Gonzales’ Make or Break Testimony
Rizwan Ghani
April 09, 2007
Gonzales’ Make or Break Testimony
Has Newt Gingrich the former speaker of the House of Representatives and one of the most influential conservative US Republicans in his statement to Fox News calling “it was time for a new attorney general” broken what little hope Gonzales had in his future as attorney general of United States of American?
Could all this mean end of Gonzales. Well that is the buzz around. And the worst part of this all is even if Gonzales emerges successful in the make or break testimony his days are numbered.
First, in all probability Gingrich has etched Gonzales obituary in American history by saying that, “He cannot imagine how Gonzales is going to be effective for the rest of this administration”.
Next, Gingrich also said, “I think the country, in fact, would be much better served to have a new team at the justice department, across the board”.
These two observations have summed up Gonzales fate. And it would be lot better if he resigns before the testimony to save himself and the Republicans further humiliation. The testimony from political and moral perspective has become irrelevant from this time onwards.
So has Bush’s support for Gonzales especially the statement in which he said there is no (written) credible proof that Gonzales fired the attorneys.
The report showing Gonzales’s frustration with attorneys firing timelines as part of preparation for April 17 testimony is equally irrelevant at this stage.
That is one reason Republican senator Jon Kyl offered lukewarm support for Gonzales and (he) hoped Gonzales’s testimony could restore faith in the justice department. Bush’s support for Gonzales sounds less of a support and more like a last ditch effort to save his attorney (general).
With reports of Gonzales overlooking key ethical questions in the case of former New York City Police Commissioner Kerik nominated in December ’04 for the post of secretary of homeland security things have turn for the worst for the embattled AG.
To some further wiggles on part of Gonzales to defend his position over attorneys firing are likely to make matters worse for the Republicans and even Gonzales himself. And Democrats are likely to mercilessly rip apart a web of lies that so far has failed to show “who did it?” part.
It would be interesting to see how Democrats make a public “kill” of a man to undo the unique interpretation of American constitution on one end while on the other reach the likes of Karl Rove in the White House.
Equally intriguing would be moves to sacrifice one to save another.
But having said that there are many a slips between cup and the lip and in Washington something is not history until it is made history.
In coming days things would be moving fast both in the White House and the Capitol Hill. But for the outsiders what matters most is the unfolding of an epic struggle in which public representatives are preparing to defend country’s judicial system from two dimensions: individual and departmental.
At the individual level Senate Judiciary committee will investigate if firings were as part of politically motivated effort to end the corruption investigations and if it succeeds the departures of individuals will restore public’s confidence its dept. of justice.
Clarification of conflicts between Gonzales public statements and Sampson’s testimony will set a precedent for future office holders to respect the law and law only.
Politicians calling for the resignation or ouster of Gonzales both from the Republicans and Democrats shows a collective will to protect the judicial department and in turn the system itself from the political interference. It also shows the respect for fired attorneys who were working to uphold law of the land.
To me Gonzales cardinal weakness was his failure to differentiate his obligations as attorney general of United States of American and his personal indebtedness to Bush who in fact is yet another individual in the eyes of the law. Something both Republicans and White House failed to teach Gonzales.
And if Gingrich sought a new team at the justice department it is a testimony that politicians not only respect their oaths but they also know how to uphold them to protect country’s justice system.
No wonder Holy Prophet Muhammad may peace be upon him said, “a society can live without religion but not without justice”.
Finally, Gonzales’ likely departure in addition to setting the record straight will also restore the confidence of remaining 85 attorneys to undertake their jobs without fear and influence. The past developments over the firings and AG’s likely departure are likely to sober the executive in terms of exercising their influence over judiciary. Last but not the least the chapter of Carl Rove is yet not closed.
Rizwan Ghani.
Has Newt Gingrich the former speaker of the House of Representatives and one of the most influential conservative US Republicans in his statement to Fox News calling “it was time for a new attorney general” broken what little hope Gonzales had in his future as attorney general of United States of American?
Could all this mean end of Gonzales. Well that is the buzz around. And the worst part of this all is even if Gonzales emerges successful in the make or break testimony his days are numbered.
First, in all probability Gingrich has etched Gonzales obituary in American history by saying that, “He cannot imagine how Gonzales is going to be effective for the rest of this administration”.
Next, Gingrich also said, “I think the country, in fact, would be much better served to have a new team at the justice department, across the board”.
These two observations have summed up Gonzales fate. And it would be lot better if he resigns before the testimony to save himself and the Republicans further humiliation. The testimony from political and moral perspective has become irrelevant from this time onwards.
So has Bush’s support for Gonzales especially the statement in which he said there is no (written) credible proof that Gonzales fired the attorneys.
The report showing Gonzales’s frustration with attorneys firing timelines as part of preparation for April 17 testimony is equally irrelevant at this stage.
That is one reason Republican senator Jon Kyl offered lukewarm support for Gonzales and (he) hoped Gonzales’s testimony could restore faith in the justice department. Bush’s support for Gonzales sounds less of a support and more like a last ditch effort to save his attorney (general).
With reports of Gonzales overlooking key ethical questions in the case of former New York City Police Commissioner Kerik nominated in December ’04 for the post of secretary of homeland security things have turn for the worst for the embattled AG.
To some further wiggles on part of Gonzales to defend his position over attorneys firing are likely to make matters worse for the Republicans and even Gonzales himself. And Democrats are likely to mercilessly rip apart a web of lies that so far has failed to show “who did it?” part.
It would be interesting to see how Democrats make a public “kill” of a man to undo the unique interpretation of American constitution on one end while on the other reach the likes of Karl Rove in the White House.
Equally intriguing would be moves to sacrifice one to save another.
But having said that there are many a slips between cup and the lip and in Washington something is not history until it is made history.
In coming days things would be moving fast both in the White House and the Capitol Hill. But for the outsiders what matters most is the unfolding of an epic struggle in which public representatives are preparing to defend country’s judicial system from two dimensions: individual and departmental.
At the individual level Senate Judiciary committee will investigate if firings were as part of politically motivated effort to end the corruption investigations and if it succeeds the departures of individuals will restore public’s confidence its dept. of justice.
Clarification of conflicts between Gonzales public statements and Sampson’s testimony will set a precedent for future office holders to respect the law and law only.
Politicians calling for the resignation or ouster of Gonzales both from the Republicans and Democrats shows a collective will to protect the judicial department and in turn the system itself from the political interference. It also shows the respect for fired attorneys who were working to uphold law of the land.
To me Gonzales cardinal weakness was his failure to differentiate his obligations as attorney general of United States of American and his personal indebtedness to Bush who in fact is yet another individual in the eyes of the law. Something both Republicans and White House failed to teach Gonzales.
And if Gingrich sought a new team at the justice department it is a testimony that politicians not only respect their oaths but they also know how to uphold them to protect country’s justice system.
No wonder Holy Prophet Muhammad may peace be upon him said, “a society can live without religion but not without justice”.
Finally, Gonzales’ likely departure in addition to setting the record straight will also restore the confidence of remaining 85 attorneys to undertake their jobs without fear and influence. The past developments over the firings and AG’s likely departure are likely to sober the executive in terms of exercising their influence over judiciary. Last but not the least the chapter of Carl Rove is yet not closed.
Rizwan Ghani.
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