Gonzales’ performance below his own standard

Published 1:09 am Monday, April 23, 2007

By Staff
Seventy-one.
That's how many times Attorney General Alberto Gonzales invoked his faulty memory before a Senate panel Thursday to say he could not recall conversations or remember events surrounding the firings of former Cass County prosecutor Margaret Chiara and seven other U.S. attorneys.
Even his own party is not buying his flimsy explanations.
"The best way to put this behind us is your resignation," Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla, informed Gonzales bluntly during a grueling five-hour Judiciary Committee hearing.
Lawmakers confronted the attorney general with sworn testimony and documents showing he was more involved in the dismissals than he claimed.
His fumbling appearance did nothing to reassure anyone that the firings were not politically motivated and he doesn't seem to have a shred of credibility left to continue except for the White House's usual unwavering support for one of its own.
Gonzales' story shifts like sand. First, he denied almost any involvement. When that didn't fly, he acknowledged a larger role. How could he not in the face of e-mails released about meetings he attended?
Even Republicans have lost faith in him. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called Gonzales' explanations "a stretch."
It was also Graham who said to the attorney general, "Sometimes it just came down to these were not the right people at the right time. If I applied that standard to you, what would you say?"
Gonzales answered, "I believe that I continue to be effective as the attorney general of the United States. We've done some great things."
"The moment I believe I can no longer be effective, I will resign as attorney general," Gonzales added.
If he hasn't reached that point yet, he will soon.
He's twisting in the wind only because he's a member of President Bush's inner circle from Texas, and the administration wants to deny Democrats access to political adviser Karl Rove.