Breaking: CT Senator Joe Lieberman as new Attorney General?

Alberto Gonzales resigned. Gonzales said: "I have lived the American dream." The first Latino to helm the Justice Department said his "worst days as attorney general have been better than my father's best days."

The big question is, why now?

I have no color commentary on this. I'm just waiting to see who else gets cleaned out of the Bush Administration before Labor Day. But if you're looking for good takes on the resignation, here are some thoughts:

Bill Moyers: Why now?

Here's Latina blogger Marisa Trevino:

"Rightly or wrongly, because there are still too few highly accomplished Latinos in the public arena, whether it be politics, sports, entertainment, etc., there exists a collective pride among Latinos when “one of our own” makes it....For a son of Mexican migrants, at a time when it’s these very people who are being persecuted, hunted down and corralled into prison camps (including children), the impact of what Alberto lost and the power that he could have utilized to make a difference in this persecution may finally be brought home to him - if only he had remembered where he started.
That should have been the case with Alberto Gonzales."

Ok Marisa: good point. But why did Papa Bush defend Alberto as if Gonzales were incapable of defending himself? Makes the whole thing seem like Gonzales was a product of design to promote a minority rather than a grown up who f**ed up and needs to pay the price? Bush said Gonzales got "unfair treatment." That's awful whiny from the President.

The 2008 candidates on the resignation:

"Because he betrayed his obligations and the trust of the American people, I welcome today’s announcement that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned his post as Attorney General of the United States," said Hillary Clinton.

CNN: Is (Homeland Security Secretary) Michael Chertoff in the running as the successor Attorney General?

Some senior administration officials floated Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff as a possible replacement, but others waved CNN away from Chertoff, saying that his nomination could run into problems because of his role during Hurricane Katrina.
A congressional source familiar with deliberations about Gonzales' replacement told CNN that the successor will not be Chertoff and that senior administration officials are "playing you guys," referring to the media.

A source close to Chertoff said of a possible nomination, "this would be a surprise to Mike."

In other Washington slime: a (apparently gay, Republican) Senator was found guilty of lewd conduct. See Talking Points Memo for why this hurts a big time GOP candidate.

Related Posts:

• And stay out!
• Goodnight Gonzo: Resignation and Reflection
• NSA Wiretapping Hearings Begin Today

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