Handwriting, Meet Wall

Bush is through letting Alberto Gonzales bring down the juggernaut that is his Administration. Or something.

Asked about Gonzales during a closed-door meeting with House Republicans on Thursday, Bush did not defend his longtime friend, according to one official who attended the session and demanded anonymity because it was private.

Instead, Bush tepidly repeated his public statement: The attorney general would have to go up to Capitol Hill and fix his problem, according to this official.

That's the first chink in the "he's my buddy and I like him" armor that I've heard tell of. Meanwhile Gonzales is defending himself by saying the same damn thing that's been proven false six ways to Sunday, that he had nothing to do with the firings.

Who has "five minutes from now" in the office pool?