It would be far too easy to rant at some length about the astounding level of corruption and rank ineptitude evidenced by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in the scandal surrounding the firing of eight US Attorneys. In this case, I don’t really feel like playing the literary equivalent of “Whack-a-mole”, simply because the whole scandal has become so highly charged and politicized that there really appears that there’s no longer any room available for anything resembling compromise.
Yes, Democrats are jumping on this scandal like rats on moldy cheese. There’s a very good reason for this, though. By all indications, Gonzales, Karl Rove, and other denizens of BushWorld have been playing partisan politics with US Attorneys. That there’s smoke pouring off this scandal can and should be taken as indication that there’s something en flambe somewhere…and in a big way.
Regardless of what side of the political fence you happen to come down on, it’s difficult to ignore the reality that Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader © is acting very much like a man with something to hide and who’s desperate to keep it hidden. You won’t hear the phrase “executive privilege” bandied about much, because of it’s Nixonian overtones, but the argument here really is “executive privilege” vs. accountability. At what point does a President’s right to have open and unedited advice provided by those he has chosen to advise him collide with the legislative branch’s right to exercise effective oversight?
The truly sad thing about this scandal is that it amply demonstrates just how arrogant and unaccountable this Adminstration has become. The eight US attorneys in question deserved better. WE DESERVE BETTER. Our commitment to the rule of law deserves better.
It’s time for Alberto Gonzales to go, not because he’s a vile political hack, but because he failed to understand his responsibility to the law. Yes, Gonzales is a political appointeed who serves at the pleasure of the President. Beyond that, though, he’s a public servant and the top LAW ENFORCEMENT officer in the land. There are times when politics must take a back seat…and there’s no more appropriate example of this fact than protecting the rule of law that holds this country together.
Say g’bye, ‘Berto….
