Ashcroft and Evans (Commerce) resign.

[h4ppy]

Well, here's the link and here's the article:

Ashcroft's resignation will be effective upon confirmation of his successor, a Justice Department official said.

The White House released their resignation letters Tuesday evening. Ashcroft's was hand-written and dated November 2, the day Bush was re-elected; Evans' was dated Tuesday.

President Bush met with his Cabinet on Thursday and held a news conference later that day. At that time Bush said he had yet to make any decisions about replacements for any people who resigned.

"I don't know who they'll be," he said. "It's inevitable. There'll be some changes. It happens in every administration."

Bush said Thursday that he was proud of every member of the Cabinet and his staff, and that he understood that they had exhausting jobs and made many family sacrifices.

Ashcroft said in his resignation letter that the Justice Department would benefit from new leadership in a second term, while Evans told Bush he thought it was time to return home to Texas.

Some sources have said that Ashcroft's health would be a factor in his decision. The attorney general suffered from pancreatitis earlier this year, and had his gallbladder removed.

Evans, who served as Bush's campaign chairman in 2000, is a longtime friend and one of the president's closest advisers, while Ashcroft has been one of the administration's highest-profile and most-criticized appointees.

In a statement, the president said: "Don has worked to advance economic security and prosperity for all Americans. He has worked steadfastly to make sure America continues to be the best place in the world to do business.

"To encourage job creation here at home, Don has worked closely with me to reduce taxes, open markets for American goods and services, and promote a level playing field abroad."

Uh, yay I guess, I never understood what was so bad about him but, whatever hopefully the replacement won't be as controvercial.

 

[cgannon64]

I don't know if he did anything actually wrong, I think it was just his position at the Justice Department and the perceived threats to justice - Patriot Act, Guantanamo - that Bush presided over. His influence in either could be neglible. Well, maybe he had some effect on Guantanamo Bay...

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Rumor is that he will be Chief Justice after Renquist dies or resigns.

 

[downtown]

Good. I wont shed any tears over Ashcroft, who did a pretty horrible job. I figured this was coming though. Good for America.

 

[downtown]

Rumor is that he will be Chief Justice after Renquist dies or resigns.

Oh God no. Id rather have him keep his old job then

 

[DBear]

Rumor is that he will be Chief Justice after Renquist dies or resigns.

If Ashcroft's health is too poor to allow him to remain at attorney general, how's he going to last as a supreme, let alone Chief Justice?

 

[cgannon64]

If Ashcroft's health is too poor to allow him to remain at attorney general, how's he going to last as a supreme, let alone Chief Justice?

That could just be some excuse, to cover for the fact that he wants to be Chief Justice, or that Bush no longer wants him. Especially when 'some sources' said it, not the man himself.

 

[h4ppy]

Rumor is that he will be Chief Justice after Renquist dies or resigns.

Where did you hear this rumor, sorry but I don't read blogs and I would like to know where you are getting this.

 

[amadeus]

If anyone is going to be Chief Justice, it's going to be Clarence Thomas.

 

[Free Enterprise]

Rmsharpe's estimate is the most probable possibility. Clarence Thomas is the most likey candidate for Chief Justice. Though I do discount other possibilities. I know several people who seem to agree that this (Clarence Thomas becoming Chief Justice) is probable. The only other theory I have heard is that Ted Olson is a possibility (this was only speculation however).

 

[emzie]

The controversy surounding Ashcroft predates his current job. The man is thisclose to being a racist -- or so has been charged. I don't believe it, but he's, erm, a questionable choice for the head of the DOJ. He's far more conservitive than Bush et. co. He's the guy who spent $8,000 to cover up the breast on the statue "Spirit of Justice" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1788845.stm)

On a side note, my aunt works for him. She runs on of his departments. So she's probably out of a job. Boo hoo.

 

[Yom]

Oh God no. Id rather have him keep his old job then

Same here.

 

[Falcon02]

Rumor is that he will be Chief Justice after Renquist dies or resigns.

I don't even think he meets the constitutional criteria to be nominated to be a Supreme Court Justice.

Btw, Renquist's "replacement" (ie. who ever is selected to fill in his spot) will in all likely hood not be Chief Justice... that position will likely move on to one of the current justices, probobly the oldest.

 

[Smidlee]

Uh, yay I guess, I never understood what was so bad about him but, whatever hopefully the replacement won't be as controvercial.

For the most part the whole controversy about Ashcroft was Tom Daschle. Tom Daschle used Ashcroft a warning to Bush that he wasn't going to let any conservative into the Supreme Court. This back fired in 2002 election when Daschle found out Ashcroft had better approval rating than he did and lost democrat seats. This finally lead to 2004 where Daschle lost his seat along with other democrats.

I hate to see Ashcroft go even though his job got a lot bigger after 9/11. I'm had a feeling he would resign since after he got out of the hospital, he wasn't in the news very much.

 

[El Sop]

The mighty eagle comes crashing down

http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2002/02/25/ashcroft.sings.wbtv.med.html