Ashcroft Resigns!

[Midnight Son]

CNN is reporting this as we speak. More news as it develops.

Edit: Commerce secretary Don Evans also resigned.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3OVQWFVV2FDQYCRBAEOCF EY?type=topNews&storyID=6763959

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans resigned on Tuesday in a post-election shake-up of President Bush's Cabinet.

Ashcroft, a lightning rod of criticism by Democrats and civil liberties groups over the anti-terror policies implemented after Sept. 11, 2001, said in a handwritten resignation letter that "the demands of justice are both rewarding and depleting" and that the Justice Department would be well served "by new leadership and fresh inspiration."

Evans, considered Bush's best friend, said "I have concluded with deep regret that it is time for me to return home."

"The president accepted their resignations," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

Ashcroft and Evans began what is expected to be a fairly significant Cabinet reshuffle ahead of the start of Bush's second term on Jan. 20.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, who had earlier indicated he was planning on leaving after the first Bush term, said on Tuesday: "I'm waiting to talk to the president and I will let you know my decision very shortly."

My fear is that they will be replaced by the REAL hardcore.

[Tyrion Lannister]

CNN is reporting this as we speak. More news as it develops.

He feels the government has gone too far to the right and is pandering way too much to the religious neo-cons.





not.

[Euri]

"The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved."

HALLELUJAH!!! WE'RE SECURE!!!

[Jeremy Johnsen]

Last week CNN was saying any resignations would be spread out and most likely not start happening this quickly. Guess they wanted to clean house early.

[Duality]

HALLELUJAH!!! WE'RE SECURE!!!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

[Qenan]

Can we get rid of der fatherland security now?

[Jason McCullough]

I'd say he's obviously going to nominate someone worse in replacement, but who on earth could be worse? Santorum?

[Midnight Son]

Here's the absolute worst rumor I've heard: Ashcroft resigned to get ready for a Supreme Court appointment.

*retch*

[Zarathustra]

Ok, you Bush-haters weren't too sharp predicting the election, let's see how you do picking the new AG. List who you despise and hate most in the conservative ranks, who you feel will dismantle democracy, crush civil rights, and ruin freedom of speech, in short, utterly destroy the country and make it a haven of religious fanatics.

You list those people, then we'll see who among you knows beans about politics. If you are right, you sure can boast and then your inevitable claims that Bush's new AG is dismantling democracy, crushing civil rights, etc., etc. will hold some water. :wink:

[Bren]

Can we get rid of der fatherland security now?

Hafta get rid of the father first.

[Midnight Son]

Someone has to give him a Putsch? :lol:

[chet]

Well going on Ashcroft's last popularity contests, bush will replace him with a dead guy.

Chet

[Zarathustra]

no fair, be more specific

[Jamie Madigan]

List who you despise and hate most in the conservative ranks, who you feel will dismantle democracy, crush civil rights, and ruin freedom of speech, in short, utterly destroy the country and make it a haven of religious fanatics.
Bush already has a job.

[Zarathustra]

Not impressed. Here you have an opportunity to show what you know. Don't blow it!

I'm sure once someone is named, a lot of guys will do a google research session then the bitchin' will commence :)

[chet]

Well I see you have nothing to offer yourself, but i guess that would belittle you somehow.

[shift6]

BTW Ashcroft's resignation was turned in on November 2nd, the day of the election. He has planned to leave for awhile and no matter the election results, apparently (reported by NPR).

[Jason McCullough]

Ok, you Bush-haters weren't too sharp predicting the election, let's see how you do picking the new AG. List who you despise and hate most in the conservative ranks, who you feel will dismantle democracy, crush civil rights, and ruin freedom of speech, in short, utterly destroy the country and make it a haven of religious fanatics.

You list those people, then we'll see who among you knows beans about politics. If you are right, you sure can boast and then your inevitable claims that Bush's new AG is dismantling democracy, crushing civil rights, etc., etc. will hold some water. :wink:

I haven't the slightest idea, as I can't comprehend why he'd have nominated Ashcroft in the first place. The mind of Bush is not to be known by mortal ken, I'm afraid.

[Derek Meister]

List who you despise and hate most in the conservative ranks, who you feel will dismantle democracy, crush civil rights, and ruin freedom of speech, in short, utterly destroy the country and make it a haven of religious fanatics.

Does it count if some of us think that the Administration would be hard pressed to come up with a person available who did more to promote the expansion of justice department and law enforcement powers regardless of the numerous concerns they were causing in the loss of civil rights, even from within his own party? Or someone more fanatical in his religion driving the course of his actions than Ashcroft?

Personally, I'm interested in seeing who they replace him with, as well as the other rumored shake-ups within the administration, because if they intentionally go for someone more moderate, it may signal some truth in the speculation that the Administration will lay-off the religious base and instead concentrate on the corporate interests instead.

I wouldn't be surprised if the next AG ends up being extremely corporation-friendly, particularly in the area of intellectual property protection. I bet the RIAA and MPAA have been seriously lobying the Administration over this as soon as they heard the hints of Ashcroft leaving.

[Zarathustra]

Well I see you have nothing to offer yourself, but i guess that would belittle you somehow.

Uh, would it help if I gave you a hint? You obviously don't like being put on the spot like this, eh?

[Zarathustra]

I haven't the slightest idea, as I can't comprehend why he'd have nominated Ashcroft in the first place. The mind of Bush is not to be known by mortal ken, I'm afraid.

Copout #1

[Jason McCullough]

I haven't the slightest idea, as I can't comprehend why he'd have nominated Ashcroft in the first place. The mind of Bush is not to be known by mortal ken, I'm afraid.

Copout #1

Ok: explain to me how he chose Ashcroft in the first place. At least Ed Meese - the closest analogue - had the advantage of being good friends with Reagan.

[chet]

Well I see you have nothing to offer yourself, but i guess that would belittle you somehow.

Uh, would it help if I gave you a hint? You obviously don't like being put on the spot like this, eh?

Huh? I am on the spot?

Care to explain that one?

You want me to guess who bush will pick, and my inability to guess somehow shows that you are smart? And I am on the spot to pick who the idiot president will choose? But you aren't saying your choice, because you have the same stupid in you and know what bush is thinking?

Let me give you some help in logic Zarathustra. Just because your candidate won, doesn't make you any smarter. Just like when the browns win a game, it doesn't make me a better football player.

Chet

[XtienMurawski]

Okay, Zara, I realize I'm stepping into a trap here, but I'll take the bait nonetheless:

Jeb Bush.

Darkhorse choice: George Prescott Bush.

That is all.

"As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top."

-Amanpour

[Zarathustra]

Well I see you have nothing to offer yourself, but i guess that would belittle you somehow.

Uh, would it help if I gave you a hint? You obviously don't like being put on the spot like this, eh?

Huh? I am on the spot?

Care to explain that one?

You want me to guess who bush will pick, and my inability to guess somehow shows that you are smart? And I am on the spot to pick who the idiot president will choose? But you aren't saying your choice, because you have the same stupid in you and know what bush is thinking?

Let me give you some help in logic Zarathustra. Just because your candidate won, doesn't make you any smarter. Just like when the browns win a game, it doesn't make me a better football player.

Chet

Now Chet, can't we have a civil discource without one of us resorting to petty insults? My question in no way is a measure of my smart-ness. I don't have an idea who the AG candidate will be. I thought I explained myself but you either didn't understand or you feel threatened. Now come on, as I put it several times in this thread, you or someone like you will find sufficient cause to thrash the AG a year from now. He will be Hitler incarnate, according to liberals, Frenchmen, and slackers everywhere. My challenge is, if this person is so e-vil, surely someone here, someone who is political savy, will see this coming. I mean, if he's that bad (based on my prediction of how he will be characterized in 12 months, etc) he can't be completely obscyre now, eh?

Why am I now disclosing my guess who the AG is? I'm not one of the enlightened elite who iccesantly demonizes public officials.

[Zarathustra]

Okay, Zara, I realize I'm stepping into a trap here, but I'll take the bait nonetheless:

Jeb Bush.

Darkhorse choice: George Prescott Bush.

That is all.

"As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top."

-Amanpour

Dude, I'm honestly not meaning it to be a trap, but if you are right, if you feel Jeb Bush is a bad choice for AG now, it gives ammo to your contention 12 months from now that he is a bad AG.

Hint: survey any leading conservatives who have recently left office. Ashcroft fit in that category, possibly the next AG will too... ?

[chet]

Zarathustra, I hardly feel threatened. You really are in a desperate attempt to try and build yourself up in this thread. We are threatened, you are putting us on the spot, blah blah blah. And i love how you have no idea who the AG will be, but you are giving out hints. This entire thread is nothing but your strawman masturbation.

It is hilarious, you are like a 4 year old walking down the street proclaiming himself superman - because I AM SUPERMAN!!!


Chet

[Tyjenks]

BTW Ashcroft's resignation was turned in on November 2nd, the day of the election. He has planned to leave for awhile and no matter the election results, apparently (reported by NPR).

Yeah, isn't it kind of business as usual that many of these positions are turned over even when an incumbent is re-elected? Ashcroft was a boob. Glad he is gone, regardless. Surely the administration will not do worse, but who the hell knows. As most of you said, why Ashcroft was picked initially is still a mystery to me.

[Zarathustra]

Zarathustra, I hardly feel threatened. You really are in a desperate attempt to try and build yourself up in this thread. We are threatened, you are putting us on the spot, blah blah blah. And i love how you have no idea who the AG will be, but you are giving out hints. This entire thread is nothing but your strawman masturbation.

It is hilarious, you are like a 4 year old walking down the street proclaiming himself superman - because I AM SUPERMAN!!!


Chet

Relax, take your medicine or whatever, Chet. :roll:

[forgeforsaken]

Doh, should have known! The replacement is the guy who said it was ok for Bush to have people tortured.

[Moore]

Ok, you Bush-haters weren't too sharp predicting the election, let's see how you do picking the new AG. List who you despise and hate most in the conservative ranks, who you feel will dismantle democracy, crush civil rights, and ruin freedom of speech, in short, utterly destroy the country and make it a haven of religious fanatics.

You list those people, then we'll see who among you knows beans about politics. If you are right, you sure can boast and then your inevitable claims that Bush's new AG is dismantling democracy, crushing civil rights, etc., etc. will hold some water. :wink:

Robo-Christ.

[XtienMurawski]

Dude, I'm honestly not meaning it to be a trap, but if you are right, if you feel Jeb Bush is a bad choice for AG now, it gives ammo to your contention 12 months from now that he is a bad AG.

Hint: survey any leading conservatives who have recently left office. Ashcroft fit in that category, possibly the next AG will too... ?

DOH!

Sorry. I wasn't entirely paying attention I guess. I though the task was to come up with who we thought was going to be the next choice for AG, not who was Darth Vader. A look back at your original gauntlet toss leads me to realize I missed the point.

Those two guys aren't my choice for the soul-crushers you wanted us to list, they were just guesses as to who Bush might pull out of his...erm...hat.

This is all moot now, of course.

I have no idea who would be worse than Ashcroft. He was so singularly unqualified. I do know that some dopey columnist in my paper this morning suggested the idea that he was pulling out to be the GOP's candidate in 2008. He may have just been joking, though, as he went on to say that then all the Dems would have to do would be to run a dead guy against him.

"Not to mention the fact that you're talking to a dead guy...what do you think, am I qualified?"

-Amanpour

[Zarathustra]

Doh, should have known! The replacement is the guy who said it was ok for Bush to have people tortured.

Lol, just the guy we need to keep lively debates going in the P&R forums :) Let tha demonizin' begin!

[Midnight Son]

You taking over for Cherub or Cindysue?

[Jason McCullough]

Sadly, this is good news, as I was worried he'd nominate him to an open judge seat, or possibly the SC.

How can you demonize a guy who writes an apologia for torture? Nothing to add to that.

[Zarathustra]

You taking over for Cherub or Cindysue?

Neither. I'm thinking about taking over for the Amazing Kreskin ;)

[Zarathustra]

Sadly, this is good news, as I was worried he'd nominate him to an open judge seat, or possibly the SC.

How can you demonize a guy who writes an apologia for torture? Nothing to add to that.

Jason, my point was, no matter who Bush selects, I was predicting that the left-leaners here would find something about him they abhorred sufficiently to "Ashcroft" him. I just wanted to give you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of Bush's e-vil minions.

[Midnight Son]

Seems more like trolling to me! (And I know a little something about that!) :lol:

[chet]

Midnight, that is just because you are intimidated by Zarathustra.

Yeah, i know, makes no sense, but its true!

[John Reynolds]

Jason, my point was, no matter who Bush selects, I was predicting that the left-leaners here would find something about him they abhorred sufficiently to "Ashcroft" him. I just wanted to give you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of Bush's e-vil minions.

And look at who he's replacing Ashcroft with. Glad to see good ole' boy Houston networking hard at work in that selection process. Out with the bad, in with the bad. Oh noes, did I just "Ashcroft" sweet little Gonzales?

[Jason McCullough]

Sadly, this is good news, as I was worried he'd nominate him to an open judge seat, or possibly the SC.

How can you demonize a guy who writes an apologia for torture? Nothing to add to that.

Jason, my point was, no matter who Bush selects, I was predicting that the left-leaners here would find something about him they abhorred sufficiently to "Ashcroft" him. I just wanted to give you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of Bush's e-vil minions.

Not really; if he'd nominated someone who wouldn't overturn Roe or pro-terrorism, it'd just be par.

[chet]

But jason, Zarathustra masterfully outplayed you! You can't say anything bad about Gonzales otherwise we are proving Zarathustra right!!!

Wow! He really stuck us!!!!

Damn, close the P&R forums down, Zarathustra has stumped us all!!!

Chet

[chet]

WAIT! WAIT! I figured a way around it!!!!

I bet Zarathustra posts stuff defending the bush administration!!!

TAKE THAT!

[Midnight Son]

WAIT! WAIT! I figured a way around it!!!!

I bet Zarathustra posts stuff defending the bush administration!!!

TAKE THAT!

Now wait a minnit! What kind of fool would defend the Boosh Admin?

[Andrew Mayer]

Oh noes, did I just "Ashcroft" sweet little Gonzales?

And they said that letting him go back to cuba with his dad was wrong.

[BrewersDroop]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that the next AG will be Alberto Gonzales.

[Zarathustra]

Now for my next trick, I will guess the exact day and place Chet had his lobotomy... :)

[quatoria]

Now Chet, can't we have a civil discource without one of us resorting to petty insults?

Considering that it's you on one side, and Chet on the other, I'd say, no, there's pretty much no chance whatsoever that a civil discourse can be had without petty insults. In fact, I'll go one farther, and say there's a near-zero chance of it happening without petty insults, smug condescension, dripping contempt, arrogant self-superiority, incandescent rage, and possibly assault & battery.