Gonzales

Alberto Gonzales is only the visible face of a deep, deep infection in the Justice Department, thanks to Our Leader. Paul Kiel has a list of high-level resignations from the department this year.

One has to wonder, in regard to Gonzales, "why now?" Confidence in his integrity was never strong and eroded rapidly in the course of the US Attorney scandal. He's really the prime symbol of everything that's un-American about this administration, but he's been that for a while, and I have to wonder whether some strategic genius in the White House finally figured out that they can't afford him any more. Or maybe that happened a while ago and it's just been a matter of convincing the Deciderer to cut him loose.

At any rate, my favorite rationale for the resignation so far is that Gonzales wants to spend more time eavesdropping on his family.

As for Michael Chertoff as his replacement: has anyone figured out that his incompetence is the reason Bush wants him there? After all, can't make the president look bad, now can we?

Glenn Greenwald's thoughts on the necessary response from the Democrats on Gonzales' replacement:

This is a real moment of truth for the Democratic Congress. Democrats, who have offered up little other than one failure after the next since taking power in January, can take a big step toward redeeming themselves here. No matter what, they must ensure that Gonzales' replacement is a genuinely trustworthy and independent figure.

My guess -- ain't gonna happen. Bush will install Chertoff or a similar patsy in a recess appointment, or the Democrats will rubber-stamp his nominee. Forget Bush's "agreement" with Reid about no recess appointments. That's about as reliable as Chicago's weather. Greenwald seems to think the Democrats will retaliate if Bush violates the agreement. I don't know why he thinks that. It's not just a matter of the Democrats having no balls. They've become an essential component of the problem. They are all Beltway insiders.

I'd recommend David Iglesias.