GOP Lawmaker Urges Gonzales to Resign

[tiptoe]

Source: By JENNIFER TALHELM, Associated Press

WASHINGTON Mar 31, 2007 (AP)— A Republican congressman on Saturday urged Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign, citing what he said were Gonzales' contradictory statements about his role in the firing of eight federal prosecutors.

"I trusted him before, but I can't now," said five-term Rep. Lee Terry, whose district includes metropolitan Omaha.

Gonzales' credibility took a blow this past week during testimony by his former chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sampson, who resigned March 12, said the attorney general was regularly briefed about plans to fire the prosecutors and was involved with discussions about "this process of asking certain U.S. attorneys to resign."

Lawmakers impatient to hear Gonzales' side of the story said the embattled attorney general needed to explain himself quickly or risk more damage to his department. Gonzales is to testify on Capitol Hill on April 17.

"My views were that this was Democrat posturing and a witch hunt," Terry said. "My trust in him in that position has taken a hit because of these contradictory statements by him."
...

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070331/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fired_prosecutors

[Toots]

1. Democrats posturing is a given but when the truth is referred to as a witch

It says a lot about the person speaking...

[sobanos]

7. ALL politicians pander and "posture"............

The point is---- the Democrats are 100% right on this.......... and the Republicans have no plausible defense.

And, that's that with that.

[UpInArms]

2. more

Terry, asked whether he believed Gonzales' accounts, said: "I don't know … I don't think so. … I trusted him before, but I can't now."

He added, "Frankly, until these statements came out that contradicted his first statement, I was backing him, saying that he shouldn't resign. Now I think that he should."

[BOSSHOG]

3. IT IS A WITCHHUNT IF YOU ARE A WITCH

[SusanaMontana41]

4. Even in a red state like Nebraska

congresspeople don't come much more conservative than Lee Terry.

If Gonzales has lost Lee Terry, stick a fork in him.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. Denial is like armor of tempered glass.

Hard to break, hard to even scratch. But once the first crack appears, it sometimes takes only a very small second blow to shatter the whole thing. They crack on Gonzales, they shatter on Rove, they stand unprotected from the truth on Bush, and they vote to impeach.

[calimary]

6. From your keyboard to God's computer screen.

IMPEACHMENT - NOW!!!!!!

[aquart]

9. Come sit here by me.

[Oak2004]

47. Right you are

The Republican Party became more a cult than a party in recent years. Republicans themselves have become victims of their own party, used, abused, brainwashed, and so morally twisted up they need to watch Fox in the morning to find out what they are supposed to think that day. It's just that most of them haven't been able to see how they are being victimized -- yet. Once it cracks, it will shatter, and there will be no more fervent warriors against the Bush-Rove-Cheney-Gingrich-Delay-Pat Robinson-etc. regime than the Republican rank-and-file.

(For ex- Republicans or current R's who are seeing through the cult propaganda and are either thinking about leaving or who still try to reform the party from the inside: http://www.exrepublicans.info/forum (site still under construction but the forum is usable). Friendly non-ex's are welcome too).

[aquart]

8. "Democrat posturing"?

Trying to maintain his treason creds with the party?

[sobanos]

10. Yeah, right.............

.........the Democrats are who we need to be worrying about.

OK.......... what crap.

4 years of virtually no oversight by a Republican controlled Congress on the Bush administration--- and the Democrats are somehow the "problem".

NO oversight..........

--Warrantless wiretapping.
--Misleading the country into the Iraq fiasco.
--Subversion of our Bill of Rights and the Constitution in general in persuit of more executive branch power.
--The outing of a NOC CIA operative and the entire organization she worked with--- one working on uncovering any Iraq’s potential WMD pursuits.
--War profiteering by corporations that are MAJOR financial GOP contributors.

The list goes on............

You want someone to blame?

Blame the last 6 years or so of GOP leadership at the federal level.

The facts are simply AGAINST them....... not some "liberal media", and not some "Democratic Party conspiracy".

If the Democratic Party IS using their actions against them---- so be it.

The GOP only has itself to blame.

[SusanaMontana41]

11. Exactly

Well said!

:applause:

[sobanos]

12. Seriously--- the current GOP supporters have NOTHING

And it is evidenced by the fact that they resort to blaming the mythical "liberal media" and "partisan powergrabbing by the Democratic Party" rather than discussing the issues.

They LOSE on the issues........... and that's that with that.

[SusanaMontana41]

14. I got into an argument with a co-worker

who thinks all Gonzo did wrong is not tell the truth about the firings. I shook my head. She just won't look any deeper. That, or she's been asleep since 2000.

Welcome to DU, btw! I'm still new here, too.

:hi:

[tiptoe]

15. thanks for the comment re Terry's ultra conservatism -- his example could influence

others like him; maybe we'll begin seeing some of the "hardcore 30%" cracking re Gonzales (and Bush?):

Bush Historical Approval, 2004-2007 only

[SusanaMontana41]

16. Kind of a canary in the coal mine?

With all those fractures, how long can the House of Bush stand?

[tiptoe]

17. Also, today: "Bush's Chief 2004 Election Strategist: 'Faith in Bush Misplaced, Kerry Was Right'

Bush's Chief 2004 Election Strategist: 'Faith in Bush Misplaced, Kerry Was Right' —
Matthew Dowd is First of Inner Circle to Speak Out Publicly Against Iraq War, Bush: 'Just Being Quiet is Not an Option'

...
He criticized the president as failing to call the nation to a shared sense of sacrifice at a time of war, failing to reach across the political divide to build consensus and ignoring the will of the people on Iraq. He said he believed the president had not moved aggressively enough to hold anyone accountable for the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, and that Mr. Bush still approached governing with a “my way or the highway” mentality reinforced by a shrinking circle of trusted aides.
...
In speaking out, Mr. Dowd became the first member of Mr. Bush’s inner circle to break so publicly with him.

He said his decision to step forward had not come easily. But, he said, his disappointment in Mr. Bush’s presidency is so great that he feels a sense of duty to go public given his role in helping Mr. Bush gain and keep power.

Mr. Dowd, a crucial part of a team that cast Senator John Kerry as a flip-flopper who could not be trusted with national security during wartime, said he had even written but never submitted an op-ed article titled “Kerry Was Right,” arguing that Mr. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat and 2004 presidential candidate, was correct in calling last year for a withdrawal from Iraq.

“I’m a big believer that in part what we’re called to do — to me, by God; other people call it karma — is to restore balance when things didn’t turn out the way they should have,” Mr. Dowd said. “Just being quiet is not an option when I was so publicly advocating an election.”
...
(NYT)

[disndat]

45. It's not about Gonzales anymore

It's about the BushCo meltdown.

[tiptoe]

46. yes...with the "heat" coming from many angles and parties:

Come, enjoy this morning cup of freshly-brewed snark from Speaker Pelosi.

[Divine Discontent]

19. he's the TOP COP, he needs to be honest! good grief! lol N/T

[annabanana]

30. Try explaining it on a local level. .

What if you called a cop, and he asked "Are you a Republican or a Democrat?" before he agreed to show up. . This is the same thing.

[krkaufman]

33. What's her take on the "hypothetical" scenario of one political party...

... manipulating the justice system, and other government organs, for partisan purposes? Does she view such a hypothetical as ethical and legal? If so, she's woefully uniformed and likely hopeless; if she can view such activity as either unethical or illegal, then she should be able to see the value in doing some oversight to determine whether one or more lines were crossed.

You may also want to point this tidbit out to her: House Panel Grills GSA Chief on Republican Briefing Different story thread, entirely, from the Attorneys scandal, but the very same underlying motivations, abusing government for partisan purposes.

[SusanaMontana41]

41. Woefully uninformed

is a good description. Maybe "willfully uninformed" would be just as accurate. It's easy to think of about 30 arguments against everything she says.

Many times I have to clam up and just walk away lest we get into a screaming match right there in the newsroom.

[krkaufman]

37. more...

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/White_House_Power_Point_slides_target_0330.html

[spotbird]

43. Even if that were all,

isn't that enough?

Republicans endlessly use the "Clinton did it excuse." It's bullshit, but I've taken to agreeing with them for the sake of argument. OK, say Clinton did do it, how does that make it right? Didn't Bush promise a new standard? Why is perjury fine now?

[Heathen57]

26. When the finger pointing and the name calling

starts with the GOP, you can be sure they have nothing of substance to go on.

Maybe that is why they do it so often? :dunce:

[drm604]

39. Well said!

And welcome to DU!
:toast:

[Somawas]

13. Please, Dear Leader, do not abandon Gonzo! Keep him on!

and let him rub some more of his stank on you and the whole Republican party.

[krkaufman]

34. Yes, please keep him around and let this scandal fester for another year ...

... and a half. And then fire him a week after the 2008 election. :)

[tiptoe]

18. k

[bleever]

20. Nebraska is in the U.S.

I've been there a bunch of times. Americans live there.

They're not fools.

[Botany]

28. So too is the Niobrara River

[MisterApologist]

21. John Nowacki- Political Operative in the DOJ

The Justice Department officials who were selected to be
interviewed hit merely the tip of this iceberg.  It is
extremely important that the House and Senate Judiciary
Committee's interview John Nowacki, Principal Deputy Director
as well as the Acting Counsel to the Director in the Executive
Office of the Justice Department, in order to establish the
links between the Justice Department officials, the US
Attorney's in the field, and the political operatives who
helped remove the targeted US Attorney's.  I have gathered and
organized every document released so far from the Justice
Department relating to John Nowacki as well as background
information on his relationship with the Federalist Society. 
You will be shocked at how many key pieces of information he
gives to Paul McNulty, William Moschella, Michael Elston,
William Mercer, Monica Goodling, and former employees Michael
Battle and Kyle Sampson.
This story on John Nowacki, including updates, can be found
at:
http://misterapologist.blogspot.com/

[annabanana]

31. Welcome to DU!

As soon as you get enough posts under your belt, you should start a new thread in General Discussion with some of this information. If you give us links, the information will get out...

[Supersedeas]

48. Nowacki participation is something the GOP/Media Establishment refuses to touch

[Heidi]

22. Kick.

:kick:

[Omaha Steve]

23. Terry (R-Ne) calls for attorney general to step down

Source: Omaha World Herald

Published Sunday | April 1, 2007
Terry calls for attorney general to step down
BY JOSEPH MORTON
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

WASHINGTON - Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., called Saturday for embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign or be fired immediately.

Terry said his trust and faith in Gonzales have been "greatly diminished" as evidence has accumulated that contradicts Gonzales' assertions that he was only minimally involved in the firing of eight federal prosecutors.

"The issue is now, 'Is Gonzales a truthful person and is he capable of running the Department of Justice?'" Terry said. "Unfortunately, I don't have faith in him in either one of those areas."


Rep. Lee Terry

Democrats have suggested that the firings of the U.S. attorneys were politically motivated. Gonzales made inaccurate statements about his role in the firings, his former chief of staff testified last week.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1216&u_sid=2357614

---

This is the first thing controversial he has said since he first took office. But then last November the margin of about 5,000 votes was the closest anyone has come to beating him. Nebraska isn't the BIG RED it used to be. He was surprised on TV that nightby the results. It was obvious. He also never votes anything but the party line. So is his party jumping on this band wagon? This is huge.

[saltpoint]

24. Agree with you that this is big news. These remarks of Terry's go

into a lot of small-town papers and a lot of voters read them.

More and more there is less and less support for Alberto Gonzales.

He'd be gone already if a 3-year old weren't in the Oval Office.

[Skittles]

25. if he did know he's a liar and if he didn't know he is incompetent

either way his ass should be fired

[whistle]

27. How many republicans have come out and either to date that have...

....urged or suggested Alberto Gonzales resign? Is there a score card on the number and list of names and states? Also, which repukes remain strongly in support of Gonzales staying?

It began on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 when Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire became the first Republican lawmaker to call for Gonzales' resignation.

[tiptoe]

29. just perusing...Don't know if there's a scorecard...Here's what I've come across so far:

Republicans calling for Gonzales' Resignation (probably not all-inclusive):

John E. Sununu (Sen NH) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-dewalt/whos-listening_b_43666.html
Dana Rohrbacher (Rep CA) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/16/politics/main2580260.shtml?source=mostpop_story Mar 16
Gordon Smith (Sen OR) http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/63593 Mar 19
Tom Tancredo (Rep CO) Tancredo becomes first GOP presidential candidate to call for Gonzales resignation Mar 20
Lee Terry (Rep NE) http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070331/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fired_prosecutors Mar 31
Matthew Dowd (Ex-Bush Aide, first "insider") http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4345 Mar 31 (via Raw Story)

========
Seems many are awaiting Gonzales' April 17 "make or break" Judiciary Committee hearing:
GOP Senators Question Gonzales' Honesty Mar 25
Specter, Graham, Hagel

...
Stopping short of demanding Gonzales' resignation, Sen. Arlen Specter cited a Nov. 27 calendar entry placing the attorney general at a Justice Department meeting to discuss the dismissals. Those documents "appear to contradict" Gonzales' earlier statements that he never participated in such conversations, said Specter, top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee that oversees the Justice Department.

"We have to have an attorney general who is candid, truthful. And if we find out he has not been candid and truthful, that's a very compelling reason for him not to stay on," said Specter, R-Pa.

Specter said he would wait until Gonzales' scheduled April 17 testimony to the committee before deciding whether he could continue to support the attorney general. He called it a "make or break" appearance.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Gonzales has been "wounded" by the firings. "He has said some things that just don't add up," said Graham, who also is on the Senate Judiciary panel. And Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said the Justice Department has continually changed its story about the dismissals.

"You cannot have the nation's chief law enforcement officer with a cloud hanging over his credibility," Hagel said.

...
Other GOP lawmakers have joined Democrats in harsh indictments of Gonzales' effectiveness but have stopped short of saying he should be fired.

"I do not think the attorney general has served the president well, but it is up to the president to decide on (Attorney) General Gonzales' continued tenure," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
...
Will Gonzales Fall For Attorney Firings? Mar 16

(I'm getting the feeling Gonzales may not be around for his scheduled April 17 hearing)

[tiptoe]

38. correction: Matthew Dowd does not offer an opinion re Gonzales in article cited nt

[whistle]

40. Very good, thanks

[jmowreader]

35. The second list is very, very short

If it exists at all.

A Member of Congress (this includes senators) has one overarching priority: Remaining a Member of Congress.

As soon as it becomes apparent that nondenunciation of Gonzalez is hazardous to their prospects of remaining Members of Congress, they'll turn against him.

The People are coming to the conclusion that these were politically motivated firings.

[tiptoe]

36. plus I read that Gonzales has never cultivated a support base in Congress nt

[kaal]

32. but Bush said "Gonzales is an honorable and honest man"

"Attorney General Al Gonzales is an honorable and honest man and he has my full confidence," Bush said.

"I will remind you there is no credible evidence that there has been any wrongdoing," he added.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070331/pl_nm/usa_prosecutors_dc

[spotbird]

42. The headline has changed,

it now reads, "Bush again affirms support for Gonzales."

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[TwilightGardener]

44. Nebraska--the confused red state--first Hagel, now Terry--

GOPer heads are exploding with every act of insubordination toward The Royal Decider. Lee Terry isn't that brave though. He certainly wasn't the first R to call for this. Normally, he's a Bushbot whom I have no respect for.