Posted on 11/10/2004 11:39:32 PM PST by Former Military Chick
Attorney General John Ashcroft, who on Tuesday announced his resignation, will be best remembered for his role in overseeing federal law enforcement's vigorous response to September 11. A deeply religious man and a blunt-spoken prosecutor, he became a lightning rod for critics of the Bush administration's response to the attacks.
Mr. Ashcroft deserves to be remembered as one of the most important, successful attorneys general. Indeed, his single-minded determination to prevent more terrorist attacks on this country -- and the Justice Department's many successful prosecutions against terrorist networks operating on U.S. soil -- are the most important successes of Mr. Ashcroft's four years as attorney general.
Mr. Ashcroft transformed the FBI from an agency whose primary mission was dealing with kidnappings, bank robberies and interstate criminal activity into one responsible for collecting intelligence and capturing terrorist cells before they attacked. With the passage of the Patriot Act and the resulting removal of the wall between intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, Mr. Ashcroft's Justice Department has sent scores of terrorists to prison for activities ranging from raising funds for terrorist organizations to plotting to bring down the Brooklyn Bridge. In addition, Mr. Ashcroft also greatly expanded and improved the department's prosecution of white-collar crime.
After President Bush nominated him to be attorney general four years ago, Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats harshly attacked Mr. Ashcroft at his confirmation hearings. Liberal groups and Democrats like Sens. Richard Durbin and Edward Kennedy falsely tried to depict Mr. Ashcroft as racially insensitive. Mr. Ashcroft was confirmed, but only after venomous, racially tinged Senate debate. Throughout early 2001, he was relegated to spending time on a quixotic quest to end racial profiling.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
He went through a rough confirmation process in order to become the AG and since 9/11 he has done all he could to protect us, despite the endless complaints by the left.
John Ashcroft will go down as one of the best to ever serve as AG
I agree. AG is a thankless job and he did a damn good job IMO.
Yes he did. I'm very sorry to see him go.
He was calumniated by his critics. He was accused of things he didn't do. He was an admirable AG. And it's quite the shame that he wasn't asked to stay on. One hopes, truly hopes, it was his decision to resign and not the President's to force him out.
Ditto.
God bless you John Ashcroft.
Godspeed John Ashcroft. Job well done! You will be missed.
Bosh.
Killing sand monkeys in their holes keeps us from being attacked again.
Ashcroft preferred a surveillance state over border security. What is there to like about that?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.