Buzz: Chertoff Rumored to Replace Gonzales as Attorney General

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 08:01:00 AM EST
Tags: Michael Chertoff (all tags)

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U.S. News & World Report writes:

The buzz among top Bushies is that beleaguered Attorney General Alberto Gonzales finally plans to depart and will be replaced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Why Chertoff? Officials say he's got fans on Capitol Hill, is untouched by the Justice prosecutor scandal, and has more experience than Gonzales did, having served as a federal judge and assistant attorney general.

[Hat tip: Think Progress.]

Chertoff was a federal judge and U.S. Attorney before becoming Homeland Security Secretary. In 2005, the ACLU issued this report on Chertoff and his civil liberties record, and it wasn't pretty. More from a coalition of civil liberties organizations is here.

Guess who was the sole vote against Chertoff's confirmation? Hillary Clinton.

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Buzz: Chertoff Rumored to Replace Gonzales as Attorney General | 11 comments (11 topical)

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The man can't keep a job (none / 0) (#1)
by andgarden on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 11:27:20 PM EST

I remember reading somewhere that he left his last one because it wasn't close enough to his health club.

It's important to have (none / 0) (#2)
by Maryb2004 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 11:33:26 PM EST

your priorities straight.

: That was meant (none / 0) (#3)
by Maryb2004 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 11:34:03 PM EST

as a response to andgarden.

hat tip to "Think Progress"? (none / 0) (#4)
by Miss Devore on Sat Aug 25, 2007 at 11:39:38 PM EST

no wonder you posted this long after I did at marisacat's site. raw story was on it first, I think.

Larisa Alexandrovna (none / 0) (#5)
by Edger on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 12:05:59 AM EST

in an at-Largely post back in March pointed out that not only was Chertoff being floated as possible new AG to replace Gonzo, but came up with the amazing little factoid that:

In Russian, Chertoff translates to "of the Devil." I wonder how our Christian right citizenry will find this nomination, assuming it happens?

Heh. They just can't help themselves, I guess.

And you thought things were bad with Alberto running DoJ.

Where do we go from here?

Would Ramsey Clark be okay?? (1.00 / 0) (#10)
by jimakaPPJ on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 11:20:14 AM EST

;-)


: Couldn't be worse than our dear departed Gonzo! (5.00 / 0) (#11)
by Molly Bloom on Mon Aug 27, 2007 at 07:25:44 AM EST

Good lord. (none / 0) (#6)
by TomStewart on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 03:20:40 AM EST

Is this good news or bad? Could Chertoff get approved? Would he prove as big a suckup/sell-out/embarrassment as Alberto has proved? Could anyone?

Really, nothing Bush would do could surprise me, but I bet Alberto is going nowhere.

: Things are never so bad (none / 0) (#8)
by Dulcinea on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 08:02:16 AM EST

with this administration that they can't, and do, get worse.

Remember? (none / 0) (#7)
by jnickens on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 07:38:26 AM EST

People need to recall Chertoff's role in Senator D'Amato's Whitewater hearings. Chertoff was the committee's lead counsel, and he showed himself to be a partisan fool at almost every turn. He would parrot the feverswamp theories from talk radio and generally show himself to be incompetent. I was amazed he ever got a job after his poor performance at the hearings. More generally, his willingness to participate in the partisan misuse of a senate investigation should disqualify him from the AG spot.

Interesting Chertoff fact (none / 0) (#9)
by Cubfan on Sun Aug 26, 2007 at 09:56:29 AM EST

Before Chertoff was US Attorney in New Jersey, he was the 1st Assistant in the same office. Guess the US Attorney who hired Chertoff as his 1st Assistant?

Sam Alito