From what I can tell, it was ALL about the phony voter fraud case that led to McKay's firing. The WA State GOP went ballistic, demanding from Rove and Gonzo that McKay be fired for not pursuing it. The GOPers were contacting Gonzo directly, and Rove through his west coast representative, Glynda Becker. Don't forget, when McKay interviewed with Miers and Kelley in 2006 for the open judgeship, the first question he was asked was why he "mishandled" the 2004 governor's election.

By the way, that was very satisfying, just now seeing Adam Schiff demolish Gonzo's crediblility on the Iglesias firing.

Yes, Schiff is my new hero.

Has anyone asked Gonzalez to complete the basic task of providing Congress with a specific explanation for the decision to fire each of the eight (now nine) U.S. Attorneys? It seems like he just makes stuff up as he goes along and changes his story to explain away whatever difficult question he's facing at that moment.

If there were clear grounds for their terminations, then Gonzalez and DoJ should be able to give a fairly detailed explanation for each. Keep to no more than one page or one paragraph. This would then force him and the administration to have to stand by those explanation.

Reading Murray Waas' column in the National Journal, Dean Boyd says the WH gave the Congress 6000 documents. What the hell is the difference if they gave 10,000 documents if they retained/hid 10 that would implicate people. Himself included? They are playing a shell game and to use their expression, "gumming" Congress to death until they get tired and give up. Conyers may, Waxman, no way.

Thanks, shoephone. It just seems like it should have been logical first step. You know, like how the first thing the cops do is to take down official statements. Out of fairness, DoJ could be allowed to amend or add to the explanations should new facts emerge, but that would be a more formal process and it would be documented.

The GOP went ballistic in Washington State after the Governor's election when the DEM won. But, the fact is, the Sec of State for Washington, Sam Reed is a Republican and he said there was no fraud and no evidence of wrong doing for McKay to go after. If the Republican Sec of State that is charged with overseeing the election can't find a crime and stands by the election results, what is a USA supposed to do, make somewhat up?

Long, my point is that there would be an official original verision of the story to which Gonzalez would be held accountable. And just like witnesses and suspects are allowed the opportunity to change or amend their story/testimony later, there is an official original statement that exists and that can be used to compare against new evidence that they later provide.

In other words, if Gonzo opted to change his story, then those changes would be documented also, along with any supporting docs required justify the changes. I'm also willing to believe that people do make honest mistakes and sometimes do overlook or forget things. Do I for a second doubt that Gonzo isn't lying through his teeth left and right? Hell no. But I also believe in a fair and open discovery process. And that's what we're essentially in right now.

Force Gonzo to put his cards on the table in a formal statement regarding each and every single fired attorney, then give him some limited opportunity to publicly make minor amendments or additions to his story, and then compare what he cooks up with the documents that exist. And if his story doesn't hold water and/or if it contradicts statements he's already told Congress under oath then use it to hang him by his nuts.

And until someone in Congress forces the little weasel to state clearly, once and for all, precisely what the justification was for firing the attorneys, then he's going to continue playing this game. Conyers or Leahy could send the letter to Gonzo by COB today and demand answers by 8 am Monday. Make the little weasel put his cards on the table. It's that freaking easy.

Security code: muscle--as in it's time Conyers and Waxman put some more muscle into this. Can you imagine what would be happening right now if this was a Republican controlled congress and all of this contempt of court and just general contempt for democracy and the will of the people was going down? These people would be grandstanding so much and ready to throw people in jail for contempt that it's not even funny.
drmoore

Alberto Gonzalez is trying to pass himself off as the Absentee AG. These things were done by other people for reasons unknown to himself. It wasn't his duty to KNOW why the names showed up on the list, not his duty to investigate bogus claims or even raise the bar high enough to keep these bogus claims from becoming a reason for dismissal.

If Gone-zo says he assumes the responsibility for these decisions, then he cannot retreat to ignorance to excuse himself afterwards.

Paul, I agree that Watt was good. But only second best. I still think the medal for the best line of questioning has to go to Wexler for getting AGAG to claim that no individual placed any name on the list. According to Gonzo, it was some seance guiding a ghost hand that wrote the list. Although, I think that was a coverup. It was really a series of secret meetings between interns and the cleaning crew that actually put names to paper.

"If the Republican Sec of State that is charged with overseeing the election can't find a crime and stands by the election results, what is a USA supposed to do, make somewhat up?"

It wasn't only Sam Reed who thought there was no merit to the fraud allegations. We had a court trial, for God's sake, and a REPUBLICAN JUDGE in a REPUBLICAN COUNTY dismissed the case with prejudice. The state GOP had it's day in court and they LOST. They can't get over it and it was shortly after the court decision came down that (we now discover) McKay was put on a list to be fired.

kiki,
is it possible that the Committees have not asked "the General " for the type of specificty you have described -because it might freeze other discovery on other matters related to the obstruction of justice issues ie Lam & Cunningham.
I keep thinking that the Committees already have the goods on Gonzo -and are getting really close to bigger actors ie Rove , Jerry Lewis,and maybe even Cheney ( remember that Cheney's OVP bought a bunch of overpriced furnture from one Brent Wilkes).All of this -in my opinion - is related back to the Earmarks , Bribes, and Campaign Contributions that allowed this Admininstration to have its way on many different abuses - from Iraq War Prevarications to the TIA attack on our Civil Liberties.I keep wondering what private testimony such as the former FBI San Diego Chief of Station gave to the Hill Staffers. The former Station Chief Head said publicly that the Lam firing was political. It looks to me like Gonzo is being left out there gut hooked in the Chum Line - to see what other big fish might also be coaxed to the hook set,and then bought to the gaff. ( Sorry I love to deep sea fish - I put these concluding thoughts down in terms I understand- )