Comments (137)

Punchy wrote on April 5, 2007 9:30 AM:

"spending hours practicing testimony"

"have met with the attorney general to plot strategy"

Perhaps I'm just a newbie, but this really astounds me. What is he actually practicing? Isn't there just one story--the truth--and who "plots strategy" to simply go up and tell the truth?

These verbs--plots, practicing--don't they just SCREAM coverup, obfuscation, lying, etc.? Can anyone explain what Gonzo is actually doing?

JD wrote on April 5, 2007 9:31 AM:

If you are spending all your time defending your job, aren't you in effect, not doing your job?

Anne wrote on April 5, 2007 9:35 AM:

Would that Gonzales had taken this much time and expended this much effort attending to the interests of the citizens the Justice Department is supposed to be serving, instead of signing off on every single initiative that has undermined our rights, and lowered our standing in the free world. Too bad he didn't spend this much time fighting against torture and suspension of habeas rights. Too bad he doesn't realize that his primary function is not to ask, "How high?" whenever the president or one of his minions screams, "Jump!"

I just feel sicker every day that these people are still positioned to do more damage, and that none of them have the slightest qualm about turning their backs on the American people every day, and would sooner sell us all out than stand before us, be accountable and suffer the consequences of their actions.

Renee wrote on April 5, 2007 9:39 AM:

Style Over Substance!

Gonzales must spend all of his time practicing for his mendacious performance-- because the neo-con Bushies have learnt that the American people pay more attention to style than to substance (which is why we're in a bloody mess!)

Let us hope that the Senators who ask questions are not intimidated by this creep. Also, they should be firm & issue subpeonas to Rove, Miers, etc. And, Gonzales' criminal aide who refused to testify & pleaded the 5th should be charged with contempt.

When will Congress put a stop to the Mad King George's neo-fascist regime run-amok? It's time to impeach these criminals.

The Democrats indeed should not cower in fear in standing-up against the neo-con Bushies.

The Mad King George has yet again stuck-his-finger-in-the-eye of the American people. When the despicable Bush could not get his corrupt nominee Swift-Boat pimp Sam Fox through the Senate for confirmation to be Ambassador to Belgium-- this traitorous Bush abused a provision allowing him to use recess appointments (devised for emergencies) to push-through this crook-n-liar.

Ergo, just as Bush had put John "Kiss-Up, Kick-Down" Bolton in place, despite the fact that he could not be confirmed by Congress-- now, Bush is doing the same thing vis-a-vis Sam "Swift-Boat Pimp" Fox.

Bush should be impeached and put on trial for treason... Bush is a loser- a liar- a traitor- and, a swaggering pig!

Ask Gonzales about abusing provisions of the law devised for emergencies to appoint medicore, criminal pigs, who are so unfit, that they can't obtain proper confirmation by Congress!!!

pluky wrote on April 5, 2007 9:41 AM:

Kneeling, extend to the side the arm holding the katana. In a single, swift motion, embed the katana just below the rib cage so that the point lies on the opposite side of the spine. Using the spine as fulcrum, draw the katana across the abdomen to the other side; this will insure that the descending aorta is severed. When this accomplished ones second will deliver a coup-de-grace, decapitation with the tachi.

Prissy wrote on April 5, 2007 9:41 AM:

Bye-bye, GONE-Zo! When he goes, he'll pull the whole tablecloth down with him. I can't wait to see justice return...

TheraP wrote on April 5, 2007 9:43 AM:

Punchy,

That is exactly what I thought when reading the article last night.

The problem with the truth is that there is just one story. Maybe it may sound like a strange story - but it doesn't need practicing.

And the problem with lying is that there are millions of stories. And you need to coordinate them, practice them, etc. And you need your fall-back stories if the first ones don't work. So lying can sure take up a lot of practice time!

"polish" - as in polish your stories

barrelhse wrote on April 5, 2007 9:46 AM:

Anne- Right on the mark.
Anyone up for a Revolution?

DonMidwest wrote on April 5, 2007 9:49 AM:

Years ago Hannah Arendt, the political theorist, wrote an essay "The Politics of Truth." It is much harder to lie because at any time the whole castle of lies might collapse. I have been waiting for years for the Bush lies to collapse to the conventional wisdom. In his press conference this week Bush showed that he cannot even construct a good sentence. Talking points can only cover up lies for a limited time.

DonMidwest wrote on April 5, 2007 9:49 AM:

Years ago Hannah Arendt, the political theorist, wrote an essay "The Politics of Truth." It is much harder to lie because at any time the whole castle of lies might collapse. I have been waiting for years for the Bush lies to collapse to the conventional wisdom. In his press conference this week Bush showed that he cannot even construct a good sentence. Talking points can only cover up lies for a limited time.

Dr. Anatole Gavage-Huskanoy wrote on April 5, 2007 9:50 AM:

And Tommy Flanagan was the name of the pathological liar Jon Lovitz used to play on Saturday Night Live. Coincidence?

donviti wrote on April 5, 2007 9:51 AM:

I wonder if Gonzo is going to "Eat lightining and Crap Thunder"?

Mike Nilsen wrote on April 5, 2007 9:52 AM:

I can just see a montage Gonzales sitting, studying, surfing, and practicing his responses while wearing sweats, with 'Eye of the Tiger' playing in the background.

Mike Nilsen wrote on April 5, 2007 9:54 AM:

Ooops, I missed that line in the post. My bad; sorry to steal your joke.

John Gillette wrote on April 5, 2007 9:54 AM:

Why is Gonzales hangin on? Why does Bush support him? Does anyone think this administration could survive an honest, independent Attorney General?

Pete wrote on April 5, 2007 9:54 AM:

How much practice should it take to tell the truth?

When I was about 4 years old I learned that once you tell a lie you had to start telling more lies to maintain the first one. Eventually you get so tangled up in your own deceit you start to contradict yourself. At a certain point it becomes easier just to fess up and tell the truth. And under such circumstances telling the truth comes as a relief, even if you end up getting punished for it. Maybe someday this lesson will dawn on someone in the Bush Administration...but I doubt it.

CaseyL wrote on April 5, 2007 9:55 AM:

Gonzo can't take the heat.

Of course he's practicing what lies he'll tell. That's a given for anyone in the Bush Administration.

But he's also shown that he can't take any pressure at all without crumbling and running away, like he did at that press conference in Chicago. He seems to have just two settings for speaking extemporaneously: smarmy (as when the GOP was in control of Congress, and he knew he was safe) or scared out of his wits (as when he has to face real questions).

Hubert Davis wrote on April 5, 2007 9:58 AM:

I bet this boning up Gonzales is doing resembles Rodney Dangerfield's cramming for his exams in "Back to School" more than Rocky. Or, he is just trying to remember 50 ways to say "I don't recall that"

See-too-much-evil wrote on April 5, 2007 10:01 AM:

My guess is we're going to see a case made that this is a 'high-tech lynching' as well as an elaboration of all the previous lies that have been told, in an attempt to attach 'truth' to previous statements. And probably even new and improved lies that we haven't heard before.

Spencer's Mom wrote on April 5, 2007 10:04 AM:

Anyone wanna bet Gonzo resigns in the next few day and Bush does another "recess appointment" immediately?

Anyone?

Citizen Dullard wrote on April 5, 2007 10:07 AM:

In theory this should be fairly easy--as US Attorney General Gonzales will tell the truth for every question and not Karl Rove talking points. If he knows what the truth is, why would he need tp practice?

mayan wrote on April 5, 2007 10:10 AM:

Even if (big IF) he threads the needle on DOJ's perfidy and ethics, he should be forced to resign due to the appalling malfeasence and vacuum of leadership, management and oversight that was revealed IF you credit Sampson's abysmal testimony.

Security word is sheep...hopefully what 70% of the American people are no longer.

Racer X wrote on April 5, 2007 10:12 AM:

Practicing his testimony with a RNC hack, and a guy who was involved with Abramoff and Tyco. That sure looks like he's going to come clean.

Shouldn't he be cramming with the people who gave him all the bad info, so that he can explain how it got fouled up and how it really isn't a case of lying as much as it's a case of misunderstanding and mishandled information (as they claim, which I am NOT buying yet)

Shouldn't he be consulting with the people who actually know what went on instead of a couple of political operatives?

Melanie wrote on April 5, 2007 10:14 AM:

How much is Hatch really on Gonzo's side? His coy blushes over the weekend led me to believe Hatch wants to replace Gonzo as AG.

KY3 Democrat wrote on April 5, 2007 10:14 AM:

donviti says: 'I wonder if Gonzo is going to "Eat lightining and Crap Thunder"?'

KY3 Democrat says: "Gonzo had better eat crow and shit some Tiffany cufflinks."

jeffgee wrote on April 5, 2007 10:14 AM:

Bush will be amused if Gonzo craps thunder. Bush likes fart jokes.

georgia wrote on April 5, 2007 10:14 AM:

If "virtually everyone" wants Gonzo gone, they should put as much effort into his impeachment as he is into his testimony.

chimpeach wrote on April 5, 2007 10:19 AM:

This is probably more of a tactic than it is real prepping. It's the administration's way of saying "Well, if you're not going to let him testify sooner, we'll just spend all that extra time getting him extra ready for it." And then they stick their collective tongue out.

One bit of advice for the Judiciary Committee. Keep Mrs. Gonzales and the kids out of the camera shots of the AG. We don't need another stupid 'weeping wife' bit like Alito pulled.

Rich wrote on April 5, 2007 10:19 AM:

It's the "Paper Chase" with a paper trail.

Bugboy wrote on April 5, 2007 10:24 AM:

It takes a LOT of practice to make sure the lies make sense, doesn't it?

Security code is letter, as in dead letter.

kentuck wrote on April 5, 2007 10:25 AM:

"Mr AG Gonzo, how many people on this Committee have you or your staff spoken with regarding your testimony before us today? We just need to get that out of the way, first thing..."

"And what did they tell you about how to best testify before this Committee?"

"Why did you feel like you need coaching?"

"Do you agree with Monica Goodling's reasons for not testifying?"

"Why do you feel like you need a stategy to simply tell us what you knew and when you knew it...Do you feel like something wrong was done or is that only a perception?"

"Are you willing to say there has been no coordination between the different folks at the Justice Dept that may be called to testify?"

TheraP wrote on April 5, 2007 10:29 AM:

Pete - at 4 you learned that lying did not work. And you developed a conscience as a result.

Unfortunately these guys learned that lying did work. It all goes back to childhood - as they say. Probably they were encouraged to lie by parents into appearances or thinking their lies were cute.

These #@&*'s do not have consciences. They probably look down on us poor saps who are constrained by conscience, by empathy and concern for others.

People without a conscience - we call them sociopaths - cannot really form relationships except for exploitative ones.

What really galls me about gonzales is not just his lying, but his smirking while lying. It sickens me and drives me up a wall!

"push" - as in = don't let these guys push us around!

Anonymous wrote on April 5, 2007 10:34 AM:

Go Gonzales Go! And by go I mean just go away already! I really hope the Dems step up their game and expose this weasel for the lowdown lying scoundrel he is. Attorney General my ass, more like Bush's #1 bootlicker.
Security Code: news

Citizen Dullard wrote on April 5, 2007 10:35 AM:

This hearing will likely be not only the end but also a relief for Gonzales who is clearly in over his head and will be happy to just go away and eventually help Bush and Cheney manage (in off-shore accounts) all the US Treasury money they have stolen over the past several years.

Paul Wren wrote on April 5, 2007 10:35 AM:

I hope the AG is doing all this prep on his own time, 'cuz I'm not paying him to spend weeks preparing for three days in a mock interrogation, when all he needs to do is show up and tell the truth at the real thing.

Get back to work, Judge! You're the top Law Enforcement Officer in the country.

Anonymous wrote on April 5, 2007 10:37 AM:

Word is screw.

Draw your own conclusions.

The truth will out wrote on April 5, 2007 10:40 AM:

Paul Wren:

Couldn't we just rename him "Fudge" - as in a judge who fudges the truth.

tbhull wrote on April 5, 2007 10:43 AM:

Posted by: The truth will out
Date: April 5, 2007 10:40 AM

Nice nickname. I do no think the name is available as Karl has already utilized it for some attractive young man on the WH staff. The country cannot afford such high level operatives to become confused and conflicted in matters fudge.

JoshB wrote on April 5, 2007 10:44 AM:

“The truth needs so little rehearsal.”

Barbara Kingsolver quotes (American Writer and Activist. b.1955)

The truth will out wrote on April 5, 2007 10:50 AM:

tbhull -

Darn! What about the fudging judge? Or Fudge N Judge?

SteveW wrote on April 5, 2007 10:52 AM:

Okay, let's get this straight. Fredo needs to practice really, really, really hard to....tell the truth?

Hmm, well it kinda sorta highlights how the Bush Crime Family needs to learn this truth telling behavior thing, because as we know their natural instincts are to lie...and not just in telling little white lies, no these folks tell big Karl Rove "someone bugged my office days before the election" steaming pile high lies upon lies. Or the laughable, though still wildly hilarious "we need to fight them over there, so we don't have to fight them here...blah, blah, blah." Come on folks, this is really good stuff and the mainstream press never calls them out on this stuff. In fact, Suzanne Malveaux types will reinforce this lie at every turn. By the way, she's one hell of a reporter...don't you think?

Over the last six years these people could depend on 'wink and a nod' Republican led congressional hearings to not only allow them to lie, they could lie while earning style points with answers/responses full of smirks, sarcasm, and indignant attitude. Now, there's a new reality and we need to understand they need some time to adjust and practice telling the truth. Hey it's the least we can do for them, because as we all know...because Fredo told us he's an "honest man."

Every time these folks speak (like Bush's Rose Garden presentation of b.s. earlier this week) for instance, it takes me days to unpack all the "up is down and down is up" logic poured into my mind.

So, in preparation for whenever it is Fredo sits down before the Senate Judiciary Committee and starts spewing some more of the usual, though now more practiced "I don't recall", "how dare you question my integrity" (watch this one will be right out of the Clarence Thomas book of indignant denials, because the Reeps always recycle these tactics) "we did nothing illegal", "this is a political witchhunt", or "this is a modern day lynching of a hispanic" at least you can't say someone didn't attempt to prepare you for the bizarro world testimony we are all about to witness from Fredo.

donviti wrote on April 5, 2007 10:56 AM:

jeffgee,

that was funny. I can see the little giggling as I type this. AAAAAAAAh that's funny.

biggerbox wrote on April 5, 2007 10:56 AM:

So, to prepare for an attempt to convince the committee that his actions weren't politically motivated, he consults with the former head of the Republican National Committee?

Isn't that like trying to convince people you aren't religious after consulting with the archbishop?

I'm amused to picture those rigorous mock testimony sessions. "OK, Judge, try it again, but this time with more Nicholson. "You can't HANDLE the truth!" See? Like that."

lower tiberius wrote on April 5, 2007 10:57 AM:

I got a code word 'rate' but all things considered it's more than likely a typo and was supposed to be rat

donviti wrote on April 5, 2007 10:58 AM:

KY3 Democrat,

I don't know if they can catch crow in Texas. Maybe armadilla while Bush is clearing brush...

draftedin68 wrote on April 5, 2007 11:00 AM:

.

I wonder if Orrin Hatch is just being a true blue LDSer defending one of his own (AG-AG's former Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson) or if he's worried about what might come out in the wash.

Remember, Sampson was a school chum of a Cheney daughter and, velly intelestingly, he once worked for Senator Hatch in Salt Lick City.

Hmmmmm...

.

LarryE wrote on April 5, 2007 11:01 AM:

Isn't this the guy who said he was too busy doing his job to take the time to reply to Congressional requests for documents?

Anonymous wrote on April 5, 2007 11:02 AM:

When will they realize that they will not win this with PR, or a "polished" presentation?

Anonymous wrote on April 5, 2007 11:03 AM:

Gonzo is neither a particularly smart nor strong character and would have never even made it to Washington, D.C. but for Dubya's need to surround himself with mental midgets and sycophantic misfits. The outcome of this circus will depend on how tough the Senators plan to be.

Security word is "crack" as in soft boiled egg.

jamacker wrote on April 5, 2007 11:05 AM:

See here is the thing about Gonzo and it is true about Rummey as well. Both of them have gone through life being the smartest boys in the class. So it doesn't surprise me that he is studying up on ways to tapdance through these hearings. Just because you come up with clever arguments doesn't mean that you can ignore facts or the constitution. Be fun to watch him try tho'

WDC wrote on April 5, 2007 11:10 AM:

This vomit-inducing story contains one of the funniest quotes I've ever seen:

"We are hampered because some senior officials are not able to discuss the facts as they know them in the same room, for fears of additional accusations of misleading Congress," said one Justice official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

That's right, the facts AS THEY KNOW THEM. Translation - we're screwed because nobody's telling us what everyone else's lies are and we can't get our story straight.

I think that's a little hint, i.e., telling allies "this is why we're going to all look like a bunch of liars." The ultimate reason being, of course, that they are a bunch of liars.

chris miller wrote on April 5, 2007 11:11 AM:

Two more weeks of this going on in one ring.

In the other ring, unseen, what else?

Poison! Says the TPM oracle.

cfm

Frederick wrote on April 5, 2007 11:16 AM:

What they can't prepare for is the unknown, if you have
Justice Dept. people testifing behind closed doors, like
they have had recently. If Gonzo is smart, he won't appear too confrontational, but my bet with all this prep
work he will, and get screwed up in some of his answers.

Legalize wrote on April 5, 2007 11:17 AM:

So, like, if Abu Al Gonzales is spending all of his time rehearsing for his testimony so that he can best cover his ass and the ass of his boss, who is running the DOJ?

code: "school," as in, "the AG does not appear to have paid attention in law ..."

bellesouth wrote on April 5, 2007 11:18 AM:

As a taxpayer, I think Gonzo ought to take a leave of absence while he is defending his job instead of doing his job.

SteveW wrote on April 5, 2007 11:23 AM:

I was thinking the same thing. This is all to much. He's spending time to save his ass, all the while not doing the job that he wasn't doing well before he initiated these intense "learn to lie better" sessions.

Posted by: Legalize
Date: April 5, 2007 11:17 AM

So, like, if Abu Al Gonzales is spending all of his time rehearsing for his testimony so that he can best cover his ass and the ass of his boss, who is running the DOJ?

code: "school," as in, "the AG does not appear to have paid attention in law ..."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As a taxpayer, I think Gonzo ought to take a leave of absence while he is defending his job instead of doing his job.

Posted by: bellesouth
Date: April 5, 2007 11:18 AM

coltergeist wrote on April 5, 2007 11:34 AM:

If Gonzales resigns or is impeached, Reid needs to make sure the Senate NEVER goes into recess so shrub cannot make another recess appointment of a toady that will just run out the clock.

no relation to Ann

Richard L. Adlof wrote on April 5, 2007 11:36 AM:

AG is the jester in the Bush 43 Fascist Plutocracy. My only question is "Will he were that funny hat?"

Welcome to our latest "Oh my! Look at the kitty moment."

Richard L. Adlof wrote on April 5, 2007 11:41 AM:

Sigh. I have got to stop posting from my Treo.

"Will he were . . . = "Will he WEAR . . .

glenn wrote on April 5, 2007 11:44 AM:

at the insistance of W, its time for fredo to go fishing!

ricardo wrote on April 5, 2007 11:51 AM:

Do the internal Justice Deparment panels handling the attorney purge investigation have access to these Gonzales cram sessions? Wouldn't that be a reptty quick way to get at the truth?

Security Code: blood

DavidW in Sf wrote on April 5, 2007 11:51 AM:

I'll go you one better in the "montage" sequence -- "Team America" (http://youtube.com/watch?v=zixAjmrmn6g).

The committee should start out by asking Gonzales if he is aware of the penalties for lying under oath, and then have the sergeant-at-arms immediately frog-march him out of the room at the first demonstrable whopper. "Mock testimony" indeed.

twain-ish wrote on April 5, 2007 11:56 AM:

"telling the truth means you don't have to remember" M Twain

US8 wrote on April 5, 2007 11:57 AM:

It is truly amazing how this thing has come full circle.

Gonzales - Flanigan - White House Counsel's Office - Rove - Abramoff

Quick someone trademark a new board game - Six Degrees of Abramoff.

John B. wrote on April 5, 2007 11:58 AM:

The time has come for all the U.S. Attorneys to step up and sign a letter asking Gonzales to resign for the good of the Department of Justice. These embarrassing last minute rehearsals at the very most can only save his own skin for a little while; but if Gonzales insists on going through with committee hearings, it will only do further damage to the Justice Department.

Goldspinner wrote on April 5, 2007 12:03 PM:

Hello-o-o! Is anyone paying attention to interconnections at the DoJ between the J. Reuben Clark Law Society and the Federalist Society leadership ? So many of the principals in this debacle have mutual ties: Rove, Sampson, Flanigan, Hatch, among others. Most of the fired US Attorneys were from western states; I seriously doubt that this is a mere coincidence.

Terry wrote on April 5, 2007 12:28 PM:

"Unfortunately these guys learned that lying did work. It all goes back to childhood - as they say. Probably they were encouraged to lie by parents into appearances or thinking their lies were cute."

This was something that I discovered when I attended a very prestigious, "Top Three," law school. Getting into such a school is highly competitive. However, the competition to get the bona fides to get into such a law school is one wherein it is very easy to cheat: You really can cheat your way to good grades at most colleges, for example.

Thus the student body at my school included a certain percentage of people who got there by excelling - by, among other things, cheating.

Interestingly, I graduated in 1980, and a number of the worst-case graduates from my school (They even had an informal club, self-named the TCAs, for "Tight Clique of Assholes.") at around that time had explicit intentions to go to Texas and get involved in politics there.

MANIMAL! wrote on April 5, 2007 12:30 PM:

So, like, if Abu Al Gonzales is spending all of his time rehearsing for his testimony so that he can best cover his ass and the ass of his boss, who is running the DOJ?

And wasn't being an "absentee landlord" one of the many "reasons" they fired Iglesias?

bohdi wrote on April 5, 2007 12:31 PM:

The sad truth is that the real co-conspirators and participants in this only crime operation are the American public and their constant obsession with image and marketing. Domesticated farm animals cannot participate in anything resembling a representative government and this gang of thugs knows it.

in essence tortureboy has already won. His 'team' is marketing an underdog strategy to the American Idol consumers and all substance will be removed from coverage. They will gum this scandal to death and by the time the Air Force begins its premptive strike on Iran in late April it will then be swept under a Persian rug and lost down the memory hole.

Crimes of these dimensions require a vast,shallow,illiterate and incurious public of violent,stupid,narcissistic people. A media that conspires to sell them garbage is essential and fully operative. Tortureboy,Rove and bush have already won this round because they have managed to move this scandal into marketing mode and we know that you could sell nearly anything to Americans.

During the last days of WWII many Germans were seen wandering around the bombed out rubble of Berlin, cursing the Allies and swearing continued fealty to their Fuherer. Mass ignorance is the real killer here not these ridiculous criminals who are so obvious, so crude and so sadistic. It is the participation of the public that really needs to be on trial.

driven crazy wrote on April 5, 2007 12:31 PM:

security code: shut up

As in SHUT UP ABOUT THE SECURITY CODES ALREADY!

It is really making the comments unreadable. You are all acting like a bunch of children when you make jokes about the CAPTCHAs. Maybe TPM could change them to nonsense jumbles so that the puerile digressions will stop. But you would probably figure out a way anyhow. SHUT UP!

skeeve wrote on April 5, 2007 12:37 PM:

I thought he was protecting my kids, crap! Maybe I should go check on them.

Chabuka wrote on April 5, 2007 12:42 PM:

Alberto Gonzales...dug in like a "tick" on a hound dog...God help us, if this Bush's idea of Justice

Michael Lafferty wrote on April 5, 2007 12:53 PM:

With the resignation of his deputy and a key staff member on indefinite paid leave, who's actually 'in charge' at the Department of Justice while the 'Judge' spends endless hours—at taxpayer expense, I might add—rehearsing the 'kabuki' performance that might save his career?

Telling the unvarnished truth is almost effortless. Rehearsing the effort to explain the complex web of lies and inconsistencies? Well, that's hard work!

"…you're doin' a heckuva job, Judge!"

Mark Richards wrote on April 5, 2007 1:14 PM:

Whatever this creep is doing to polish his performance prior to a big splash is surely a better diversion than the actual criminality over which he's presided when not otherwise occupied.

If he won't go, keep him so busy in testilying preparation that the other damage is kept to a minimum.

Liberal1 wrote on April 5, 2007 1:21 PM:

"Bush should be impeached and put on trial for treason... Bush is a loser- a liar- a traitor- and, a swaggering pig!"

Fully agree with all but the last description of Bush, which is a little beyond the pale.

I mean, after all, when was the last time you saw a pig swagger?

Goldspinner wrote on April 5, 2007 1:52 PM:

Terry raised an excellent point. However, I speak from experience: the mores at BYU's law school are unlike that of any other legal education program in this country. Did your law school require ecclesiastical endorsements or active temple recommends for admission or continued enrollment? Your classes probably didn't begin with prayer either.

When I attended the J. Reuben Clark Law School, honor code violations were taken VERY seriously by the entire law school community. Then again, the BYU Honor code covers a bit more territory than you might expect, which is helpful if you might someday need a security clearance. My classmates and I were groomed for much more than toiling for some white shoe firm. Clark Society membership is not solely limited to law graduates from BYU either. Formal and informal networks within the LDS community are extensive and far more powerful than the general public realizes, especially within the DoJ and other federal agencies. We call it the "Mormon Mafia" and it is quite real. Other sectors are affected as well: Bonneville Media is a major player that maintains a low profile and has professional partnerships with companies such as the Washington Post. Everything that I've seen in this AG situation points straight back to Salt Lake.

turtle wrote on April 5, 2007 2:03 PM:

Gonzo's a goner! But not before making a complete fool of himself with phoney rehearsed testimony.

bushies need justice wrote on April 5, 2007 2:05 PM:

Flanigan? Flanigan? Flanigan? doesn't it look really stoooooopid for Gonzales to prepped by the guy from the Tyco scandal who has connections to Abrahmoff? Why do the repugs keep rehabilitating their criminals? Can't they find enough spiteful sociopaths without recycling?

NCBlueneck wrote on April 5, 2007 3:31 PM:

With regards to Goldspinner above...

Being a non-Mormon, former resident of the "happy valley" (SLC), I find it mighty ironic that if you take the middle "m" out of Mormon, you get Orrin Hatch; our next AG. The US would be out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Code word: profit

The operative word for GOP governance. (If you are a croney, of course...)

hoof32 wrote on April 5, 2007 4:26 PM:

"Senator, when I learned about the dismissal of the US attorney's, I believe I was working on the quaint notions of the geneva conventions."

"Senator, I have already apologized for the mistakes made at the Department of Justice, I don't know what else I can say."

How about "I resign, effective immediately?"

rlogan wrote on April 5, 2007 4:28 PM:

Christ.

Every word will have to be dissected, which is difficult to do on the spot in a hearing.

His objective in this nonstop preparation isn't just lying - it is to get out of the hearing before anyone has figured out what he said has a completely different meaning from that implied - or that it does not address the question.

He'll of course not be able to answer a lot of questions, and will "have to get back to them" just like Rice has not answered important questions they should damned well know.

bcg wrote on April 5, 2007 5:14 PM:

The big question for me is this:
Gonzales is discredit with large parts of Congress, including many members of his own party. He has no credibility in the government or with a large part of the elctorate. It seems unlikely that he will be able to do the job he is supposed to do effectively for the remainder of his term of office. What, then, makes it so important that he remain in office?

CW wrote on April 5, 2007 5:37 PM:

***** testilying *****

Posted by: Mark Richards
Date: April 5, 2007 01:14 PM

I like the term very much. Sort of sums up the entire Bush administration.

jam wrote on April 5, 2007 5:45 PM:

how come *anon* isn't posting to this message thread like they did with yesterday's monica thread:
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002950.php

maybe pf was right?

Monica Goodling -- or one of her lawyers -- must be stalking the TPM message boards as anon.
Posted by: pf
Date: April 4, 2007 06:30 PM

security code: butter

as in buttering us up?

Kate Henry wrote on April 5, 2007 6:36 PM:

The only reason why he has to practice is because he is going to lie. You have to practice if you want to keep your lies straight. Actually, why is he wasting his time. He can just pull a Sampson and say "I don't remember" 122 times. These people are a joke.

noshrub wrote on April 5, 2007 8:56 PM:

Fredo's got some horror ahead...it's tough being a member of the Bush crime family. It's a karmic ending for a guy that likes torture and covers up crimes.

Henry wrote on April 5, 2007 9:08 PM:

For good or bad, this sort of intensive preparation is now part of the drill for witnesses in high profile hearings, such as the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices. Thomas went through several days, as did Roberts and Alito. I don't know about Ginsburg and Breyer, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did too.

It's also standard operating procedure for key witnesses in wrongful termination cases—which this is, for all effects and purposes. So the fact that he is prepping intensively isn't big news, other than to show that he is taking this issue as seriously as he should have two months ago.

Nor is it proof that he's lying. The fact is, testimony involves theatrics as well as—and sometimes rather than—the search for truth. It's important for a witness to not only sound truthful, but look truthful; lawyers will sometimes send witnesses to voice coaches to make them more believable or likeable. If his handlers know what they're doing, they are working as much on the tone of his answers as their content.

And a well-prepared witness can score lots of points—remember Oliver North? Senators, even those who once were trial lawyers, rarely ask all the follow-up questions that an attorney would in a conventional trial setting. I'm guessing that this is the plan for Gonzales as far as content goes: lots of talking points and high-sounding appeals to constitutional rights to executive privilege and the democratic right to pick your own people for sensitive policy-making positions, some non-apologies devoted to process not substance, and as much ducking and weaving as he thinks he can get away with.

Not that any of this is likely to help Fredo. He is, for one thing, capable of saying the stupidest things imaginable when he gets off-script (no right to habeas corpus) and projects smugness as irritating as Eddie Haskell talking to Mrs. Cleaver. He's also lied to Congress--something that Senators can still get upset about, like Michael did when Carlo tried to do it. Add to that his tone-deafness when it comes to moral constraints ("quaint") and the rule of law—something they talk about, but don't practice, in Texas—and I think even Leahy and Feinstein will score some points on him. Hell, even Specter may rouse himself to ask some real questions.

The Oracle wrote on April 6, 2007 12:43 AM:

Alberto Gonzales is a disgrace to the Office of the U.S. Attorney General. He's a disgrace as a lawyer. He's dishonored all Hispanic-Americans. For comparison, David Iglesias, in my view, would make a great Attorney General. The same holds for Carol Lam. On the other hand, Alberto Gonzales is a sorry excuse for an Attorney General.

Hell, I wouldn't even trust him to be a crossing guard in a school zone. Why? He'd politicize even this position. While proselytizing to the little kiddies looking for safe, non-partisan, secular passage across a busy street, Alberto Gonzales, distracted by his own religious BS, would end up getting some of them killed.

In other words, Alberto Gonzales is just as dangerous as Douglas Feith...and just as stupid. But then, all conservative "true believers" usually are.

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Sorry if this has been asked or discussed already (it is late and I skipped previous comments), but are Ed Gillespie and Timothy E. Flanigan DoJ employees or have they been hired as outside counsel or advisors to Gonzo.

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