News & Politics - Ashcroft likely to leave post

migamoo · 11-06-2004, 05:48 AM

from cnn

Quote:

Aides: Ashcroft likely to leave post
Thursday, November 4, 2004 Posted: 2:25 PM EST (1925 GMT)

Aides are saying Attorney General John Ashcroft may be planning to resign.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Attorney General John Ashcroft is likely to leave his post before the start of President Bush's second term, senior aides said Thursday.

Ashcroft, 62, is described as exhausted from leading the Justice Department in fighting the domestic war on terrorism since the September 11, 2001, attacks. Stress was a factor in Ashcroft's health problems earlier this year that resulted in removal of his gall bladder. (Ashcroft in intensive care)

Ashcroft is expected to resign before Bush's January 20 inauguration, said aides who spoke only on condition of anonymity. They said there is a small chance he would stay on, at least for a short time, if Bush asked him.

The attorney general has not officially informed his staff of his future plans, spokesman Mark Corallo said.

At a news conference, Bush said he hasn't made any decisions about his Cabinet.

Ashcroft, a former two-term governor and senator from Missouri, has long been a favorite among Bush's base of religious conservatives. He also is a lightning rod for Democrats and other critics on issues ranging from the anti-terrorism Patriot Act, which expanded rules for eavesdropping, to abortion rights and gun control. (Ashcroft details uses of Patriot Act)

Names that have been floated in recent weeks as a possible replacement include Ashcroft's former deputy, Larry Thompson, who would become the first black attorney general.

Others include Marc Racicot, who was Bush's campaign manager, and White House general counsel Alberto Gonzalez, who would give Bush a notable Hispanic appointment.

Thoughts?

wanderer78 · 11-06-2004, 07:05 AM

I'm thrilled he's leaving.

I'm sorry to hear he's having health problems though, and I hope he recovers.

There's always the inevitable bad to worst. Does anyone know about his potential successors?

ceilirose · 11-06-2004, 08:26 AM

I guess there really is a God. But I've heard that Rudy Guiliani is a likely replacement which would only be a shade beter than Ashcroft.

**sum1** · 11-06-2004, 09:05 AM

Ashcroft's quitting? About time! He should never have had the post in the first place.

busybuzz · 11-06-2004, 04:33 PM

Now if only Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Cheney, and George W. Bush stepped down we'd be getting somewhere

Wild Pikachu · 11-06-2004, 05:09 PM

Well, I feel a little better about the country's immediate future. Ashcroft's contempt for the Constitution was palpable. I have (had) a Newsweek interview from October 2001 in which they almost--ALMOST!--caught him using the infamous Adolf Hitler line, "extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." He had the sentence half out of his mouth before he caught himself and backtracked into some "of course we're not going to do anything unconstitutional" platitudes.

When Ashcroft first took office, I thought he wanted to be another J. Edgar Hoover. After 9/11, it became clear that he really wanted to be another Heinrich Himmler, transforming the FBI into a true American Gestapo. Fortunately it appears that his reach was far greater than his grasp.

**TheAngel** · 11-06-2004, 05:26 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if Rumsfeld was out as well, he had some oh S**t moments early on in Iraq and then dropped out of the limelight so he'll probabaly be replaces...as for Ashcroft's replacements,

Quote:

Names that have been floated in recent weeks as a possible replacement include Ashcroft's former deputy, Larry Thompson, who would become the first black attorney general. Others include Marc Racicot, who was Bush's campaign manager, and White House general counsel Alberto Gonzales, who would give Bush a notable Hispanic appointment.

*Juli* · 11-06-2004, 05:46 PM

Wasn't there speculation that Rumsfeld might be leaving as well? I'm pretty sure that I heard that.

**sum1** · 11-06-2004, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by busybuzz
Now if only Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Cheney, and George W. Bush stepped down we'd be getting somewhere

Hopefully, all those guys will stick around. And if Condo Rice goes, maybe she won't go too far. Just as long as it's Guilanai for president in 2008 and not Jeb Bush.

*Maria* · 11-06-2004, 08:30 PM

I don't know how to feel about this news. I guess I'm fine with his stepping down, as he's sort of put me off in the past.

As for Guiliani being considered as a possible replacement, um, NO. It's like replacing an orange with an...orange. Not much difference.

mh67511 · 11-06-2004, 09:19 PM

I hope Rumsfield gets the boot. I like Bush but CANNOT STAND Rumsfield. To me he comes off as a totally uncompassionate jerk. Would not mind seeing him go at all. As for Ashcroft, I've always felt he was a little too extreme and wont mind if he leaves as well.

In Fair Verona · 11-07-2004, 11:37 PM

It's about time. The guy lost to a dead guy. I hope we get rid of Rummy and Rice as well.


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