Gonzales A Go-Go

Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation today, driven from office after a protracted standoff with congressional critics over his (lack of) honesty and competence.

Republicans and Democrats alike had demanded his departure over the botched handling of FBI terror investigations and the firings of U.S. attorneys, while Bush had stubbornly stood by his Texas friend for months until finally accepting his resignation.

Gonzales, whom Bush once considered for appointment to the Supreme Court (note from the Daily Dude: that was a close one!) is the fourth top-ranking administration official within the last year to leave under a cloud of controversy, following Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz, (who had a high-ranking Pentagon job before going to the World Bank), and top policy adviser/hatchet man Karl Rove.

Reactions and quotes:

George Bush: "After months of unfair treatment that has created a harmful distraction at the Justice Department, Judge Gonzales decided to resign his position and I accept his decision."

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards issued a four-word reaction: "Better late than never.” (In reaction to Karl Rove's resignation two weeks ago, Edwards said simply, "Goodbye. Good riddance.")

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) said on Fox: "Thank God." He later said, “It has been a long and difficult struggle, but at last the attorney general has done the right thing and stepped down. For the previous six months, the Justice Department has been virtually nonfunctional, and desperately needs new leadership.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said the Justice Department under Gonzales had "suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political influence."

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL): "I have long believed that Alberto Gonzales subverted justice to promote a political agenda, and so I am pleased that he has finally resigned today."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): "Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove."

Senator Christopher Dodd said that Gonzales had turned the Justice Department into a "political wing of the Bush administration."

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY): "The second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is one more reminder that the president must appoint someone to lead the Department of Justice with the leadership and competence necessary to defend the Constitution." (Chertoff is rumored to be a replacement for Gonzales.)

As of this writing, all of the Republican presidential hopefuls were silent in reaction to news of Gonzales' resignation.

Note: Upon agreement with the Senate, the Bush administration is planning for a nominee who will be confirmed by the Senate and serve until the end of the administration. An individual may serve in an acting capacity for 210 days. However, if there is a pending nominee, the 210-day "clock" is reset at Day One when the nominee is announced. The clock is reset again if the nomination is withdrawn or fails.