Bush, Gonzales and Wolfowitz: Beyond Party Lines
Rizwan Ghani
April 25, 2007
Bush needs to look beyond party lines to protect and respect country’s institutions. It is time Justice Department is allowed to do its own cleaning in national interest. It should start with resignation of Gonzales.
Despite bipartisan humbling during Senate Judiciary Committee Gonzales, as put by one paper is trying to “out- live a scandal in Washington”.
Can he defy the odds and if so at what price for the White House, Republicans and the justice department itself.
There are reports that Bush’s advisor are trying make him realize that Gonzales has become a political liability and has to go. Bush aides in private opine that with Gonzales it could cost Republicans defeat on Immigration bill because it has to pass through the Judiciary Committee. They believe if beleaguered will be around Gonzales there will be no committee. And without the committee, there is going to be no immigration bill.
Sensing such outfalls for Republicans Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Sen. Judiciary Committee is already on the offensive to get rid of Gonzales. He said that attorney general (he) will be harmful to the justice department because he has lost his credibility.
But there is politics behind Specter’s statement that despite party peer pressures stopped short of seeking Gonzales resignation. That would have rolled the dice for Gonzales ouster. Thus, leaving the decision with Bush and Gonzales himself.
Following Bush’s lead Gonzales has dug in. Reportedly, Bush said that he has full confidence in Gonzales, because no law has been broken and there is no wrongdoing.
So all the eyes are now focused on ongoing departmental investigations in the justice department. Reportedly, the report is due in a month’s time.
With three senior officials including Gonzales’s aide public testimony showing extent of his involvement it would be interesting to see committee’s report.
Experts believe that it would be interesting to see interpretation of “Urgent report System instituted at DOJ in recent years in relation to firings. Next, initiation of reports required under Section T3-18.200 of the US Attorney's Manual and finally in cases involving public figures a chain of superior officers has to be advised prior to their initiation.
In latest developments the agency in the Justice Department that handles complaints about political influence in the Civil Service will investigate whether the White House has improperly tried to use government agencies for political purposes.
This is an important development amidst allegations that Gonzales allowed justice dept as a political extension of White House. The spokesperson for Office of Special Counsel Loren Smith, said the agency, was expanding an investigation that began with reports of a Jan. 26 political speech and presentation by Rove to employees of the General Services Administration that discussed Republican plans to win more seats in Congress.
We have made the determination to broaden the investigation into possible illegal political activity elsewhere in the government,” Mr. Smith said.
Office of US president is very powerful. And there would be few who would dare standup in face of any pressure from the office. Expecting Gonzales, to stand up is idealistic. Unfolding details of Attorneys firing shows that Gonzales neither had the wit nor powers to do what is being shoved around as his “negligence”.
Gonzales is a “fall guy” in ongoing power play that now will darken with the entry of Scott J. Baloch, Head of the Special Council. Reportedly, Inspector general of the Office of Personnel Management is investigating Baloch over accusations of politicizing his agency.
And observers believe that real motive behind Bloch moving forward with plans for a sweeping probe of the Bush administration are different. S
Several advocacy groups complained that his ties to the administration and to conservative groups, as well as his record on gay rights and whistle-blowers, made him the wrong man for the job.
"There is a serious question as to whether Bloch will just provide cover for an administration that is covering for him," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a Democratic-leaning group.
However, a spokesman for the Office of Special Counsel, communications director James Mitchell, waved away the complaints, saying agency staffers have already begun to form an internal task force, led in part by career staff, to probe three broad areas of activity involving the White House and senior advisor Karl Rove.
As experts debate from where will Bush bring the kind of political support that could save Gonzales because now it is clear that the buck stops with Bush himself. The initial White House statements that attorneys are political appointees and serve at president’s discretion are now pointing the direction of assault on judiciary and the hand behind it. In all probability in coming weeks Bush may need the political capital to save his reputation.
After Wolfowitz scandal Washington now has been rocked with Tillman-Lynch cover up scandal in which half a dozen high-up’s both from military and White House are being named.
Reportedly, A top military official is on record that a memo was sent to White House soon after the incident telling White House about the circumstance leading to Tillman’s death. The silence on part of military representative during Tillman’s funeral shows that facts were known for some time.
Those watching these developments are of the opinion that both Gonzales and Wolfowitz will go. What could be of interest is who will go first. Going by the timeline for ongoing justice dept. investigation logically Wolfowitz could be the first to go but a lot depends on the Board that has so far braved the pressure and may be the EU and others manage to get their say in face of pressure from handful strong WB donors to let compromised Wolfowitz stay as WB head.
Tillman and Lynch’s Congressional hearing in all probability will have their repercussions and few heads could roll sooner than expected.
The issues have one common theme: morality, credibility and management style. As part of bigger picture there are questions over President’s priorities. Scandal after scandal is showing that US laws are being blatantly flouted and Bush instead of distancing from such people supports such characters. This has left the impression that personal loyalties are above the law.
Those who are watching closely would support the opinion that corruption is expanding, people in high places know that if country’s chief law officer can “forget” things and continues to be the chief there is always hope for them. It is true for other cases.
Bush needs to look beyond party lines to protect and respect country’s institutions. It is time Justice Department is allowed to do its own cleaning in national interest. It should start with resignation of Gonzales. Bush should listen to growing voices across the party lines and let Gonzales resign in the interest of Justice Dept. and in the national interest.
Democrats and majority of Republicans want it. In all probability, there is a message for Bush in what Sen. Specter had to say about attorney general. Gonzales is harmful to Justice Dept. because he has lost credibility. Wolfowitz should also respect policies and resign to strengthen Bank’s credibility in its fight to eradicate poverty at global level.
Similarly, it is time that all those who are involved in Tillman-Lynch cover up scandal should respect relevant laws and resign. Because by the end of the day it is the respect for law that protects individuals and countries not its violations. If only it is realized.
Despite bipartisan humbling during Senate Judiciary Committee Gonzales, as put by one paper is trying to “out- live a scandal in Washington”.
Can he defy the odds and if so at what price for the White House, Republicans and the justice department itself.
There are reports that Bush’s advisor are trying make him realize that Gonzales has become a political liability and has to go. Bush aides in private opine that with Gonzales it could cost Republicans defeat on Immigration bill because it has to pass through the Judiciary Committee. They believe if beleaguered will be around Gonzales there will be no committee. And without the committee, there is going to be no immigration bill.
Sensing such outfalls for Republicans Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Sen. Judiciary Committee is already on the offensive to get rid of Gonzales. He said that attorney general (he) will be harmful to the justice department because he has lost his credibility.
But there is politics behind Specter’s statement that despite party peer pressures stopped short of seeking Gonzales resignation. That would have rolled the dice for Gonzales ouster. Thus, leaving the decision with Bush and Gonzales himself.
Following Bush’s lead Gonzales has dug in. Reportedly, Bush said that he has full confidence in Gonzales, because no law has been broken and there is no wrongdoing.
So all the eyes are now focused on ongoing departmental investigations in the justice department. Reportedly, the report is due in a month’s time.
With three senior officials including Gonzales’s aide public testimony showing extent of his involvement it would be interesting to see committee’s report.
Experts believe that it would be interesting to see interpretation of “Urgent report System instituted at DOJ in recent years in relation to firings. Next, initiation of reports required under Section T3-18.200 of the US Attorney's Manual and finally in cases involving public figures a chain of superior officers has to be advised prior to their initiation.
In latest developments the agency in the Justice Department that handles complaints about political influence in the Civil Service will investigate whether the White House has improperly tried to use government agencies for political purposes.
This is an important development amidst allegations that Gonzales allowed justice dept as a political extension of White House. The spokesperson for Office of Special Counsel Loren Smith, said the agency, was expanding an investigation that began with reports of a Jan. 26 political speech and presentation by Rove to employees of the General Services Administration that discussed Republican plans to win more seats in Congress.
We have made the determination to broaden the investigation into possible illegal political activity elsewhere in the government,” Mr. Smith said.
Office of US president is very powerful. And there would be few who would dare standup in face of any pressure from the office. Expecting Gonzales, to stand up is idealistic. Unfolding details of Attorneys firing shows that Gonzales neither had the wit nor powers to do what is being shoved around as his “negligence”.
Gonzales is a “fall guy” in ongoing power play that now will darken with the entry of Scott J. Baloch, Head of the Special Council. Reportedly, Inspector general of the Office of Personnel Management is investigating Baloch over accusations of politicizing his agency.
And observers believe that real motive behind Bloch moving forward with plans for a sweeping probe of the Bush administration are different. S
Several advocacy groups complained that his ties to the administration and to conservative groups, as well as his record on gay rights and whistle-blowers, made him the wrong man for the job.
"There is a serious question as to whether Bloch will just provide cover for an administration that is covering for him," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a Democratic-leaning group.
However, a spokesman for the Office of Special Counsel, communications director James Mitchell, waved away the complaints, saying agency staffers have already begun to form an internal task force, led in part by career staff, to probe three broad areas of activity involving the White House and senior advisor Karl Rove.
As experts debate from where will Bush bring the kind of political support that could save Gonzales because now it is clear that the buck stops with Bush himself. The initial White House statements that attorneys are political appointees and serve at president’s discretion are now pointing the direction of assault on judiciary and the hand behind it. In all probability in coming weeks Bush may need the political capital to save his reputation.
After Wolfowitz scandal Washington now has been rocked with Tillman-Lynch cover up scandal in which half a dozen high-up’s both from military and White House are being named.
Reportedly, A top military official is on record that a memo was sent to White House soon after the incident telling White House about the circumstance leading to Tillman’s death. The silence on part of military representative during Tillman’s funeral shows that facts were known for some time.
Those watching these developments are of the opinion that both Gonzales and Wolfowitz will go. What could be of interest is who will go first. Going by the timeline for ongoing justice dept. investigation logically Wolfowitz could be the first to go but a lot depends on the Board that has so far braved the pressure and may be the EU and others manage to get their say in face of pressure from handful strong WB donors to let compromised Wolfowitz stay as WB head.
Tillman and Lynch’s Congressional hearing in all probability will have their repercussions and few heads could roll sooner than expected.
The issues have one common theme: morality, credibility and management style. As part of bigger picture there are questions over President’s priorities. Scandal after scandal is showing that US laws are being blatantly flouted and Bush instead of distancing from such people supports such characters. This has left the impression that personal loyalties are above the law.
Those who are watching closely would support the opinion that corruption is expanding, people in high places know that if country’s chief law officer can “forget” things and continues to be the chief there is always hope for them. It is true for other cases.
Bush needs to look beyond party lines to protect and respect country’s institutions. It is time Justice Department is allowed to do its own cleaning in national interest. It should start with resignation of Gonzales. Bush should listen to growing voices across the party lines and let Gonzales resign in the interest of Justice Dept. and in the national interest.
Democrats and majority of Republicans want it. In all probability, there is a message for Bush in what Sen. Specter had to say about attorney general. Gonzales is harmful to Justice Dept. because he has lost credibility. Wolfowitz should also respect policies and resign to strengthen Bank’s credibility in its fight to eradicate poverty at global level.
Similarly, it is time that all those who are involved in Tillman-Lynch cover up scandal should respect relevant laws and resign. Because by the end of the day it is the respect for law that protects individuals and countries not its violations. If only it is realized.
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