It may just be wishful thinking, but that's what Sen. Arlen Specter said yesterday on "Face the Nation", in response to a question about this week's planned vote of no-confidence in the attorney general.
Mr. Specter noted that no-confidence votes were rare, adding, “I think that if and when he sees that coming, that he would prefer to avoid that kind of an historical black mark.” Mr. Specter, of Pennsylvania, would not say how he would vote on a resolution.
Most Senate Democrats and five Republicans have called on the attorney general to resign, but President Bush, who considers Mr. Gonzales one of his most trusted advisers, has steadily supported him.
It seems obvious that such a vote would easily pass, assuming all that was needed was a simple majority. Most Democrats and at least five Republicans would vote yes, and there could be a sizable number of other GOPers that would support it, too.
The White House has denigrated the move as a political stunt and today Bush reiterated his support for Fredo. But the reality is that Gonzales' ability to lead his department would be seriously impaired by such a public rebuke, especially if the vote is lopsided. At that point you have to start wondering why Bush places personal loyalty to incompetent lapdogs above the good of the people and the efficient administration of justice.
Between the no-confidence vote and the upcoming testimony of Monica Goodling, it promises to be yet another bad week for the AG.
Gonzales, politics, midtopia
2 comments:
What makes you think Monica Goodling's testimony will be bad for Gonzales?
JP5
I don't know that it will... but then again, everyone thought Kyle Sampson's testimony would help Gonzales, too.
The thing is, Goodling's testimony could show any of several unflattering things.
1. Gonzales was more involved in the firing than he has admitted;
2. The firings were, in fact, entirely for political reasons;
3. Her testimony could contradict Gonzales, perhaps demonstrating yet again that he spoke misleadingly to Congress, or outright lied.
If none of the above occur, then her testimony will be yet one more piece of evidence that Gonzales absented himself from significant management decisions, which does not reflect well on his management style or abilities.
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