From a Republican's standpoint, Alberto Gonzales was the best Republican Attorney General, ever.  He faithfully represented Republicanism and followed Republican ideology to the best of his ability.  Which, of course, made him the worst Attorney General, up until now.  He practiced the Republican evangelical ideology that Republicanism is a justifiable end in itself, that there is no higher calling than to convert everyone in the US to Republicanism, using lies, deceit, dissembling, amnesia, obfuscation and absolute, total contempt for anyone who questions those methods.  Bush has an opportunity to put in someone who's even better at it than Gonzales.

Look at just some of Bush's choices.  The religion saturated Ashcroft, a Republican, the contemptuous Gonzales, a Republican, the sycophantic Miers, a Republican, the proven incompetent Heckuva job Brownie, a Republican, the anti-constitutionalists Roberts and Alito, Republicans, and the mentally deranged Cheney, a Republican.  Are you seeing a pattern, here?

There's rejoicing, hoopla, and dancing in the streets that the inept amnesiac Gonzales is gone.  Democrats are dazedly walking around with big, fatuous grins.  Lots of high-fives and handshaking.  Congress is under the false impression that they will have a choice in the matter.  All of this is fine, as far as it goes, but it does not take into account one glaringly obvious, cold, hard fact.

The Next Attorney General Will Be Another Republican.

Sure, Congress has the power to approve or disapprove of the next Attorney General, if that appointment occurs during a session of Congress.  But, forgotten is the fact that they will only have a Republican to consider, even if they get the chance.  And, forgotten is the fact that Bush can appoint an Attorney General without the need for Congressional approval when Congress is in recess.  And, forgotten is the fact that Congress is in recess, right now.  Thus the reason for Gonzales sudden resignation during a Congressional recess.

Bush can appoint anyone he wants, right now, and that appointment stands unchallenged until the end of the next Congressional session.  Then, he can just reappoint the same person until the end of the next session, on and on, ad infinitum.

Bush has until September 3 to appoint an Attorney General with no need for Congressional approval.  Do you think he's going to pass up this opportunity, considering his preference for sneaking Republicans in during recesses?  Do you think he cares about the outrage this would cause?  I don't think so.