Alberto Gonzales Resignation, Liberal Talk Radio

NOW WHAT?

With Resignation, Key Libtalk Issue Vanishes







For the nation's liberal talk radio hosts, the not- so- surprising resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has proven a mixed blessing, should they believe in such a concept:

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' resignation Monday after months of draining controversy drew expressions of relief from Republicans and a vow from Democrats to pursue their investigation into fired federal prosecutors.

President Bush, Gonzales' most dogged defender, told reporters he had accepted the resignation reluctantly. "His good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons," Bush said.

The president named Paul Clement, the solicitor general, as a temporary replacement. With less than 18 months remaining in office, there was no indication when Bush would name a successor -- or how quickly or easily the Senate might confirm one.

Apart from the president, there were few Republican expressions of regret following the departure of the nation's first Hispanic attorney general, a man once hailed as the embodiment of the American Dream.

"Our country needs a credible, effective attorney general who can work with Congress on critical issues," said Sen. John Sununu of New Hampshire, who last March was the first GOP lawmaker to call on Gonzales to step down. "Alberto Gonzales' resignation will finally allow a new attorney general to take on this task.

For months, "progressive" talkers have been pounding away at Gonzales, accusing him of lying before Congress and demanding his impeachment. While their conservative counterparts continued to focus on a variety of current issues, libtalkers have spoken of little else.

During guest interviews with US Senators and presidential candidates, Gonzales has usually come up during within the first two or three questions, if not leading it off. While many conservatives merely see the AG as incompetent, liberals see sinister motivations behind his actions.

What libtalkers have failed to hide, however, are their real intentions. They're not actually especially concerned with the Attorney General's office.

Instead, they've been pushing for the AG's impeachment as a proxy for the person they'd really like to take down: President Bush. Because congressional Democrats won't go for that, "progressive" radio has been forced to fight for the next best thing: Gonzales.

Now, without Alberto in office, continuing this crusade will be much more difficult. With their number one target now off the radar screen, what's a libtalker to do?


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