The Democrats vying for the presidential nomination are going after Ashcroft. Our favorite quotes:

Richard Gephardt: "In my first five seconds as president, I would fire John Ashcroft as attorney general."

John Edwards: "We can not allow people like John Ashcroft to take away our rights and our freedoms."

John Kerry: "When I am president of the United States, there will be no John Ashcroft trampling on the Bill of Rights."

Kerry advisor Chris Lehane, who was Al Gore's press secretary, chimes in: "He is a living, breathing troglodyte who happens to run the Justice Department."

Even Republicans are getting in the act:

Some Republicans expressed concern about potential damage the often unvarnished Mr. Ashcroft might cause this president. "None of those Democrats can beat George Bush, but John Ashcroft can," said one Republican strategist.