Further Evidence They Threw AGAG Under the Bus

by emptywheel

Amanda notes something rather interesting. While John Ashcroft and Dick Thornburgh attended today's ritual swearing in ceremony for Michael Mukasey, Gonzales did not.

This morning, Michael Mukasey was officially sworn in as the 81st Attorney General of the United States. At the beginning of his remarks, President Bush thanked officials for joining him, including former Attorneys General John Ashcroft and Dick Thornburgh. Missing from the ceremony? Alberto Gonzales:

There's actually this weird outbreak of applause after Bush welcomes the two former AGs. What is that about?

I think the attendees list is really interesting for a number of reasons: it was a Republican event, with Senators Scottish Haggis Specter, Lindsey Graham, and Sam Brownback attending, but with the notable absence of Chuck Schumer. So it's as if the event gave Mukasey the seal of approval of the Republican establishment.

On another note, Dick Thornburgh most recently made the news in DC with his testimony to HJC on politicized prosecutions. So they invite Dick Thornburgh, but Gonzales doesn't show?

And there's one more, critical question that I can't answer from just the clip Amanda included in her post. Bush welcomes his cabinet members in attendance. But he doesn't specify whether Dick Cheney was among them?

Comments

[bmaz]

Even Bush is smart enough to know Gonzales is an embarrassment; why would you bring him around? It does look like they are firing up the ole Greyhound and heading down Gonzo Boulevard though doesn't it? It will be interesting to see if Albertoad's memory is suddenly coming back to him. Gonzales is weak; if they dump on him too much, he is going to roll. Although the welfare is starting to kick in to some extent, because there is no justifiable reason for anyone to pay him $40,000 for a speech, as the University of Florida agreed to.

[P J Evans]

bmaz, that sounds like a 'GOP welfare payment'.

[bmaz]

Unless DiFi, Reid or Schumer is paying it; that is quite correct! Heh heh.

[oldtree]

Now that the gonzalez has disgraced himself and the administration, his "latino immigration corrupt wiretapping outsider" or in other words, "I never knew Alberto Abramoff" status may not look good on stage with preznit. It is rare he appears with anyone of color, and understandable due to how many suffer by his stance on lynching.

[Andrew Foland]

FWIW at least six of the current members of the University of Florida Board of Trustees were appointed by Jeb Bush.

Just sayin'.

[Neil]

Gonzo can't have his old job back on the Texas Supreme Court so he'll have to find some way to, as his former boss said, "fill up the ole' coffers." I have no objection to making a living but it sure seems that a poor record of performance in high government office helps in getting speaking enagments rather than hurts. You can bet Gonzo is not speaking at the invitation of the
U of F Levin College of Law.

[emptywheel]

oldtree

We in MI are trying to follow up on promises AGAG made to MI tribes for additional funding for policing. Per the Denver Post series I keep linking to, there were promises of increased funding made nationally that somehow didn't make it into Bush's budget request.

So AGAG appears to have updated that class, white men lying to Native Americans.

[Redshift]

About the applause for the former AGs, I recall hearing on the radio that Justice Department staff were in attendance (the swearing-in was at the Justice Department.) So the applause could have been a subtle poke in the eye to Bush, applauding previous competent leadership in contrast to AGAG.

[emptywheel]

Thanks Redshift--that might explain it.

[joanneleon]

Well, of course he disappears. He's Fredo.

[Jeff]

Well, here's the transcript of Bush's remarks, and while Gonzales' absence is certainly notable and intriguing, Bush does express high praise and support for him in his absence:

Our new Attorney General -- as our new Attorney General, Michael Mukasey follows in the footsteps of a fine man and a fine American -- Al Gonzales. I have known Al since our days working together in the State of Texas. As White House Counsel and as Attorney General in my administration, Al Gonzales worked tirelessly to make this country safer and to ensure that all Americans received equal justice before the law. Over many years, I have witnessed his integrity, his decency, and his deep dedication to the cause of justice. I am grateful for his friendship. I thank him for his service to our nation. And Laura and I wish him, and his wife Becky, and their children, Jared, Graham, and Gabe, all the very best. (Applause.)

[bmaz]

Jeff - That is a good point; but those are words, I sure get the feeling that the uber-Bushies are moving towards scapegoating Gonzales if necessary. I will fully admit that is more of a feeling than an empirically supported fact. If I recall correctly, there was some question asked of Gonzales recently in relation to some aspect of the USA Purgegate (am getting old, can't remember the specifics; sorry) matter, and AG responded to the effect "that was Bush's decision, not mine". If true that kind of indicates AG is getting his hackles up a little as well. We know this much: Bush never admits to anything himself. If things crack open on any/all of the DOJ issues, I can't see how they don't pimp Gonzales; that is just the lifelong record of Bush....

[Slothrop]

Dick Cheney is not a cabinet member, per se. He is the dictator in residence and, as he has indicated, that's not in the executive branch. It's above it.

[emptywheel]

Reshift

You appear to be right:

When Bush praised Gonzales as a man of integrity and decency, Justice Department employees responded with sustained applause. It got even louder moments later after Mukasey took the oath, formally ending the Gonzales chapter in the agency's history.

[emptywheel]

Also note, in the article linked in the previous comment, Bush says he's going to have nominees for many of the vacant top positions at DOJ. It could get interesting...

[Mary]

If AGAG is being investigated, even just a "report already written, let's just wait a decent interval to file it" OPR investiation, then it would have been incredibly inappropriate for him to be invited to attend Mukasey's swearing in while Mukasey is investigating him.

For that matter, I think that as the Abramoff investigations are leading to Ring and thereby to Ashcroft, and with the potential for Ashcroft torture investigations etc., it was pretty inappropriate for him to be there, but I guess he's not named in an active DOJ investigation. I do recall that there were admonitions over his "DOJ Pizza Party and Sleepover and Maybe Larry will bring the Pepsis" but I guess now he is risen and whatever deals were cut left him off the hook, even the "for appearances sake" hook.

[bmaz]

I thought it was pretty clear that Ashcroft had been brought back in the fold when he penned the recent op-ed supporting Bush, er telco, amnesty.

[Mad Dogs]

Shorter Junya: "Ah miss mah ol' Fredo. Barney don't heel as well." as the crocodile tears flowed freely.

[BlueStateRedhead]

"When Bush praised Gonzales as a man of integrity and decency, Justice Department employees responded with sustained applause. It got even louder moments later after Mukasey took the oath, formally ending the Gonzales chapter in the agency's history."

End of day obtuseness, perhaps but my parsing of EW's parsing of Redshift's parsing of the AP article seems to mean that they applauded Bush's praise for Gonzales knowing that they would be given the opportunity to applaud Mukasey even harder as a sign of their relief that Gonzo is Gonzo. Given that this was a ritual, and the essence of ritual is to be predictable because it repeats earlier ritual, it makes sense that they knew what was coming next. But in the end they still affirmed that praise with sustained applause. IMHO, to make that argument stick, they would have needed to sit on their hands. Hard to do with the big bosses watching, admittedly. But still I have a nagging doubt. Anyone want to put it to rest?

[lizard]

A bit O/T, but I wonder why I havent seen a headline like this yet today: Buzzie Throws Cookie Under The Bus

[Alyx]

...Bushie threw Colon Powel under the bus....and when I heard the name Albert Gonzalez was nominated, I thought oh...another scapegoat...hmmm also of color...wonder when Condi plays the next stooge...just an observation....

[rxbusa]

bmaz, I think what you couldn't remember is AGAG saying that the decision not to grant security clearances to the OPR investigators was Bush's decision, not his.

[bmaz]

rxbusa - Yep! That was it. Thanks! I may be totally in left field here, but that seemingly innocuous comment spoke volumes to me.

[Neil]

That is a good point; but those are words, I sure get the feeling that the uber-Bushies are moving towards scapegoating Gonzales if necessary.

Posted by: bmaz | November 14, 2007 at 15:36

You mean for example when Gonzalez is indicted? Here's the thing, if Bush refuses to discuss the ongoing criminal proceeding, he can commute his jail sentence or pardon him outright on January 8, 2009. Membership has its privileges. Scapegoating is prescribed for those who opt out.

[bmaz]

Neil, I agree with that possibility. I certainly am not saying that I expect to see Gonzo in the stocks or behind bars, just that I see some clear signs that he may be the designated whipping boy flogged for public consumption as a diversion play from the real malefactors until they run out the clock and ride out of town with Gonzo in figurative tow, whether by a rigged non-result in the investigation/prosecution or a pardon. This was almost pre-ordained in some regards when AGAG resigned.