The headline is meant to catch your attention — but seriously, 42 and his conduct in the White House explains more about how 43 runs the White House than any other force in all of modern history and politics. Rove admires Clinton’s skill and has studied the mistakes Clinton made.
Obviously, one thing that consumed Clinton at all times was investigations. Just like this administration, they fought them off, stalled and blamed them on partisan witch hunts. The one that got them was the independent prosecutor, Ken Starr.
Doesn’t it make sense that Bush, who’s already been burnt by a special prosecutor named Patrick Fitzgerald, would want to keep in place an Attorney General who actually tried to get a sick man to overrule his acting AG?
Talk about loyalty. With Gonzales at the helm, why would anyone worry about Justice investigating the White House? But, an independent AG — and who knows what the White House may be able to get through this Senate now — might appoint a special prosecutor to deal with one of the 100 or so scandals that afflict this administration. And toss aside the Patrick Fitzgerald investigation for the moment as a necessary pain to help distract the media from the scandal until the 2004 election was over.
A Senate no-confidence ote might be enough to bring down Gonzo if there are 65-plus votes, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the White House begs their allies in the Senate to save them on this one.
George W. Bush does, after all, fear Bill Clinton’s fate.
5/20 update:
A footnote: Speculation in Washington legal circles is that President Bush has been reluctant to get rid of Gonzales for fear that Senate Democrats would not confirm his successor without a commitment to name a special prosecutor in the U.S. attorneys case.
Thanks for making me look smart, Bob.
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