Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is the most incompetent attorney general I can remember, ever (or at least, during the latter half of the 20th century in U.S. history). Janet Reno took some hits while she held the office. In recent history, chiefly because of decisions she made during the Waco incident, she held top award for the most controversial AG. However, she never indiscriminately discharged officials who, it turned out, were not staunch supporters of the sitting party in the White House. She did not use the excuse that she didn't "recall," when questioned about any faux pas she made while acting as the prosecutor for the people of the United States.
Its difficult for many to compete with the likes of Robert Kennedy, but the attorney general's job is to protect and support the People, not act as the private attorney to the President. Clearly, Mr. Gonzales still believes he is still in Texas and that Mr. Bush is still the governor of Texas, rather than the president of the United States.
Mr. Gonzales claims that he was not aware that the illegal alien shot by the two border patrol agents transported drugs across the border. The AG claimed he had nothing to do with the two agents being prosecuted and sentenced to 12 years (between them) imprisonment and thrown into the general population of a Texas prison to serve those sentences. I don't RECALL him commenting on the 2+ million dollar suit the illegal drug dealer brought against the People of the United States, either. Maybe this, too, Attorney General Gonzales doesn't RECALL?
Whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales 'recalls' or 'remembers' or 'had anything to do with' any of these incidents is irrelevant because, if he did not, he SHOULD have as the attorney for the People. It was his job and responsibility to be involved... to bring the suit... to act as OUR counsel. Even if that meant he prosecute the very people he has been protecting.
Yes, Mr. Gonzales should resign. It is obvious he either does not know his job or doesn't have the courage to stand his ground to do it. Nothing personal; just facts.
AS AN objective observer of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, one is compelled to feel a tinge of sympathy for its highest officer, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.
His elevation from Law Revision Commissioner to attorney-general within five years and at the age of 47 should be seen as a testimony of his skills and ability as a lawman. Unfortunately even today, he has to continue to prove himself to his critics and the public.
His latest brush with gossip involves an alleged close relationship with Malaysia Airlines senior executives while the company is being investigated for its colossal losses.While the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel itself is mired in controversy following contradictory statements between the panel and its chairman, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, it is clear that Abdul Gani is still not out of the woods yet, since the MACC is still investigating.
In a court of law, Abdul Gani should be accorded the privilege of being presumed innocent until proven otherwise. As much as it hurts his critics to admit, the fact is his innocence is for the legal system to determine – however flawed it may seem.But on the other hand there is another court – the court of public opinion which has already charged, tried and executed Abdul Gani for the controversies his name has been dragged into over the years.
Perhaps Abdul Gani’s own demeanour – combative, defensive and dismissive – does not endear himself much to the public. Although those who know him better will attest that his mood swings are as fickle as some of the prosecution’s arguments in high- profile cases.Journalists can vouch for his perceived dislike of the media, berating us with generous doses of sections in the Printing Presses and Publications Act. Nevertheless, he always entertains our queries and even returning calls – albeit with liberal servings of condescension.
However, my last meeting with him over a year ago revealed a softer side to Abdul Gani. Someone who was tired, despondent and apologetic even, but undoubtedly with still enough fire in his belly to burn you to a crisp.
Perhaps the tag of being one of the most disliked public servants around was wearing him down.But did he bring it upon himself or is he everyone’s favourite punching bag as the buck stops with him?
"I have to make decisions based on the law not on what’s popular," he once said while discussing the slow progress in bringing to book all those responsible for the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
To his credit, Abdul Gani was the one who had advised the government to acquire the land for the free zone as it would save taxpayers billions – advice that was not heeded.The latest slew of charges against Sime Darby executives is also a feather in the cap of the A-G’s Chambers.
It is without a doubt that he has faithfully served the chambers under three prime ministers. While he has served them well, the jury is still out on whether he had served justice well.Because in the court of public opinion, it is not PKFZ or Sime Darby and the string of many other successful prosecutions which have put away crooks that he will be remembered for.It will be the unsuccessful cases, the NFAs (no further action), the controversial cases and the goings on within the four walls of the A-G’s Chambers as well as his own conduct that will determine the rakyat’s perception if whether they are satisfied with the performance of their attorney-general.
With the MAS issue over his head, the people have a right to ask if their attorney-general can continue to perform his duties to the best of his ability.Perhaps with all that is going on, Abdul Gani could be contemplating other ways in which he can continue to serve his country.Turning 56 this year, perhaps Abdul Gani is wondering "what a thankless job!" (And I remember him uttering these words, or something to that effect).
After all, he is supposed to serve the public – a sceptical public who keep second-guessing his every action and decision. Maybe Abdul Gani will come to a realisation that he should move on as we do not deserve him.
Like everyone else, Terence simply hopes justice will prevail.
President George Bush finally lost his battle to hang on to the attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, yesterday after months of unremitting Congressional pressure over a series of scandals that included the firing of nine state prosecutors, wiretapping and torture.
Mr Bush blamed the Democrats, accusing them of dragging a decent and talented man through the mud for political reasons.
His loss of yet another high-profile colleague demonstrated how weak he has become at the tail-end of his presidency.
Mr Gonzales formally announced his resignation yesterday after informing Mr Bush by phone on Friday at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Mr Gonzales flew to Crawford to discuss it with him over lunch on Sunday. Mr Bush accepted his offer, effective September 17.
The president, though he has removed one of the biggest sores in his relations with Congress, now faces the prospect of awkward and long drawn-out confirmation hearings over a successor.
One of Mr Bush's closest friends, Mr Gonzales has been the No 1 target of Democratic Congressmen since the resignation of the defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, in November. Fatally for his chances of hanging on to office, he lost the support of many Republican Congressmen, who saw him as damaging the party.
His departure leaves the vice-president, Dick Cheney, as the only original member of the team that enteredthe White House with Mr Bush in 2001. It comes only a fortnight after the resignation of Karl Rove, Mr Bush's chief strategist and, like Mr Gonzales, a member of the "Texas mafia" that had been in the president's team since he was governor of the state in the 1990s.
The first Hispanic to reach such a high office in the US, Mr Gonzales made a short resignation statement at the justice department in Washington and declined to answer reporters' questions.
He gave no explanation for his resignation and instead stuck to effusive comments about what a privilege heading the justice department had been and thanked those employed there for their service. He said it was through them that "the rights and civil liberties of our citizens are protected".
Mr Gonzales, 52, the son of immigrants, added: "I often remind our fellow citizens that we live in the greatest country in the world and that I have lived the American dream. Even my worst days as attorney general have been better than my father's best days."
In a short statement in Texas, Mr Bush, who only three weeks ago said he would stand by Mr Gonzales, described him as "a man of integrity, decency and principle". He said: "After months of unfair treatment that has created a harmful distraction at the justice department,Judge Gonzales decided to submit his resignation and I accepted his decision. It's sad that we live in a time when a talented and honourable person like Alberto Gonzales is impeded from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons."
Mr Gonzales's hold on office was undermined by a disastrous series of appearances before Congressional committees investigating his handling of the sacked prosecutors. He repeatedly told the Congressmen he could not remember key events and conversations.
The White House said Mr Bush has not yet made a decision about who to appoint as a replacement. The solicitor general, Paul Clement, will serve as acting attorney general.
Democrats claimed the prosecutors were sacked last year for political reasons but the White House insisted it had been because some of them were not up to the job.
Mr Gonzales lost credibility too when he got into a muddle over habeas corpus, suggesting before a Congressional committee that it was not guaranteed by the constitution.
He was the White House counsel from 2001 until 2005, when he took over as attorney general. He was a controversial figure even as counsel when he wrote that parts of the Geneva convention on the treatment of prisoners of war were "obsolete" and "quaint". He also indicated that torture was acceptable in certain circumstances.
The Democratic leader in the senate, Harry Reid, said: "This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House."
The ex-team
Key allies who have left the Bush administration:
Karl Rove: Senior adviser and chief policy aide to George Bush. Resigned August 2007.
Dan Bartlett: White House counsellor. Resigned: June 2007.
Harriet Miers: White House counsel. Resigned January 2007.
John Bolton: US ambassador to UN. Resigned December 2006.
Donald Rumsfeld: Defence secretary. Resigned November 2006.
Andrew Card: Chief of staff. Resigned March 2006.
Lewis "Scooter" Libby: Chief of staff to vice-president, Dick Cheney. Resigned October 2005. Sentenced to two and a half years June 2007 for perjury and obstruction of justice in relation to the Iraq war.
Paul Wolfowitz: Deputy defence secretary. Resigned March 2005.
John Ashcroft: Attorney general. Resigned November 2004.
Colin Powell: Secretary of state. Resigned November 2004.
Ari Fleischer: Press secretary. Resigned July 2003.
Mr Bush blamed the Democrats, accusing them of dragging a decent and talented man through the mud for political reasons.
His loss of yet another high-profile colleague demonstrated how weak he has become at the tail-end of his presidency.
Mr Gonzales formally announced his resignation yesterday after informing Mr Bush by phone on Friday at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Mr Gonzales flew to Crawford to discuss it with him over lunch on Sunday. Mr Bush accepted his offer, effective September 17.
The president, though he has removed one of the biggest sores in his relations with Congress, now faces the prospect of awkward and long drawn-out confirmation hearings over a successor.
One of Mr Bush's closest friends, Mr Gonzales has been the No 1 target of Democratic Congressmen since the resignation of the defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, in November. Fatally for his chances of hanging on to office, he lost the support of many Republican Congressmen, who saw him as damaging the party.
His departure leaves the vice-president, Dick Cheney, as the only original member of the team that entered
The first Hispanic to reach such a high office in the US, Mr Gonzales made a short resignation statement at the justice department in Washington and declined to answer reporters' questions.
He gave no explanation for his resignation and instead stuck to effusive comments about what a privilege heading the justice department had been and thanked those employed there for their service. He said it was through them that "the rights and civil liberties of our citizens are protected".
Mr Gonzales, 52, the son of immigrants, added: "I often remind our fellow citizens that we live in the greatest country in the world and that I have lived the American dream. Even my worst days as attorney general have been better than my father's best days."
In a short statement in Texas, Mr Bush, who only three weeks ago said he would stand by Mr Gonzales, described him as "a man of integrity, decency and principle". He said: "After months of unfair treatment that has created a harmful distraction at the justice department,
Mr Gonzales's hold on office was undermined by a disastrous series of appearances before Congressional committees investigating his handling of the sacked prosecutors. He repeatedly told the Congressmen he could not remember key events and conversations.
The White House said Mr Bush has not yet made a decision about who to appoint as a replacement. The solicitor general, Paul Clement, will serve as acting attorney general.
Democrats claimed the prosecutors were sacked last year for political reasons but the White House insisted it had been because some of them were not up to the job.
Mr Gonzales lost credibility too when he got into a muddle over habeas corpus, suggesting before a Congressional committee that it was not guaranteed by the constitution.
He was the White House counsel from 2001 until 2005, when he took over as attorney general. He was a controversial figure even as counsel when he wrote that parts of the Geneva convention on the treatment of prisoners of war were "obsolete" and "quaint". He also indicated that torture was acceptable in certain circumstances.
The Democratic leader in the senate, Harry Reid, said: "This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House."
The ex-team
Key allies who have left the Bush administration:
Karl Rove: Senior adviser and chief policy aide to George Bush. Resigned August 2007.
Dan Bartlett: White House counsellor. Resigned: June 2007.
Harriet Miers: White House counsel. Resigned January 2007.
John Bolton: US ambassador to UN. Resigned December 2006.
Donald Rumsfeld: Defence secretary. Resigned November 2006.
Andrew Card: Chief of staff. Resigned March 2006.
Lewis "Scooter" Libby: Chief of staff to vice-president, Dick Cheney. Resigned October 2005. Sentenced to two and a half years June 2007 for perjury and obstruction of justice in relation to the Iraq war.
Paul Wolfowitz: Deputy defence secretary. Resigned March 2005.
John Ashcroft: Attorney general. Resigned November 2004.
Colin Powell: Secretary of state. Resigned November 2004.
Ari Fleischer: Press secretary. Resigned July 2003.
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