Gardening tips for the "Decider"

Alberto Gonzales, the United States Attorney General, seems to be quite adept at digging himself into holes. The previous, Republican, Congress was happy to take away his shovel before he dug too deep. Not so the Democrats. I think they've hired a mechanical shovel; there's no apparent need to teach Gonzales how to use it.

His latest fiasco, (pick one: the reckless FBI or the fired USAG's) underscores his deplorable lack of restraint, and common sense. The latest story re the fired USAG's has brought to light is New Mexico's governor asking Karl Rove what can be done about the AG in that state. Apparently he wasn't pursuing a Democrat-based scandal with enough vigor for the GoP governor.

The Attorney General's job is to ensure that the laws of the nation are both applied and defended. The job requires an almost disdainful attitude to Executive power; not the pliancy and outright obsequiousness we've seen in both Ashcroft (the man who lost an election to a dead man) and Gonzales. It's impossible to provide the impartial and considered opinions that a President needs if you're too busy pandering to his (and presumably, your) core constituents. The politicization of the AG's office isn't surprising - Bush's Administration has managed to politicize every office available, and it has pandered to the whims of the Christian Fundamentalists and Evangelicals with alacrity - but it is disturbing.

This politicizing of public offices is eerily reminiscent of, and more usually associated with, the governments of China and Soviet Union. And it's not in the interests of either the GoP or the United States. It is in the interests of a minority who want to impose their attitudes and fears (but not hopes; the more strident evangelical and fundamentalist factions don't understand positive 'hope'. Some do, but the strident ones - the ones eager for power - don't.)

Overall, Gonzales is as effective at his job as Dr. Rice is at hers. The only substantive difference being that Dr. Rice actually thinks about her job. Gonzales doesn't show much evidence of that. For allowing the abuses of the FBI, for his unwavering commitment to undermine and ultimately destroy The Constitution, and his eagerness to politicize the field of law enforcement and interpretation, Gonzales should be fired. It's a pity that Bush lacks the moral commitment and courage to do so.

Carolyn Ann