August 27, 2007
Posted: 08:51 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards is the first White House hopeful to respond to the resignation of Alberto Gonzales Monday, issuing a four-word statement:

"Better late than never."

Filed under: Alberto Gonzales • John Edwards


Jeff - Boston, Ma   August 29th, 2007 4:58 pm ET

I find it amazing that some people are on the kick of Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton bashing.. Honestly, I mean c'mon… I love my family very much and we DO NOT agree on many political issues such as Bush being a good president and the war and torture. You can't judge one person by there family name is my point so why try? Lastly, I don't remember anyone complaining in 2000.. Why now?

Earl, Ohio   August 28th, 2007 7:26 pm ET

Edwrads bashers still on the hair, eh?

I'd rather someone spend money on a haircut than do like Hillary did and said lobbyists represent Americans and have a done a lot of good for our country.

Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton … let's just keep the same two families in power forever. That's the way we keep NAFTA, WTO, China, and all the other great trade agreements/organizations in place! We sure wouldn't want a fresh start with Edrwards or Obama … it might cause redundancy rip that would wake people up out of their stupors.

Dave, Des Moines, Iowa   August 27th, 2007 6:19 pm ET

Funny Senator Edwards said, "better late than never", yet he shows up at an Iowa campaign stop well over an hour late, letting people wait in the absolute sweltering heat! Better late than never I guess?

William S. Gazitano   August 27th, 2007 2:54 pm ET

Short but sweet, Edwards is right.

James, Hilliard, OH   August 27th, 2007 1:28 pm ET

Yet another example of why I am voting for Edwards!!!!!!

Aaron, Galesburg, IL   August 27th, 2007 12:49 pm ET

Edwards for Attorney General?

Jim, Long Island, NY   August 27th, 2007 12:32 pm ET

Mr. Eichorn, "Gonzalez has done a wonderful job at Justice."

Really? What has he done? He did wonderful things for the President. He covered for him, lied for him, he will take a fall for him, he probably still picks up his dry cleaning.

The problem is that he doesn't work for the President. He is supposed to work for the American people. He is supposed to work for Justice. He is supposed to work to protect the Constitution. He has done the opposite of all of these things.

I wish that people would look at what politicians do, and not hear what they say. They say nothing, but do lots of bad things. Gonzalez wasn't supposed to be a politician, but that is all he ever was.

Sean, North Carolina   August 27th, 2007 12:22 pm ET

He is minding his own business. Maybe if others had minded their business better we wouldn't be in the quagmire we're in now.
Tell him to mind his own business? Come on, you gotta come up with a better one than that…why not criticize something meaningful, like his hair?

Michael Raker   August 27th, 2007 11:55 am ET

There was a time in our recent history when good, tough men, used short, to-the-point statements, and the people understood. John Edwards is one of those good tough men; good for fighting against corporate greed that would harm you and your children, tough for building his own life and his own wealth, not inheriting it from his daddy's daddy like George and Dick.

"Better late than never," the appropriate response for the situation.

Wichman, Andover, Md.   August 27th, 2007 11:48 am ET

This is just the latest in the left's distraction-driven mindset. You don't want to deal with the reality of say, extremist Muslims invading our country, so you direct your hate-filled posts at the flavor of the day.

Anonymous, Somewhere, MI   August 27th, 2007 11:31 am ET

Hope Edwards doesn't feel like firing any attorneys when he gets into office.

r. wilkinson, san diego, ca.   August 27th, 2007 11:25 am ET

Having no plan for our country, John Edwards now joins the 'hate speech' people.

Cary - Lowell, IN   August 27th, 2007 11:23 am ET

When you say bad things, bad things happen to you, John.

Rick, Chicago Illinois   August 27th, 2007 11:19 am ET

George Eichorn, Warren, MI,

"Gonzalez has done a wonderful job at Justice."

The same guy who doesn't believe that habeas corpus is an inalienable right, favors illegal spying on its own citizens, lied repeatedly under oath, and has people thinking maybe our legal system is operated via partisan rather than legal motives - thus helped destroy this country's faith in the impartiality of its justice system?

This is the same guy who (at the very least) has lied thus far about: 1) him “not [being] involved in any discussions about what was going on” at a March 13, 2007 press conference - refuted by testimony and emails; 2) his February 6, 2006 statement about there “not been any serious disagreement about the [no-warrant surveillance program]." – contradicted by his own 07/24/07 testimony that the purpose of a March 10, 2004 meeting (between White House officials and congressional leaders — referred to as the "Gang of Eight") was to inform lawmakers that Comey would not approve "a very important intelligence activity."; 3) his assertion during April 19, 2007 testimony, regarding his role in the firings of the attorneys, that "I haven't talked to witnesses because of the fact that I haven't wanted to interfere with this investigation." – contradicted by Monica Goodling, who testified that, she had an "uncomfortable" conversation while she worked for him "where he outlined his recollection of what happened" and asked her for her reaction; and 4) him saying (during his testimony on 07/24/07) he had visited the ailing Ashcroft in the hospital to discuss "other intelligence activities," not the surveillance program – which was contradicted by the testimony of both Comey and Mueller.

And you can now add another lie to the list. After saying on 7/23/07 “[I will] devote my time, effort and energy to fix the problems. Since I have never been one to quit, I decided that the best course of action was to remain here and fix the problems”, he did what many other supporters and cronies of the Bush administration have done recently. He resigned. QUIT. Cut and ran. All that’s left now is for him to write a book like Tom "the professional innocent victim" Delay’s book ”No Retreat, No Surrender”!

Now please stick to FOX News blogs.

Thanks in advance!

Brev I. Tee   August 27th, 2007 11:19 am ET

It's like Edwards is reading my mind. Those long winded responses by other politicians are so obvious and contrived. His wit is refreshing. Oh, and thank god Gonzo is gonezo.

Jim, Providence, RI   August 27th, 2007 11:19 am ET

Best Comment So Far By Far! And I am an Obama supporter.

Peter, Raleigh, NC   August 27th, 2007 10:49 am ET

Gonzales has served with dishonor and has brought shame to the system of American justice. He is a liar, and I believe he is a perjurer.

Better late than never is a start. I personally won't be satisfied until I see Gonzales in an orange jumpsuit.

Peter, Denver, CO   August 27th, 2007 10:40 am ET

Goodbye incompetence!

Peter Bagnuolo, Wheaton Illinois   August 27th, 2007 10:33 am ET

Good riddance for hubristic, demoniac rubbish. I recall the fascist, U G Eichhorne in 1944 saying another Prosecutor, in Nazi Germany was a great guy. Although a former Republican, as of the invasion of Iraq, and now an independent I agree 100% with Edwards

Henry Maxwell Morgantown WV   August 27th, 2007 10:31 am ET

What exactly has AG Gonzalez done so wonderfully? Authorizing Torture? Reading Americas mail and listening to our phone calls? It's time for him to go.

susan h., cedar rapids, ia   August 27th, 2007 10:29 am ET

nice guy not strong enough to resist the white house gang's politicization of the justice system.

journalschism, Harrisburg, PA   August 27th, 2007 10:15 am ET

Hey Scott from Boulder:

Edwards haircut bill pales by comparison to the $300 an hour makeup artist employed by Romney, or dress fittings for Guiliani, or those fine Cohibas for Thompson.

Get a clue, idiot. That your next President you're insulting.

BD   August 27th, 2007 10:13 am ET

I guess Edwards was more interested in being the FIRST to respond that he didn't really have anything to say.

Okay, yeah. "Better late than never." That's your official statement ?

LOL

Very Presidential….NOT!

Amy, Annville, Pennsylvania   August 27th, 2007 10:12 am ET

Amen Edwards.

But unfortunately, the rat didn't jump ship before he was able to pervert the Constitution, shred our commitment to the third and fourth Geneva conventions, and desecrate the very ideals upon which our legal/judicial system was created (i.e. habeaus corpus, right to privacy, ad nauseum). His appointment was a gross display of cronyism and a testament to the Bush administration's destruction of democracy's greatest foundation: JUSTICE.
If the punishment truly fit the crime, Gonzales would be found guilty of being an "enemy combatant of democracy," and he would be sent to Gitmo to suffer under his own policies.

Chip, Brea, CA   August 27th, 2007 10:04 am ET

I look forward to a president who speaks clearly, eloquently and succinctly

B Hamilton   August 27th, 2007 9:58 am ET

Short, brief, accurate, and right on…….Go get "em" John

Erin, New York, NY   August 27th, 2007 9:56 am ET

Tell Edwards to mind his own business. Gonzalez has done a wonderful job at Justice.

This statement is laughable on so many levels.

MARK HARRS PHILADELPHIA, PA   August 27th, 2007 9:54 am ET

Funny how the prequisites for President include minimal attention and expense for one's personal appearance (including hair). Except, I don't think ex-movie star, Ronald Reagan, got that memo when he maintained a black, non-gray, mane into his 70's. I wonder why that wasn't a point of contention at the time.

Jeff Boston, MA   August 27th, 2007 9:41 am ET

To the writer who said Gonzales has done a wonderful job as Justice.. Doing what? What did he do that was so wonderful? What accomplishments did he succeed in? Not being sarcastic just hoping for a little enlightenment.. Thanks.

Joseph O'Raioa   August 27th, 2007 9:37 am ET

Best thing anyone could say about Gonzalez! Think I'll have to take a look at what Edwards is all about. Much better than my vote in 2004 for George Bush most likely. How many more of George's close friends are going to take a fall because they screwed up. The country does deserve better!

George Eichorn, Warren, MI   August 27th, 2007 9:20 am ET

Tell Edwards to mind his own business. Gonzalez has done a wonderful job at Justice.

Ralph, Waverly Hall, Ga.   August 27th, 2007 9:09 am ET

Next, the illegals?

Scott, Boulder, CO   August 27th, 2007 8:54 am ET

Mr. Edwards' well-honed knack for brevity, cultivated during his trial lawyer days, stands in stark contrast to the time, effort and money he spends on his hair.

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