/***
Alberto Gonzales was a great representative as well, and showed a strong face of leadership in light of Democrat's repeated "which hunts" to get at anything or anyone connected to the President.
***/

Gonzales is a stinking liar and criminal who was the worst A.G. in the history of the U.S., just as Dubya is, by far, the worst president in history.

And Bea, hate to burst your sadly brainwashed bubble, but plenty of Republicans turned against your Torture Boy as well.

Can't blame it on Republicans.

What I'd blame it on, Bea, is a lack of honesty and leadership by the entire administration. The only other place besides the White House that so many criminals gather is in prison or in a gang.

Wake up.

Certainly it was long past time for Alberto Gonzalez to resign. Whether you buy his version of the U.S. Attorney firings and the warrantless wiretaps or not, his testimony before Congress was indicative of either duplicity or severe brain damage, either of which should disqualify a member of the Justice Department.

I think Michael Chertoff is basically an honest guy and totally qualified, but his nomination to replace Gonzalez as AG is highly problematic for several reasons:

1) This administration needs new blood. To keep rotating the same few cronies looks incestuous and limited. Gonzalez kept his job as long as he did because he was part of the so-called Texas Posse, President Bush’s small circle of friends from down home. The President needs to cast a wider net and show that he wants a quality cabinet, not just a familiar one.

2) Politics vs Policy. There has never been a White House (not even Nixon’s) with less understanding of the importance of separating political victory from policy decisions. Whether it’s Karl Rove making legislative calls or the Gonzalez firing Democratic U.S. Attorneys, the Bush administration has blurred a line that should be clear. Chertoff was part of the failed Whitewater investigation, worked with Rudy Giuliani, and was a major fund-raiser for President Bush and the Republican party. The Justice Department isn’t supposed to be a political arm of the White House. There are many highly qualified Attorneys without the political baggage that Chertoff carries.

3) Two confirmation hearings are worse than one. If President Bush nominates Chertoff, he’ll have to replace him, too By choosing someone from outside the current circle, the President can save his administration at least one hearing full of dirty laundry.

4) Katrina, Katrina, Katrina. Chertoff was the guy in charge of the pathetic disaster response, and he tried to pass the buck when faced with the aftermath. Despite an existing FEMA report which identified the exact scenario as one of the three most likely disasters to strike the U.S., Chertoff said, “That 'perfect storm' of a combination of catastrophes exceeded the foresight of the planners, and maybe anybody's foresight." Whether you buy that or not, coverage of a Chertoff confirmation hearing is going to feature lots of footage of those poor New Orleans folks stranded on rooftops and the President saying “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.” I doubt if that’s what the Republicans want on tv screens in an election year.

Strategically, I think the President should leave Chertoff where he is, and replace Gonzalez with a moderate highly-respected Republican ex-member of Congress. That way he can stumble through his final lame-duck year in peace. But then, the only thing I’m absolutely sure of is that the President doesn’t care what I think.

Why did CNN censor me? All I did was suggest Ann Coulter for the job. After all, she is America's sweetheart. Isn't she? And a loyal little Shrubbie as well.

[...] Of course, no one expects Clement to act as Attorney General for long. That honor, despite my best advice, will in all likelihood go to current head of the Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff. [...]

God help us all.

Can we not get someone who is not connected to all the coruption in Washington?

How in the name of responsible reactions, can anyone think of Michael Chertoff as being able to run the Department of Justice, when the Department of Homeland Security, and its multilayered labyrinth of compacted beaurocracy, is not functioning with any indication that the current head of the department has the ability to manage.

Will Mr. Chertoff take full responsibility of his new office as he did with his present job during the Hurricane Katrina & Hurricane Rita nightmares? If so I don't know if our nation can suffer through such dedication to a job. Where is Colin Powell when we need him!!!!!

I have no idea how Angellou can make the ridiculous statement "There has been no lying under oath". Apparently Angellou has watched too much Fox News and wasn't paying attention when Scooter Libby went to trial and was convicted by a jury of two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice in a grand jury investigation, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. As far as President Bush telling the truth, he said "I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about (Osama bin Laden)" and then lied and denied it. He kept saying that Rumfeld would stay and admitted he lied. He also said many times that we would "stay the course" in Iraq and then said "we never were stay the course". And you think the Democrats have to make up lies about Bush? Get real.

Hey!angellou – get your facts straight. Bush was NOT elected twice.He was APPOINTED once and elected once.

Read an interesting, NON-PARTISAN take on a possible Chertoff appointment. YEAH, He's a BUSH CRONIE, but well-versed in the law… Read this blog post…
http://myragmag.com/2007/08/27/gonzales-resigns/

TO Jan fr. Wood Dale:

I assume you work for an airline because you made a statement that -

"airline employees are only ramdomly checked at security"

Are you referring to outside contractors working @ the airport? Because I can tell you as as airline employee myself at one of the most heavily secure airports that airline employees have a separate queue for security and that each employee is "checked", sometimes patted down. Anything in our possession is screened. It is almost exactly the same equipment used for the travelling public, including bag screening, walk-through screen, the puff of air and manual checks .

Just amazing! The Right-Wingers still dedicate themselves to protecting this president, and insisting that the mess is not his fault,it's Bill Clinton's fault, or some other contrived thought. "Witch-hunt" indeed! People need to think beyond the whitewash and lies. How can you believe that this president has any interest in any American's well-being other than his and his cronies? Gonzales was used by his "friend" , and it did not work out too well for anyone, including the American public. He's gone, but Bush will find another lap dog to take his place, and real soon!

He doesn't look like a well man. Does he have health issues?

Why can't Bushies spell "p-r-o-s-e-c-u-t-e"? It's not "percecute" (love that one) or "presecution."

You people are funny. And delusional.

Chertoff would not be my choice, but he at least graduated from a real school, not Pat Roberts diploma mill.

If the Democrats have a failing, it's trying to be "fair." Certainly, if we're "fair," there's no reason to vote against Chertoff as AG, but, I submit, the real issue is that the next Attorney General will have to supervise a lot of investigations into what this administration has been up to. He or she absolutely needs to not have a conflict of interest in having been already part of the Bush Administration.

Conservative, no problem, but, please, FOR THE CONSTITUTION, someone outside the Bush-Cheney circle.

Patrick Fitzgerald, come on down!

And, for God's sake, I hope they don't nominate al Maliki

Gonzakes or Chertoff, both have questionable loyalities. George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, Condi Rice and several others all are apparently dedicated performers for the very rich and powerful as they literally appear to be bought and controlled by those they benefit and who return benefit. Do I have the incriminating tell-tale photograph of the envelope changing hands? Of course not but the obvious and compelling evidence in the results seen is really there for any objective viewer to see and reason from. In every position they take there is the heavily inequitable, often subtle, sometimes bold but always there, significant benefit for their sponsors and all too frequently accompanied by a great cost to the American people. This isn't conjecture; it is fact that can't be denied unless blinded by a bias which allows one to be manipulated.

As for the return benefit provided, it is also obvious and not limited to just political contribution and support. We have seen it demonstrated in well financed, well organized groups that suddenly pop-up whenever the Bush administration needs help that is not to be with an apparent connection;: against John McCain (2000); against John Kerry (2004); against AARP (2006); against Cindy Sheehan (2006); and now Ari Fleischer against antiwar sentiments, as but a few examples. Then there is the pressure exerted against people and in the manipulation of the media recognized in the way criticisms are always dropped without answers/resolutions and we are then told the over used statement, 'it is time to move on'. It is also apparent in the attitude of the administration created by the confidence gained in this backing which goes beyond assured and unconcerned, beyond bold and belligerent to "in your face' cockiness and arrogance. And finally, I don't doubt there is a deffered compensation plan for after office to provide payment for services rendered – opportunities for positions, giving lectures, doing consulting, receiving insider information and the like.

Who could these sponsors be? I suspect you could start with a 'think tank' like the Carlyle Group and then consider all of those who are obviously greatly benefiting – like Halliburton, the oil companies, the defense contractors, the drug companies, some connected consulting firms and so on. They all have the ability and the experience in working with government (as does people like Dick Cheney in reverse) to know the way. It is an interesting puzzle and the pieces fit together well.

Now the next question is, are all of these people just going to go away 'into the night with the upcoming dawn' of a new election? That really isn't very likely and I am sure they are all doing everything within their substantial power to insure the continuation of their favorable circumstances. I'm sure everything is in place to promote, support, protect and back their next 'puppet', at whatever the cost – and anyone in the way better watch out (remember McCain, Kerry, AARP, Cindy Sheehan,,).

Who will the next 'puppet' be? Fred Thompson already knows well how to follow a script; Rudy Giuliani also is very capable of subordinating himself; and all of the Republican candidates have shown strong support for the Bush administration. Could it even be a Democrat? I wouldn't doubt that these very influential people have plans to cover all eventualities and Hillary Clinton has even shown past suseptability but I doubt their current ties to the Democrats are that strong; likely there are some hurt feelings from the last six years.

The real point in all of this is that America, the average American, can't take more of the same. This country can ill afford the continued neglect of the decaying infrastructure, the loss of jobs and taxes exported to other coutries, the focus on policies for profits for 'big money' creating a run-away deficit, the loss in real spending power for the middle-class, the costs in lives and tax payer dollars from the falsely justified and continually rationalized Iraq War, and on and on all of it constituting a private agenda being pursued for the benefit of Special Interests and a select few while the average American is given little more than apathy, subterfuge and the costs.

These are my thoughts and I don't presume to tell anyone what to think. Rather I present this to stimulate and with the encouragement just to really think, to put all biases aside and to avoid being manipulated long enough to objectively see the facts and then to simply make your own conscientious decisions. Today there is a consistent and concerted effort to hide the truth and disguise the lies which creates the real need for the people to dilligently look behind the rhetoric. Then maybe America won't have to put up with 'more of the same'.

I certainly hope that Chertoff does not get the nod. This man has done nothing to keep this nation safe, he has not protected our borders nor our ports. He has however, been very good at pandering to Mexico and to Illegal Aliens. Shame on GWB if he can't find a better man or woman to replace the equally inept Gonzo.

This man was a DISGRACE as Attorney General and is still a DISGRACE to the Latino community. He was nothing but a lying, scheming lapdog for Bush and a real threat to justice and the rule of law in America. Then again, he fit right in with the Bush administration.

GOOD NEWS, IF CHERTOFF LEAVES HOMELAND SECURITY…HE HAS BEEN ARROGANT AND UNRESPONSIVE TO NEEDS.

BAD NEWS IF HE GOES ANYWHERE IN THE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY ATTORNEY GENERAL…BETTER NYTHONG.

GOOD NEWS, IF CHERTOFF LEAVES HOMELAND SECURITY…HE HAS BEEN ARROGANT AND UNRESPONSIVE TO NEEDS.

BAD NEWS IF HE GOES ANYWHERE IN THE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY ATTORNEY GENERAL…BETTER NYTHONG.

DHS is a mess under Chertoff. USCIS lacks the operational efficiency and effectiveness to handle the cases that it adjudicates, resulting in year-long backlogs of cases, putting legitimate visitors to the U.S. in limbo where they cannot legally work or study, and allowing others to prolong their stay by filing frivolous petitions and applications. Some CBP border posts are letting in nonimmigrant aliens who do not have valid visas even though they are not visa-exempt based on their nationalities and not visa-exempt under the contiguous territory automatic visa extension regulations. The Dept. of Justice needs a new and real leader. Chertoff should be let go from the DHS, not promoted to AG so that he can further corrupt the DoJ and the Bush administration.

Here comes another of the Bush administration's political pay off appointments. In this country's history no other administration, democrat or republican, has based cabinet appointments purely on politics without any concern that the appointtee have any working knowledge of the duties of the post.

As long as some stupendously stupid people think refuse to recognize that this Bush Administration has decimated everything this country has been building since the first independence day, the smart people who oppose will still get screwed and the dumb will bend over and take it.

Ah yes! Another Constitution trasher.
The Archangel of Big Brother our Attorney General. Boy! Who's going to line up for the first microchip implants. We need to impeach that lame duck President before Chertof gets put in, and sack every one in Congress. Time for us to put the Constitution in place where it belongs. In Washington, and into the lives of all Americans!

It's about time!

Michael Chertoff has done a dismal job as Homeland Security Secretary. Our borders and ports are still unprotected. Airline employees are only randomly checked by security, and background checks on employees are not mandatory. New Orleans is still a disaster, with the lack of hospitals, schools, and housing for its residents. And though the levees are being rebuilt, they are not being built better.

With Chertoff's lack of concern for American citizens, how could the President, or anyone, think Chertoff would be effective as the next Attorney General in upholding the Constitution, and the rights of all the citizens.

I'm so surprised….
Do you really expect a good, honest, thoughtful decision from these people?
I expect less than nothing and haven't been disapointed. My biggest disgust comes from the fact that this administration actually thinks we all buy the spin they perpetrate on the American public or the world. Bush actually thinks he's a smart man….

I don't like him, but can't be any worse than the Clinton ERA.

How sad that we as a nation can do no better at 'hiring' an AG than Chertoff. So goes the way of this current administration — if he's a Buddy of Bush (BoB)he must have just the right level of social incompetence, professional larceny and endless irresponsiblity as well as NO short or long term memory. Please tell me that the American people will REMEMBER this when it comes time to go to the polls in '08!!

Sounds like another political appointee of a life-long political hack. Good grief, he serves the intrests of the prevailing political establishment, not the American people. Send him home!

What do you expect……….Bush is told by Cheney what he can and cannot do, so it is no surprise that Cheney would replace Gonzales, the liar, with another incompetent liar, Cherthoff.

Regarding your update: at least Bush seems to be getting quicker at realizing his choices for cabinet posts aren't going to pass muster with congress. Look how long it took for Harriet Meiers to get the sack.

Of course Chertoff could be a ploy and the person he nominates next could be even worse! Isn't Jeb looking for work?

Chertoff was responsible for the Hurriance Katrina fiasco. If he can't handle domestic issues like the Hurricane Katrina response and recovery, why are we continuing to put him in positions of responsibility?

He did exactly what Congress always does. Exert every ridiculous alternative until they ultimately do the right thing

Sheesh! 1/20/09 cannot get here soon enough!

Gee what a surprise! Here's another example of Bush thumbing his nose at and sticking it to the American people.

1/20/09 cannot get here soon enough!!

I voted for Bush twice but I cannot think of a worse choice for AG than Chertoff. In my opinion he has weakened this nation as head of Homeland Security and would bring absolutely no credibility to the damaged AG's office.

Look for it to be Larry Thompson

One "good ole boy" replaced by another. Can't we get someone that is credible?

I see Michael Vick will be unemployeed soon. Maybe he can take over Homeland Security. His recent experience with the law may make him over-qualified to head the justice department.

One loyalist for another. The American public needs to look beyond the nomination to the "why" he was nominated. Possible reasons could be the continued politicization of the Justice Department, or to prevent ugly facts from wiretapping and surveillance programs from coming out before the administration leaves office? Whatever your pet conspiracy theory is, you should stop, listen, think and then voice your opinion to your congressional leaders. Maybe we will get someone competent rather than someone put there because of political reasons.

Chertoff excellent idea for Attorney General! He knows nothing about Homeland Security ,get him to a place where his legal experience can be used!

Good riddance; he was never a good enough attorney or an independent enough person for the job.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!
The rats are jumping from the "Good Ship Georgie Boy" faster than you can count!Gonzales was the "go to guy" when the Bush Administration wanted to get over,around,under or through the laws of this great country to pursue their criminal regime.He,like Powell,Tennet and so many others,was played by Cheney/Bush like a cheap violin!Now they all want to get as far away as they possibly can when this criminal administration finally goes up in flames.The only sad thing is that they will never be prosecuted for their crimes!

As unfortunate a choice Chertoff is…it could be worse, far worse. I'll take him over others. I'm more worried about who would replace Chertoff as Homeland Security Director.

It's about time Gonzales resigned. Unfortunately, we probably found one of the few people even less qualified to be the attorney general than he was to replace him.

The last minute update on his not getting the nod from Bush is good news.

There is NO WAY any individual who blamed the Katrina victims for their own demise should EVER serve in public office.

Chertoff should be next in the endless train of officials to quit and join the Neoconservative Boys and Girls Choir singing:

"Mistakes Were Made"

If Bush can't put up an independent, NO nomination should be confirmed!

Hopefully the individuals that hired Gonzales ( Bush, Cheney, etc… ) will take the hint.

He really looks like someone we all can trust. Not.

All I can say is "1/20/09″

"gods Warriors" should be required viewing for all Americans.People need to know that theocracy is a far worse enemy to our species survival then any disease known.

…and why are we replacing him with this moran? Please explain?

There is probably a better candidate for Attorney General, since Mr. Chertoff has all the Katrina baggage and may not be seen as an effective leader. Katrina was a crisis, and the Justice Department (correctly or incorrectly) is seen as an existing crisis.

I would hope that Bush nominates a credible AG that gets QUICK CONFIRMATION so Congress can get on with existing issues!

What a joke! One Bush loyalist (like a personal servant) is getting replaced with another one. Now we will have all the colored terror alerts in the justice departments to scare american people. This bozo has saved Bush from embarrasment when he was serving as a judge in Texas. Follow the story from Dallas Times:
"It is for good reason that Bush sometimes referred to Gonzales as " mi abogado" and kept him close by. In 1996, he helped then-Gov. Bush avoid jury duty where he might have been forced to reveal a 20-year-old charge of driving while intoxicated, which later surfaced anyway. Dozens of Gonzales memos to Bush supported the governor's desire to implement the death penalty in Texas."
If it was not the action of this joker, Bush would have never seen the White House. That would have saved thousands of lives and trillions of wasted dollars. When can these right wingers learn who spent 15 years attacking Clintons and were blinded in seeing what is going on in their own backyards. Lets wipe out these Bush cronies in 2008 once for all and save this nation from disgrace.

Anyone who still throws their support behind this mockery of a President, this sham of an administration, must be living life with blinder's on. Ask yourself, are you better off than you were 7 1/2 years ago? I'm betting not. Unless of course you are an executive of a major oil company. And anyone who believes that inflation is under control and that we are living in a great economy is kidding themselves. I work in the housing industry and I have seen my work go from a torrent to the current trickle, I pay more for my groceries, a fortune for my gasoline and electric bills and my savings is in decline. My credit card interest rates have soared through the roof and my nephew can barely afford to go to college. Yea, it's a REAL GREAT economy. My point on this blog is….Well, this has been a true confederecy of dunces and there has been incompetence on every level of this administration.

I wasn't going to comment on this, but then I noticed the comments of our moral, intellectual leaders H. Reid, C. Schumer, T. Kennedy and J. Edwards, and just couldn't let it pass.

As an Hispanic who didn't "come up through the ranks" on handouts from the Democratic Party, Alberto Gonzalez hardly had a chance. I thought he was a positive member of the Texas Supreme Court, and, although never as agressive as AG as I thought he should be, I thought he did a good job, but, frankly, don't blame him for resigning, although I hate to see an acting clown put in his place. While Demo House Rep Jefferson goes around with al least $100K in his pocket (or another freezer) Gonzalez can't even do something the White House has an absolute right to do. But, rest easy, because of his absolute admiration for Kennedy, Chertoff is most unlikely to get into any trouble.

How interesting that Chertoff's name translates from the Russian as "little devil."

Killing over a hundred thousand people in an unnecessary war is not an "unwarranted infraction" and neither are the hundreds of malicious acts that this administration has perpetrated against this country.It's time we call a traitor a traitor and oust these societal criminals and move on.

When it looks like a vulture, talks like a vulture, acts like a vulture and quite honestly moves around like a vulture, it's most likely Mike 'the Vulture' Chertoff. Famed for picking corpses.

Lets get an outsider, that may be a hard thing for Republicans because it seems to be everyone is an insider now a days.

Nominating Chertoff would be the most colossal impudence by Bush. This is the man who was Michael Brown's boss and was largely responsible for the governments disgraceful failures in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He's also continued the tradition at Homeland Security of questionable terror alerts at moments the GOP wants to distract the public from things like the federal judgeship scandals. Indeed, for that, this could be the payoff.

Look. The president can fire the U.S. attorneys whenever he wants. That's his prerogative. But unlike most presidents in the past, Bush did it midterm and he didn't fire all of them so that raised some suspicion. Then instead of just saying it was the president's right to fire them, they had to bring in performance reasons, which turned into the debacle about political firings.
Al also appeared to have perjured himself when he said Ashcroft was lucid at the hospital. That whole visit was rather despicable, politics aside.

It is amazing how our president has surrounded himself with crooks like Gonzales , Rumsfeld and Cheney to name a few. It just goes to show he is a crook himself

Replacing a bad appleby the New Orleans' fiasco Grand Master!!! please give me a break! Another Magic trick for King Georges W. Are you surprised of the incompetence of these people? Not me.LOL

Yep, I want an AG who thinks with his gut, not his head…and boy, you can tell the Bushbots can't stay on script with this announcement, the resignation of senor torture, with their constant references to Clinton.
You all are going to have a tough four years starting in 09 when another Clinton becomes Commander in Chief. Heads will explode!

I think it's sad that he is going. CNN and other Clinton News Networks have been piling on Bush,et al for nearly 7 years now. First of all, we need the wire-tappings to keep us safe. The Patriot Act is a good thing. And secondly, have you forgotten that President Billy fired ALL 93 US attorney's upon taking office in 1993??

I am not American. I cannot vote. However, I have to align my sails to your voting preferences.

It has been obvious for some time that President Bush is intent to re-position his party for the elections.

His past confidantes have become stumbling blocks. The GOP says they must go; so they are shown the door, one by one, in rapid succession.

This is election time, my friends, albeit 14 months in advance.

Hey ReadBtwthlins:

Now we know. All judges are to be fired upon entry of a new President, just as Clinton did.

Its the liberal way..

Posted By ReadBtwthlins : August 27, 2007 10:30 am

Uh, it wasn't judges that were fired it was Federal Prosecutor's..getting your facts straight before posting a blog…it's the liberal way

Didn't BillClinton fire all states attorneys when he took office?! What's the problem then?

In response to ReadBtwthlins………I do not think that it's fair to say that appointing anyone after an election is a liberal, conservative, Democrat or Republican thing to do. Primarily, because everyone has done it. The difference between what the Bush Adminstration and it's p.o.s. Attorney General have done and what everyone else before them have done is that they fired staff because they weren't either nice enough to Republicans, or weren't going after Democrats enough.
It's completely legal to replace federally placed judges and US Attorney's if they do not share your point of view, however, nobody who has replaced a judge or a US Attorney in the past has ever done it because they thought they'd be too tough or too weak based on political affiliations. That is, until the Bush administration, and that my fried seems to be a conservative problem.

Great,Chertoff will do a good job protecting Americans as AG just like he did protecting New Orleans as the head of DHS during Katrina. Can this Administration come up with anyone who is a proven leader? Oops, I forgot, Bush ran them off because they told Bush the truth. Please God, make 1/20/09 come fast!

NO RECESS APPOINTMENT OF UNFIT CHERTOFF AS ATTORNEY GENERAL! CITIZENS, TELL YOUR SENATE TO RECONVENE MINIMUM MEMBERS NEEDED TO PREVENT BUSH FROM BETRAYING HIS PROMISE OF NO RECESS APPOINTMENTS — OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANOTHER CORRUPT AG.

You have to wonder if history is repeating itself………are we in the Nixon era all over again?? Back then, they had Vietnam….we have Iraq. They had scandals all over the White House, including Watergate…which landed the Attorney General in jail…..we have Gonzales, who is on trial, ready to wear his pinstripes….Are we that ignorant as to where we do not learn from our past mistakes??? All Bush has to say now is "I'm not a crook!" and the circle will be complete. Thank you America, for once again….voting a crook into the White House!!!

Not good. This guy is the architect of the Patiot Act, the CIA's extraordinary rendition policy and the latest "immigration" bill. Now he will become the chief judge and jury for our nation's attorneys general? Is it a mere coincidence that this is happening just in time for the 2008 elections?

another bush moron? no no no remember Katrina….

If Katrina is any indication, I believe our beloved Commander Guy has truly outdone himself and found the perfect replacement for Gonzales.

Bush was supposedly surprised by Gonzales' resignation, yet he came up with a replacement almost immediately. Interesting.

I am afraid that "Skeletor Chertoff" will be little better than Gonzales. We need an Attorney General who will put "Justice" back in the Justice Department!

Nothing new here, desperate damage control by loosing empire.

Just because you haven't been indicted for a felony doesn't mean you've performed well in office. Gonzales's departure was long overdue, regardless of whether he committed any crimes, because he was an incompetent attorney general who let the Justice Department go to seed. If a Congressional investigation turns up no evidence of criminal misconduct, but overwhelming evidence of professional incompetence and ethically questionable behavior, I see no need to let that slide just because it's not a crime to be bad at your job. I'm glad Congress brought pressure to bear on this.
As for his potential replacement, Chertoff has done absolutely nothing in his current position to merit the nomination, and plenty that calls into question his ability to handle this (or any other) cabinet position. Which is about right for a Bush nominee.

Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft, Harriet Meirs, Paul Wolfowitz, John Bolton, Karl Rove, Michael Brown, Scooter Libby, and Alberto "I Can't Recall" Gonzalez. It's no wonder that there's such a debate about whether George W. Bush is the worst president ever or only one of the worst ever.

Will the next on this list be Richard Stickler, the MSHA head that bungled the Utah mine recovery and had been snuck into office by George W. Bush over Democratic and Republican opposition?

Chertoff! Come on, How is he going to clean up the Justice Dept when he has not done well in the job that he already has? At least he can't blame "Brownie" for getting nominated for this one.

I notice from the comments here that no one is responding to the other side. This is where our country is going–one side doesn't hear the other. If you need more on this, watch "God's Warriors".

Oh, Great! Dumb is being replaced by Dumberer.

Bush is once again desperately looking for another Yes Man who will do anything and everything he is told to do, with pause or question.

I hope and pray that Congress looks into this appointment very carefully and actually thinks to ask pertinent questions of this nominee.

Bea from NJ

When you make an outrageous claim about Democrats and "witch hunts" you at the very least need to learn how to spell the word witch.

Instead of discussing issues, why are people name calling and writing in hateful comments. If you don't have anything to offer, I guess you say bad things about others.

Don't people think that there are issues to discuss as a whole nation of people more important than a Presiential appointee resigning? for example, illegal aliens committing execution-style murders and Islamo-fascist terror camps existing, and going unchecked in the USA? How about health care? Don't people want to work the fact that prescriptions for non-senior adults are priced too high? No, I guess talking about someone's resignation is more pressing and more interesting. Well, that's the American short-attention span thing. Tomorrow we move on to another inane headline.

Neocons are liberals??? You sound real smart buddy.

angellou, you forget that Scooter Libbry lied under oath and was convicted of the crime of perjury. Just another signature move from the scumbag Bush administration.

Congress should still follow up on that pesky perjury thing regarding Gonzales Congressional testimony. Just because he's resigning his position doesn't mean he didn't lie to Congress while under oath.

Sorry, I should have said "pesky perjury witch hunt." I just got the talking points this morning.

Two textbook examples of, "cognitive dissonance", caused by excessive ingestion of Bush Kool-Aide;

"Excellent choice. Secretary Chertoff handled the presecution case against Z. Moussaioui in an exemplary way. We need strong leadership to keep our country safe from terrorists.

Alberto Gonzales was a great representative as well, and showed a strong face of leadership in light of Democrat's repeated "which hunts" to get at anything or anyone connected to the President.
Posted By Bea, Peabody, N.J. : August 27, 2007 9:31 am"

Because a President who claims executive privilege, for every member of his staff, clearly has nothing to hide…

"The made up scandals the Democrats (and liberal in the public) have foisted upon Pres. Bush's administration have been necessary because there has been no perjury to percecute, as in the Clinton admin. There has been no lying under oath; there has been nothing as bad as a senior White House official stuffing national sec. documents down his pants . So those who still haven't gotten over the two-term election of President Bush, have had to come up with unwarranted infractions.
Posted By angellou, bristol, ct. :August 27, 2007 10:24 am"

Thank God we haven't wasted EIGHTY MILLION DOLLARS, on a special prosecutor for this bunch. It will be fun to add up the jail time those, Unwarranted infractions", accrue for the crooks and liars who hijacked our democracy for the past 61/2 years.

Who would have thought, back in 2000, that it would take a Clinton to restore integrity to the, "Integrity White house"?

Van

In response to the gentlemen from Peabody…I can't believe you would use the immoral and inhumane detention of human beings as the prize on Chertoff's mantle that justifies this nomination. Your lack of conscience and decency is what divides this country sir.

Now we know. All judges are to be fired upon entry of a new President, just as Clinton did.

Its the liberal way..

Not the worst pick in the world. He's the most credible Republican I would accept if I were sitting on the panel who'll confirm him.

The Texas Mafia is leaving one by one.

The made up scandals the Democrats (and liberal in the public) have foisted upon Pres. Bush's administration have been necessary because there has been no perjury to percecute, as in the Clinton admin. There has been no lying under oath; there has been nothing as bad as a senior White House official stuffing national sec. documents down his pants . So those who still haven't gotten over the two-term election of President Bush, have had to come up with unwarranted infractions.

What a joke. Out with one irresponsible liar, in with another.

Is someone going to hold a pro-forma session of Congress today to prevent a recess appointment?

Look at the bright side … at least Dubya isn't supporting Charles Manson for the post!

At least not yet anyway.

Based on the past management of Homeland security. Replacing Gonzales with Chertoff is like replacing Twiddle Dee with Twiddle Dumb.

While Chertoff is certainly qualified, I'm not so sure he (or anyone else who has been kicked around for the job) is what I'm looking for. I'm looking for someone who will not be the President's jockey to be taken for a ride everytime someone affiliated with the White House is on the chopping block. Again, this is another example of how nothing ever changes in Washington and why most people really don't care who has the job.

I am continually amazed at this administrations blind and destructive loyalty to incompetent cronyism. Why would we replace one failure with another? Oh well, guess when one consider's the source of that decision, that question becomes mute. Gonazalez has been an embarassment to this country and to the judicial establishment since he got Bush out of jury duty to keep his DUI from becoming public knowledge. The time for his to step down is WAY over due. And for those of you who still seem to support him and this administration, spouting off "Witch Hunt" as the new GOP talking point? Where were you when the Clintons were being investigated for years and the only thing they could come up with was a lie about a marital affair. Give me a break already! Hypocricy seems to be an epidemic with these neo-cons.

I saw Michael Chertoff interviewed by Ted Koppel in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Ted Koppel was in sheer disbelief as Chertoff did not budge from his talking points and did not acknowledge the devastation around him. Finally Koppel suggested he simply turn on his TV. Chertoff was unfazed. No one will find out anything about what has happened at Justice with Chertoff as Attorney General. He is a master at obfuscation and spin. His appointment would be a disaster for Justice and truth.

Bea – obviously a wise comment from a wise person. That being said – it's "witch" not "which." You'd fit well in public office in this administration with grammar like that.

Chertoff has blood on his hands.

I think "which hunt" says it best.Those kind of endorsements illustrate why Chertoff would be a failure.We need people to be chosen by intellect,not loyalty to a failed ideology.

Replacing one yes man with another yes man!
Can America survive another 16 months of this sad circus?

I don't know much about Chertoff but he is easily more qualified than Gonzales per his resume. Maybe now we can move on to the enforcement of our country's laws instead of the partisan application of law that has existed for the last 6+ years. I hope this country can recover from the liberties taken with liberty under this administration.

Why? Have we not learned from Katrina…….
Why is he still employed by ther US Goverment?

Why don't we look forward instead of looking back. Hope the President gets someone in the Attorney General position who will take terrorism more seriously. Maybe Clement.

If Gonzales were a Democrat, the press and liberals would be crying racism against Hispanics. If the AG was black, the Revs. Jackson and Sharpton would be rallying around, crime or no. Gonzales didn't committ any crime, and may I remind people that Bill Clinton fired MORE attorneys than the President. And may I say again, Attorneys General serve at the pleasure of the President- THEY ARE AN APPOINTMENT position.

From the frying pan into the fire.

Great. Bush wants to replace one amoral Nazi with another.

Excellent choice. Secretary Chertoff handled the presecution case against Z. Moussaioui in an exemplary way. We need strong leadership to keep our country safe from terrorists.

Alberto Gonzales was a great representative as well, and showed a strong face of leadership in light of Democrat's repeated "which hunts" to get at anything or anyone connected to the President.

ONE WORD….CRONYISM

So another rat abandons the sinking ship. What about we passengers? Is there a single decent officer in the entire crew who can organize the manning of life boats?

Seems like an important position to fill – might want to at least look over a few resumes, maybe drop a 'help wanted' ad in the local paper before shotgunning someone into the position? Maybe someone qualified for the job might…ahh forget it!

Oh great. One Bozo to replaced by another Bozo. Well what do you expect from the Bozo in charge.

I'm not really sure how replacing one failure with another is going to help matters.

Yeah there's a bright one.Put the loyal hack with his wonderful tenure at the dep. of homeland stupidity in charge of the justice department.Who's going to screw up the next Katrina?Jeb maybe?

Chertoff is a good choice…he already has a good supply of chapstick!

….And that makes sense because???

Why would we want him in office when he so badly handled Hurricane Katrina.

Two words…

New Blood!!!

When will these neocons (i.e. Liberals) learn???