Originally Posted by
clifc
Is it because DHS is unmoored? I know law enforcement and the courts are tethered together.
That is a good point, and probably explains a lot of the cultural problem within DHS. They aren't answerable to anyone.
Originally Posted by
AmericanSecurityTheater
Tidbits like this have helped to rebuild my respect for Ashcroft, I'll admit I never liked the man (Remember that he lost against a dead man in 2000?). But a little bit of Gonzales went a long way towards showing how relatively moderate and well intentioned Ashcroft actually was by comparison.
Sadly, this is probably why he ended up getting replaced.
If you recall, Ashcroft was the first Bush Cabinet member to be asked to leave, and his refusal to kowtow to the White House - and Cheney in particular - played a significant part in his departure.