Monday, March 26, 2007

At the pleasure of the president...

Interesting article from Chicago Tribune...

A report this week that well-regarded Chicago prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald was seen as undistinguished in a Justice Department national ranking of U.S. attorneys, possibly because of insufficient loyalty to the Bush Administration, gave fresh ammunition to critics who worry that the White House has politicized the federal legal system.

A Justice spokesman quickly downplayed the rankings, first reported in the Washington Post, as "a preliminary, subjective assessment assembled by Kyle Sampson" -- who until March 12 when he resigned, was Gonzales' chief of staff and frequent traveling companion.The spokesman then sought to calm the wary: "Patrick Fitzgerald has a distinguished record as one of the most experienced and well-respected prosecutors at the Justice Department. His track record speaks for itself."

So that probably means Fitzgerald's not going anywhere for awhile, unless he wants to.
The subject of Fitzgerald's job prospects is a matter of intense interest in Chicago, especially since, at least once before, rumors began circulating that Bush might not reappoint him.

In that context, Gonzales last August was asked by a Tribune editorial board member whether the administration was committed to keeping Fitzgerald at his post through the end of Bush's second term. The answer might strike some as a tad wishy-washy, perhaps closer to the Sampson Standings than to Justice's more soothing verbal assessment:

"Well, you know," Gonzales said, "we all serve at the the pleasure of the president. I serve at the pleasure of the president, as does Mr. Fitzgerald. The president could decide to remove him tomorrow if that's what he's wanting to do. I'm not aware of any discussions or thinking about changes in Mr. Fitzgerald's status. My own personal view is that he's done a good job here in Chicago." Gonzales' response may say more about how Gonzales sees himself than how he sees Fitzgerald.

Throughout his tenure as attorney general, Gonzales has been dogged by the perception that he is too much a creature of the president.

He insists he's not, but answers like this don't advance the case.

Gonzales managed to turn a straightforward query about the White House's commitment to Fitzgerald into a mini-lecture on presidential prerogative. And it portrays the president as the only player who matters in a decision to cashier a prosecutor.

Wouldn't the attorney general also insist on being in that game?

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/03/at_the_pleasure.html

It is amazing that Gonzo states that the U.S. Attorneys and himself serve at the pleasure of the President when in reality President George W. Bush serve at the pleasure of the American people!!!

2 comments:

SP Biloxi said...

"Nice quote from Gonzo--what is he, a Geisha?"

No, kittybowtie. Gonzo sounds like a concubine.. LOL!

Biloximan out!

Anonymous said...

I can tell you we have some nervous politicians in Chicago, they were glad that Fitzgerald was on special assignment in DC for so long. I am sure that we have some of these politicians working on some special assignment to get this guy back out of Chicago.