Feh.

I think I prefer the special investigator route at this point. Pin him for perjury, then size him for a federally sponsored "time out".

Gonzales is the kind of scum that needs to be removed from government.

His stonewalling, his evasion, his lying...why do these qualities have a place in our government?

Impeach now.

Do they have the votes, or are there too many Republicans that "don't support Gonzales" who would be opposed to impeachment because they would find it too political?

Geraldo @ 6:

I think the democrats don't want to go all Impeachy because they feel that in the next session, the republicans will then go all Impeachy on them. You know, like the Bible says, "do unto others etc."

Of course, the republicans will go all Impeachy on them anyway. They just don't seem to get that.

If they keep this shit up, there will be no need for the Republicans to go all 'impeachy' on the Democrats, because they won't be in power! They're pissing off so many Democrats, I can't name a single friend of mine that's even interested in going to the polls anymore. I've cut my campaign donations by 75% and the only candidate I'm contribtuing to is Al Franken!

My "favorite" bit relates to the discussion of the decisions made regarding people on death row. Gonzales says people shouldn't criticize the government because it makes it harder for them to do their job (or perhaps he said "get the work done")!!!! I couldn't tell if anyone in the room was gasping, but I sure would have been!

The constitution is just a piece of paper.

We don't need no stinking piece of paper.

How can these guys keep going? He's driving me crazy, he's such a fucking liar. He corrected the error in a Senate committee so he said he corrected it with a journalist. Then it wasn't him, it was an aide. Then he doesn't know what the aide said. HOW about correcting the record with a SENATOR

Impeach and throw the lot of them out of the country for treason

I have heard the members of the audience laughing at Gonzo's "responses" twice so far.

The public's opinion does not matter. What matters is the support of nationalist American like me for this administration, which is an all time high and is rising steadily. With enough PR, we will turn this nation around for the Bush admin's side. After all, we are all gunning for the same thing, which is peace and harmony in this world, through Christianity and conviction.

Impeach him AND his annoying hair-do!

Would you use Gonzo for a DUI? Did W?

Schurmer nailed him in one of his typical run-arounds. Comey's testimony contradictions Gonzo's statements.

Gonzalez is the USA Justice System now.

Face it!

kerplunk @ 26:

Gonzalez is the USA Justice System now.

Face it!

Not if we patriots can help it .

OT
Breaking News:

Tom Collinmore (sp?)

Has resigned from a top position in Fred Thompson's campaign

'Sources' (according to CNN) say it is because of difficulties with Fred Thompson's Campaign mgr.... HIS WIFE!! (who happens to be his 2nd, more than 20 yrs younger than he, and (they say) a Britney Spears wannabe... mini skirts, long blonde hair, etc)

Humorous eh? not even in the campaign officially yet and the shit is beginning to hit the fan for him! :-)

Gonzo has never been anything but a loyal little apparatchik to his uber-boss Bush. A small slightly relevant sycophant sent to do Lord VolderBush's bidding on almost any legal issue. Stonewall here, disregard law there, throw under bus here, whatever is needed, Gonzo happily delivers to Capt Decider. Just don't admit to any failings whatsoever, stick to the treading-on-Constitution script and all will be well, in their minds. What a waste. Utterly. I miss Janet Reno.

Besides being a bush butt boy, he isn't even very smart.

tbhull @ 27:

Do not fund DOJ in fiscal '08, at all so long as Alberto is around. Hell, we would be better off today if Congress did not fund government at all, as it is most corrupt and utterly ineffective in its current state. Maybe this is what BushCo desires, a deconstruction of government.

You just realized that "this is what BushCo desires, a deconstruction of government"?

That has been the whole effort of the Bush Regime. Big government was identified the enemy of Americans by Ronald Reagen. The idea was a winner for the Republicans and has been the direction for the past 40 years. That is why you are eating botulism, lead, salmonella, melamine in your food. That is why the US Justice system has been handed over to Alberto Gonzalez. FEMA handed over to Brownie. Social Security handed over to private companies. Military has been handed over to private contractors and companies. Also the Democrats have sat idly by and let it happen by funding all of it.

Gonzales is like a crackhead you see on an episode of Cops, who, when caught with a crack pipe, says, "That's not my pipe. I don't have a pipe. I don't smoke crack. I've never smoked crack. I've been clean for three months. Three days. Three years. Three weeks. I didn't know it was there. I'm just holding it for a friend. I've never seen that pipe before in my life. It's a pencil holder? Okay look, here's the truth. I just bought this car two weeks ago and I haven't cleaned it out yet." et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Orwell's Illegitimate Son @ 33:

This is all well and good, but did you notice that the Dow is down nearly 250 points, and the dollar is sinking to never-before-seen lows against both the British Pound and the Euro?

And, the CEO of Countrywide mortgage - the leading mortgage company in the USofA - came out and said he had a "gut feeling" that the housing market won't recover until at least 2009.

Impeachment? How about implosion, 'cause that's what our economy is being set-up to do.

All of this is merely a show to keep your attention diverted from the TRUE crimes of our ruling Elite. That is, the destruction of our economy.

Tick...tick...tick... The bill for this debt-party has to come due some day.

hadenuf @ 35:

Orwell's son, how does the destruction of the economy help TPTB?

I'm tired of explaining things to everybody. Go figure it out yourself.

Stop watching crap like Stewart and Colbert and learn a little about the distribution of the economic cycle around the world (i.e. who are the producers, who are the consumers, etc.).

Gee, thanks! Sorry I didn't fucking major in economics.

See you in the camps.

pissed off patricia @ 34:

Besides being a bush butt boy, he isn't even very smart.

I won't hire this clown to prepare paperwork to close on a house.

hadenuf @ 44:

Gee, thanks! Sorry I didn't fucking major in economics.

See you in the camps.

Neither did I, hadenuf, but I've learned meself purty good.

See you there, comrade!

BJ @ 47:

kerplunk @ 31:

Durbin, Leahy, Spector, Schumer, and Feinstein are being played as fools and they are letting it happen. This is the caliber of our elected Senators. Our Senators are absolutely worthless. What are they good for? They are good for enabling the destruction of America. They are sitting by and doing nothing. Does anyone think anything will be done beyond this hearing? If so, you are another fool. A fool beholden to Alberto Gonzalez.

It's easy to sit on your azz in a forum and criticize those who work long hard hours devoted to this country and doing the best they can do.

I hear lots of complaints on how congress or senate haven't passed this or that, yet no one ever explains how they are going to do that when they do NOT have majority in either house in order to pass a bill.

Senate is 49 dems with the on senator still out who had the brain injury, Reps have 50.. in congress u are looking at 50/50 w/1 independent. And you know Bush will veto anything they send him because he's an honorary sun ov a bhtch.

Republicans are able to do it and they are the minority. Democrats are to lazy to use legislative processes available to them to limit the destruction that Republicans have done and continue to do.

TRAITOR...I;m sure he didn't get his Green Card yet and should be exported out of the country.................

IN THE COLD LATIN for you thinking about saying anything else....

Why do they keep diddling around with this little incompetent unethical moron? He's stumbling all over the place. He just refuses to admit that going to an ill, sedated, incapacited man who in fact had already given over his duties to someone else was beyond all reason and decency. Of course, what does it say that Bush continues to defend this guy?

This clip is good, but this one where Schumer tears into Gonzo is better

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/24/schumer-rips-gonzales/

“I clarified my statement two days later with the reporter,” Gonzales told Schumer. “What did you say to the reporter?” Schumer asked. “I did not speak directly to the reporter,” replied Gonzales.

“Ok,” Schumer continued, “what did your spokesperson say to the reporter?” “I don’t know,” Gonzales said.

The Democrats need to realize that they are dealing with a CRIMINAL organization, and start treating it as such.

Impeach, Inherent Contempt, Indict, Imprison...the I's have it.

hadenuf @ 35:

Orwell's son, how does the destruction of the economy help TPTB?

The President of Tuberculosis?

I've had an epiphany about impeachment. Like most on this forum, I've been screaming for impeachment (and my wife thinks it's getting a little shrill), starting with Gonzalez and Cheney, then Bush. But it simply won't work because the Dems can't get a conviction. The House might impeach, but the Senate will never convict because it requires a two-thirds majority.

They MIGHT be able to get Gonzalez -- it seems there are enough Senate Republicans, led by Specter, who could be convinced to convict Gonzo and remove him from office. Unfortunately, there's no way they would convict Bush or Cheney. The votes just aren't there.

And here's the epiphany: If there was impeachment but no conviction, BUSH WOULD CLAIM COMPLETE VINDICATION AND RE-SEIZE HIS "MANDATE." He would be even MORE arrogant, even MORE dictatorial, even MORE annoying. I don't think I could stand the smirking that would result. You think he's put himself above the law now, see what would happen if he was "acquitted."

I'm afraid Pelosi's right. We gotta just wait it out and hope that a significant Democratic majority in the House AND the Senate beginning in early '09 will lead to criminal charges and prison sentences, not just for Bush, Cheney and Gonzalez, but also Rove, Rice, Wolfowitz, Rummy -- the whole gang! Let's be patient.

Orwellsetc@33, you know, perverse as it sounds taking it to the limit could be just the thing to arouse our muscle-memory in the clutch.
Our country doesn't produce much of anything for reasons in which we're well versed.
Who in their heart of hearts wouldn't prefer to get off this spinning nightmare of a merrygoround one way or another...I almost don't care how.

Anything built on plans and intentions as filthy as washington's hydra-headed all-around catch 22 for us citizens doesn't account for our ingenuity.

Gonzo, genetically the criminal that he is, is set to expire. He WILL be disposed of like picking a dead moth off a screen. All are being pushed to the limit, on all sides until it blows, then our entire system has to be zeroed out. This is the first time I feel this certainty, this coming from one who cries and despairs along with everyone else here.

BJ @ 47:

kerplunk @ 31:

Durbin, Leahy, Spector, Schumer, and Feinstein are being played as fools and they are letting it happen. This is the caliber of our elected Senators. Our Senators are absolutely worthless. What are they good for? They are good for enabling the destruction of America. They are sitting by and doing nothing. Does anyone think anything will be done beyond this hearing? If so, you are another fool. A fool beholden to Alberto Gonzalez.

It's easy to sit on your azz in a forum and criticize those who work long hard hours devoted to this country and doing the best they can do.

I hear lots of complaints on how congress or senate haven't passed this or that, yet no one ever explains how they are going to do that when they do NOT have majority in either house in order to pass a bill.

Senate is 49 dems with the on senator still out who had the brain injury, Reps have 50.. in congress u are looking at 50/50 w/1 independent. And you know Bush will veto anything they send him because he's an honorary sun ov a bhtch.

"It's easy to sit on your azz in a forum and criticize those who work long hard hours devoted to this country and doing the best they can do."

the "best they can do".....?? yikes...

this doesn't pass the sniff test

Wayne @ 66:

They won't hold Gonzo responsible for anything. The only person arrested in this sorry, sordid mess was a citizen ( Cindy ) who delivered a petition for impeachment with signatures of over a million other citizens.
Disgusting......

Yeah, when I signed I scratched my crotch first.

62 Doggiebobo

That's lambasted, not lamb basted. I think you're hungry.

Impeach Cheney and Bush in that order and you won't have to worry about impeaching Gonzalez.

jmike @ 61:

I'm afraid Pelosi's right. We gotta just wait it out and hope that a significant Democratic majority in the House AND the Senate beginning in early '09 will lead to criminal charges and prison sentences, not just for Bush, Cheney and Gonzalez, but also Rove, Rice, Wolfowitz, Rummy -- the whole gang! Let's be patient.

...and the dems won't get in because the voters will remember they did nothing.

See, representatives get in because the voters remember what they did or did not do during the last session. Yes, the impeachment vote will fail. But the voters will remember who helped it fail -- as will television commercials during the next election cycle.

And next time, the dems will have a solid majority behind a dem president, instead of the current status quo where they can't do squat.

Bush is in until the end of his term, like it or not. The problem is the dems are positioning themselves for more of the same instead of big change; sometimes it's better to let people see you try and fail than to let them see you not try.

Doggiebobo @ 74:

ysbaddaden @ 69:

62 Doggiebobo

That's lambasted, not lamb basted. I think you're hungry.

Sooooo correct and I appreciate your humor...something we can all use now....It's lunch time and tho hungry, Lamb is not on my menu.

Mmmmmm. Lamb...

[...] the guy’s a scumbag criminal, so that’s neither here nor [...]

Nord @ 25:

Schurmer nailed him in one of his typical run-arounds. Comey's testimony contradictions Gonzo's statements.

I know, I heard that, too. "I corrected my statement with the reporter."
"I mean, I didn't talk to the reporter."
"I mean, I don't know who did and what was said."

The Peter Principle in overdrive.

Reasons to impeach Gonzo Now.

1. The smarmy little bush-ass-licker still controls the US Attorneys and that allows Bush to chortle to the press that the US Attorney in DC won't charge any one for contempt for ignoring congressional subpoenas or any other charge for that matter, including criminal conduct by Bush and Cheney.

2. There is a very fast process for impeaching administration officials that takes far less time than the impeachment process for a President or Vice President.The process is faster because it does not involve debate by the full House, the debate happens in the Judiciary Committee and the full House only gets an "up or down vote" to send it on to the Senate for the trial.

John Dean has written about this extensively at Findlaw:

Refocusing the Impeachment Movement on Administration Officials Below the President and Vice-President:
Why Not Have A Realistic Debate, with Charges that Could Actually Result in Convictions?
By JOHN W. DEAN

"The House Judiciary Committee Should Undertake Appropriate Proceedings

Given the number of officials within the Bush Administration who may have been engaged in Constitutional high crimes or misdemeanors, and the nature of the impeachment process, there is no shortage of civil officers worthy of consideration. Where there is clear prima facie evidence of such constitutional misconduct, impeachment action should be commenced.

The way the process works is that a bill of impeachment is introduced in the House, where it is referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Acting as a grand jury, the Judiciary Committee then decides if there is sufficient evidence to warrant a full inquiry. If its members believe there is, they refer the matter to the full House for a vote, and if a majority of the House agrees, the matter is returned to the Judiciary Committee for fact-finding - compelling witnesses to testify, and compelling the production of documents. A simple majority of the Judiciary Committee can then send recommended articles of impeachment to the floor of the House, and a simple majority of the House can send them on to the Senate for trial. They are privileged, and the Senate must hold a trial."

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20061215.html

3. Congressional investigations into criminal acts can not have their subpoenas ignored by claims of Executive privilege. Nixon fought this one all the way to SCOTUS during Watergate and lost. This tears down the stonewall that Bush and his band of thugs have erected to keep congress from getting proof of criminality against them, they have no recourse but to hand over all of the documents and e-mails that they have been denying.

4. All the evidence collected from a Gonzales impeachment investigation can be used in proceedings against Bush and Cheney! There is no doubt after the revelations of from the Libby trial that Gonzales was in cahoots with Cheney in every violation of the law... FISA Act violations, Torture Memo and violations of the War Crimes Act, and right on down the list.

All roads will inevitably lead back to Cheney and as John Dean also noted in his commentary on Cheney and the Torture memos:

For Cheney, the Geneva Conventions - considered among the nation's most important treaties -- are but quaint relics that can be ignored. Thus, he publicly embraced their violation when, on an Idaho talk radio program, he said he was not troubled in the slightest by our forces using "waterboarding" -- the simulated drowning of detainees to force them to talk. There are serious questions as to whether Cheney himself has also conspired to violate the War Crimes Act, which can be a capital crime.

A man who can so easily disregard the War Powers Act, FISA, the Geneva Conventions, and the War Crimes Act is merely flicking fleas when it comes to complying with laws like the Presidential Records Act, which requires him to keep records. Yet as CNN and other news organizations have reported, Cheney ordered the destruction of the visitor logs to his residence. These, of course, are presidential records the law requires him to preserve and protect. (Indeed, neighbors of the Vice President were surprised when, in the past, a truck for a document shredding service would regularly visit the Vice President's residence at the Naval Observatory.)

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20070629.html

5. Impeachment of Gonzales will send a powerful message to all of the Bush and Cheney "enablers" and even if pardoned... their careers in government jobs will be ended permanently!

Again to John Dean's recommendations:

Focusing On Bush Administration Officials

Lowering the aim of an impeachment effort to focus on those who have aided and abetted, or directly engaged in, the commission of high crimes and misdemeanors, would have all the positives, and none of the negatives, of going after Bush and Cheney. It would not be an effort to overturn the 2004 election, but rather to rid the government of those who have participated, along with Bush and Cheney, in abuses and misuses of power; indeed, many among them have actually encouraged Bush and Cheney to undertake the offensive activities.

Many of these men (and a few women) are young enough that it is very likely that they will return to other posts in future Republican Administrations, and based on their experience in the Bush/Cheney Administration, they can be expected to make the offensive conduct of this presidency the baseline for the next president they serve. Impeachment, however, would prevent that from happening.

It will be recalled that Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution states: "Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States." (Emphasis added.) After any civil officer has been impeached, under the rules of the Senate, it requires only a simple majority vote to add the disqualification from holding future office.

In addition, it is likely that the impeachment process of any official in a position below that of the president or vice president, would be treated the same as the impeachment of federal judges. The work is done in both the House and Senate by special subcommittees, so it does not consume the attention of the full bodies until the final votes.

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20061215.html

I can go on listing reasons, there are many more that can be mentioned, but these are the major ones that make Gonzo's impeachment not only desireable but essential. The Bush/Cheney enablers are smug sitting behind Bush's expanded claims of Executive privilege... if you get Gonzo though... the walls crumble. Bring him down!

It is a myth that Reagan didn't like government. Reagan didn't like social programs for the general population, but he loved protecting domestic industry (did so more than all presidents before him combined if I'm not mistaken), expanded the military and stepped in to socialize corporate costs across the board. What I find sad is how many Rush listeners have a hard on for a class they don't belong to and will never join. If they didn't, they'd actually THINK about what Reagan really was and be just as angry as us.

I called Leahy's office and told the young fella answering the phone just how upset I was. He told me to call my representative, and when I said I would he said, Good.

And then I called my rep, who is Ray LaHood, a decent human being. His office took down my name and address and said they would pass the message on.

LaHood has been really good on farm issues that concern me (shipping baby chicks for one thing) and he's not nuts. Call your representatives. They need to know that we are truly, truly upset. I got the feeling that I was not the first caller who was upset about Gonzo.

Alberto Gonzales must be removed. The mere FACT that he even when to the HOSPITAL to discuss business is a violation of labor law. It is an ACT of HARASSMENT at best and a VIOLATION of LABOR LAWS at WORST. Either way we look at it...IT IS BAD.

Gonzo already admitted that there was an intent to do his business there at the hospital. Gonzo already admitted that he indeed went at the sick man's bed side. It was clear that Gonzo admitted he visited and assessed the situation to find out how sick this man was and to see if he is capable of conducting business. It is the ultimate goal of the visit that is evidence....that the visit was ultimately for business and not a visit we would call a family or friendly visit.

By the mere fact that Gonzos mental state was on this particular goal to get Ashcroft approval and signature "for business" is what is a violation of labor law and under AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT.

Gonzo knew better. But he chose to act in this manner....he chose to be complicit in these violations...since he knows he has the backing of the PRESIDENT and the VICE PRESIDENT. And think that the LAWS that he had "FIXED" would save him and had expanded his power through the association of the Executive Branch....since he assisted in developing the legal manuevering to EXPAND the EXECUTIVE Privileges.

HE MUST BE REMOVED.....be BANNED from "fixing anything" until the Congress determines what to do with him. They should limit the scope of his responsibilities while a final determination is made.

Specter let Gonzo slide in the end when he should have said "Are you on drugs?"

Specter will start a heated debate, but in the end he'll cool off like always.

If Bush and his idiot employees and his idiot followers think they're all doing so much good, why do they always stutter and shy away from the questions?

IMPEACH.

Gore/Obama/Anyone but Bush '08

Dems won't impeach. They like Bush, they like the war, they like their tax cuts, they like their heads up their asses. God I wish there were 10 more men like Kucinich in there, Bush would be so fucked....

Rarely does manna fall from heaven and especially to defense attorneys...however, if you have a Federally charged client you've been handed a blessing...

Just point out the corruption the DoJ, FBI, DHS, WH, NSA, CIA, etc. and watch your clients dance out of court with wings on their feet!!!

Senator Leahy and/or Spector needed to ask Gonzales THIS in a LOUD, AGGRESIVE and CLEAR voice:

“Mr. Attorney General, you answer that question. This is the United States of America. Transparency is the rule here. We don’t have secret government. That’s what Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote about in the Gulag. That’s not the United States of America. We pay your salary. We have a right to know ’cause it’s our duty to decide whether what you’re doing is legal and wise, not yours. Answer that question or you’re held in contempt right now.”

WHY can’t they do that?

This quote was from Bruce Fein taken from his discussion with Bill Moyer on PBS on July 13, 2007:
http://www.pbs.org/ moyers/ journal/ 07132007/ transcript2.html

ysbaddaden @ 58:

50 kerplunk Says:

I hear lots of complaints on how congress or senate haven't passed this or that, yet no one ever explains how they are going to do that when they do NOT have majority in either house in order to pass a bill.

Senate is 49 dems with the on senator still out who had the brain injury,

Libermann has brain injury?

Lieberman hasn't required brain surgery since he drank the KoolAid.

He is George Bush's ass toy.

This entire criminal cabal should be behind bars.

The republicans are backed into a corner with this guy, but I bet when a vote to Impeach this fool, slaps them in the face, they will get back in his corner just like they did to continue Bushes war.

You guys in the US better watch your backs. Bush doesn't care a fig that his support is at 25%. Cheney doesn't give a rat's ass that people think he is arrogant (exempt from investigation) and a liar. Rove is a slimy fat back-room schmuck who plans everything political, all the dirty tricks and lies. The Dems are so sure they will win big in the election they are pussyfooting around like cats with cream on their whiskers. Well, wake up - all. You know why this criminal cabal you have in administration is so smug and not worried? It's because they are planning some sort of false "red-flag" incident in the US that will give them the excuse to nuke Iran. Then all those prisons that Chertoff has been building in the US will be put to use. Anyone who criticizes the moronic chimp (including the author of Crooks and Liars) will then be put in prison without the right to have a lawyer or to ask why. That will be the end of democracy in the US, and that will be the continuation of PNAC, and that will be the trigger for WWWIII. God help us all.

Gonzales Guiles: Leahy Lays Down The Law

Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales took his now familiar seat before the Senate Judiciary Committee again today.
Senator Patrick Leahy made a fiery opening statement, closing by saying, “Three months ago I said the DOJ was experiencing a crisis o...

Anyone know where I can get a transcript of the hearing, Senate Judiciary site only has opening statements.

I started saying this when Gonzo approved spygate and torturegate. He provided legal advice that was in direct contradiction of statute and president. This replacement of US Attorneys is only the least of his offenses.

Gonzo is not just GW's ass toy, he is the lynch pin to the whole crime syndicate. He's been involved in every illegal operation that was ever thought of going back to the TX Gov. days. As is true with most mafia lawyers, he probably knows more about where the skeletons are buried than anyone, including KKKarl.

You know that he will not be allowed to speak, and these pussy dem senators aren't going to press him very hard. If Gonzo even thought about telling some truth, some very unfortunate accidents would befall him.

I personally believe this whole ugly mess makes a good argument against the President appointing the AG. Even with oversite, it is too dangerous to the country to allow the president to choose the man who should be watching him like a hawk, and enforcing the laws of this country.

Impeaching Gonzales, while fair and necessary, is not going to solve this country's problems. The criminal activities start at the top. Bush and Cheney need to be impeached. Now. Then all of these criminals can be gone for good.