Alberto Gonzales was one of the architects of The Patriot Act.  He was also the legal mastermind in keeping it afloat.  He did this initially more or less discretely.  However, in November 2004 Bush nominated him to be the next Attorney General.  That’s when his work with The Patriot Act came front and center.  And, several Democrats took aim at him because of that.  For the next nearly three years, they would not stop.  Simple acts such as firing staff became political witch hunts.  No matter the issue, Gonzales sat right squarely in front of the media and partisan firing squads and took the hits.  I could someone tiring of that pretty quick considering the money he could make in the private sector.  When Karl Rove left, I could see that pretty much leaving Gonzales as the only target left for those that so resented The Patriot Act and Bush in general.  This is a smart move on Gonzales’ part.  Logical timing as well.  He’ll make millions in the private sector without having to deal with idiot politicians and biased media.  And, since the next Attorney General won’t have the Patriot Act hanging around their neck, those Democrats won’t have an easy label to hang the next person with.

But, I’m sure they’ll think of something.

Quickie update:

Nancy Pelosi didn’t waste any time chiming in:

The resignation of Attorney General Gonzales is long overdue.  The rampant politicization of federal law enforcement that occurred under his tenure seriously eroded public confidence in our justice system.

The President must now restore credibility to the office of the Attorney General.  Given the serious loss of public trust and the disarray at the Department of Justice, the American people must have absolute confidence in the integrity of the next Attorney General as the nation’s chief law enforcement officer and as defender of our constitution independent of political influence.  The President’s nominee must have the character and stature to command that confidence.

From Harry Reid:

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.

From Pat Leahy:

Under this Attorney General and this President, the Department of Justice suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political influence.  It is a shame, and it is the Justice Department, the American people and the dedicated professionals of our law enforcement community who have suffered most from it.

The obligations of the Justice Department and its leaders are to the Constitution, the rule of law and the American people, not to the political considerations of this or any White House.  The Attorney General’s resignation reinforces what Congress and the American people already know — that no Justice Department should be allowed to become a political arm of the White House, whether occupied by a Republican or a Democrat.

The troubling evidence revealed about this massive breach is a lesson to those in the future who hold these high offices, so that law enforcement is never subverted in this way again.  I hope the Attorney General’s decision will be a step toward getting to the truth about the level of political influence this White House wields over the Department of Justice and toward reconstituting its leadership so that the American people can renew their faith in its role as our leading law enforcement agency.

So far, those are just the Democrats who have seen fit to publicly trash Gonzales BEFORE he’s even officially resigned.  I thought they’d have the tact to at least wait till after it was official.  I bet Leahy’s particulay po’d.  He never could prove Gonzales did anything wrong, and now he’ll never get the chance.

Just gotta wonder tho how the Democrats’ ceaseless trashing of the US’s most visible Latin-American will play out.  My guess is not too well.

YET ANOTHER QUICKIE UPDATE:

The best discussions so far regarding Gonzales and the AG position I think are at Captain’s Quarters and Volokh.  Both mention Michael Chertoff replacing Gonzales, CQ dismisses it with Paul Clement the likely successor.  The reason I like CQ is because we seem to think a lot alike on a lot of issues.  This is yet another.  Realistically whoever takes Gonzales’s position will be there barely enough time to get their policies and procedures in place.  But, they be under fierce scrutiny and personal attacks from Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi from day one.  I see this as a lose-lose situation for whoever takes it.  Unless, of course, they’ve already been under that gun.  Paul Clement has.  He has nothing to lose and nothing really to gain by being the acting Attorney General until next November except a place in the history books.  From what I have read, he has endeared himself to the forces that have persecuted Gonzales so I don’t see him taking the heat Gonzales did.  My bet is with CQ, my bet is on Clement to “act” for a year and lay low in the spotlight.  If a Republican wins next November, then take the nomination.  If not, quietly step aside at the appropriate time.  Just my two cents, but it does sound logical.  ( This is our government, logic has nothing to do with it, I know. )

Tags: alberto, george-bush, gonzales, harry reid, karl-rove, michael-chertoff, nancy pelosi, pat-leahy, Paul-Clement, Politics, President-Bush, the-patriot-act