GOP not expected to shield Gonzales

With a number of reelection campaigns hanging in the balance, the 'no confidence' Senate vote that was rescheduled for today is expected to go rather smoothly.  People like Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), who is facing a tough 2008 Senate battle with Democrat Al Franken, does not want the Gonzales scandal hanging around like a rain cloud over his campaign.  Coleman is among at least five Republican Senators that will definitely support the 'no confidence' vote.  Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is likely to join that group.  In all, that gives the Democrats around 55 or 56 votes at the very least, depending on which lawmakers choose not to show up.

Still, 56 votes is not enough to break a filibuster, should the Republicans try that option.  But from what I have been reading, there is no indication that the GOP will even bother preventing the resolution from coming to a vote -- which means that all the measure needs is a simple majority.

If Alberto Gonzales chooses not to resign despite the 'no confidence' vote, then The Nation columnist John Nichols recommends opening impeachment proceedings:

And while a proposed Senate vote of "no confidence" might finally tipthe balance against Gonzales, it is certainly appropriate to preparefor the next act of the sorry soap opera that the attorney general'stenure has become.

The founders established clear procedures for impeaching members ofthe Cabinet. "The President, Vice President and all civil officers ofthe United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, andconviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes andmisdemeanors," reads Article 2, Section 4, of the Constitution.

Brave New Films has recommended that the Congress do just that.  With impeachment possibly on the horizon, Gonzales has every incentive to resign now.