Abu G's Big Day

I woke up a little late for the beginning of Alberto Gonzales' testimony, but I'm watching it now. It's amazing to me that after three months, he can't seem to give a decent answer on why he should keep his job. Herb Kohl just asked him that question, and he flustered and fumfered and gesticulated wildly. He's also clearly saying things that he memorized, which makes sense considering he spent three weeks in lockdown remembering what to say.

He just said "The scandal is not supported by the testimony, much of which I've never seen."

The Orrin Hatch freak show is up, so I'm going to take this time to read Christy Hardin Smith's liveblog and catch up.

UPDATE: Specter -

"In my opening statement, I referred to the fact that you appeared to not be candid and open. And in your opening statement, you appeared to carry that lack of being candid forward to today. It is not exactly a matter of precision to say that you discussed things. That is a fundamental fact. Gonzales makes a snotty aside that he prepares for every hearing, and Specter snaps back: Do you prepare for all of your press conferences?"

Apparently Abu G has moved from having no involvement with the firings to "limited involvement." Reading through the liveblog, that doesn't appear to be washing with most of the Senators.

Kennedy:

How can you tell us that things were proper when you had a limited involvement, the process wasn't vigorous and you basically left it to someone else? (CHS notes: ouch, that one stung.) AG says since then he went back and looked at the reasons for those prior decisions and thinks they were okay. AG says that he thinks he is justified in relying on the judgments of senior staff. He is not aware that anyone made decisions based on improper reasons — but he's asked the office of professional responsibility in the DoJ to look into whether there might be questions. (CHS notes: so, there might be something, but someone else is looking into it. Gotcha.)