in Rove's exact job, testified before Congress? And under oath and with transcripts too. I am getting so sick of this out-of-control, secretive, deceptive and devious administration that ignores the will of the people. The think they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, without the checks and balances that were built into the system by our Founding Fathers. It makes me ill.

Good on Pelosi by the way for passing a bill that starts the process of reigning in this administration and introducing them to reality. This simply can't go on.

I know this is my third political one but a lot has happened.

Maybe Gonzales will be Next

I am glad Libby got punished for his part in the administration's scandals, as noted below. Maybe Gonzales will be next. He has been Bush's lap dog ever since he was the governor of Texas. Bush keeps promoting him to positions of greater and greater power as he himself has been elevated. And what does Bush value above all else? Loyalty. Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty. Not intelligence or competence or ability, but loyalty, pure and simple. That is what got us into the Katrina Mess, the fact that he placed loyal people in charge rather than people who could actually do the job.

And Gonzales has proven his loyalty time and time again. As White House counsel he twisted the Constitution within an inch of its life in order to justify warrantless wiretapping on American citizens. In my opinion he violated the Constitution. His first act as Attorney General, according to the New York Times, was to bring over to the Justice Department two White House aides and elevate a third that had recently moved to the Justice Department. The Attorney General is supposed to work for the American People, not the White House. Though he claims to see the distinction Gonzales proved he was just paying lip service to it with the politically motivated dismissal of federal prosecutors who weren't "loyal" enough. The loyalty thing again. They are obsessed with it. They fired these prosecutors because they were investigating the corruption of Republicans. The firing plan was initiated by Harriet Miers, at that time White House Counsel (at least she has some sense and dignity and resigned from this mess). The entire idea came from the White House. For that reason alone it should never have touched the Justice Department. True, Clinton fired prosecutors, but back then we had Senate oversight. Thanks to the Patriot Act, the President now has sole power. The Senate will soon vote to possibly bring back that oversight, as they should. This country was founded on checks and balances, not a monarchy.

But back to Gonzales. Gonzales took on the plan from the White House as his own and, doing the President's bidding, fired the prosecutors, who were fine and able prosecutors, because Bush didn't like them. Gonzales ought to Resign.

Don't Pardon Libby

Scooter Libby has finally been convicted for his crimes. Yes, he's the fall guy for the administration, but he still did the crime and should do the time. Cheney and Rove played him for a fool, it is true, but he was willing participant. I'm glad he was convicted. It is high time someone from this administration was held liable for the crimes against the constitution they have committed, this being just a minor example. Larger examples include the lies that brought us the failed Iraq war, the warrantless wiretapping of American citizens, and the firing of US attorneys for political purposes. Yet another example is the cronyism that led to the Katrina Debacle. They still don't have basic services down there. They also retake documents that had been declassified and reclassify them. Some of these documents have been used in publications, and yet they feel the need to make them classified. The are the most secretive, deceitful, incompetent administration in a long time, if not ever. I'll be glad when they are gone. Even another Republican would be better I am sure, though I hope we get a Democrat. Maybe with this next election we'll get a Democrat. At least we have a Democratic Congress. Maybe now we'll get something done rather than fall into lobbyist and page boy scandals.

Bush should recuse himself from the proceedings and refuse to pardon him, since he is a former aide of his administration and a conflict of interest.