Rep. Adam Putnam: Time for Gonzales to Go
NewsMax (yes, NewsMax) reports that another Republican leader has called for Gonzales’ resignation:
Rep. Adam Putnam of Florida, chairman of the Republican conference in the House of Representatives, said it was important for the head of the U.S. Justice Department to have “unwavering” credibility.
“For the good of the nation, I think it is time for fresh leadership at the Department of Justice,” Putnam said in a brief telephone interview. He said a lack of credibility by the Justice Department chief puts in jeopardy the president’s legislative agenda.
Putnam is joining a growing list of U.S. lawmakers expressing a lack of confidence in Gonzales a day after he testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee on the firing of eight U.S. prosecutors last year. The dismissals raised concerns among Democrats that they were politically motivated.
Normally, if a president would continue to support an Attorney General who is as incompetent and, now, unpopular as Alberto Gonzales it would be astonishing. It would surprise everyone. With Bush it’s not. Bush demands loyalty of those close to him, in return he’s loyal, Bush is stubborn, refuses to give up, no matter how difficult the circumstances… all, normally, virtues, but - I am afraid - what would normally be virtues are, with Bush, developing into vices because he is exaggerating them. Aristotle wrote that true virtue is always ‘the middle’ option; moderation. Bush, seemingly, disagrees with that.
The result: a loss of credibility, a loss of support and, quite frankly, mismanagement and incompetence on more levels and in more departments than one.
Sir
I think it’s case of bunker mentality. You’re either for George or you’re against him. Mr. Gonzales has always been loyal and Mr. Bush is just returning the favor.
It’s not smart, but when was not being smart a factor in Bush’s decision making.
Jim M
I think Bush has to retain Gonzales. He knows everything about him and can point out where the skeletons are in the Bush graveyard. He’s been with him since he ran his gubernatorial campaign in Texas- so I don’t see Bush firing him no matter what anyone in Congress thinks.
Jim: that’s a good description of Bush’s attitude. “Bunker mentality”. They’re hiding in the bunker, absorbing the attacks, hoping that, in the end, the attacks will stop and they can come out again.
Kim: It seems to me that Bush is not afraid that Gonzales will talk too much. Bush and Gonzales are great friends and, it seems to me, if Bush would fire Gonzales, Gonzales would understand that he really did not have much of a choice.