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PurgeGate Shows Bush's Isolation

By Jeralyn, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 10:24:31 AM EST
Tags: Alberto Gonzales (all tags)
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When Robert Novak's Republican sources weigh in against Bush and Gonzales, it's worth a read.

"Gonzales never has developed a base of support for himself up here," a House Republican leader told me. But this is less a Gonzales problem than a Bush problem. With nearly two years remaining in his presidency, Bush is alone. In half a century, I have not seen a president so isolated from his own party in Congress -- not Jimmy Carter, not even Richard Nixon as he faced impeachment.

Republicans in Congress do not trust Bush to protect them. That alone is sufficient reason to withhold statements of support for Gonzales, when such a gesture could be quickly followed by his resignation under pressure. ....

More....

But not many Republican lawmakers would speak up for Gonzales even if they were sure Bush would stick with him. He is the least-popular Cabinet member on Capitol Hill. The word most often used by Republicans in describing the management of the Justice Department under Gonzales is "incompetent."

Kevin Drum has more.

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    PurgeGate Shows Bush's Isolation | 3 comments (3 topical)

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    Well, duh. (none / 0) (#1)
    by legion on Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 12:22:47 PM EST
    Republicans in Congress do not trust Bush to protect them.

    No sh*t, Novak. People with eyes have know for years, but this fiasco in particular is showing even die-hard Bushies that loyalty only goes one direction in this administration...

    Bush ship sinking (none / 0) (#2)
    by wlgriffi on Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 01:53:46 PM EST
    is going through the usual process of the rats abandoning the sinking vessel. No real surprise here.

    No Bedtime for Gonezo (none / 0) (#3)
    by scarshapedstar on Mon Mar 26, 2007 at 08:48:10 PM EST
    It's barking-mad lunacy, but I'm willing to predict that, even as the scandal metastasizes into Watergate territory, Bush stands by his (hatchet)man, petulantly peppering us with "pleasure of the President" until there's a terrorist attack or word gets out that Harriet Miers blew him. If it's the former, well, you know the drill. If it's the latter, the public may sour on the story. You know, been-there-done-that inoculation.

    Stranger things have happened... (I hope I haven't given Karl any ideas.)

    PurgeGate Shows Bush's Isolation | 3 comments (3 topical)

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