NYT editorial: SILENCE IN THE SENATE

[DeepModem Mom]

Silence in the Senate
Published: June 13, 2007

The most remarkable thing about the debate on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this week was what didn’t happen. Barely a word was said in praise of him or his management of the Justice Department. The message was clear even though the Republicans prevented a no-confidence vote through the threat of a filibuster — a tactic that until recently they claimed to abhor. The sound of Mr. Gonzales not being defended was deafening....

***

For Trent Lott, Republican of Mississippi, the issue seemed to be that the vote would not matter. In other words, since the president does not care what Congress thinks about the integrity of the Justice Department, it is a waste of time to tell him.

President Bush said the investigation of Mr. Gonzales and the Justice Department over the firing of nine United States attorneys was being “drug out” by the Democrats, and that it was purely partisan political theater. If the investigation is dragging on, it’s the fault of the administration, not the Democrats in Congress. The Justice Department has withheld critical documents and released the uncritical ones in dribs and drabs. The White House is refusing to let Karl Rove; Harriet Miers, the former White House counsel; and others testify under oath.

What has slowed things down the most are the repeated misstatements by Mr. Gonzales and other officials....As for the charge of politics, seven Republicans voted with Democrats to end debate, and many more have been critical of Mr. Gonzales. Christopher Bond, Republican of Missouri, stuck with his party on the vote, but told The Associated Press, “The president might decide that the current leadership remaining at D.O.J. is doing more harm than good.”

That so many Senate Republicans supported an attorney general that they cannot bring themselves to defend shows that POLITICS IS NOT BEHIND THE DRIVE TO FORCE HIM OUT. IT'S BEHIND THE INSISTENCE THAT HE STAY.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/opinion/13wed1.html?hp

[Fridays Child]

1. "...since the president does not care what Congress thinks...it is a waste of time to tell him."

When will the media start pointing out the glaring double standard of congressional Republicans? Every day, it seems, they do or say something that is in direct contradiction to their behavior during Clinton's presidency. And nobody in the corporate media says a damn thing about it--except for Keith, maybe.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. You're right. And I love that well-crafted line. "Since he doesn't care...

it's a waste of time to tell him." That's our Bushie!

[lyonn]

3. The media will start treating both parties fairly when the media monoply

is broken up. What ever happen to that law anyway? Maybe they call them conglomerates now?