Gonzales rapped as president's 'yes man'

[rodeodance]

Source: ap




Gonzales rapped as president's 'yes man'

By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer 21 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says his long friendship with
President Bush makes it easier to say "no" to him on sticky legal issues.
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Gonzales' critics say the attorney is far more likely to say "yes," and they say that leaves the Justice Department vulnerable to a politically determined White House.

Probably not since Watergate has an attorney general been so closely bound to the White House. Gonzales has pushed counterterrorism programs that courts found unconstitutional and filled the ranks of federal prosecutors with Republican loyalists. In doing so, he has put Bush's stamp on an a Cabinet department that is supposed to operate largely free of the White House and beyond the reach of politics.

"This intertwining of the political with the running of the Justice Department has gone on in other administrations, both Republican and Democrat," said Paul Rothstein, a professor at Georgetown Law School. "But I think it's being carried to a fine art by this president. They leave no stone unturned to politicize where they think the law will permit it. And they push the line very far."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070519/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/justice_white_house;_ylt=Aj6jUUrGEv_hjAWonW4D.Yis0NUE

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I doubt the upcoming vote of 'no confidence' (if they have the vote----I hear they are looking for a Republican to co-sponsor the resolution--and no one has steppe up yet)-----will have teeth!!

[kurth]

1. What's the Constitution between friends?

or in this case, master and slave.

[Demit]

2. As long as it keeps the issue in front of the public, the heat stays on.

It will encourage more revelations about US Attorneys on the various hit lists, and may even prompt some long overdue think pieces from the beltway journo boys. Keep the heat on and make them all sweat, from th WH to the Justice Dept. There might be some backroom heavy horsetrading, but at least the momentum stays with our side and benefits us.

[lyonn]

3. If Gonzo resigns it makes it easier on george.

As the above poster said, keep their feet to the fire. Gonzo has approved, through his job as legal assist. to george to Atty. General, All the illegal proclamations/signing statements that the bushies have issued under the War President Act (is that an Act?) According to george it is. It has been New Rules time since george raised his hand and swore to be a good president.

[democrat2thecore]

4. A new AG may say YES to special prosecutor

Remember how Janet Reno, after presented with evidence, approved an Independent Counsel? It turned into a fiasco, but the initial approval was proper and part of her job. How many times has Gonzalez *turned away* recommendations for a special prosecutor from career DOJ prosecutors? Could George count on that kind of loyalty from anyone else? Doubt it.

[Heidi]

5. Kick.

:kick:

[BornagainDUer]

6. Gonzales rapped as president's 'yes man'

Source: AP

Gonzales' critics say the attorney is far more likely to say "yes," and they say that leaves the Justice Department vulnerable to a politically determined White House.

Probably not since Watergate has an attorney general been so closely bound to the White House. Gonzales has pushed counterterrorism programs that courts found unconstitutional and filled the ranks of federal prosecutors with Republican loyalists. In doing so, he has put Bush's stamp on an a Cabinet department that is supposed to operate largely free of the White House and beyond the reach of politics.

"This intertwining of the political with the running of the Justice Department has gone on in other administrations, both Republican and Democrat," said Paul Rothstein, a professor at Georgetown Law School. "But I think it's being carried to a fine art by this president. They leave no stone unturned to politicize where they think the law will permit it. And they push the line very far."

Gonzales, a friend and adviser to Bush since their days in Texas, calls their close relationship "a good thing."

"Being able to go and having a very candid conversation and telling the president: 'Mr. President, this cannot be done. You can't do this,' — I think you want that," Gonzales told reporters this week. "And I think having a personal relationship makes that, quite frankly, much easier always to deliver bad news."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070519/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/justice_white_house_6;_ylt=AmVKHSVNuKWZWJVRy645fBAE1vAI

[tularetom]

7. Bullshit! If gonzo EVER said "Mr president this cannot be done",

that'd be the last candid conversation he ever had with the insecure *. The only reason he's still there is he never said no to the petulant little prick.

[Demeter]

8. Gonzo Gets Paid to Make Things Happen, Not To Stop An Insane Despot

CONGRESS gets paid to stop an insane despot--and they better deliver!

[Trillo]

9. Baloney frame

"a Cabinet department that is supposed to operate largely free of the White House and beyond the reach of politics."

If anyone believes that a "Department" in the Executive Branch is "largely free" of White House influence, then they must be smoking some strong DOPE.

Gonzales definitely needs to go.

[MisterApologist]

11. Gonzales yes man as Monica Goodling screams yes!! to her BF and Assistant US Attorney

:nuke: On my website I’ve exposed Monica Goodling and her boyfriend/Assistant US Attorney for Virginia Richard Parker (with 4 pictures)…. (she most likely got him the job)
(http://misterapologist.blogspot.com/)

Its already been reported that the US Attorney for Western Virginia, John Brownlee, was the FIRST name on the list of 5 possible candidates for firing ……

… Perhaps it would be pertinent to ask how Goodling’s boyfriend got the job as Assistant U.S. Attorney in Virginia… and perhaps it might be a good time to figure out why the US Attorney from Virginia (a battleground state) was put on the termination list….

[Solly Mack]

10. uh....uh....lol Gonzales - a Bush "Yes man" (DUH)

why is anyone pretending he was ever anything but or would ever be anything but?

Evidence that nothing will ever be done about the corruption is in the pretending that people are shocked, surprised, caught off guard or didn't see it coming......