# John Ashcroft Resigns. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 9, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918 "2004-11-09T23:14:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/61 "2004-11-10T16:02:53Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Ashcroft resigns, eh. > > Whatever he’s got, I hope it’s contagious. Is this an example of the famous liberal compassion, or is it just you, **Biotop**? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/62 "2004-11-10T16:03:51Z")
CNN is reporting that Gonzalez has the inside track. That is NOT an improvement, and may even be worse. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/63 "2004-11-10T16:08:30Z")
The sad thing is that if the Dems resist Gonzalez the Bushies will play the race card. Count on it. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/64 "2004-11-10T16:14:10Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > The sad thing is that if the Dems resist Gonzalez the Bushies will play the race card. Count on it. Right. That’s a weapon only the Democrats are allowed to play. (See Pickering, C., for my cite). ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/65 "2004-11-10T16:27:20Z")
Why do any of you think it will be someone better? We’re going to get a guy that appears nicer then Ashcroft, which will enable him to fuck us over about 100 times worse. Gonzales will get it, you heard it here first. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/66 "2004-11-10T16:46:28Z")
Gonzales got it. [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20041110/ap\_on\_go\_ca\_st\_pe/bush\_cabinet\_16](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20041110/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/bush_cabinet_16) Does AG go through a nominating process, or is it a direct appointment? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/67 "2004-11-10T16:49:06Z")
> [@](#): > > …Ashcroft, in a five-page, handwritten letter to Bush, said, “The objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved.”… All right! Terror threat level is green! Party time! ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/68 "2004-11-10T16:50:32Z")
I hate it when I’m right. They’ve been grooming him for awhile. I had hoped they would let him go because he’s a bit of a political hot potato, but this is insane Bush we’re talking about. Now we’re really fucked. /black vans pulling up in any minute now. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/69 "2004-11-10T16:55:47Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Is this an example of the famous liberal compassion, or is it just you, **Biotop**? I never claimed to have “liberal compassion” or “conservative compassion.” I’m just glad the guy is gone and I wish the rest of the lot would catch the retirement bug as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/70 "2004-11-10T17:04:55Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > I never claimed to have “liberal compassion” or “conservative compassion.” I’m just glad the guy is gone and I wish the rest of the lot would catch the retirement bug as well. Ahh… my apologies. It was unclear to me that the “bug” was the RETIREMENT bug. Your post first read as though you were wishing Ashcroft’s _illness_ on others. I now see it was merely _retirement_ you were wishing on others. Sorry for misinterpreting you. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/71 "2004-11-10T17:06:01Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Gonzales got it. > > [Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20041110/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/bush_cabinet_16) > > Does AG go through a nominating process, or is it a direct appointment? As a member of the Cabinet, the Attorney General must be confirmed by the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/72 "2004-11-10T17:15:19Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > As a member of the Cabinet, the Attorney General must be confirmed by the Senate. So yes it will be direct appointment. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/73 "2004-11-10T17:20:27Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > So yes it will be direct appointment. That will depend on whether the Democrats want to spend some political capital now, or save it for the Supreme Court appointment. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/74 "2004-11-10T17:26:54Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > That will depend on whether the Democrats want to spend some political capital now, or save it for the Supreme Court appointment. All will be direct appointment. Next? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/75 "2004-11-10T17:28:59Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > That will depend on whether the Democrats want to spend some political capital now, or save it for the Supreme Court appointment. Bah, fuck my other reply, I’d rather learn something. I don’t know too much about this phase of things. Can you expand on what the dems can do? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/76 "2004-11-10T17:30:04Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > All will be direct appointment. > > Next? I don’t quite follow. Are you saying the GOP majority will make Senate confirmation a rubber-stamp process? Because the Senate must “advise and consent” to these spots. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/77 "2004-11-10T17:33:57Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Bah, fuck my other reply, I’d rather learn something. > > I don’t know too much about this phase of things. Can you expand on what the dems can do? A filibuster could tie up the Senate for hours, days, or weeks. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster, which the Republicans do not have. Basically it would put pressure on Senate Republicans to put pressure on the President to withdraw the nomination. As a rule, I think the President should be allowed great latitude in his Cabinet appointments, even as disastrous a choice as I believe Gonzalez to be. He should not be allowed great latitude in Supreme Court appointments, and I believe the Democrats should save this tactic just in case. It’s not something you want to do every day. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/78 "2004-11-10T17:35:00Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Are you saying the GOP majority will make Senate confirmation a rubber-stamp process? Because the Senate must “advise and consent” to these spots. Yes, that’s pretty much what I’m saying. Is there reason to believe otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/79 "2004-11-10T17:36:21Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > A filibuster could tie up the Senate for hours, days, or weeks. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster, which the Republicans do not have. Basically it would put pressure on Senate Republicans to put pressure on the President to withdraw the nomination. > > As a rule, I think the President should be allowed great latitude in his Cabinet appointments, even as disastrous a choice as I believe Gonzalez to be. He should not be allowed great latitude in Supreme Court appointments, and I believe the Democrats should save this tactic just in case. It’s not something you want to do every day. Ah ok. I though they lost the filibuster option this past election. Looks like it’s back to remedial math for me. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918/80 "2004-11-10T17:44:19Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > CNN is reporting that Gonzalez has the inside track. That is NOT an improvement, and may even be worse. Only time will tell, but I believe that you are wrong. That’s a personal assesment, by the way, based on my experience with and direct knowledge of Mr. Gonzalez. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-ashcroft-resigns/273918.md?page=5)