CBS: Strategist Says Gonzales Is "Finished" (Rohrbacher (R) says Gonzales should go)

[sabra]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/15/politics/main2572891.shtml

Strategist Says Gonzales Is "Finished"
Senate Investigation Heats Up Amid Calls For Attorney General Gonzales' Ouster

(CBS/AP) Pressure mounted on the White House Thursday to fire Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for the abrupt dismissal of U.S. attorneys. More Republicans called for his ouster, and one Republican strategist close to the White House told CBS News that Gonzales is "finished."

Congressman Dana Rohrbacher became the latest Republican to say Gonzales should go, reports CBS News White House correspondent Jim Axelrod.

"Even for Republicans this is a warning sign … saying there needs to be a change," said Rohrbacher. "Maybe the president should have an attorney general who is less a personal friend and more professional in his approach."

[zanne]

1. Well that's fine, but...

What happens to the ousted U.S. Attorneys? Do they get their jobs back?

[regnaD kciN]

9. Not here...

Up here in Seattle, McKay is definitely out, and the White House has called upon the one Publican congressman in western Washington, Dave "Third" Reichart, to submit recommendations for his replacement. He has come up with three, including ex-congressman and Christian Coalition backer Rick White. I don't know the other two, but am sure they are equally odious.

The point everyone is missing, unfortunately, is that the renewal of the Patriot Act specifically permitted this sort of dismissal and reappointment by the administration. While this may be providing a lot of bad press for the Bushies, the sad fact is that it is now fully legal, and likely to remain the status quo for the indefinite future. People may be upset, but there's nothing they can do to stop it, short of passing a new law overturning the terms of the Patriot Act and marshaling enough Publican votes to overcome a sure Bush veto. And that ain't gonna happen. :-(

[BootinUp]

16. If there is enough coverage of this freakin mess the repukes

will go along with changes to the PAT act.

[saigon68]

23. Oh Boy Alberto is about to be thrown under the Bus

[Kikosexy2]

11. Oh my!...

Dana Dickhead Rohrbacher...of all people...finally does something right...and not for the "Right"...

[gratuitous]

2. If a lizard brain like Rohrabacher is calling for resignation

Gonzales is truly finished. I was thinking it might happen today, then I thought he might last into next week, but I'm back to thinking that Mr. Gonzales will either resign or be fired much sooner rather than later.

So, who's going to want the job now? And will they fumigate the office before they move in?

[BOSSHOG]

4. gonzo will hold a press conference

today at the same time Ms Plame is testifying at Mr Waxman's subcommittee.

[yellowcanine]

3. I believe this is the second thing I agree with Dana on. First was legalizing medical mjane. Now

this. Pigs are flying.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Gonzo quits. That would make a good friday afternoon news dump.

[Halliburton]

6. but pete williams of nbc news

says that the whole thing is much to do about nothing

[Lost4words]

7. pete williams is nothing!

[jmowreader]

21. The saddest part is, Pete Williams is right

The Patriot Act, which Bush forced down Congress' throat, specifically authorizes these firings.

[peaches2003]

8. Bush needs personal friends

in important positions to protect his ass and keep his secrets. No one professional would take a job in this Adm. That's why everything is 'loyalty' with Bush.

[BadgerKid]

10. If * lost his friends

would he blow everyone's cover? Hmmm...

[dogfacedboy]

20. P.N.A.C. n/t

[wryter2000]

12. I wonder

Are they planning to throw Gonzo under the bus in hopes that'll end the whole matter? I'd love to see that smarmy bastard get ousted, but this has to go to Rove, as well, if not Idiot Boy himself.

[bearfan454]

13. Exactly nt

[PATRICK]

14. The sub story is big

and the WH only is or should be paying attention to it. A real formal, organized and vocal opposition to the Bush regime threatens the whole structure of protection and continuity and the anointing of a successor- everything up to and including impeachment. Usually it is something beneath personal fear and grovelling and most GOP reps have no choice by nature or complicity but to sullenly go along with Bush close to the end. To have ANY real opposition and defections start to coalesce, to enable a non-Bush Gop person to run for POTUS to unravel everything for the sake of their own skins, this is a thick dam breaking- the single greatest barrier against impeachment.

And the issue itself, albeit one of many abdicated issues, leads to impeachment. The crumbling of the despised, ill treated, corrupted GOP House with the birth of rebels is as important as the crisis of this this particular crime itself. They can't trust each other. This is too big. They pushed too far.

As in all other cases the Dems must keep up the heat to the max. And it only means having to do the job defined by their office.

[Donovan61]

15. Goodbye, Gonzo

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

The right wing gas-bag-o-sphere is gonna get real crowded over at the Fox Noise Channel, what with all the soon-to-be unemployed Bushies needing to find a job.

I am so enjoying the implosion of this administration.

[The Stranger]

17. We'll huff, and we'll puff, and we'll blow Gonzo's house down.

[autorank]

18. The Surfing Reich Winger Dana says it's over...it's over BIG TIME

Old Dana is a real embarrassment to most of us who once or now call California our home.

He's the worst of the worst partisans, and much much more.

This is amazing.

[damntexdem]

19. Rohrbacher! Then Gonzalez IS toast!

The GOP barrel has clearly collapsed when we get so far to the bottom of the barrell as Dana (my former 'representative').

[CubicleGuy]

22. If they serve at the pleasure of the President...

... shouldn't there be some documents with the President's name and signature on them authorizing the firing of these guys?

If not, then maybe it ought to be admitted that they serve at the pleasure of the AG instead...

[IWantAChange]

24. This from the Repuke who scoffs at Global warming ... NON-genius alert!!!!!!!