We mentioned a year ago when the DoJ was investigating the NSA, and the FBI investigating the CIA, that Gonzales was very worried about this own skin. He has been close to Bush long enough to know the likely outcome if and when this presidency goes down. Watergate is an example. The President retired, and others went to prison. He is expected, as a long term friend of Bush who has benefited immensely from his association with Bush to be loyal and facilitate what Bush wants. On the other hand, he can see where his path is leading, and fears a prison term for himself. Gonzales has been attempting to trip through the mine field, keeping his integrity, avoiding giving testimony under oath in hopes that this muddies the water, avoiding direct responsibility for acts in hopes that this keeps him above the fray, all the while remaining a loyal Bushie in the eyes of Bush as such rewards as a Supreme Court justice position might lie in the future. Thus he has issued memos supporting torture, in the past, and been forced to defend his actions when questioned by Congress. Taking a page from Bush, you assign an underling to take the hit, along the lines that Cheney did with Libby. So when there are discussions about getting rid of Fitzgerald, whom Bush insisted should be fired, or removing the US attorneys who went after Duke Cunningham or were investigating Fogo's CIA bribery parties, then nervously give the nod, off the record, and leave the room!
Gonzales prevented Bush from firing Fitzgerald, something he angrily ordered ala Nixon, so where it looks as though Rove and Miers were having their way, in fact Gonzales long let them have a few crumbs! Giving in under pressure, he countered a promise to Congress, made under oath, to have all US Attorney's have Senate confirmation. Prior to the promise and after, there were discussions at the White House on how they could merrily fire a bunch of them, appointing whom they chose, with never an objection from Gonzales. It is this perjury that is the sticking point. Will the truth out in Congressional hearings? Yes, but not because Bush or Rove or Miers confess, but because the email is so convoluted that a trail can be laid out. As has been pointed out, it is often not the crime, but the handling of it that is the coup de grac. Clinton was not impeached because of sex, but because of a lie about his dalliance. Nixon was impeached because he attempted to obstruct justice, a coverup. Here, Gonzales has repeatedly made promises to Congress that he has not kept, and had no intention of keeping. Was Gonzales at the helm, causing these firings? He was certainly congnizant, and did nothing, apparently, to stop the process. The issue is intention or incompetence, and he is unlikely to be excused based on incompetence. Thus impeachment by Congress is the hand writing on the wall unless he resigns, which is likely.
Gonzales prevented Bush from firing Fitzgerald, something he angrily ordered ala Nixon, so where it looks as though Rove and Miers were having their way, in fact Gonzales long let them have a few crumbs! Giving in under pressure, he countered a promise to Congress, made under oath, to have all US Attorney's have Senate confirmation. Prior to the promise and after, there were discussions at the White House on how they could merrily fire a bunch of them, appointing whom they chose, with never an objection from Gonzales. It is this perjury that is the sticking point. Will the truth out in Congressional hearings? Yes, but not because Bush or Rove or Miers confess, but because the email is so convoluted that a trail can be laid out. As has been pointed out, it is often not the crime, but the handling of it that is the coup de grac. Clinton was not impeached because of sex, but because of a lie about his dalliance. Nixon was impeached because he attempted to obstruct justice, a coverup. Here, Gonzales has repeatedly made promises to Congress that he has not kept, and had no intention of keeping. Was Gonzales at the helm, causing these firings? He was certainly congnizant, and did nothing, apparently, to stop the process. The issue is intention or incompetence, and he is unlikely to be excused based on incompetence. Thus impeachment by Congress is the hand writing on the wall unless he resigns, which is likely.
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