Think Progress

White House turning on Gonzales?

By Nico on Mar 14th, 2007 at 1:12 am

White House turning on Gonzales?»

From the NYT:

[Gonzales’] 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.

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

72







Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date

72 Responses to “White House turning on Gonzales?”


  1. Shane Says:

    Guess it doesn’t feel so good to be king now.
    Heh, heh, heh


  2. GSD Says:

    Brave Sir George, always, ALWAYS letting those beneath him get tossed under the bus by The Earl of Turdblossom.

    Advice to any Republican near Bush……he’ll betray you too if he needs to.

    -GSD


  3. Mojo Nixon Says:

    When will the script ever change and when will the DEMS and the progressives begin to read the script for what it is: A script.

    The White House makes policies that are in favor of the executive branch.
    The Democrats protest along with one or two Republicans.
    The White House negotiates with those Republicans and the controversy subsides and the Democrats slink back to their hiding place.
    News leaks that the White House has gone too far…the source…a disgruntled official in the White House. (Ha…did their conscience suddenly start to bother them….NO…they leaked it on purpose.
    The Democrats get all upset, have hearings.
    The White House denies it…then starts to reveal little bits to the friendly MSM
    A few Republicans come out on the Democrats side
    The White House gets one guy to say “Mistakes were made” without naming the mistakes
    The Republicans unite again making the Democrats look silly
    The Democrats file bills to curtail executive power…only the White House still does what it wants.

    The only thing that really happens…IF a Democrat gets in as president they will have their Executive power limited by rules set up by their own party.

    LOL. It’s really sad. Like playing chess with a five year old.


  4. legaleze Says:

    Sadly, no one has to throw AG or any of Bush’s other friends under the bus. They all seem to enjoy jumping all by themselves. It’s like an old spy movie where the double agent takes his cyanide pill immediately before he’s captured.


  5. Willy Says:

    Bye, bye, Gonzo. Hope you enjoyed your torture, your renditions, shredding the Constitution, lying, spying and whatever else gave you your jollies. Too bad you didn’t serve the people instead of Emperor Chimpy. Oh well, it’s your karma.


  6. Wayne Says:

    The wheels are comming off the bus, but Speedy is gonna get thown under it first.
    Wonder if he will fall on the sword or blab?


  7. Liberty Lover Says:

    More rope, give them more rope so more of them can hang themselves.


  8. Liberty Lover Says:

    Legaleze @ #5, funny you should mention that, I always used to wonder how the evil head of Spectre or any of the other evil bad guys in all the Bond movies ever got all those people to work for them.
    I mean really, what was ever in it for them? Now I know, the promise of wealth, the promise of power and of being king of your own little fiefdom…


  9. Anastasia Says:

    Even though Bush may force Gonzales to walk the plank, it won’t change anything.

    Who knows, maybe impeachment is on the horizon.


  10. va Says:

    Isn’t “advancing the White House agenda” what started this mess in the first place? What are these anonymous Republicans talking about?


  11. Jackie Rawlings Says:

    Bush will fire Gonzo just in time for fruit picking season. Bush will also say he doesn’t know Gonzo that well. Leahy has entrapped Gonzo in the lie he told Congress under oath. Like Libby Gonzo didn’t think quick enough before he made up his lie. Now it’s on to Rove. As for Mieirs well she will show Congress what can of Supreme Court Justice she would have been as she tries to lie her way out of the memos that were released. Calling an honest Republican please step forward.


  12. JPV Says:

    I see that Bush is showing his famous loyalty by throwing yet another buddy to the wolves.

    Man, it’s just one crisis after another for this administration.

    Can’t wait to see what disaster tomorrow brings for them.

    LOL!!!


  13. JPV Says:

    BTW… where have all the Trolls/GOP agents gone tonight?


  14. Gregor Samsa Says:

    There is confusion in the ranks of the trolls and assorted 101st keyboardists wannabes.

    What to do? Stand by the once-respected Attorney General, or throw him under the bus? Post a comment defending the once-untouchable Rove, or trow him under the bus too? .

    What will be the party line? What will be the Dear (mis)Leader’s cue?

    Life must be getting really lonely for the 29%ers….


  15. Innocent Bystander Says:

    This is all a big distraction…..they got what they wanted from the USA massacare. They got Carol Lam booted from her investigations that were the #1 threat to the entire Republican Crime Syndicate. Hell, they’ll gladly trade Alberto’s resigination to keep the case that would sink the entire Syndicate from being exposed.


  16. Keith H. Says:

    Divorce will likely follow the ’serious estrangement’.


  17. JPV Says:

    I sense that another “retirement” is looming on the horizon.


  18. JPV Says:

    Hey Speedy… can you say “Obstruction of justice”?

    LOL!!!


  19. the fly-man Says:

    And you wonder why the president wanted Harriet Meires as an associate justice?Stooges the lot of them all.


  20. Roket Says:

    Either these people are really really stupid or they are Woody Woodpecker crazy. Are they even listening to what’s coming out of their mouths? They are worried that Gonzo won’t be able to carry out their political agenda and it’s because he’s in trouble for carrying out their political agenda. LMFAO No wonder these two numbnuts were anonymous.


  21. Anonymous Says:

    Is Gonzo the next to learn that loyalty is a one-way street in the Bush crime family?


  22. Stupid Git Says:

    From Ashcroft to Gonzo to… They keep getting worse each time… I afraid to think of who they would replace him with to continue furthering their path to Kleptocracy.


  23. PeterW Says:

    #10 Even though Bush may force Gonzales to walk the plank, it won’t change anything.

    Will it, though? These people’s only virtue is personal loyalty to their cronies. If someone at that level is thrown under the bus for exercising that loyalty, how long will it last? It may be possible that a sense of betrayal would cause Gonzo to squeal on his former allies.


  24. Tobey Tall Says:

    Pelosi’s Betrayal

    “Top House Democrats retreated Monday from an attempt to limit President Bush’s authority for taking military action against Iran as the leadership concentrated on a looming confrontation with the White House over Iraq. Officials said Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of the leadership had decided to strip from a major military spending bill a requirement for Bush to gain approval from Congress before moving against Iran. Conservative Democrats as well as lawmakers concerned about the possible impact on Israel had argued for the change in strategy.”

    This settles at least three matters once and for all: To begin with, the president has been given the green light to attack Iran. Withdrawing this provision from the spending bill is an act not just of complicity, but of open collaboration with the Bush administration’s war plans. When the bombs begin to fall, and the Democrats rise up in a yowl of righteous indignation, the president will be quite justified in doing this.

    Secondly, the Democrats are either being dishonest or they lack fundamental knowledge of geography, because Pelosi is attacking the president for his Iraq “surge” even as she gives him the go-ahead for a super-surge right across the border in Iran.


  25. Tobey Tall Says:

    Third, one has to wonder how those who claim that recognizing the Israel Lobby’s decisive impact on U.S. foreign policy is a hate crime are going to explain away this one. Those above-mentioned “conservative Democrats” are natural warmongers (although it wasn’t always so), but exactly who, one wonders, are these other “lawmakers concerned about the possible impact on Israel”? I’ll bet Pelosi is one of them and Tom Lantos is another; no doubt the entire Democratic leadership belongs in that group.

    No one is any longer pretending that Israel isn’t the 51st state. To hear Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) tell it,


  26. Tobey Tall Says:

    Al-Maliki tells aides U.S. benchmark deadline is June 30 or his ouster possible

    BAGHDAD: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki fears the Americans will withdraw support for his government — effectively ousting him — if parliament does not pass a draft oil law by the end of June, close associates of the Iraqi leader told The Associated Press on Tuesday.


  27. koalablue Says:

    I wish Barney would turn and Laura could go for a Brazillian.


  28. koalablue Says:

    27. Tobey, there is already about 100 Iraq politicans ready to ask the USA to go home, all it would take is Sadr to join and the wrting would be on the wall.


  29. Dumb_Fox Says:

    Another reason why anonymous sources are self-serving spinmeisters and reporters who quote them verbatim are willing tools of King George. Take this statement at face value:

    “…top aides to Mr. Bush […] 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.”

    This is a White House talking point. Yes, it’s true that Gonzo’s credibility is damaged, but no, it does not necessarily follow that terrorist prosecutions will thus be hampered. In fact, it is a transparent non sequitur.

    The main purpose this argument serves is that it continues the narrative that King George is strong on terra, whilst also greasing the wheels for Gonzo’s early retirement by framing the confirmation process for the next AG around an executive who wants a terra warrior versus Democrats who don’t.

    It’s not rocket science, it’s been the Bushco MO since 9/12/01, yet so-called librul media organizations still play along.

    Maybe one day the news orgs will cotton on to the fact that when they are the recipients of Executive spin, they report only the parts of the spin that are actually relevant to the matter at hand.

    A proper report of the conversations would have been described thus:

    “top aides to Mr. Bush […] admitted that the controversy had damaged Mr. Gonzales’s credibility. They also asserted that this loss of credibility would inhibit future terrorism prosecutions, but they would not explain why and gave no indication that any future prosecutions were indeed imminent.”

    Until people starting cutting the balls off these anonymous White House sources, the media is failing to do its job.


  30. klyde Says:

    To the tune of Borat’s “Throw Transport Down the Well

    Throw abu down the well. So our junta can run free!
    We must dump this little Mex. To save great par-tee!


  31. klyde Says:

    No one is any longer pretending that Israel isn’t the 51st state. To hear Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) tell it,

    They have it backwards the US is Ireal’s #1 vassal state.


  32. Jaded Prole Says:

    Fascists will turn on each other without a second thought. Their only loyalty is to power.


  33. n69n Says:

    so how long til Tony Snow tries to tell us Bush & Gonzo never really knew each other?


  34. Tim O. Says:

    WHAT TERRORISM PROSECUTIONS?!?


  35. CoffinsDrapedWithFlags Says:

    It’s dangerous to be a friend of Bush. George W deserts the very people that he demands loyalty from.

    George with the Sadim touch… he destroys everyone he touches… look at Christie Whitman’s political, over; look at Tom Ridge’s political career, over; and as for Colin Powell??? well, he was someone that could have been president. Both Republicans and Democrats respected Colin Powell as a man of principle, someone that could be trusted and he threw that all away by waving a baggie with baby powder at the UN. Colin supported Bush’s lies and has lost the respect of the American people. Now, Gonzales will be taking the hit. Don’t get me wrong, Gonzales is a mean scoundral and is just as stupid as George W. This just proves that one can never trust a liar. They will always turn their back on you in a time of need.


  36. Briseadh na Faire Says:

    Toby, I caught that. How much of our foreign policy in the Middle East is run by Israel? And why are we letting Israel having so much clout?

    I guess for the answers, well have to look into the Book of Revelations.


  37. Sperm Donor Says:

    Love the way these anonymous sources saw fit to implicitly distance themselves from the NSA illegal spying, and in some sense pin the blame on Abu, when that program pre-dated Abu Gonzales and goes back to at least 2002, when John Poindexter (another fascist criminal that this Administration rebabilitated by hiring him) is the one that came up with it and got the ball rolling on it.

    I agree, these leaks are the way the White House is putting distance between itself and Abu, and possibly setting him up for an exit.


  38. Bluedahlia Says:

    I agree with you #4 Mojo Nixon.


  39. Sharon Says:

    Happy Hump Day all, It’s Wed. and I’m pissed, as usual…This morning I am going to email and call Palosi along with my own Rep’s and scream like a stuck cheney (pig) about their giving away the store and allowing bull shit to get a free ride to bomb Iran and expand Iraq…I intend to tell them all if they are not going to do what we voted them in to do it’s time for massive recal’s of all of them….We need another party and need to get our country back…Shit I’m mad…Blessings


  40. AustinSF Says:

    BUSH WHITEWHOUSE = GONZALEZ “Birds of a Feather”
    What I see here is “Two Republicans” getting out there and laying a load of crap on us. Whitehouse knows this is their Watergate and they are involved to the hilt on everything Gonzalez has done. Gonzalez is Bush’s personal attorney for god’s sakes. The lies from Gonzalez for the last years on all issues go all the way to The Decider.


  41. CoffinsDrapedWithFlags Says:

    Sharon,

    good morning… relax. The bill that the Democrats have written does not have the support of the Republicans and Bush said that he will veto this bill so it really doesn’t matter that Iran is no longer in the bill. The Democrats increased the requested amount of money for Iraq along with a timetable for redeployment. This is a setup by the Democrats and the Republicans are too stupid to realize it. When the Republicans vote against this bill they will be voting against supporting the troops which will be used against them in the next election. Pelosi is well aware of the fact that whatever gets passed in the house will need approval by the Senate and then needs to be signed by Bush. They know it won’t happen so they are setting up the Republicans to look really bad in ‘08. Pelosi wants those Republican votes on record. Smart move. Need to think strategically and not get hung up on minutia.


  42. big papa Says:

    The estrangement begins in the White House with the preznit…

    …with whom the people of the world are estranged…

    …Both he and Cheney (along with Gonzales)…

    …should be FIRED, impoverished and imprisoned…


  43. CoffinsDrapedWithFlags Says:

    #43 big papa - great idea. If only it would happen.


  44. hypatia's father Says:

    Aside from Mojo Nixon, I’m not sure any of us here have enough experience of honing our wits against five-year-olds to appreciate his comparison.

    For some reason, there is a contingent of trollery here (and elsewhere) that likes to comfort themselves by pretending that the Bush administration’s slow-motion crash and and burn is acutally part of their MASTER PLAN! It’s all part of the SCRIPT!

    This provides an interesting character-study of a typical conservative narcissist. The problem for all the Mojos out there is that a true machiavellian can’t stop being a machiavellian–even as they are losing political power. Therefore, the best insight they can offer is somewhere between: 1. You Dems are no better than we are; and 2. what seems to be our defeat is actually just another deliberate move in our MASTER PLAN!

    Can I get a mwh-haha?

    Mojo, you go right ahead trying to convince your shriveled narcissist’s heart that this is part of your party’s “plan.” It’s certainly not our role to spoil your amusing delusions. All I can say is that with “plans” like these, who needs ad hoc last-minute scrambles to save your ass?


  45. Sharon Says:

    Good Morning Coffins, I’m going to call and raise hell anyway…I want impeachment back on the table and I want them to get a back bone and stop pussy footing around like a bunch of spinless dolt’s….We and the troop’s with their live’s on the line don’t have the time to be waisted with political mind games by all these people on both side’s that are in bed together…Spent yesterday calling and emailing and going to do the same today…I will bury them in email and tie up their phone line’s if I have to…They will get the message…..Blessings


  46. ann Says:

    Heckuva job, Abu.


  47. Marie Says:

    Firing you chief of staff in lieu of resigning yourself, or letting your COS take the fall also because you refuse to resign seems to be the latest m.o. from the Bush crime family operatives in the White House.
    After the loyal servants leave, the stench remains no matter how much deodorant is sprayed by Bartlett, Snow, other toadies and Fox news.
    Even the public, lulled to sleep by inane tv programs, are becoming roused to the criminal activity - even if they can’t put their finger on it, the public is aware now that something is “rotten in Denmark.”


  48. Raven Says:

    Say Gonzo, on your way out the door, you could help redeem your sorry self by restoring to the public record the arrest records of Georges drunk driving and cocaine incidents.
    You know, those little events Karl got you to expunge, the performance credentials which qualified you for the job of AG…


  49. Hedley Lamarr Says:

    Is Fielding the fellow who adivsed Nixon to tape his Oval Office chats?


  50. RUCerious Says:

    Sharks (chymp & co)+
    Chum (AlbertoVO5)=
    Feeding Frenzy (resignation or impeachment)


  51. yowzer Says:

    mmmmmm…”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”

    bush, cheney, and rice have no credibility. Does this mean we can look forward to them resigning soon?
    .


  52. susan Says:

    wasn’t Gonzo floated as a SCOTUS nominee? guess that trumps even the presidential medal of freedom.


  53. Sara Says:

    Not so bitchin’ without your backup, are you Beto?


  54. oldtree Says:

    blame the guy licking your boots for licking your boots?
    sounds like the meat puppet and his dog dick’s way of doing things
    business as usual


  55. CoffinsDrapedWithFlags Says:

    Sharon - go for it… we need noise makers too :) Keep pressing impeachment. It will keep the Republicans confused.


  56. Sharon Says:

    I hope this entire administration has tire mark’s all over them before the week is over….Blessings


  57. CoffinsDrapedWithFlags Says:

    Soon there will be no one left to resign from this administration except Cheney and boy Bush.


  58. Hank Essay Says:

    Gonzo, if you didn’t know your family that much, you are going to get a chance to with all the “more time” you will get to spend with them…


  59. angryvietnamvet Says:

    ANd when Gonzo resigns, is removed or dies, who do you think Bushit will nominate? Harriet Miers, of course. Another buddy, sycophant ass kisser brownose who will continue to use the AG post to advocate for the BushChaney cabal’s authoritarian agenda while ignoring the Constitution which the AG is sworn to defend. In effect, there will be no change, other than cosmetic.


  60. Jay Randal Says:

    Poor Gonzales, he kissed Bush’s butt faithfully and now is being thrown to the wolves. Was it worth it Alberto?


  61. ann Says:

    ANd when Gonzo resigns, is removed or dies, who do you think Bushit will nominate? Harriet Miers, of course.

    I think Harriet got out when the getting was good. She’s done enough damage, I don’t imagine she will be up for coming back to subpoenas. Her name is all over this political purge of prosecutors.


  62. Deep Blade Journal » Blog Archive » Messages to Attorney General Gonzales Says:

    […] Progress, after Senator Chuck Schumer repeated calls for his head, I see that the New York Times is being used to communicate even Republican consternation with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, some of it […]


  63. Deep Blade Journal » Blog Archive » Messages to Attorney General Gonzales Says:

    […] Progress, after Senator Chuck Schumer repeated calls for his head, I see that the New York Times is being used to communicate even Republican consternation with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, some of it […]


  64. tom baker Says:

    awwwww, it’s just so sad. from the day gonzo followed dubbie home from school they’ve been inseparable. now poor lil dubbie is going to have to have his very own pet mexican put to sleep - i cried like the first time i saw old yeller.


  65. R Says:

    That’s encouraging news. Can we expect Gonzo’s ruination and dashed career any time soon? I hope so. I need some happy, fuzzy times. We shouldn’t let Harriet Miers off the hook either, as she had a hand in laying the foundation for all that is unfolding as well. We need to throw a great big party for all the rats, aboard the sinking ship. Free party hats, lies, filth and shit, for everyone!


  66. CoffinsDrapedWithFlags Says:

    “WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush said Wednesday he is “not happy” about mistakes surrounding the decision to fire eight U.S. attorneys, but his faith in his attorney general is unwavering.

    Looks like its the end of the line for Gonzales… remember Brownie and Rumsfeld? It’s over.


  67. Pete Bogs Says:

    I don’t need to know what turns on AG Gonzales… it’s just too creepy a thought…


  68. The Daily Background » Blog Archive » Pressure ratchets up on Gonzales to resign Says:

    […] the other hand, the New York Times quotes an unnamed Republican close to the White House as saying “I really think there’s a serious estrangement between the White House and Alberto […]


  69. Raymond Funamoto Says:

    FLASH! NEWS OF THE DAY!
    In an unexpected TURD-TURN of events, Inquisitor General Alberto VO5 Gonzales today announced that he would be resigning effective immediately, for “reasons he could not divulge because it would compromise national security,” according to the sweaty-browed grinning little greaser SHIT Gonzales. white house sources said the real reason for Gonzales’ abrupt departure was that he was asked to step down by CHIMPya W. Bush because Bush said that Gonzales was not “giving head” that CHIMPya enjoyed from him “skillfully enough” for Bush’s liking. In addition, Gonzales had committed the unforgiveable sin of being found out in the lies he told to conceal the truth behind the recent prosecutors’ purge as well as the poor way in which Gonzales handled the domestic spying and military tribunals issues. That, combined with Gonzales’ clumsy oral techniques upon the First Membrum Virile, has led to the Inquisitor General’s dismissal from Bushland Uber Allies.


  70. owlbear1 Says:

    Wow, once again Dubya’s crew conspires to break the law and George is upset but only because they got caught.


  71. The Daily Background » Blog Archive » Pressure ratchets up on Gonzales to resign Says:

    […] the other hand, the New York Times quotes an unnamed Republican close to the White House as saying “I really think there’s a serious estrangement between the White House and Alberto […]



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2008 Center for American Progress Action Fund
image Register imageimageRSSimageimage imageimage
image
image
View Most Popular
image
image
Visit Our Affiliated Site
image
image image
What We're About
image
image
Featured
image
image
Subscribe to the Progress Report



image
image
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.

Name:
Email:
Tip:
(required)



image
Reports
image
image
imageTopic Cloud
image

image
imageArchives
image

image
imageBlog Roll
image

imageAbout Think ProgressimageimageContact UsimageimageDonateimage