Democrats To Seek No Confidence Vote For Gonzales

Democrats will seek a no-confidence vote for Alberto Gonzales. It's not clear whether the Democrats have the 60 votes necessary to pass the symbolic measure, but there is a growing chorus of Republicans who are tired of Gonzales. His "I don't knows" and "I Can't Recall's" remind me of Reagan during the Iran-Contra scandal. I find it hard to believe that a man who had been so mentally sharp and so on his game during his time as White House Counsel, and during his time at the Justice Department (trying to figure out ways to circumvent the Constitution) now all of a sudden has drawn a blank and knows nothing about the operations of his organization.

If this no-confidence vote goes through, it will be a major blow to Gonzales and his bosses in the White House. Up until now, I have avoided trying to predict when or if he would resign. I played it safe by not commenting on that based on past behavior of those in the White House. The neo-cons have always been loyal to their people. Look at what it took to get Rumsfeld out. It took a major vote and a big defeat in Congress for the Republicans before the White House moved on getting rid of Rummy, almost a full two years after the first calls for his resignation started to surface. The situation with Gonzales is no different.

I now believe that if a no-confidence vote passes (and Democrats seem to be close to getting the 60 votes needed), Gonzales will resign shortly thereafter.

Article from the Guardian below:

Dems Seek No-Confidence Vote on Gonzales

By LAURIE KELLMAN
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats said Thursday they will seek a no-confidence vote for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over accusations that he carried out President Bush's political agenda at the expense of his government duties.

The White House shrugged off the idea as merely symbolic. However, another Republican senator - the fifth - called for Gonzales to resign.

Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California, who have led the investigation into the conduct of White House officials and Gonzales, said the attorney general has become too weakened to run the department.

``It seems the only person who has confidence in the attorney general is President Bush,'' Schumer told reporters. ``The president long ago should have asked the attorney general to step down.''

``I think the time has come for the Senate to express its will,'' Feinstein said. ``We lack confidence in the attorney general.''

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