Bush: Gonzales situation 'sad'

Posted: Monday, August 27, 2007 12:02 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: White House

From NBC’s Domenico Montanaro
President Bush said he “reluctantly accepted” Alberto Gonzales’ resignation and reflected on the attorney general’s legacy and tenure, calling him a man of “integrity, decency and principle.”

VIDEO: President Bush denounces what he calls unfair treatment of Alberto Gonzales.

Bush said Gonzales “played a critical role” in shaping the administration’s policies on the war on terror, the Patriot Act and helping get justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito nominated and confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bush said accepting Gonzales’ resignation came “after months of unfair treatment.”

"It's sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person like Alberto Gonzales is impeded from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons," Bush said.

Solicitor General Paul Clement will be Gonzales’ interim replacement, Bush added.

Dramatic enough in itself, the announcement Monday morning that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had resigned also set the stage for what may be one of most contentious confirmation hearings since the Senate rejected John Tower as defense secretary in 1989. CLICK HERE.

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Comments

Boy I hope the next Republican President doesn't give in to these traitors and terrorist so easy.

Dave, Tn (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:11 PM)

Wait till we get our "HAINES " on you!

HOT DAM (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:13 PM)

"Bush said accepting Gonzales’ resignation came “after months of unfair treatment.”"

He's right.

We should have just run him out of office somewhere around his 2nd day on the job. Shouldn't have had to spend --months-- getting him (and Bush) to realize that he was destroying the DOJ.

"is dragged through the mud for political reasons"

S***. "I don't recall" anyone dragging him through mud - he went joyfully into the mud, kicking up his heels, and saying "nyah nyah nyah".

I am SO glad he is gone. (can you tell?)

On a more serious note: I'm also glad that the investigations will continue. (or so I'm told.) If they are not continued and brought to closure (one way or the other), the precedent will be that any office holder can do what they please as long as they can stay in office and "rights be damned" will be the motto.

Independent, Texas (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:16 PM)

Nothing "sad" about breaking the law...

http://political-buzz.com/

chrisfl (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:16 PM)

Bush said Gonzales “played a critical role”... sure, in helping them use the U.S. Constitution for toilet paper.

PJ (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:18 PM)

GEORGE, DON'T LOOK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, TO SHED A TEAR. WE'RE PARTING ! YIP IEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Z (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:19 PM)

Oh, boo-freaking-hoo! Bush thought Putin was a saint and Maliki was the right man for the job, too. The fact that he believes he's decent, etc. just hows how delusional he is. Gonzales was a suck-up little weasel who thought nothing of violating the Constitution he was sworn to uphold. He is a liar and law-breaker. The country is well rid of him...no matter what shrub says.

Class Warrior, D.C. (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:19 PM)

"Bush said Gonzales “played a critical role” in shaping the administration’s policies on the war on terror, the Patriot Act and helping get justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito nominated and confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court."

Sheesh - the 4 worst things that happened and Bush is "proud" or is he "blaming" Gonzalez for this mess?

Independent, Texas (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:21 PM)

It's so unfair, Mr. President! All he did was enable a treasonous fascist turn the country over to industry while using the Constitution for butt-wipe, and the treasonous fascist still has his job! Unfair!

Poor, poor George (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:23 PM)

This is another example of the effectiveness and necessary democratically controlled congress. They are cleaning up the administration and government one person at a time -- Rumsfeld, Rove, Gonzollas, etc. A big thanks to the DEMS!!!

Tom Carrington, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:24 PM)

Amazingly the ignorant cowboy made some statements that were true-just not the way he intended. "Months of unfair treatment" - yes, unfair to the citizens and constitution of this great country. "dragged through the mud for political reasons" - the only reason the idiot appointed him in the first place - for political reasons. I shudder to think what kind of scum this moron will appoint next.

Steve A Jonesboro IN (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:29 PM)

Unfair treatment!! bush opened his mouth again and stupidity came out as usual.

Blue state baby (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:30 PM)

Alberto, thanks for leaving. This single decision you made on Friday was the best news I heard all day. You have been the worst AG in my lifetime. Now we can just hope that January 2009 will come fast!

Isaac Jamison, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:31 PM)

"It's sad that ... his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons," Bush said.

Very sad indeed that the office was dragged through the mud for political reasons by George Bush. He politicized the office and department and that is why they are taking a fall.

nuanced (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:33 PM)

*News release*
American worker Productivity numbers are UP.
The rise was attributed to Z, AKA: Zorro, Zero, Zippy, & Zany having to go back to work. His tireless work on 'GonzoGate' directly attributed to almost nothing. We wish him well as he goes back to his paying job :-)

RH Oregon (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:34 PM)

"Unfair treatment" how freaking nice. Dubya has himself to blame for that. Who in their right mind would hire an attorney who could not recall information? It is about time this POS finally realized he needed to go. Now it is time for Dubya and his shoot you in the face pal meet the same fate.

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:34 PM)

Gonzales lied so badly that the Republican head of the Comittee, Specter, said he found his testimony "not credible." He lied about the wiretapping program, lied about the reasons for the dismissal of 9 US attorneys, did everything in his power to politicize the administration of justice in this country, as demanded by his actual boss, Karl Rove. Good riddance, Gonzo. Bush says you were "attacked for political reasons." Not true. You were attacked because you disgraced the office, just like the incompetent and corrupt people you served.

Charles Lewis Austn Texas (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:39 PM)

"Thank God and Greyhound, he's gone"! Now we have to wonder what flunky and "yes" man Bush will put in Gonzo's place.

Utahreb, Veyo, UT (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:40 PM)

anyone else notice how much the bushboy administration is like the old soviet union?

Torture is good, history is rewritten, digusting human beings have 'integrity'?

Tuck,Btown, Kansas (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:40 PM)

What's sad is the Bush administration's total lack of respect for the citizens of this country.

Charles Kushner, Chicago (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:40 PM)

Finally...

Thomas Low (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:40 PM)

ONE MORE DOWN!!! Administration clean-up by resignation. All we need now is for Bush and Cheney to resign.

William in Houston (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:43 PM)

See, what I don't understand is that Rumsfeld offered his resignation and Bush would have none of it. Then, things got hot and Bush took Rumsfeld up on his offer.
So, why did the President accept Gonzales's resignation if he was doing such great things for this administration?

Desmond (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:44 PM)

This conveniently leaves an opening for Karl Rove to return as AG.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:45 PM)

Coming up next! Video of the door hitting his butt on the way out.

nuanced (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:48 PM)

RH Oregon: You're right, "Z" shouldn't have the right to express his opinion here, only those who agree with der furor should be allowed to speak in the new world order, glad to see you're falling in line.

PJ (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:49 PM)

This is a good thing for the U.S. Legal System. I am very concerned that the decisions, strategies, and focus of this A.G. as it relates to the application of law. I was none too impressed with his "conservative" approach to the Geneva Convention.

Kevin, Denver, CO (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:49 PM)

Regarding Gonzales'integrity, decency and principles I will quote the great man himself... "I don't recall."

Susan (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:54 PM)

Tom C, L.A. - good post, and very true. These folks are criminals. Interesting, back during the 2004 election, someone had Kerry wired to a microphone that he did not know was still on - he stated (paraphrase) that "these people are criminals" while speaking of Bush and co. There was an uproar over such a vile statement. However, and like everything else that was being said at the time, he was correct.

jjg, ms (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:55 PM)

Dave from TN,

I thought for a minute about writing something longer and more detailed in my criticism of your post

"Boy I hope the next Republican President doesn't give in to these traitors and terrorist so easy"

When it comes down to it, it really does not deserve a response any more intelligent than the ignorance that it portrays.

"Traitors and terroroists"???

Have you read the constitution? Did you ever take US government 101?

Dave, you are truly an idiot!!!

In short....

Joe Bob, TX (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:56 PM)

Sad? Yes, but for our country. The ENTIRE Gonzales mess is on Bush's and Rove's shoulders! This is what happens when you try to make the government respond to your political whims. It is also why Gonzales could look straight into the camera (or the faces of Senators and Congressmen) and lie - he was doing so at the direction of the White House.
It is also what brings my 78-year old mother to write me recently (and i quote): "I guess the entire world now knows he (Bush) is an idiot".
Now, hopefully, the DOJ can re-gain some of its tarnished image back.

Donald Bennett, Alexandria, Virginia (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:56 PM)

Dave,TN -- you are so right. How can we expect Bush to stand up to terrorists if he can't take a little domestic criticism.

nuanced (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:58 PM)

"It's sad that we live in a time when no talented and honorable person can be found in the Executive branch of the United States government."

Mark Thieme (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:58 PM)

Just a friendly reminder...Gonzo-Gate it just will not fade away. Much,much more to follow. This could take "years".

Z (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 12:59 PM)

Thank God he is gone. Corrupt to the core and now nobody to blame but himself. His friends turned on him in the end..on the way out the door just remember to say you are leaving to be with your family..that is the cover all statement used by all departees. Maybe Rowe can use you in his business....

J. bader (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:00 PM)

J. bader (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:01 PM)

RH Oregon..Haa Haaaa, big loser. Cry like your daddy Bush. WAAAHH!!

Zounds (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:03 PM)

Later Gonzo, don't let the door hit ya, where the good lord split ya.

I hope Congress has strength enough to continue the fight on the reason WHY he had to resign. Let's not forget that this man took the law and his position to uphold it,and made a mockery of it.

As for Bush saying it was "sad" to drag this man's name in the mud... What's sad is we have a president who cares more about power than our Constitution. Way to go Dubya, you keep making it clear America means less to you than your own power and legacy, which by the way is already set in stone... or shall I say the manure you kick around in Crawford Tx.

AP

AP

Ali Pazand (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:04 PM)

"Unfair treatment" would be what Gonzales as White House attorney did to his predecessor AG John Ashcroft, heavily sedated in his hospital bed, trying to get him to sign off on illegal wire-tapping. Geez, covert operations like that one, calling the Geneva Convention "quaint", showing no respect for Congress and the American people when by "not remembering" potentially incriminating incidents...and Bush thinks this is a man of integrity! Oh, right...I forgot...in Bushworld you only lack intergrity if you have illicit relations in the White House. Anything else is just "using your mandate" and the only "political" acts are those which hurt the Bushies. Come on, 1/20/09!

J.W. Truelove, Kure Beach, NC (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:04 PM)

It seems that most people that Bush says are doing a great or "Heck of a job," tend to do badly in the eyes of many Americans. With the wire tapping issues make me think of Ben Franklin who thought that people who give up a little bit of liberty for a little bit of security will get and deserve neither.

I don't understand why it would be so hard to make sure that he told everything to Congress. This is how Congress (a co-equal branch of government) works -- they ask questions that the ordinary American citizen can't. If Gonzales would have functioned based on law and everyone is equal under it rather than an ideologue working for a boss, then he would have been much better off and told Bush that he was wrong (among other people). Law enforcement should not be ideological.

S. B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:04 PM)

Gonzales was part of a shameful attempt to use the Justice department for political purposes by the Executive branch. This distortion of the Constitution needed to be corrected. Now that process can begin.

Dennis Tessler Phila Penna (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:06 PM)

Dave tn, next Republican President-"In the Year 2525"-Zager and Evans

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:07 PM)

Dave in TN writes: Boy I hope the next Republican President doesn't give in to these traitors and terrorist so easy.

I don't think you have to worry about a republican president for at least 12 years. Thanks to W.

Frank, West Palm Beach, Fl. (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:09 PM)

AWW poor gonzo, poor scooter, poor republican party, poor Mr. Bush. all those meanies out there. How freaken sad. Poor RH and Jerry and dave, I can't stand this I'm crying so hard. Liers and losers, all of them. Go celebrate Mr Z you deserve it.

F StLouis (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:10 PM)

Good God people I was laughing with Z, not at. It was written with a laugh and smile. I admire his(her?) zeal? persistance? obsession?? Whatever. PJ what cencorship? NewWorldOrder? Too many vitamins this morning, wow..

RH Oregon (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:13 PM)

It's amazing how the Bush administration likes to label the Democrats as "cut-and-run" losers when it comes to discussing U.S. troop withdrawl from Iraq. Yet now we see Karl Rove, Alberto Gonzales and other high-ranking officials "cut-and-running' from an inept administration they orchestrated!

Carey, Memphis, TN (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:14 PM)

Who here that believes Bush has politicized every Gov't agency?

You haven't seen anything till the Patreus report. The pentagon is the most politizied entity of them all. Don't be naive enough to expect a report that will be anything but music to W's war-ears. Oh sure, it will miss a note here and there, but overall, it will be exactly what Bush hired Patreus to report.

Frank in West Palm Beach (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:15 PM)

PLEASE KEEP THE CHAMPAGE FLOWING !

Z (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:16 PM)

Sad, yes... that we will have to put up with Roberts and Alito for many years, that Z encouraged abuse of
our fundamental rights, that numerous qualified US
attorneys were ousted for purely political reasons,
that we had to put up with this moronic and dishonest
yes-man for so long. Sadder that it was not W offering his resignation.

Allen, San Antonio, Texas (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:20 PM)

A.Gonzalez is a disgrace for the Hispanic community. Let's rejoice and be glad that he is finally out.

Agueda Fernandez (Sent Monday, August 27, 2007 1:21 PM)

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