Breaking: Gonzales Apologizes To Prosecutors

[SlowDownFast]

Posted on Fri, Mar. 16, 2007

Gonzales apologizes to prosecutors
By Marisa Taylor and Margaret Talev
McClatchy Newspapers


WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales apologized to the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys in a conference call Friday as he tried to hold on to his job amid the scandal over the firings of eight federal prosecutors.

In another move to repair his credibility, Gonzales named a respected U.S. attorney from Virginia, Chuck Rosenberg, as his interim chief of staff to replace Kyle Sampson, who stepped down because of his involvement in the controversy.

-SNIP-

Gonzales apologized to the prosecutors not for the firings but for their execution, including for inaccurate public statements about poor job performance, according to people familiar with the afternoon conference call.

"It shouldn't have happened," Gonzales said, according to one lawyer familiar with the conversation. The lawyer, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said Gonzales acknowledged that he'd seemed too detached during his news conference earlier this week. He told the prosecutors that he "should have known" about the dismissal planning by his former chief of staff.



more:
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/16921226.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_nation

[dbt]

1. So the Friday News Dunp has moved to Saturday morning now?

Get the news before it gets you!

[SlowDownFast]

6. Found this via TPM posted at 11:29pm EST. n/t

[texpatriot2004]

2. Poor guy, he's still trying to spin it. Give it up. nm

[rocktivity]

3. Apologizing isn't the answer. Reinstating them is.

After which, you RESIGN. Nowhere not good enough, Gonzo!!!!

:headbang:
rocknation

[bobbie]

31. Clark/Obama eh?

I rather like that rocknation.
Quite a lot in fact.

[MadMaddie]

58. Yea...I like that Combo too.

[dogfacedboy]

81. Make it Obama/Clark, and I'll sign up. n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

56. "I'm sorry I fucked you over. Peace."

:hippie:

[zanne]

66. Or....

"I'm sorry I fucked you over. No offense".

[Bombero1956]

70. I'm sorry I got caught fucking you over

Move on people I'm not going to fire you unless a Republican calls me to have you canned.

[NanceGreggs]

4. Yesterday, I thought this guy ...

... was a lying, torture-advocating, arrogant, self-serving, prick.

After reading this, I must admit ...

I now think he's a pathetic lying, torture-advocating, arrogant, self-serving, prick.

Juts goes to show how you can change your mind about people.

[aquart]

11. So true.

[aquart]

12. Wait. The 93 who hold office NOW?

That's who he apologized to? The toadies who kept their jobs and the toadies who took the jobs of the competent professionals?

Well, golly. That sure means a lot.

[Jackpine Radical]

32. That would be the 85 who went along with the politicization

of their jobs as demanded, plus the 8 replacements who promised fealty to Rove as a condition of employment.

[fooj]

17. I know this...

Gonzo has ALWAYS been a coward.

[Demeter]

30. We Need To Get You A Drummer for the Rimshots, Nance!

LOL> Thanks for the early morning chuckle.

[annabanana]

40. rimshot guy:

[Useless in FL]

47. Perfect!

 :P omigod - that was so perfect.  Thanks for the laugh, I
really needed it!  

[wryter2000]

49. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[NanceGreggs]

60. Welcome to DU, (not at all) Useless in FL ...

you will find MUCH to make you laugh here on DU -- along with much to make you think, to question, to debate, to discuss ... you're in for a WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!

:hi:

[susanna]

64. LOL. Now THAT'S funny. :-) n/t

[sellitman]

74. Nance...You have a way with words.

You should try writing sometimes

:hi: :yourock: :patriot:

[az chela]

5. Screw this evil man who advised bush on habeus corpur and condoned

torture.He needs to be sent to guantanamo

[swag]

7. Republican mindset: Warm Buttery Rimjobs pay off everything.

[pepperbear]

8. In other news, Alberto Gonzalez seen checking into...and back out of Promises n/t

[Patsy Stone]

9. Meet Chuck Rosenberg

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae/usattorney.html

United States Attorney
Eastern District of Virginia
Chuck Rosenberg

Chuck Rosenberg was appointed by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in March 2006 to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He was subsequently nominated to that position by President George Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate, unanimously, on June 13, 2006.

As the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District, which includes offices in Alexandria, Newport News, Norfolk and Richmond, Mr. Rosenberg supervises the prosecution of all federal crimes, and the litigation of all civil matters in which the federal government has an interest.

Mr. Rosenberg has spent most of his professional career in public service. From June 2005 until March 2006, he served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. Prior to that, he served in several senior posts at the Department of Justice where his work focused on counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and national security matters, including as: Chief of Staff to Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey, Counselor to Attorney General John Ashcroft; and, before that, as Counsel to FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III.

Before joining the FBI, Mr. Rosenberg was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, in Norfolk and, subsequently, in Alexandria. There he prosecuted financial fraud crimes, violent crimes, and espionage cases. During the last two years of his tenure as a federal prosecutor in Alexandria, Mr. Rosenberg supervised that office's Major Crimes Unit - the unit that prosecuted numerous prominent spy cases. While in private practice with the law firm of Hunton & Williams, Mr. Rosenberg served as an NBC legal analyst, appearing frequently on television. He is a graduate of Tufts University (B.A.), Harvard University (M.P.P) and the University of Virginia (J.D.).

[eringer]

36. The Future is Now

Looks like Bush let Gonzo pick his successor. Impressive credentials. Selecting Chuck "Rosie" Rosenberg will be like turning the gas off on the stove. Unfortunately for Gonzo, he is the "gas" that must be turned off. Good Riddance!

[wryter2000]

48. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[phoebe]

39. a *co man through and through

http://www.rtnda.org/foi/Wimmer.pdf

this documents lists the inaccuracies re: statement made by "Chuck" Rosenberg re: the Free Flow of Information Act

This guy fully intends to continue business as usual for * and, if possible to clamp down even harder on our rights.

[WatchWhatISay]

10. Too little, too late

Too incompetent
Too loyal to the wrong people

[The Wizard]

57. And

a lousy lawyer. The law school that gave him a degree must be lowering tuition every time Gonzo opens his mouth. He's a disgrace to his profession, his country and human dignity. The son-of-a-bitch needs to be humiliated.

[ebayfool]

13. He apologizes to the ones he DIDN'T fire?

For making "inaccurate public statements about poor job performance" of the attorneys that he DID fire?

Isn't he apologizing to wrong people here?

Dayum, he even screws up his 'sorrys'!

[TroglodyteScholar]

25. No, he's apologizing to the right people...

...he's apologizing to the remaining "Bushies" who his chief of staff's emails exposed as Bush loyalists rather than upholders of legal justice.

[POAS]

38. Exactly, his apology is basically

"I'm sorry I exposed you all as toadies.?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

71. you hit it on the head.

He exposed several things with this stunt. He exposed how precarious their jobs are, if they fail to attack Democrat Party members in court; he exposed how little respect he has for the rule of law; he exposed how seemy the GOP party really is, and worst of all, he exposed how many of them are following bootlicking orders to attack the Democrat Party.

[SlowDownFast]

14. USA Today: Gonzales Brings In New Chief of Staff

Gonzales brings in new chief of staff
Updated 7h 17m ago

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
Reuters


By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales reached into the ranks of U.S. attorneys for an interim chief of staff Friday to replace Kyle Sampson, who resigned earlier this week for his role in the Justice Department's abrupt dismissal of eight federal prosecutors.

Gonzales named Chuck Rosenberg, the chief federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria, to serve as his closest advisor at a time when several Democrats and some Republicans in Congress have called for the attorney general to resign over his handling of prosecutors' firings.

Rosenberg was chief of staff to former deputy attorney general James Comey. Other previous jobs included counselor to former attorney general John Ashcroft and counsel to FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Meanwhile, the Democrat-controlled Senate and House Judiciary committees continued to press for the testimony of several White House officials in their investigations of the matter.

At the top of that list of possible witnesses is White House political strategist Karl Rove, whose name surfaced Thursday in recently-disclosed e-mails in which he inquired in January 2005 about the administration's replacement plan for U.S. attorneys.

more:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-03-16-gonzales_N.htm?csp=34

[NastyRiffraff]

15. Dead Man Walking

"I apologize to the victims."

Too little, too late. Unlike some condemned prisoners, he didn't even apologize to his victims. Pathetic and desperate.

[brentspeak]

16. "It shouldn't have happened." Wrong. You, as Attorney General, shouldn't have happened.

More to the point: Bush, as President, shouldn't have happened.

[HuffleClaw]

18. "He told the prosecutors that he "should have known"..." ???

keep digging that hole!

[wryter2000]

53. That's what it looks like to me

The longer they drag this out, the more damage it's going to do them. What I want to know is when the rest of the Republics will wake up and realize that covering up for Bush and his cronies is hurting them. I honestly thought that after the "thumpin'" they took in November, the ones left would try to save their own skins.

[merwin]

19. Just like every GOP member. Be an asshole, get caught, and apologize.

Hoping that it will get you off. If that doesn't work, and there's possible jail time involved, cue the crying, and be sure to bring up how you have let down Jesus.

[Frank Cannon]

65. One other step you forgot: Blame it on liquor

Then enter rehab for a month to get away from the TV cameras.

I'm sure we'll have Gonzo's tearful, shitfaced confession shortly.

[merwin]

80. Ah, thanks. I forgot that one.

It's a must

[Ian David]

20. Is there a book called, "The Art of The Republican Non-Apology"?

Republican Non-Apology Number One: The Blame The Victim Apology.

Republican: You're an asshole.
Guy: Hey! I'm offended that you called me an asshole! I demand an apology.
Republican: I'm sorry if you were offended by me calling you an asshole.
Guy: Somehow, that doesn't sound very apolgetic.
Republican: I'm sorry if that doesn't sound apologetic to you.

[tanyev]

26. I'm sorry I stepped in front of your gun, Mr. Cheney.

[wryter2000]

50. Spot on!

:rofl:

[Vinca]

21. Gonzo apologizing?? Wow! Things are very dire indeed. nt

[Solly Mack]

22. So? He apologized. Big fucking woo

that's right up there with the other favorite ("I take responsibility") of those wanting to appear to take responsibility without actually having to be held accountable for their actions




It's all bullshit
It's all just lip service

[DemoTex]

23. Next stop: Rehab! It's the tried-and-true GOP way.

"It shouldn't have happened," Gonzales said, according to one lawyer familiar with the conversation. The lawyer, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said Gonzales acknowledged that he'd seemed too detached during his news conference earlier this week. He told the prosecutors that he "should have known" about the dismissal planning by his former chief of staff.

Blame it on the staff; blame it on the staff.
You'll feel so much better, you will even laugh!
Join the accusation; save the bleeding nation.
Get it off your shoulders; blame it on the staff.

My apologies to the great Kris Kristofferson.

[chelsea0011]

24. They're compassionate and they're conservative

'nuf said

[youngdem]

27. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. RESTORE THEIR JOBS AND RESIGN

The bigger story here is still not being widely talked about, which is what has happened when prosecutors did what the White House wanted. Which cases were dropped and which frivolous cases were pursued for political purposes?

There are surely many prosecutors who did what they needed to do to keep their jobs.

[Seldona]

77. Bingo!

The US Attorneys Office, as well as the Justice Department, has zero credibility left. Those emails point out that US attorneys are nothing more than administration lackeys. Or if they aren't they will be dealt with.

Personally I won't feel safe until the next hopefully Democratic president fires all of them and replaces them with people more interested in the rule of law than in their own partisan agendas and covering the asses of their political allies.

It is amazing how far a country can fall in just six short years. And just how much damage one crooked administration can do.

[rodeodance]

28. well, Bush did tell him he had work to do on the Hill (damage control)

[rodeodance]

29. well, Bush did tell him he had work to do on the Hill (damage control)

[Mr. Ected]

33. The Ass Is Sorry

Time to get his sorry ass out of Washington.

[Cha]

34. LIAR! Gets to apologize and he

keeps his job? Still gonna be a big problem for him pushing the bushit agenda now. Be lookin' at that proven LIAR extra Closely.

[muntrv]

35. Gonzo's sorry he got caught.

[Presidentcokedupfratboy]

37. "Sorry I despoiled the integrity of the DOJ"

Well, not really. This bunch has never given a good god-damn about our legal system and its proper administration. They bend or make up new rules all the time with little regard for The Constitution, which Our Worst President Ever, GW Bush, allegedly referred to as a "Goddam piece of paper."

[Morgana LaFey]

41. SHOULD HAVE KNOWN? Utter bullshit

He told the prosecutors that he "should have known" about the dismissal planning by his former chief of staff.

He knew. He knew ALL about it. So did Rove. So did Bush.

[19jet54]

42. "Dumber than a bag of hammers"...

Gonzo Lied to Congress, Lied to the US Attorneys, Lied to the News Media and screwed the States where the attorneys were fired (ie "US" in Nevada)? Not to mention the fired US Attorneys, their families and the public depending on the cases they were working on?

Apology NOT accepted! The only acceptable "apology" is "don't let the door hit your backside on your way out!"!!!!!

:dilemma: This is the smartest, dumb guy I ever saw! Some people think "the definition of success is they are too dumb to know when to quit".

[Sabriel]

43. I can't wait for the Iraq apology

"Hey, I'm really sorry about that invasion thing. And all the dead and wounded. And the trashed infrastructure. And the DU we left sprinkled around. Again, we're really sorry."

[potisok]

44. Could be apologizing for his "deliberate ignorance"

By Glenn W. Smith
t r u t h o u t | Guest Contributor

Saturday 17 March 2007

With no apparent shame, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales pleaded the Ken Lay defense, also known by his own prosecutors as the "Aw, shucks" defense or the "deliberate ignorance" defense in his explanation of the political executions of United States attorneys by his office and the White House.

[wryter2000]

51. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[matt819]

45. Basically

What he's saying is that he's not terribly sorry that he had planned to fuck the 93 US Attorneys but rather that he did so badly and that he got found out. And he does this to 93 people that his own administration appointed in the first place. Imagine what he would more than willingly do to democrats!

[Lord Balto]

46. It Wasn't MEEEEEEEE!

What a disgusting excuse for a human being.

[wryter2000]

52. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

My waving arm is getting tired. :)

[MasonJar]

54. I have no sympathy for an attorney who condones torture and calls the

Geneva Accord quaint. I have no compunction about calling for the impeachment of an attorney who sanctions spying on the American people and who is too busy to respond to Congress and lies when he does. The Bush administration is a big piece of crap.

[drm604]

55. Notice how they're trying to spin this.

Notice how they're trying to spin this. It's not that the firings were improper, the problem was that they were handled improperly. Give me a break! :eyes:

[yellowcanine]

59. TLTL - too little too late, Gonzo. It is too late for apologies. Besides, one apologizes wnen one

does harm by accident - when it is deliberate, some penance is required. At this point the only appropriate penance is resigning.

[19jet54]

61. Could it be...

... this was about something else? Why hold this meeting? Didn't he go talk to the White House yesterday? This makes no real sense - aggressive, vindictive people such as these do not beg or plead for sympathy & understanding - They go for the throat and the jugular?

Call me paranoid but I think this was a warning meeting to the rest of the US Attorneys not to discuss with Congress the "other" illegal (my words) "voter fraud" investigations details as it is illegal to discuss ongoing investigations with Congress? Not to mention the "veil threat" of also being replaced at the pleasure of the President?

Something smells fishy :nuke: as they circle the wagons of Rove & Gonzales?

[Zambero]

62. Stalin once said...

If you need to lie to the people, any lie will do as long as they believe it. Looks like Gonzales and his puppeteers in the White House were using a similar approach to Stalin's, although they underestimated the response that would ensue following their clumsily concocted rationale for the firings. Too bad, the genie's out of the bottle now, joining all the other genies that have escaped in recent months.

[northzax]

63. it's because they aren't lawyers

well sure, Gonzales and Miers are lawyers, technically, but they have no respect for the law. I was just out tonight with a young Republican lawyer, brilliant, if misguided (she worked for the Bush campaign before going private, although she regrets it if you get enough rum into her) anyway, she is wired into the republican legal world, and was talking about the absolute rage in the community at all this. These are people who LIKE Bush, and they can't stand the disrespect to the law that all this entailed. They are not happy at all, it started with the failed Miers appointment, and is getting worse. the Bushies are actually losing what is left of the intellectual power of the conservative wing of the US, and one thing to learn, once you piss off the lawyers, you are in trouble.

[Lord Balto]

79. What Stalin Really Said

And I quote: "If they won't play ball, give them a nice long vacation in Siberia. And if that doesn't work, put them in a small room with a horny yak."

Seriously, one has to wonder how many of these Cold War Era "quotations" from Lenin and Stalin hold any water. The fact is that Stalin in particular was such an absolute dictator that he didn't have to say anything except "Do it!" and maybe an occasional "You got a good pair of snowshoes?"

[natrat]

67. what a pos,,like a 12 year old boy in clothes way too big for him

[IWantAChange]

68. Gonzo is the newest Repuke poster child - pathetic, 'sorry' and wholly incompetent.

[iamahaingttta]

69. Torches and Pitchforks!!!

What the hell are we waiting for?!?!?

Oh... That's right... we're a bunch of pussies!

[Beelzebud]

72. According to the AP, he didn't even apologize...

[disndat]

73. Stick a fork in Gonzo

he's done. When Leahy gets to do his thing, Rove is next and maybe it will go higher and higher. Then we will get our first woman president, Nancy Pelosi! What a wet dream scenario for us long-suffering Democrats.

[NYC]

75. Schumer does not expect Gonzalez to last out the week.

"I think it's highly unlikely he survives. I wouldn't be surprised if a week from now he is no longer attorney general," Schumer said. Gonzales is due to return to the committee to testify on the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. Democrats allege the abrupt firings were for political reasons.


"The Justice Department has actually agreed to be cooperative, and this week the staff will take depositions of five Justice Department officials," Schumer said. "Next week we will have them come to hearings. They've also given us all the documents" related to the firings.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2771555

[Seldona]

76. Inaccurate public statements?

Come on Gonzo! In the real world they are called lies. It amazes me how many times the only thing republicans have to fall back on is lies, or incompetence.

:eyes:

[lpbk2713]

78. A brilliant George C Scott impersonation.

That scene where General Patton was on the balcony apologizing to the troops (because he was told to) was positively brilliant.


:rofl: :rofl: