Given the speculation that Gonzales might actually step down given by Arlen Specter today as noted in this front page diary Gonzo Watch I have some questions for my fellow Kossaks. What is the likelyhood that Orrin Hatch might be a potential replacement if Gonzales does actually step down? If not Hatch then who? Also, if Bush were to nominate Hatch, what is the likelyhood that this story would come up in the confirmation process? Neil A. Lewis wrote in the New York Times on March 5, 2004 that:
For 18 months, at least two Republican Senate staff aides engaged in unauthorized and possibly illegal spying by reading Democratic strategy memorandums on a Senate computer system, according to a report released on Thursday by the Senate sergeant-at-arms.
The 65-page report concluded that the two Republican staff aides, both of whom have since departed, improperly read, downloaded and printed as many as 4,670 files concerning the Democrats' tactics in opposing many of President Bush's judicial nominees. The report, the result of an investigation undertaken at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested that many other Republican staff aides may have been involved in trafficking in the stolen documents.
Here's the full article from the New York Times:
Report Finds Republican Aides Spied On Democrats
I thought that I had read a diary here that Hatch might actually be considering taking the position since he's not up for reelection until 2012 and he's not looking forward to spending the rest of his time in the minority in the Senate. I looked for the diary and could not find it under the tag of Hatch or Gonzales. I'll gladly link it up here if someone else finds it for me along with any other related diaries that I missed.
After seeing Hatch in action, he might be the one guy who would actually still cover for Bush in the DOJ, and actually one who might make it through the confirmation process sadly. I started to wonder if Bush might put him in as a recess appointment to avoid any nastiness until I read this story here:
Bye, Bye Recess Appointments
Who can forget this exchange that Hatch had on Meet the Press where he was defending Gonzales and almost went into a lather and wouldn't quit talking over everyone and Russert asked Leahy if Hatch would be a suitable replacement for Gonzales, and Leahy replied that the rumor on the Hill was that he was actively running for it. Video here courtesy of C&L:
Supporting Orrin Hatch to become AG
So here are the questions for everyone. Will Gonzales actually step down as Specter has said? If he does will Hatch be a possible replacement? If Bush doesn't think he can get him through the normal confirmation process, would he try to do a recess appointment? Is the possibility of any recess appointment the reason Reid has said that they will make sure they come back in when they'd normally be on vacation so Bush can't have any recess appointments whether it's Hatch or someone else to replace Gonzo who might be equally as bad? If Hatch has to face a confirmation process, will the story about the hacking into the Democrats' computers come into play and keep him from being confirmed?