Birmingham Blues

I’m more than a little surprised that Bush backed down from a confirmation fight and chose Michael Mukasey over Ted Olson. Was Olson just a stalking horse, put out there to see how far Bush could go? Or is it possible that less partisan advisors have claimed his ear now that Rove is [...]

Just a few days ago, the New York Times was reporting that Ted Olson looked like the frontrunner to replace Alberto Gonzales. Now there’s a new contender in the mix: former federal judge Michael B. Mukasey. He’s apparently been on the list from the beginning, but he isn’t popular with some Republicans who [...]

Does it surprise anyone that Bush is just about ready to appoint another highly partisan Attorney General? I can’t say I’m shocked. He doesn’t seem to learn much from experience. The Justice Department is in disarray, with empty management positions throughout. Monica Goodling, until recently in charge of hiring and firing, [...]

UPDATE: Gonzo just announced.  It was a very brief speech, but he did manage to squeeze in a reference to protecting the rights and civil liverties of our citizens.  I’m still laughing. 
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned on Friday, with the official announcement expected shortly.  Loyal to the end, he fell on his sword rather than forcing Bush [...]

…came during this morning’s Judiciary Committee hearings (initial hearing coverage from TPM Muckraker here).  Specter’s opinion?  Gonzo skirted the edge of perjury but didn’t cross it.  He still thinks Gonzo should go.  I hope he isn’t holding his breath.
But “just because it’s not perjury,” Specter said, “doesn’t mean it’s the way that the highest ranking [...]

Gonzo has turned in his homework assignment, but Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is not impressed with it (text of the letter here).

“The attorney general’s legalistic explanation of his misleading testimony under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week is not what one should expect from the top law enforcement officer of the [...]

Arlen Specter says he still hasn’t received a promised letter from Gonzales that was to answer questions about the AG’s testimony.  I wonder if he’ll take off points for the late work.

UPDATE:  MSNBC just reported that the White House is now saying the letter is coming from the Justice Department.  No wonder it’s not done yet. 
The White House is about four hours past the noon (ET) deadline set by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) to provide a letter “clarifying” Alberto Gonzales’ testimony to Congress.  Hmmm.  Could Gonzo [...]

UPDATE: It’ll be a while longer.  Takes time to obfuscate properly. 
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) says he and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) expect a letter from the White House around noon today that will address, um, inconsistencies in AG Alberto Gonzales’ testimony to Congress.  It’s hard to say which way this will go — Specter bluntly questioned [...]

Four Senate Democrats have formally requested that Solicitor General Paul Clement appoint a special prosecutor to determine whether AG Alberto Gonzales perjured himself in testimony before the Senate.

“It has become apparent that the attorney general has provided at a minimum half-truths and misleading statements,” four members of the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote in a letter [...]