] The most common charge levied against critics of the
] Patriot Act -- one that Alberto Gonzales, the new face of
] Justice, is likely to repeat in his days ahead -- is that
] they're "misinformed." Well, as a former U.S. attorney
] appointed by President Reagan, a former CIA lawyer and
] analyst, and a former Congressman who sat on the
] Judiciary Committee, I can go mano a mano with any
] law-enforcement or intelligence official on the facts.
] And the facts say that the Patriot Act needs to be
] reviewed and refined by Congress.

The most reasonable position on the Patriot act that I have ever read.

www.bobbarr.org: Patriot Act fixes

] Press Briefing by White House Counsel Judge Alberto
] Gonzales, Dod General Counsel William Haynes, Dod Deputy
] General Counsel Daniel Dell'Orto and Army Deputy Chief of
] Staff for Intelligence General Keith Alexander

I've been surfing the web trying to learn more about Gonzales. As usual, I get annoyed with articles which just offer quick opinionated snippets about controversial issues, and so I look for the raw information -- memos written by Gonzales, or transcripts of interviews with the man himself. Here's a transcript of a 90-minute press briefing he did in June 2004, where he talks about one of the more controversial elements that's come up related to his name -- A February 2002 memo discussing the White House's views on torture and prisoners.

I'd still like to see the raw text of the actual February 2002 memo though. If anyone can find it, please meme it? Thanks.

June 2004 Press Briefing by White House Counsel Judge Alberto Gonzales...

"I have lived the American dream. Even my worst days as attorney general have been better than my father's best days."—Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

So much for the devil we know...

Quotes About Gonzales' Resignation

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee last week that he did not believe that senior Justice Department officials had attended such briefings. But he clarified his testimony yesterday in a letter to Congress, emphasizing that the briefings were not held at the agency's offices.

No, we didn't have anything like that... Well okay, we did, but it wasn't at the office... Well okay, maybe it was, but I swear! I never fucked that porcupine!

Now that would be something from Fredo that'd be believable, except for the quills stuck to his pants...

Gonzales Now Says Top Aides Got Political Briefings - washingtonpost.com

A group of House Democrats will introduce a resolution calling on the Judiciary Committee to begin impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Prediction: Fredo is done for and will resign at the beginning of next week so Bush can make an interim appointment of a new AG. That AG will be current Cheney counsel David Addington.

(no, I don't have an inside source, I just find that to be the most likely option. Fredo is toast, and a resignation while Congress is at recess means recess appointment)

First Read : Impeach Gonzales?

A Justice Department investigation into the firings of U.S. attorneys is looking at whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales inappropriately discussed the ousters in a meeting his former White House liaison called "uncomfortable."

The two Justice officials leading the probe confirmed, in a letter released Thursday by the Senate Judiciary Committee, that they were examining the March meeting between Gonzales and former aide Monica M. Goodling.

"This is to confirm that the scope of our investigation does include this matter,"

Oops, can you say "Obstruction of Justice?"
Obstukshin.... ummm..
hmmm... How about "Witness tampering?"
"Witness Tampering!"

Probe Looks at Gonzales' Talk With Aide - The Huffington Post

The delays, which postponed key approvals in the case until after the election, raise new questions about whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales or other officials may have weighed political issues in some investigations. The Arizona U.S. attorney then overseeing the case, Paul Charlton, was told he was being fired in December, one of eight federal prosecutors dismissed in the past year.

Some more napalm for the Gonzo effigy, but there is a much larger problem here. Gonzo, as demonstrated at last weeks hearing, pretty much doesn't wipe his own ass without a green light from the oval office. This mess isn't going to end with him.

Delays in Renzi Case Raise More Gonzales Questions - WSJ.com

"The decision makers in this case were the attorney general and the counsel to the president," he told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I and others made staff recommendations but they were approved and signed off on by the principals."

The White House response was notably muted.

"I'm going to have to let the attorney general speak for himself," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

That "FWOOMP!" sound you're hearing is Alberto Gonzales going up in flames.

Ex-Aide: Gonzales Signed Off on Firings | The Huffington Post

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday that Congress should require Internet service providers to preserve customer records, asserting that prosecutors need them to fight child pornography.

This has nothing to do with child pornography... That's just the ball it's easiest to play the game with.

Gonzales Wants New Web Rules, Attorney General: ISPs Should Preserve Customer Info To Help Fight Kid Porn - CBS News

Decius wrote:

Mr. Gonzales said that the administration promoted and respected the right of the press that is protected under the First Amendment. "But it can't be the case that that right trumps over the right that Americans would like to see, the ability of the federal government to go after criminal activity," he said.

Anybody know if transcripts of this are available? I'd like to know if he is being taken out of context. I'd like to see exactly what was said.

Not really out of context. The usage of "possible" in the title here implies action as opposed to simple feasibility, and Gonzales is just unclear enough that either is possible. But the last sentence does tell me that they think it's a reasonable thing to do.

Anyway, here it is :

George: "Do you believe journalists can be prosecuted for publishing classified information?"

Alberto: "There are some statutes on the books which, if you read the language carefully, would seem to indicate that that is a possibility. That's a policy judgement by the Congress in passing that kind of legislation. We have an obligation to enforce those laws. We have an obligation to ensure that our national security is protected."

That's courtesy of Crooks and Liars who also have the video.

RE: Gonzales Says Prosecutions of Journalists Are Possible - New York Times