"Have you heard the good news?" This was the question that a character on "The Sopranos," who briefly dated Tony's sister Janice, would ask anyone he came into contact with. The good news for him was the message of the Lord.
The good news for Republicans and Democrats alike (and even for President Bush if he is too stubborn to see it himself), is the resignation of attorney general Alberto Gonzales, who announced his resignation this morning (although officially gave it yesterday while he and his wife dined with the Bush's--can you imagine what an awful meeting that was? Do you hand in your papers at the beginning or end of the meeting?). Gonzales, who if you recall was initially President Bush's White House Counsel before stepping into the empty AG post at the start of Bush's second term in office. Gonzales was always a polarizing figure, yet won confirmation by the Senate--a major accomplishment given the number of recess appointments that currently exist. His recent troubles stemmed from his role in the firing of a few US attorneys who the Democrats claim were given the boot because they would not play political ball with the administration. Gonzales has gone to Congress in an effort at damage control, and in every appearance he has made the situation worse than if he had not go, which begs the question of why the administration even allowed him to go after his disastrous first appearance?
What is clear about Gonzales's tenure as AG is that the DOJ is in disarray, and things are not likely to get any better any time soon. It is crystal clear that Gonzales saw the AG as another type of White House Counsel, when clearly it is not (though this isn't the first time where the functions were blurred). The AG also has to represent US law even if it looks poorly upon his or her boss. Remember the relationship that Clinton had with his AG, Janet Reno. There were instances where Clinton wanted her to act differently than she did. So for the next AG, look to questions of political independence.
Which brings up another point--the next AG. It is likely that the problems within DOJ (low morale, political "camps") will not be dealt with by a Bush appointee. Today, Jeffrey Rosen on NPR noted that the current DOJ is filled with people who have divided loyalties and as such, will not be in the same room with one another. And it is easy to see that the next Bush appointment won't ease those problems. Furthermore, the next Bush appointee likely will be a recess appointee. The Senate Judiciary Committee is likely to pin confirmation on information that it wants, and the president simply doesn't want to give up information. And with months left in the presidency, what incentive does he have to play ball anyway?
Thus the chief law enforcement officer in the chief law enforcement agency will be non-functional until after January 20, 2009. That seems to me to be a bigger question than what is being asked so far.
