Ashcroft's not going anywhere

[Rose Siding]

I was afraid of this (along with the prospect of the devil we don't know)...

snip>
For months, Attorney General John Ashcroft's associates had been saying that he was preparing to step aside, weary after waging an aggressive campaign against terrorism. They said he longed for a quieter life, especially after his gallbladder surgery in March.

At the White House, no one seemed prepared to argue with Mr. Ashcroft. Officials there complained to friends that Mr. Ashcroft had made himself a fractious political issue as he embraced the Patriot Act and other Bush initiatives against terror.

But Mr. Bush's victory seemed to reinvigorate Mr. Ashcroft, the officials said. Religious conservatives were a crucial part of Mr. Bush's margin and they have not wavered in their support for Mr. Ashcroft, who was first chosen by the Bush team in part because he was a favorite of evangelical Christians. Associates said Mr. Ashcroft might rethink his plans and was awaiting word from the White House on his future.

http://nytimes.com/2004/11/07/politics/07term.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[Bluebear]

1. Patriot Act III.....Patriot Act IV.....Patriot Act V.....

I am certain they are already written.

[ogradda]

2. now that the looming threat of prosecution is dwindling

hey he'll stay! why the hell not!

[Mojambo]

3. Am I the only one who thinks this is good news?

Ashcroft is a douche for sure, but he's widely acknowledged as such and that makes it a lot easier to mount opposition against him.

I'd kind of miss that crazy ass bastard.

[LiberteToujours]

4. Good point

[NYC Liberal]

7. But he's not going anywhere anyway.

So it'd be better to have someone who isn't as out of their mind.

[UTUSN]

5. So It's Wussy, Prissy Ken STARR on the SCOTUS?

But this part of the o.p. is mystifying: "...Ashcroft had made himself a fractious political issue as he embraced the Patriot Act and other Bush initiatives against terror."

Since he is at the front line of Shrub's initiatives, why would that be a negative from the Shrubbite point of view? And since when does Shrub or his -ites care what anybody thinks.

[PDittie]

6. He's going to run for President

so he'll leave sooner rather than later to go rake up some major caysh and prepare for 2008.

Visualize a President Ashcroft.

Got it? Now get to work.

[Gman]

8. Expect Ashcroft to be appointed to the SCOTUS

when Rehnquist retires shortly.

[Mojambo]

9. He'd never make it

Even with the cowed state the Democrats are in, he'd never make it.

Unless the republicans re-write the judicial confirmation rules (and I wouldn't put it past them) he simply wouldn't make it.

[PatsFan2004]

11. Since Ashcroft was a former Senator, it will be harder to fight

against him in confirmation hearings because of their traditional "respect" for one another.

[Mojambo]

12. Ashcroft's hardline AG tenure has eroded whatever senatorial

"respect" he might have had.

He wouldn't be confirmed. He won't even be nominated.

[PatsFan2004]

13. We can only hope.

[walldude]

10. Great..

The guy couldn't win an election against a DEAD GUY and if G-Man is correct then we'll be dealing with 20 years of this moran on the SC.. I feel much better now...