For all its well-earned reputation for cynicism, the Washington press corps, or some elements of it, has sure taken a rosy-eyed view of the Gonzales resignation.
The Los Angeles Times called it a “blessing” and an “opportunity” for President Bush, and “a chance to salvage his relationship with Capitol Hill and the legacy of his second term.”
Roger Simon at The Politico says Bush is putting his legacy above loyalty: “Once famous for his loyalty to subordinates, Bush is now showing himself very capable of jettisoning the ones who create too much controversy.” Very capable?
And everyone seems to be of the earnest opinion that Bush must nominate as Gonzales’ successor someone of great independence and integrity to restore the Department of Justice. Wouldn’t that be great.
TPM Reader MT isn’t buying it, and neither am I:
Democratic lawmakers, such as Senator Schumer, and countless left-leaning bloggers have given their prescription for the AG nominee: he should be independent, not a member of the Bush inner circle, more loyal to the law than to the GOP, etc. But after watching the video of the petulant, irritated Bush making his brief statement about losing Gonzo, and hearing his claim that a good man had been “dragged through the mud,” I can’t help but think that the AG nominee will not be independent of the White House in any way, and will, in fact, be a middle finger to the Democrats in the Senate. Bush the spoiled brat will not be cooperative, but will instead take his ball and go home. After watching his temper tantrum, I don’t see how any sane person could get a sense that the White House will capitulate on the next AG.
This just seems self-evident at this stage.
If, as the evidence overwhelmingly suggests, Gonzales was a mere Bush flunky, a cipher, an amiable man doing the bidding of more powerful and more sinister men, then his departure can hardly be said to herald a new era so long as Bush (and Cheney) occupy the White House.
There is a persistent meme in press coverage that Bush–like Reagan–remains a figure aloof and removed not just from the partisan fray but from the words and deeds of his appointees and underlings. He stands apart, or so goes the thinking, undoubtedly encouraged by spin from the White House and Bushies.
Nearly seven years into his Presidency, don’t we have a pretty good idea of the character and abilities of this man? There is a long track record now of truly unparalleled incompetence, corruption, and politicization. What more do we need to know? Bush’s legacy is firmly entrenched, and barring any seismic historical events between now and January 2009, any changes to that sorry legacy will be at the margins.
I wasn’t familiar with the BBC comedy show “Little Britain” until TPM Reader BW sent me this clip, apropos of the Larry Craig incident. I feel like I’ve missed out.
CNN: White House “disappointed” with Craig.
Another bit of understated reporting: “The general sentiment among Craig’s fellow Idaho Republicans who talked to CNN’s Dana Bash in Boise was that Craig’s explanation is not credible.”
Rep. Hoekstra (R) of Michigan says Sen. Craig must resign.
Who he’s speaking on behalf of isn’t exactly clear to me.
My pal Steve Clemons is guest-blogging at Andrew Sullivan’s site this week. And he has a post about this astounding admission/boast of Tucker Carlson’s that he bashed, literally bashed, a gay man who hit on him in a public bathroom.
As you can see over in our news section, two senators (McCain and Coleman) have called on Sen. Craig (R-ID) to resign. I strongly suspect that a number more will by the end of the day.
Now, the senate’s an awfully clubby place. And senators have been known to do some awfully freaky stuff.
So here’s my question: when was the last time a senator called for a fellow senator to resign his office?
In a sign of how toxic the political environment is for Senate Republicans, the GOP leadership in the Senate asked Sen. Larry Craig to give up his committee assignments–and then put out a public statement about it. The move is supposedly temporary, until the Ethics Committee sorts out the complaints against Craig over his conviction in the airport bathroom incident. One of those ethics complaints yesterday came from none other than the Senate GOP leadership itself.
Meanwhile, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN), one of the most vulnerable Republicans seeking re-election next year, this afternoon called publicly for Craig’s resignation. Nearly simultaneously, Sen. John McCain, a presidential candidate, did so as well. No Democrats in the Senate have yet said Craig should resign.
While most Senate Republicans can’t distance themselves from Craig fast enough, Trent Lott, having been through the wringer himself over the comments he made about Strom Thurmond that cost him his position as Senate majority leader, is more circumspect, telling Bloomberg TV’s “Money & Politics”:
I am shocked and I am disappointed at you know, this turn of events. . . but I also have learned the hard way that before you jump to conclusions or call on people to do one thing or another at least know all of the facts and you know take advantage of an opportunity to hear what, you know, really happened.”
That’s the sober assessment of a politician who has stared into the abyss.
Election Central has a rundown on what happens if Craig were to heed the calls to step down.
Fox New breaks open the story of the Castro-Hillary-Obama alliance …
So how will Senate Republicans square their calls for Sen. Larry Craig’s resignation with their support for Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)?
Let’s put it this way: Vitter did more than slide his foot under a bathroom stall. He has as much as admitted to breaking the law by paying for prostitutes proffered by the D.C. Madam. He left precious little ambiguity in his public statements, though he didn’t go quite as far as Craig’s guilty plea.
But that is a slim reed of a difference. Is the only real difference for GOPers that Vitter was in for straight sex (though apparently pretty kinky straight sex, by one account) whereas Craig went in for gay sex in public places?
There’s been considerable commentary on conservative commentators’ double standard for Vitter and Craig. But it’s a standard GOP senators are going to have to answer for, too. Let the squirming begin.
Late Update: I included the last link above, to Kevin Drum, because it specifically lays out one possible reason for the double standard: Craig’s replacement would be appointed by a Republican governor, Vitter’s by a Democratic governor.