Nothing Improper (Op-Ed by Alberto Gonzales)

Washington Post ^ | April 15, 2007 | Alberto R. Gonzales, United States Attorney General

[RWR8189]

My decision some months ago to privately seek the resignations of a small number of U.S. attorneys has erupted into a public firestorm. First and foremost, I appreciate the public service of these fine lawyers and dedicated professionals, each of whom served his or her full four-year term as U.S. attorney. I apologize to them, their families and the thousands of dedicated professionals at the Justice Department for my role in allowing this matter to spin into an undignified Washington spectacle.

What began as a well-intentioned management effort to identify where, among the 93 U.S. attorneys, changes in leadership might benefit the department, and therefore the American people, has become an unintended public controversy.

While I accept responsibility for my role in commissioning this management review process, I want to make some fundamental points abundantly clear.

I know that I did not -- and would not -- ask for the resignation of any U.S. attorney for an improper reason. Furthermore, I have no basis to believe that anyone involved in this process sought the removal of a U.S. attorney for an improper reason.

Given my convictions on this issue, I testified before Congress in January and will do so again on Tuesday. I have personally spoken with many members of Congress over the past several weeks to hear their concerns about this matter. Additionally, I have instructed all Justice Department officials to make themselves available for on-the-record interviews with lawmakers and hearings before Congress, and I have ordered the release of thousands of pages of internal documents.

[digger48]

just a leeeeettle bit late, there Al.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Good riddance, Gonzo......maybe in your next life you could enforce the Laws of the United States.

[RJS1950]

He still did not make it "abundantly clear" that he, acting on behalf of the president can fire any US attorney for any reason political or otherwise without being required to give any answers to congress. If called before congress, present yourself and make it clear to all that "I have no requirement legal or otherwise to give you any specific reasons as to why the US attorneys were terminated."

This bunch just doesn't have the fortitude to slap down the democrat party at every opportunity. This would have been the perfect platform from which to shove it up their arses by screaming to the public that the rat party obviously has no knowledge of the constitution or of the separation of powers. Democrats need to be beaten down severly whenever and whatever the issue.

[zerosix]

Unfortunately, "Gonzo" as you refer to the Attorney General, is not merely "in charge of "enforcing the Laws of the United States...." he is in charge of doing so in a manner that the President of the United States, deems appropriate.

I am taking the liberty of assuming that you might be referring to our laws of protecting our borders.

Not this Attorney General, his predecessor, John Ashcroft, nor Reno..., etc. are doing anything much but enforcing only the most egregious violations, and then very faintly.

The reason being, they hare harassed by the President, Congress and each and every branch of our government, should they even think about doing so.

This fact is the enormous herd of elephants in our national living room and comes glaring to us each and every day.

Once upon a time, these glaring "blind eyes" were only available on our border states.

Now however, they are smacking us in the face in each and every state, as Mexico, the Mexican population who faces poverty, starvation, drug infestation, etc., are encouraged from the top down in the U.S. Government, to "immigrate" to Norte America for employment, housing, health care, free educations, food and pensions for their aging parents.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Lets see.....he took an Oath of Office, right?

That would include the Constitution, USC; and against foreign and domestic enemies.....

I missed the part that qualifies it by “doing so in a manner that the President of the United States, deems appropriate”.

[Diverdogz]

This makes me queasy about Alberto.

[Cyropaedia]

This mess would have never happened under John Ashcroft...

[tennmountainman]

“Good riddance, Gonzo......maybe in your next life you could enforce the Laws of the United States.”

I could care less what the democrats say.

Gonzales you should go for non-enforcement of our border laws

and letting Sandy Burglar off with a wrist slap.

[Txsleuth]

Actually, that clip of Alberto Gonzalez should make you proud of him.

He is RIGHT in this clip...Specter is wrong, and Specter has spent hours on the Senate floor trying to GIVE habeas corpus rights to the terrorists...while other Republican Senators have stood up to tell him he is WRONG.

[tennmountainman]

“This mess would have never happened under John Ashcroft...”

I agree. and thats propably why he left AG.

He had different views about border enforcement than Bush.

[zerosix]

I know, I know, I know but the reality is that our government has failed at all levels at this and short of having a Revolution to change all from the top down, all We the People can do is to stand up, shout it out, write editorials, write, phone and fax your Congresscritters. Let them know not only no money, no vote and you will work to have them replaced in the Primary.

We must hit them where it hurts --- evidently, even those conservatives that we worked, prayed and gave fund raisers for in '94, forgot that they put their hands on the Bible (or now on the Koran)and swore to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America..." and that did not mean only those laws that they agreed with or worse yet, only those laws that many of their biggest money donors don't mind being protected and defended.

Lastly, it is, like it or not, in the end for most people, all about money (and for government officials) and power.

Remember, the power of one voice changed slavery in Europe and in America.