Gonzales reviews are in: ‘Like clubbing a baby seal.’

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/04/19/gonzales-reviews-are-in-like-clubbing-a-baby-seal/

Gonzales reviews are in: ‘Like clubbing a baby seal.’

CNN’s Dana Bash:

Loyal Republican after loyal Republican in this hearing room, and more specifically, in private to CNN today have made it clear that they are frankly flabbergasted by how poorly they think the attorney general has done in this hearing. … During the lunch break, in private, several very loyal Republicans made it clear to CNN that they were really dripping with disappointment.

CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux:

believe Gonzales is in trouble. … Two senior White House aides here describing the situation, Gonzales’ testimony, as “going down in flames.” That he was “not doing himself any favors.” One prominent Republican describing watching his testimony as “clubbing a baby seal.”

Video at link~

[LSparkle]

1. Congratulations, A.G. Hatch ...

There's no way the Senate will confirm anyone currently in the administration or any BFEE insider -- not Ted Olson, not Fran Townsend -- it's almost going to have to be a Senate insider like Hatch who'll get committee approval after all this.

[whistle]

4. Yep, Orrin Hatch will become the next AG so that will leave a vacancy in the Senate

[LSparkle]

7. And Utah has a Repug governor, so it'll be another (R)

But at least we won't have any more Orrin "I'm So Mad I'm Going To Blow Up!" Hatch temper tantrums on the Senate floor!

[tridim]

12. How about an actual good AG? Maybe even a Dem?

Maybe I'm just a dreamer.

[w4rma]

14. With Bush? You're a dreamer. (nt)

[whistle]

2. Wrong comparison, it actually was "like stepping on a cockroach!"

[tsuki]

6. Thank you, baby seals are cute. nt

[valerief]

3. Well, I think some waterboarding would have been appropriate for him.

After all, it's not really torture.

[whistle]

5. If Gonzales is not fired or won't resign this week, then water-boarding

...or worse will be appropriate and the sooner the better

[valerief]

9. I was hoping someone would haul a waterboard contraption into the hearings today. nt

[Sparkly]

8. Baby seals are cute and innocent.

Gonzo, not so much.

[kineneb]

10. from The Guardian (UK)

ouch! And the BBC has interesting comments as well.
(Will check German press later.)


http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,2061663,00.html

Gonzales struggles in fight to save job

· Attorney general defends sackings of prosecutors
· Senators sceptical after hearing testimony

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington
Friday April 20, 2007
The Guardian


Alberto Gonzales, the US attorney general, is struggling to hang on to his job after a disastrous performance before the Senate judicial committee investigating the sacking of eight federal prosecutors. Yesterday's appearance had been viewed as a make-or-break moment for Mr Gonzales, a member of George Bush's inner circle since his days in Texas, who stands accused of politicising the judiciary.

By late afternoon, it looked as if Mr Gonzales, despite his insistence that he had done nothing wrong, and saw no need to resign, was being dragged towards the exit after two previously supportive Republican senators called for him to stand down.

"I believe the best way to put this behind us is your resignation," said Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, describing the justice department's handling of the sackings as "incompetent" and "atrocious".

Two other Republican senators came close to calling Mr Gonzales a liar in his justification of the sackings, and in his own role in the actions. He did not help his cause by his faltering testimony, exposing fresh inconsistencies in his description of the process leading to the sackings.

-snip-

[grannylib]

11. He sure didn't do himself any favors today. Incoherent, NO answers of ANY

substance, "I don't recall" more times than I could count...what a pathetic 'performance.'

I bet the rePiglicans were not happy. He sucked.

[Eurobabe]

13. During the break in testimony we flipped to CNN to hear that

we nearly peed ourselves laughing!!

Going, going, Gone-zales!! Bet he's gone by late this afternoon, next week latest.