Gonzales Still Bush's Boy

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' performance today testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee was in a word - Pathetic. Reddhedd at Firedoglake has the play by play. I won't attempt to go into that amount of detail, but I do want to give my initial take on today's testimony.

AG basically refused to answer any specific questions regarding the "illegal domestic spying program". Several times he was left stuttering and stammering in a desperate attempt not to be backed into a corner. His every answer seemed heavy with the weight of the administrations web of deceit strapped to his back. Many times it appeared as if he was having trouble remembering the myriad of arguments that the administration has floated as justification for their program.

But while Alberto's answers were intentionally unclear, what was all too clear is that today's testimony from the Attorney General of the United States of America was only about protecting George Bush. At one point Gonzales referredered to the President as "my client". Now I'm sure that this reference was entirely innocent (cough cough), kind of like when Condi referred to George as her "husband".

But the fact is that Alberto Gonzales is the Attorney General for the entire country. He is no longer the personal lackey of George Bush. He has the responsibility to protect all of our rights, not just the so called "inherent" rights of the President.

Here is the United States Department of Justice Mission Statement - directly from the DOJ Website:

(emphasis added)
To enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States according to the law; to ensure public safety against threats foreign and domestic; to provide federal leadership in preventing and controlling crime; to seek just punishment for those guilty of unlawful behavior; and to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans.