Political, Legal Factors Surround AG Vote
The Senate fell seven votes short, Monday night, on a measure that would have opened debate on a no-confidence resolution aimed at Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over his handling of the firing of nine U.S. attorneys last year.
The overall vote was 53-38-1, with a large number of absentee senators due to presidential campaigning. While the outcome was expected, two senators, Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), cast particularly interesting votes.
Stevens voted "present", refusing to take a stand on Gonzales. This is presumably because of a Justice Department investigation into Alaska corruption that has already brought indictments of four current and former lawmakers in the state legislature, as well as a pair of energy company executives with close ties to Sen. Stevens. In addition, the senator's son, Ben Stevens, a former state senator, is under investigation for potentially taking no-show consulting work from the energy company.
While Stevens spoke with the Washington Post briefly about the investigation last week -- admitting federal investigators have asked him to preserve records related to it -- he has otherwise said he couldn't comment on the probe, citing legal advice that any statements might be construed as an effort to obstruct the inquiry.
Apparently, that advice extended to the no-confidence vote on Gonzales.
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) voted against cutting off debate and moving to consideration of the no-confidence vote -- essentially helping to derail it. This will surely enrage left-wing activists who worked to defeat him in last year's Democratic primary only to see him win re-election as an independent. Lieberman suggested in his official statement that Gonzales should "look into his own heart and soul" to consider resigning, but said the Senate shouldn't be wasting time on a non-binding resolution.
Seven Republicans voted to open debate on the no-confidence resolution. Supporters of the measure needed 60 votes to move it forward, but came up seven votes short. Three Democratic presidential candidates who have all called for Gonzales's resignation -- Joe Biden (Del.), Chris Dodd (Conn.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) -- were campaigning, so if push came to shove, there were 56 potential votes of no-confidence for Gonzales. If they really want to hit Gonzales with a no-confidence motion, Democrats will need to find four more Republican votes and make sure their presidential candidates come home.
Here's a breakdown of the seven Senate Republicans who supported the procedural motion for the no-confidence vote:
• Norm Coleman (Minn.): Facing re-election in 2008 in a state that was brutal to Republicans running for Congress in 2006; Coleman called for Gonzales's resignation after the Washington Post reported last month that the U.S. attorney for Minnesota was once considered for dismissal.
• Susan Collins (Maine): Had not previously called for Gonzales's resignation but had been highly critical of the attorney general; up for reelection in '08.
• Chuck Hagel (Neb.): Potential independent presidential candidate called for resignation after revelations that Gonzales tried to get then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to overrule his subordinates, from his hospital bed, on the constitutionality of unwarranted domestic eavesdropping.
• Gordon Smith (Ore.): Second GOP senator to call for resignation, back in mid-March; up for re-election in '08.
• Arlen Specter (Pa.): Top Republican on Judiciary Committee has been brutally critical of Gonzales but had not officially called for his resignation.
• John Sununu (N.H.): First GOP senator to call for resignation, in early March, longtime critic of Gonzales; up for re-election in '08.
• Olympia Snowe (R-Maine): without formally calling for Gonzales's resignation, Snowe had been highly critical of the attorney general after the revelations about his hospital visit to Ashcroft. (Thanks to the reader for pointing out my initial mistake by leaving Snowe off the list of 'aye' votes among Republicans.)
By Paul Kane |
June 12, 2007; 6:54 AM ET
Senate
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Posted by: mbartv | June 12, 2007 7:59 AM
you left out Olympia Snowe, who I believe isn't up for re-election, and would thus qualify as the only republican not running for anything with a conscience. Has Judas Iscariot Lieberman totally sold his soul?
Posted by: mbartv | June 12, 2007 8:00 AM
I agree with Stevens--this type of reasoning deserves a no-confidence vote in our lawmakers. They need to determine whether acting as moral watchdogs is part of their role, and to what degree.
Posted by: arlington | June 12, 2007 8:47 AM
I don't understand how 38 Senators could have confidence in a trained monkey like Gonzales. In every picture the man looks like a teacher's pet, smirking because he knows his misdeeds will go unpunished. The "support our team!" mentality of our government is sickening. What happened to supporting our nation? What was politicized was not the vote, the vote was necesarry. The way that the majority of Republicans voted was (to paraphrase one of those sickening talking points)where the "political show" was. Who could in all good conscience have any confidence left in a man who can't recall... anything?
Posted by: JLoo | June 12, 2007 9:17 AM
I don't understand how 38 Senators could have confidence in a trained monkey like Gonzales. In every picture the man looks like a teacher's pet, smirking because he knows his misdeeds will go unpunished. The "support our team!" mentality of our government is sickening. What happened to supporting our nation? What was politicized was not the vote, the vote was necesarry. The way that the majority of Republicans voted was (to paraphrase one of those sickening talking points)where the "political show" was. Who could in all good conscience have any confidence left in a man who can't recall... anything?
Posted by: JLoo | June 12, 2007 9:17 AM
Why waste time for a no confidence vote. President Bush would have ignored it and kept the AG as long as he pleased.
Posted by: camel 89 | June 12, 2007 10:36 AM
Why waste time for a no confidence vote? President Bush would have ignored it and kept the AG as long as he pleased
Posted by: camel 89 | June 12, 2007 10:36 AM
Now we Americans know what its like to live under a King rather than an elected government. Nothing you, I, or anyone else does can do anything to stop Mad King George from doing anything he wants.
America, RIP.
Your once proud citizens miss you deeply.
Posted by: Lincoln's Ghost | June 12, 2007 10:46 AM
If you remember correctly, the first thing to happen under the Nazis government was the purging of the Judiciary. Purging? Politicizing? What's the difference when people can make up the rules as they go along and break the law with impunity. They don't care who knows it either, that is the scary part. That tells me there is more damage to our system of government than meets the eye. This is more than just politics as usual. The right wing neocons have started a forever war and are atempting to install a permanent majority in Congress. Are we going to let that happen?
Posted by: Joe Goebels | June 12, 2007 1:22 PM
I urge the esteemed senators to impreach Mr. Gonzales. They have the authority and should darn well use it. Practice makes perfect.
Posted by: Nancy | June 12, 2007 3:41 PM
Why wasn't the vote called the "Justice Department Integrity Resolution"? Someone else asked why not just a "Sense of the Senate" vote. It's time for the Senate to tell GW that people who serve in OUR government must not lie to Congress and must not OK illegal and unconstitutional action by the executive branch.
Posted by: thebob.bob | June 12, 2007 6:37 PM
While Democrats are taking on issues that really matter to the American people, Republicans continue to be embroiled in scandal. From health care to poverty, these issues take precedence over an ever-inflating military budget and the Democrats are leading the way for change. The Borgen Project states that just $19 billion annually can end starvation and $23 billon annually can reverse the spread of Malaria and AIDS. In contrast, we have spent over $340 billion in Iraq. With poverty being so easily addressed, it is no wonder that a war-touting Republican side isn't doing well in the polls or with the American people.
Posted by: ellec | June 12, 2007 7:02 PM
While to claim that the Iraq War is Gonzales' war would be simply incorrect, it is nevertheless true that he is perpetuating this failure of a war. To date, the war has cost over $340 billion dollars--money which could have been spent much more wisely and with better end results. It is estimated, for example, that the expenditure of a mere $19 billion would eliminate starvation and malnutrition worldwide. In a time when the current defense budget is $522 billion, the goal of eradicating world hunger is clearly well within reach. Thus, it is clear that the occupation of Iraq needs to end, and it needs to end now without regard to what this will do to United States interest in Iraq's oil. There are simply much more important issues that need to be addressed, and by avoiding these issues and adhering to his doomed quest for victory, Gonzales will continue to plummet in popularity.
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Posted by: A | June 13, 2007 12:19 PM
For crying out loud would Congress please just end global poverty now, so we can stop having to read about this Boring Project which is so obviously more important than everyithing else in the universe.
Posted by: Patrick Huss | June 14, 2007 8:39 PM
For crying out loud would Congress please just end global poverty now, so we can stop having to read about this Boring Project which is so obviously more important than everything else in the universe.
Posted by: Patrick Huss | June 14, 2007 8:39 PM
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you left out Olympia Snowe, who I believe isn't up for re-election, and would thus qualify as the only republican not running for anything with a conscience. Has Judas Iscariot Lieberman totally sold his soul?