Gonzales move was long overdue

8/28/07
It’s striking to remember that Alberto Gonzales was twice considered a top contender for a lifetime position on the U.S. Supreme Court. President Bush passed him over both times, but was content to leave him in place as the nation’s top law enforcement officer until Gonzales ignominiously resigned Monday. It’s a move that was long overdue.
Connecticut Sen. Christopher J. Dodd several months ago called for the attorney general to resign, and was right to keep pressure on the White House. Democrats and Republicans long ago reached the conclusion that his tenure was a black mark on the White House.
Gonzales’ foremost sin was forgetting to whom he reported. In his previous position as White House counsel, Gonzales was the president’s lawyer; he owed his loyalty to George W. Bush. As attorney general, his loyalty was supposed to be to the U.S. Constitution and the American people. In that regard, he was an utter failure.
The Justice Department under his leadership became little more than the enforcement wing of a Republican loyalty commission. Personnel deemed insufficiently partisan — meaning, in some cases, U.S. attorneys who were not willing to target Democrats for nonexistent infractions — were tossed aside. The rule of law was treated as an inconvenience.
It was during his frequent testimony before that Congress that Gonzales’ ineptitude and malfeasance was most starkly on display. He showed total contempt for his questioners, admitted to memory lapses that would embarrass a 10-year-old and generally offered not the slightest hint that his actions should be subject to oversight by elected representatives. Just trust us, he was saying.
Members of Congress must make clear that the situation has gone on far too long, and they must demand a replacement attorney general with honesty, integrity and a commitment to transparency. Cronyism has no place with the nation’s top law enforcement officer, and the next person to hold the job must be committed to working for the people, not the Republican Party.
At this point, honesty and competence, which should be the minimum requirements for the job, are the best we can hope for.