Gonzales Tries Diplomacy

by Steve

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Prior to his testimony at the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, Alberto Gonzales gave the committee pages of testimony hoping to answer some of their questions in advance. As usual, it registered off the charts in the chutzpah scale.

"I believe very strongly that there is no place for political considerations in the hiring of our career employees or in the administration of justice. As such, these allegations have been troubling to hear. From my perspective, there are two options available in light of these allegations. I would walk away or I could devote my time, effort and energy to fix the problems. Since I have never been one to quit, I decided that the best course of action was to remain here and fix the problems."

Someone wrote this with a straight face. But assuming that Gonzales was sincere when he wrote that "I could devote my time, effort and energy to fix the problems", then perhaps Gonzales can prove it by:

1. Telling Fred Fielding and Dick Cheney to turn over all the documents Congress wants surrounding the firings, instead of doing everything possible to force a court challenge that will run out the clock;

2. Terminating the appointments of all prosecutors who were installed without congressional approval during the "Appoint a Hack" period, and then submit new names for those positions with the support of home-state senators.

3. Dump all Justice officials who clearly are there for a political, not justice agenda.

4. Commit the Bush Administration to a 2007 Voting Rights Act that stops the GOP disenfranchisement of minority citizens.

Until Alberto does this, everything else is smoke and mirrors. There are dozens of conservative lawyers with deep prosecutorial experience around the country who prioritize the rule of law over a political agenda at DOJ. It's just that the Bush Administration doesn't believe in the rule of law.