WH Turning On Gonzo?

[kpete]

Mistakes’ Made on Prosecutors, Gonzales Says
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and JEFF ZELENY
Published: March 14, 2007


“I really think there’s a serious estrangement between the White House and Alberto now,” one of the Republicans said....

.....................

With Democrats, including the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, insisting that Mr. Gonzales step down, his appearance underscored what two Republicans close to the Bush administration described as a growing rift between the White House and the attorney general. Mr. Gonzales has long been a confidant of the president but has aroused the ire of lawmakers of both parties on several issues, including the administration’s domestic eavesdropping program.

The two Republicans, who spoke anonymously so they could share private conversations with senior White House officials, said top aides to Mr. Bush, including Fred F. Fielding, the new White House counsel, were concerned that the controversy had so damaged Mr. Gonzales’s credibility that he would be unable to advance the White House agenda on national security matters, including terrorism prosecutions.

...........

....inside the White House, aides to the president, including Mr. Rove and Joshua B. Bolten, the chief of staff, were said to be increasingly concerned that the controversy could damage Mr. Bush.

“They’re taking it seriously,” said the other of the two Republicans who spoke about the White House’s relationship with Mr. Gonzales. “I think Rove and Bolten believe there is the potential for erosion of the president’s credibility on this issue.”


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/14/washington/14attorneys.html?ex=1331524800&en=d2c27873d3b3a3f8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[HereSince1628]

1. Anyone remember when Sen. Reid suggest Harriet as a USSC justice?

How does one read that historic factoid into the deconstruction of this scandal?

[John Q. Citizen]

7. Harry set them up and knocked 'em down on the Miers deal. Harry didn't seem to

mind at all when bush self destructed on that.

It wasn't like Reid was sorry the Harriet didn't make the cut.

[Hubert Flottz]

"erosion of the president’s credibility"

How do you erode NOTHING?

[madame defarge]

2. There's a "potential for erosion"???

Hell, that happened back in 2000. Or rather, this president never had any credibility in my book.

[rox63]

3. What credibility does the WH have left to damage?

None that I can see. :shrug:

[Wickerman]

4. Alberto is getting thrown under the bus

for the good of Dick and Bu... er, the party.

I know its been 6 years but I still marvel daily at how much additional corruption this gang brought to a town infamous for the same.

[bdamomma]

6. another fall guy coming up, but never seems to touch the big ones

but maybe going after the little ones, will lead to the big fish. Hopefully.

[bryant69]

5. They are going to throw him to the wolves.

Hands up anybody who's surprised by this turn of events.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[John Q. Citizen]

8. Rove is covering his own ass. His finger prints are all over the USA switcheroo.

[peacetalksforall]

9. A problem of credibility with whom? Those ladies and gentlemen

who call in to WJ to cry a little protest about how mean we are to a 'good and fine man' whose trying to to the 'the best he can'? Is there a crack in the devotion to Kg. Bush? Is their fealty to the King faltering? Are they seeing cracks in their logic that this country should not be a democracy, but should be a Christian showpiece based on cult adoration of a person seen as a good Christian?

[EFerrari]

16. I wonder if the Libby trial changed the rules. The whole crew

sat there and watched them bully Libby into submission and possibly, into prison.

[Elidor]

10. I'm with Tbogg on this one: Friday afternoon between 3 and 5

He'll probably get the word today, if he hasn't already.

[Double T]

11. The WH is so detached from reality, they actually think there is..........

still credibility with their administration. The Democratically controlled Congress needs to go after the top executives that perpetrate all these actions and decisions.

[blogslut]

12. Learn the lesson, like all the others, Al

The BFEE loyalty only goes so far. They'll screw you too. They'll let you hang and pretend they never knew you. You'll see.

[catmandu57]

13. Another rift widening

The reptilian civil war has yet another front, the ovp and the white house, the doj and the white house, their like a dog infested with fleas, no matter where they bite there's another flea biting elsewhere.
Death by a thousand cuts.

[KharmaTrain]

14. Let's Recognize Progress Where We Can

Is it good enough? Hell no! But it's a lot different political landscape now than it was 6 months ago. Before the '06 election, the Repugnicans thought they were bullet-proof...they had all the power and the Democrats were totally shut out. They also took control of the corporate media to make sure only their points and spin got out and contrary views were attacked and the critics were coward into silence. A Feingold calling for just the modicum of congressional oversight was portrayed as some whacko extremisit. Rove was god and boooshie could screw up but do no wrong. Any call for a head was laughed at and the corporate media lauded booshie for his "loyalty" to his people and how "tight" the security around this regime was. Now we are seeing how and why...and the stench is so bad now the corporate media can't perfume it over.

Gonzo's claiming "plausible deniability" yesterday would have played a year ago, but isn't flying now. I see a crisis starting to envelop the few remnants of the booooosh cabal...so the finger pointing had begun and they know there's more bad stuff to come.

[Solly Mack]

15. If I had to make a bet on who would get the quickest pardon

for anything, it would be Gonzales over Libby hands down.

Gonzales holds the secrets to some horribly damaging information about Bush...from Texas to the WH. And then there are war crimes like torture...and other atrocious violations.

Libby can tell a lot.....but Libby is Cheney's man and that removes him from Bush to an arguably safe degree..at least such a removal can be effectively argued...but Gonzales? Too close to Bush at a time when he desperately wants to leave the WH with as little direct scandal as possible and to keep the house of cards as intact as possible.

Bush can't afford to keep Gonzales if that means too much attention is drawn to Bush.
Bush also can't afford to allow Gonzales to be questioned about much of anything.
A blanket pardon for all actions as Attorney General would solve the Gonzales issue.
It wouldn't look good for Bush...but Gonzales testifying would be worse for Bush.(and not just Bush)

Bush can always spin the pardon as a way of protecting executive privilege - he would say Gonzales knows national security secrets as well as private executive communications that wouldn't be in the best interests of America to be questioned about...and he could also say he was pardoning Gonzales because he thinks attacks on Gonzales are political and such a fine man (coughchokespew) as Gonzales shouldn't be the subject of such attacks.

We all know Bush has it in him to say something like that.

If Gonzales were to resign, he's resigned knowing he did so to protect Bush first and himself second...and he'd be rewarded for doing so. Bush and his ilk expect that sometimes people have to just take one for the team...it isn't personal with them...it's business.

You cut some losses to prevent the bigger losses...

This isn't to say he won't pardon Libby in the end....only that Gonzales would gain a much faster pardon. Just as Rove would or Karen Hughes would......as Joe Allbaugh would if he had ever needed one.

Course, Congress could just accept a Gonzales resignation as the end of the matter. Then Gonzales can just resign and walk away free and clear of his many corrupt and criminal practices. And Bush wouldn't have to pardon him...

I have a lot of contempt for the idea that resigning somehow closes the matter....but some people will spin it as accountability and decide not to pursue the many criminal actions of Gonzales.

Another - Gonzales doesn't resign and Bush backs his faithful servant to the bitter end.

I'll just have to wait and see...I'd say I lived in interesting times except the consequences for many have been death and destruction...and there is nothing interesting about that to me.

[ContraBass Black]

17. There's a lot of rope piling up around the White House.

Somebody has to swing on it.

[UTUSN]

18. It's when the RETHUGS turn on him that he'll go, NOT when Dems "demand" it n/t

[mentalsolstice]

19. Night of the long knives

Probably tomorrow night, just in time for the Fri. afternoon news dump. And it could not have happened to a nicer guy! :sarcasm:

[GeorgeGist]

20. They're all Bozos on the Bus ...

going nowhere, singing George Tirebiter is President.

[paparush]

21. WH credibility has eroded faster than the New Orleans levees....

[Bake]

22. Gonzo will take a partnership at some fancy schmancy law firm

Making a gazillion bucks a year, as a payoff for his departure and continued keeping-his-mouth-shut.

Bake

[riderinthestorm]

23. Smoke and mirrors from the WH

imho. The WH will try to give the impression that they are concerned but it will be a cold day in hell before they throw Gonzo under the bus. He won't resign (or be forced out by * - no way since he knows waaaay too many secrets which means * can't force Gonzo to do anything he doesn't want to do).

Gonzo will ride out this storm and continue his evil role in perpetuating the BFEE agenda. They need him. He's the ultimate insider in this crime family and they aren't going to get rid of him just cause some Dems are howling. It would take much much more than that.