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Sources Say White House Digging In

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March 20, 2007 5:52 PM

ABC's Jan Crawford Greenburg reports: White House sources say President Bush is not considering replacing Gonzales, and sources close to Gonzales say the attorney general is prepared to "hang tough." They now see this fight as one of principle--Bush believes Gonzales did nothing wrong, that advisers did nothing wrong--and that Bush has unilateral power to replace all US attorneys. Bush will not demand Gonzales' resignation based, as he sees it, on a "successful effort to make something out of nothing."

Moreover, there is growing concern inside the administration that a Gonzales resignation would only embolden Democrats to push for more--much as they picked
up steam during the judicial filibusters, to the point that they were able to pick off any Bush nominee.

Sources say Bush will insist he has offered the Hill "unprecedented access" to internal deliberations on the most sensitive of personnel issues. He has agreed to allow his closest advisers to be interviewed on the Hill, which he believes is a "considerable accommodation," since he has the right to deny Congress access to his senior staff.

The letter is the best and final offer, these sources say. The White House will not agree to testimony in a formal, public hearing, and it will fight subpoenas, if issued. Bush will insist that his proposal is sufficient if Congress is "interested in the facts." But Senate Democrats already have said it's not enough--which paves the way for a legal battle over separation of powers and executive privilege--a battle the White House is willing to fight.

March 20, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (9)

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Well ... The Bush Administration NEVER thinks anyone in the Administration has ever done anything wrong, or has ever been willing to admit to specific mistakes by specific individuals.

The best that has ever been offered was the most recent comments, the non-apology apology, generisc "Mistakes were made" comment by Gonzalez.

Posted by: jelly17 | Mar 20, 2007 9:27:57 PM

This reasoning doesn't make sense. Bush is saying that nothing was done wrong, but he won't allow any testimony to be under oath. Why? Because of principles? Aren't TRUTH and JUSTICE AMERICAN principles?

You have to love Bush in flipping this on the Democrats saying it's politically motivated when evidence is suggesting that the whole controversy surrounds servants of US citizens getting canned because of political reasons.

The only thing Bush can hope for is another political scandal to bury this one. Judging by recent history, give it a week or two.

Posted by: frank | Mar 20, 2007 9:56:17 PM

It really makes me nervous when some of the Presidential Administration hides behind the President's coat tail. Even if I believed in them before, it would now make me concerned as to what they have to hide. Rove should face Congress like a man and not have Bush cover for him like a spoiled mama's boy.

Posted by: Charlett | Mar 20, 2007 11:28:58 PM

the corruption in this administration is simply staggering. i cannot believe the contempt these people have for the rule of law. if it weren't so terrifying - it would almost be comical, coming from the "trust me" presidency. they have always asked us to trust them, and now that they have been revealed as charlatans an liars, they continue to pretend they have our support. it's dizzying how evil, duplicious, shamelessly corrupt these people are. 1. drag them in to congress to testify, 2. get a new honest attorney general, 3. prosecute them in a US court of law, 4. send them to prison where they belong.

Posted by: drew | Mar 21, 2007 8:57:29 AM

The Administration can run but it can't hide from the truth. Once again, President Bush has shown an inability to correct deep-rooted problems, to admit mistakes, and to put ethics over politics. AG Gonzales should resign, but then again, so should President Bush and Vice President Cheney -- for they have lost the confidence of the American people long ago.

Posted by: Rich | Mar 21, 2007 9:18:20 AM

Government is always the problem, without exception.

Government is never the solution.

Therefore good government is not only not useful but actually oxymoranic.

It follows that putting people in government who are good or qualified is therefore meaningless and this administration is far better off putting in friends or people who deserve a job requiring no work.

Posted by: ntsc | Mar 21, 2007 9:48:28 AM

This is nothing new for Bush. With him it's always about HIS principles. Unfortunately, he continuously exercises poor judgement with them. And then he won't admit a mistake has been made. This is another exercise in his "unilateral" use of power, aka "If you don't like it, tough!"
He continues to believe that the general public sees him as the savior of Iraq. What he doesn't see is that much of the world now sees us as bullies. His legacy will be that he changed the world...they now hate Americans.

Posted by: John | Mar 21, 2007 10:27:57 AM

If Rove has nothing to hide, if all his actions are honest and ethical regarding this completely self-inflicted political fiasco, then he should eagerly volunteer to testify publicly, under oath

And if W doesn't want to let Rove testify, publicly and under oath, then subpoena W ASAP

It does one good to see so many completely self-inflicted problems wreaking the most ideological, arrogant, corrupt, incompetent and freedom hating Administration and President ever

Posted by: KingCranky | Mar 21, 2007 2:05:06 PM

W has never managed a business successfully in his life. It has been the Bin Ladin family's money that has bailed him out every time. So what makes him think he can run our country?

Remember W's words when he took office. What he likes most about the presidency is the POWER!

If W cared a flip about the American citizens, he would close the 14 tunnels still open between Mexico and the US. He would cut off entry of Mexican commerce into the US to cut down on human smuggling, illegal drugs, and (now) the components for making Meth!

There are 3 billion people in the US. We have spent over $5 billion on the war in Iraq over the last four years, yet foreclosures on homes in the US are up 42%.

SOMEBODY needs to answer some questions!

Posted by: Gail | Mar 21, 2007 6:38:33 PM

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