Conservative editorial boards run from Gonzales

With the Senate's 'no confidence' vote coming up on Wednesday, conservatives have just one day left to separate themselves from the Attorney General before all hell breaks loose.  Over the last few news cycles, a number of conservative editorial boards across the country have jumped ship.

1) Conservative bloggers, like Ed Koch of Real Clear Politics, says Gonzales is a "dead man walking," and praised Ashcroft for standing standing up to him in the hospital:

Isn't it awesome that Ashcroft, a very conservative lawyer and formerU.S. Senator, hated by the liberals, in effect, thwarted an attempt bythe President's Counsel and Chief of Staff to subvert the law?

2) Even the Asheville Citizen-Times, a right-leaning newspaper, wrote this morning that Gonzales ought to go:

He no longer deserves or can claim the confidence of the department heruns, of the Congress or of the American people. He should resign.

3) Another right-wing newspaper, the Ventura County Star, asks Gonzales to "go quietly" and not hurt the Republicans any further:

It's admirable that Mr. Bush is willing to defend his longtime friendand counselor, but Mr. Gonzales should not put the president in theposition of having to do so. It is no service to Mr. Bush for Mr.Gonzales to stay on.

4) My hometown newspaper, the Seattle Times -- which all of us out here in the Northwest know is far from liberal -- jumped off the Gonzales bandwagon on Sunday:

The only alternative to Gonzales' staying on as attorney general is anindependent Justice Department that acts in the interests of justice,rather than Bush's political and personal interests. That is what Bushfears most, and that is why Gonzales will almost certainly stay, unlessCongress forces him out. Let's ask them to do it.

The way I see it, there are two main reasons why Gonzales is toast:

• The controversial firings affected Republican-appointed attorneys.  Many of these attorneys have close relationships with GOP Senators and Representatives.
• The episode between Gonzales and Ashcroft gives conservatives a way out.  In other words, Republicans can say, "Hey, all the fuss about the U.S. Attorney firings was nonsense.  But I don't like what Gonzales did to our conservative pal Ashcroft."

Comments

[Delia]

"...thwarted an attempt by the President's Counsel and Chief of Staff to subvert the law?"

Gee, isn't it interesting that even conservatives are admitting that the administration was in fact breaking the law, and yet no one is calling for impeachment for these criminals!? What does this guy have to do to get impeached? Can't someone give him a b.j. so we can just get it all over with?

[The Mexican]

Even an orgy might not bring this guy down.

[Billiken66]

Gonzales is so without worth, he doesn't even know when it is in his party's and his friend and president's best interest to resign. He will only resign if and when he's told to. He has not one ounce of leadership ability. He can only follow orders. What a loyal Nazi! What a waste of a life.

[CityGirl]

"Isn't it awesome that Ashcroft, a very conservative lawyer and former U.S. Senator, hated by the liberals, in effect, thwarted an attempt by the President's Counsel and Chief of Staff to subvert the law?"

Huh????? Awesome???? Why is it "awesome" that the man was doing what he was supposed to be doing--upholding the law? Why should we expect anything less from the Attorney General of the United States, be he conservative or liberal, hated or loved? Is Ed Koch admitting that conservatives usually don't uphold the law and that there is something bold, courageous, and admirable in one of their number actually doing so for a change? Do these people even listen to themselves?

And I second what Delia said.

[Yo Boy]

Oh, another story about a lying, treasonous, hypocritical, immoral administration official; YAWN…..

He is a Republican after all; it should only be a story if he happens to slip up and utter a truthful response to something.

I can’t believe idiots still vote for the Repugs.