Comments (53)

Jim wrote on November 15, 2007 9:14 AM:

Gee, kind of makes me want to go out and buy a Ford "Escape" !

Michael Jones wrote on November 15, 2007 9:16 AM:

Is there a Alberto R. Gonzales Legal Escalation Trust?

There should be.

George Stockman wrote on November 15, 2007 9:21 AM:

If Gonzo is afraid he can't get justice without establishing a Legal Defense Fund, then what are the chances of justice for the masses?

martin wrote on November 15, 2007 9:23 AM:

It's clear to me now. I'll never buy a Ford again, nor encourage anyone else to do so.

Saint Augustine wrote on November 15, 2007 9:24 AM:

I'm always amused when a lawyer needs a lawyer. If Alberto was really a good lawyer he wouldn't have shirked his duty to obey the law.

Forgive me now, I must meet a priest and confess!

Michael wrote on November 15, 2007 9:29 AM:

I know that I am dreaming, but I really, really want to see this guy's mug behind bars. It would make a pretty picture. Based on gonzo's conduct and this ford bozo, no wonder people hate lawyers. It really is pathetic. Real lawyers don't do what gonzo did, only party hacks that don't have a brain or morals.

BJB wrote on November 15, 2007 9:32 AM:

What's all this talk about Ford?

BC wrote on November 15, 2007 9:39 AM:

whatever happend to monica goodling's legal trust fund that she was going to set up? never heard any more about it since her house testimony.

PHIL wrote on November 15, 2007 9:42 AM:

BJB, in the post, highlighted in grey it says.....

David G. Leitch, a Gonzales friend and general counsel at the Ford Motor Co., wrote in an e-mail solicitation to potential contributors last month that Gonzales is "innocent of any wrongdoing" but does not have the means to pay for his legal defense after a career spent mostly in public service.

litigatormom wrote on November 15, 2007 9:48 AM:

Is Fred Thompson going to chair this one too?

Frank wrote on November 15, 2007 9:49 AM:

When a president can say that "the constitution is just another god damned piece of paper", who more than an AG like Gonzales can give more than tangible worth to the word amen? Unfortunately it appears it was his guiding meme while running the "justice" department.

AC wrote on November 15, 2007 9:54 AM:

Why bother with a legal defense, when W will simply pardon him?

After all, Gonzales is a "good man." When Bush calls someone a "good man" it sounds to me like "good fella" a la the mafia.

Defender wrote on November 15, 2007 10:03 AM:

The Bushies used him for their nefarious activities and then throw him aside when he is no longer valuable to their schemes. How typical.

eli wrote on November 15, 2007 10:07 AM:

To AC:

"Good man" is MBA-speak. Goes along with "right man for the job". Both phrases are intended to rebut any criticism of a hiring or promotion decision, without actually having to back it up with facts.

PatrickW wrote on November 15, 2007 10:09 AM:

Why is it called a "Trust"? A rather serious misnomer.

Aaron G. Stock wrote on November 15, 2007 10:18 AM:

I'm sure that Texas death penalty public defenders are competent counsel. What's stopping Gonzales from hiring one of them?

geewhiz from Seattle wrote on November 15, 2007 10:35 AM:

If one of the president's best friends can't afford his own herd of lawyers, to keep him out of prison,...then this is a truly sad tale. Let justice through war economy prevail!

TheraP wrote on November 15, 2007 10:37 AM:

Truth Withdrawal. (click my name)

"A Gonzo Trust" - a contradiction in terms if there ever was one!

MookieWilson wrote on November 15, 2007 10:37 AM:

Is Tucker Carlson's dad going to arrange the fundraisers for Gonzalez?

Paranoid yet? wrote on November 15, 2007 10:39 AM:

Even if he gets a pardon for one thing, they can go after him for another. He may get decades of this - he's young enough.

Let's hope A-gag now is kept up nights, feeling a bit paranoid himself!

MB wrote on November 15, 2007 11:09 AM:

Should we all stick 2 pennies in an envelope and mail it in? Too bad we can't use Paypal!

spamonwry wrote on November 15, 2007 11:12 AM:

Why, just the other day, Gonzalez called W. While they were talking, AG didn't hear what the Decider said. So, he asked, "Pardon me?," - - shrub quickly responded, "Sure!!!! Soon as you need it, but after you're indicted.... Looks better on paper."

As I've said before, ain't no loyal Bushie going to jail, for anything, ever! The Pardon Pen will be going into meltdown mode over the next 14 months!

Criminal is, as criminal does (apologies to Forrest Gump!).

NCBlueneck wrote on November 15, 2007 11:17 AM:

I love MB's idea. I think I will send my two cents today!

osage wrote on November 15, 2007 11:27 AM:

Equal justice under the law is not an American principle Bush Republicans recognize. What they are and will try to do first is exploit and circumvent laws that apply to "ordinary" people. When that doesn't work, they are not beyond pardoning criminal Bush loyalists no matter what their crimes. Fortunately, in the case of Alberto Gonzales, they have failed in their extraordinary efforts to avoid the legitimate due process all other people in America are subject to. Now all they can do is beg for money to defend a criminal co-conspirator whom their lies and corruptions can no longer protect. All they can do is throw money at his defense with the hope that he won't rat them out. While Gonzales might ultimately be the first high-level Bushie to choose to implicate fellow Bushies in order to reduce his time in prison, he will not be the last Bushie to be exposed to the same persuasive truth serum that ordinary people must experience when they are held accountable for violating the laws of our land.

osage wrote on November 15, 2007 11:35 AM:

Once the Democrats gain a filibuster-free environment in 2008, it’s people like Mr. Gonzales who are going to end up serving time in federal prisons. When legitimate oversight was blocked by the Bush administration and their co- conspiring congressional enablers, laws and policies were violated by political henchmen who believed they were immune from investigation and prosecution. They thought they were operating with impunity. None of them anticipated that the 2006 elections would restore legitimate oversight. Most of the congressional investigations going on now will continue beyond 2008, at which time Bush will no longer be able to grant immunity for charges that won’t be filed formally until AFTER he has left the White House. The purpose of legitimate oversight is to DETER the ABUSE of power and to make EXAMPLES of those who abuse it. Gonzales and his ilk never thought that the Democrats would gain a filibuster-free congress or a president in the White House. As a result, they will pay dearly for their corruptions and dishonesties, while Bush and Cheney will live the remainder of their miserable criminal lives knowing that THEY are PERSONALLY responsible for sending these foolishly loyal men and women to federal prison.

RandyR wrote on November 15, 2007 11:37 AM:

https://secure.ford.com/servlet/Satellite/footer/contact-ford/contact-us-email?contactMainTopic=PublicAffairs

This is the address of the Ford Public comment link.

I asked if t6hey were begging us to sell their shares and not buy their cars.

I wonder if some one on there board is now suporting NAMBLA and if they are about to announce that they have been a secret Soviet Communist cell?

or maybe a press release to CNN

Ford announced today that it will be supporting the Alberto Gonzales Legal Defense Trust and they will no longer be tightening the nuts and bolts on their vehicles.

Mary wrote on November 15, 2007 11:40 AM:

Surely, the "honor and dignity" Bush family can help out their long-time friend Alberto, given that they funded his campaign for Texas Supreme Court Judge (with no judicial experience) and most of his choices were kow-towing to the Bush imperial presidency.

Poppy Bush has a lot of money.
Perhaps he can step forward and help his baby boy's best buddy from going to jail. Or better yet, Poppy could get his Saudi Arabian friends to do it for him.

Or Dick Cheney could dissolve one of his grandchildren's trust funds in Grand Caymen to help out the very "Judge" who gave him the imperial presidency with no limits on executive power.

But then again, that would mean these guys would have to MEAN "compassionate conservative," and not just use it as a campaign slogan for Limbaugh-lites.

LEK wrote on November 15, 2007 11:49 AM:

Why doesn't he just ask for a public defender?

TexasEllen wrote on November 15, 2007 12:10 PM:

If the professionals in the Justice Dept are into payback, the indictment should come down about January 25th, 2009. Hell will freeze over if HRC even thinks of a pardon.

E in MD wrote on November 15, 2007 12:14 PM:

So much for me EVER buying a Ford.

If Gonzales can't afford an attorney with the $180,000 a year he was making then he can have a court appointed one just like every other person in this country.

Fuck him. I hope he gets a nice 4 x 6 cell in a supermax prison somewhere and that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld occupy the cells nearby.

moondancer wrote on November 15, 2007 12:26 PM:

I'll do something that bushco is loathe to do- compromise.
After your conviction and imprisonment, I'll send you cigarette money. Okay?

Alguien wrote on November 15, 2007 12:26 PM:

I think Alberto should just ask Mark Geragos to represent him "pro bono" in exchange for all the free advertising and media exposure.
It's a win-win situation:
Mark Geragos gets to be in the spotlight once again (which he loves!) and Alberto will end up in jail because despite Mark's best efforts, he'll be found guilty on all counts.

judyinnm wrote on November 15, 2007 12:36 PM:

He needs "competent legal counsel", i.e. Gonzo can't defend himself. It would be wise of him to let someone else define "competent" - if he chooses on his own, he'd likely pick a Texas Public Defender....

heh wrote on November 15, 2007 12:48 PM:

2cts to his legal defense, but takes 41cts to mail, more than he's worth.

If there was ever a bubble boy, Beto lived it when he obfuscated and told various shades of the truth. He knew what he was doing, at least give him that, given his Yale U education. But his loyalties to Bushco is legendary. Anyone with this type of blindness doesn't deserve to be enforcer of laws.

He could prove to be an embarrassment to the Bush people, however.If he's indicted, his carreer is over,but maybe not. He could end up defending traffic citations in a public defender's office.

To think his family braved the heat in the fields so that he could aspire to greatness.

klk wrote on November 15, 2007 12:51 PM:

I like that it spells AGLET.

DickTater wrote on November 15, 2007 1:01 PM:

I wish I could donate NEGATIVE amounts.

Or some kind of tainted currency that explodes upon arrival and taints all the other money.

birdhaus wrote on November 15, 2007 1:04 PM:

Is there a legal offense fund I could give to?

randall wrote on November 15, 2007 1:09 PM:

Where do I send my contribution to the prosecution fund. The SOB needs to be prosecuted and sent to prison for the rest of his life.

Anonymous wrote on November 15, 2007 1:22 PM:

Seriously, I am not going to buy a Ford Escape Hybrid that I was planning to buy because of this.

geometric logic wrote on November 15, 2007 1:24 PM:

It's too bad Houston defense attorney Joe Frank Cannon is no longer with us. He would have been perfect for Gonzo.

Loren Korevec wrote on November 15, 2007 1:28 PM:

He should be tried at the Hague.

foggylady wrote on November 15, 2007 2:13 PM:

Interesting...
A man who has not been charged with any crime lawyers up, solicits money for a defense fund.
Talk about pro-active.

Barry Champlain wrote on November 15, 2007 2:49 PM:

Gee, makes one think that soon, Mr. Gonzales may actually have something official to be defended AGAINST.

Grab the nachos and the beer; should be a fabulous show! From the moment that the charges are read, to the trial, to the jury verdict, right on down to the Bush pardon..!

MAV in Florida wrote on November 15, 2007 3:02 PM:

OK, I looked at Findlaw.com to see what it said about David G. Leitch at Ford Motor Co. But the only David G. Leitch it lists is at the White House.
So: if it was so terrible for Al Gore to make fundraising calls from a federal telephone, is this guy begging for big bucks in his role as a WHite House lawyer? Was he a Ford Motor lawyer who issued the call for $$$$ and then went to the White House, knowing his new-found clout would help? Or is Findlaw.com out of date, and the former White House lawyer now yelling for money from a new shelter at Ford? Anybody know more about this?

Doppler wrote on November 15, 2007 4:32 PM:

My donation, a quarter, so they can call someone who cares!

Mary wrote on November 15, 2007 4:38 PM:

Why does AGAG need a defense fund? We've done away with habeas haven't we?

If they'd just disappear Gonzales into blacksite torture, he wouldn't need to worry about legal fees.

Mary wrote on November 15, 2007 4:43 PM:

MAV - findlaw is probably out of date.

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=20539

We'll have to see if Leitch brought the resounding success of the Bush WH with him to Ford Motor when he landed there in 05. All I can say as a truck driving Kentucky girl is:

Sierras
Rams
Tundras
...

Who needs Ford?

chezjake wrote on November 15, 2007 9:11 PM:

Please note that it's called a "legal expense fund." Apparently they are well aware that there is no defense for Gonzo.

mountain biker wrote on November 16, 2007 12:44 AM:

While Bush et al. have subverted the constitutional rights of us all, the Dems have done little to restore our rights.

Is this because, when Hillary is Pres. and the Dems. control congress, Gonzales, Bush, and Cheney will be declared "enemy combatants" and be disappeared?

The Brown and Root forced labor camps built on military bases can handle thousands of Bush loyals who protest.

Think, think, think, turn about is fair play!

I'm ashamed to be a Republican.

But you Dems. will be more civil, right?

amyee wrote on November 16, 2007 6:43 PM:

Are you effing kidding me?

Jay_M wrote on November 19, 2007 9:46 AM:

Here is the phone number to Fords customer relations.

The person who answered acted as thought David Leitch's advocacy of Alberto had nothing to do with Ford & was a private matter.

I informed her it cost her the sale of a new Ford, as my g/f & I bought a Toyota Matrix because of this issue.

I also think we need to stand in front of all Ford Dealers with signs that state "FORD LOVES TORTURE" or something to this affect.

Call 1.800.392.3673 & tell them how you feel & call your local ford deal also.

Ford always did seem to love the fascists.

shrubnose wrote on November 19, 2007 1:39 PM:

If you go to the Ford Motor Company website, you can click on "Public Affairs" and send them a comment on this.That Ford would support Gonzales should not surprize anyone who reads history !The original Henry Ford was in tight with Hitler. That is a fact !

Anonymous wrote on November 20, 2007 5:43 AM:

Hey! I want to start a jail cell redecoration for for him. I suggest that contributions range from $.01 to $.02