Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove. This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House.
--Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev
Attorney General Gonzales' ability to lead the Department of Justice had been undermined by his serious errors in judgment and conflicting statements. I am hopeful that the President will name a strong successor who will begin to restore confidence in the department.
--Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine
There comes a time when if you don't have the respect of the Congress and the American public and your own people in the department then it's time to step down.
--Fired Nevada U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden
Better late than never.
--Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards
Those are some of the wiser reactions to the news that Alberto Gonzales had resigned. Bringing up the rear were some of the dumber ones. New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici, who you'd think would just shut up about Gonzo, said, "The resignation of Alberto Gonzales had become inevitable. His situation was a distraction to the Department of Justice and its attempt to carry out its important duties." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell decried the "poisonous partisanship" Gonzales had to suffer through. Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch talked about the "absurd political theater" of investigations into wrongdoing.
The absurdity and partisanship here seems to be coming entirely from the right. Gonzales, a lawyer who couldn't even keep his stories straight in testimony, is hardly the picture of innocence. In fact, a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union gives us a pretty exhaustive list of the problems we know of:...
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