The Nation/John Nichols: Who Will Replace Alberto Gonzales?

[babylonsister]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?bid=15&pid=177172

Who Will Replace Alberto Gonzales?
John Nichols


It is too bad that former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson made such a big deal last week about how he was considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination.

If Thompson, a lawyer who served as served as co-chief counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee and now plays a big-city prosecutor on the NBC television series Law & Order, was not so busy positioning himself for the presidency, he could have added another line to his resume: Attorney General of the United States.

In Washington, where the discussion about Alberto Gonzales' removal has moved from "if" to "when" speculation, the talk is already turning to the question of who will take over for the scandal-plagued Attorney General. Gonzales is in such deep trouble for lying to the Senate that even Republican loyalists are starting to give up on the prospect that he can survive the scrutiny that is coming his way.

According to US News & World Report, the ruminations on replacing Gonzales have centered on the appeal of: "a seasoned insider, a consummate veteran or an elder statesman who has bipartisan respect and acceptance and a squeaky-clean record."

As savvy political observer Ron Gunzberger notes, "(It) sounds like former US Senator Fred Thompson could possibly fit that description, but he seems to have other plans these days."


more...

[BOSSHOG]

1. There is no one associated with bush

who fits the description in the fourth paragraph.

[babylonsister]

2. Too true, and that seems to be their biggest problem. Also, who the

heck would want the job? :crazy: Whoever gets it will be putting out fires until the end of the illegal reign.

[earthside]

3. Gonzo: The Distraction?

I am becoming concerned with all this speculation about who will replace Gonzales.

I want to know the chain of conspiracy that fired these prosecutors. If USAttorneys serve at the 'pleasure' of the President, then Bush had to have been involved in their dismissals. In other words, did the President start this effort to get them fired? Or did someone else bring this to him? What was he told as to why they needed to go? Or did someone (Gonzales?) do the deeds, then claim Bush gave the okay?

I'm afraid that all this talk about Gonzales distracts from Bush's necessary involvement.

It looks like if Gonzales resigns, then the scandal is over ... I think that we shouldn't play into that scenario.

[BridgeTheGap]

4. Absolutely right

pinning this on Gonzales (and, yes, he should be fired) alone misses the point. Clearly, this mess has "white house" prints all over it!

[Demeter]

5. Thank God Daily That NO ONE Can Replace Gonzales

He is a one-of-a-kind piece of work. Why would anyone want to succeed him, though? Masochists are hard to find, unless female.