Alberto Gonzales: The Grilling Resumes (Part 3)
We’re getting underway again, with the testimony of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Some random audience member just shouted out: “Hi Senator Kyl!”
2:39: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who missed much of the morning session due to a funeral, is leading off the afternoon questioning. He reads a brief introductory statement (and barely looks up from his notes). Grassley gloats over how the DOJ tried to prevent a witness from testifying before the Senate Finance Committee, on which he also serves, but got slapped down by the courts.
(Wow, that accent is REALLY Midwestern. Anyone wanna go to the mal?)
2:49: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) wants to know what safeguards were in place to prevent improper political considerations from entering into the process re: which U.S. Attorneys to fire. He’s very animated, angry — he frequently raises his voice.
AGAG says that he relied upon people he trusted — and repeatedly mentions the Deputy Attorney General, Paul McNulty, and the big role the DAG played in this process. It seems to us that Gonzales wants to make McNulty the fall guy.
(Not a bad idea — McNulty is leaving the DOJ soon, anyway).
3:02: OMG, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) — a Republican, and a conservative one at that — just ripped AGAG a new one. Several new ones, actually. Some quotes:
“You should be judged by the same standards as these U.S. attorneys were judged, and suffer the same consequences.”“Mistakes were made, and mistakes should have consequences.”
“[T]his was handled incompetently… Communication was atrocious.”
“The best way to put this all behind us is your resignation,” so we can “start with a clean slate.”
“I like you as a man, as an individual, but mistakes have consequences.”
OUCH. OUCH OUCH. Alberto Gonzales = pinata.
If this is what a Republican has to say, wait ‘til the Democrats are up to bat next….
4:08: Sorry, our attention wandered… Lots of questioning about matters not related to the U.S. Attorney firings (because this is, after all, technically a general DOJ oversight hearing). E.g., Sen. Kyl asking about offshore gambling outfits; Sen. Specter asking about whether there’s any federal law enforcement angle to the Virginia Tech shootings.
Now, a ten-minute recess.
Earlier: Alberto Gonzales: In the Hot Seat (Part 2)
Alberto Gonzales: In the Hot Seat (Part 1)
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Comments
What exactly is the difference between mal and mall? (or maul for that matter, they all sound the same!)
It is a well know fact that midwesterners are the only people without accents.
That is why all of the national call centers are in Omaha (well at least the ones that haven't been moved to India).
"Mall" should rhyme with "all" (or "maul").
In a midwestern accent, "mall" is pronounced as "mal" (rhymes with "pal" or "gal").
sweet moustache
and they call coke ... pop. weirdos
wow, love the "You should be judged by the same standards as these U.S. attorneys" line; not a bad argument that AGAG should be held to same standard that he apparently held his US attorneys were.
gotta love coburn...he certainly speaks his mind, though i don't agree with his social policy stuff.
Pinata?
Now you're doing it on purpose, Lat.
4-16-07 = 9-11-01
yeah, where did the 'stache come from?
"I like you as a man, as an individual, but mistakes have consequences."
This is a great line to deliver before pressing a button under your desk that opens up a trap door under AGAG's feet.
Without the trap door, though, I think Coburn's remarks lose much of their effect.
"I like you as a man, as an individual [...]" This is either (a) redundant or (b) a sign of Coburn's latent homosexuality...
I didn't follow the last Senate race that closely - what was the word about the new Rhode Island senator's intelligence? He seems like he got to the hill on a short bus today. Might have been the only one there dumber than the AG.
I was suprised at how effemine AGAG sounds. Are there any rumors about him?
I don't get it. why are they questioning him about general DOJ stuff when 2 seconds ago it didn't look like anyone thought he would every make it back to justice.
I don't get it. why are they questioning him about general DOJ stuff when 2 seconds ago it didn't look like anyone thought he would every make it back to justice.
Sen. Whitehouse looks like a Bill Murray character. His staff is dopey looking, too.
Seriously, where did the moustache come from?
4-16-07 = 9-11-01
That's an old photo. Maybe from a year or two ago? AGAG hasn't had a 'stache in a while.
Anonymous @ 04:31 PM = Annoying to the eyes
time for tio tom to vamos.
2:50: Nay! It's well-known that unaccented American English is found in the southern MD / northern VA / Washington DC region.
That's what you ought to hear if you turn on CNN.
2:50: Nay! It's well-known that unaccented American English is found in the southern MD / northern VA / Washington DC region.
That's what you ought to hear if you turn on CNN.
4:10: Whitehouse does sound pretty stupid. But the guy he replaced, Lincoln Chafee, was widely regarded as one of the dimmest bulbs in the Senate.
Lat, live-blogging is one thing. Knowing what is going on is another. McNulty WAS behind the firings.
431--please explain
Im hoping for 9/11 conspiracy here
good God the stache is creeeeeepy.