posted November 04, 2004 02:40 PM              

Thursday, November 4, 2004

BY CURT ANDERSON
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - Attorney General John Ashcroft is likely to leave his post before the start of President Bush's second term, senior aides said Thursday.

Ashcroft, 62, is described as exhausted from leading the Justice Department in fighting the domestic war on terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Stress was a factor in Ashcroft's health problems earlier this year that resulted in removal of his gall bladder.

Ashcroft is expected to resign before Bush's Jan. 20 inauguration, said aides who spoke only on condition of anonymity. They said there is a small chance he would stay on, at least for a short time, if Bush asked him.

The attorney general has not officially informed his staff of his future plans, spokesman Mark Corallo said.

At a news conference, Bush said he hasn't made any decisions about his Cabinet.

Ashcroft, a former two-term governor and senator from Missouri, has long been a favorite among Bush's base of religious conservatives. He also is a lightning rod for Democrats and other critics on issues ranging from the anti-terrorism Patriot Act, which expanded rules for eavesdropping, to abortion rights and gun control.

Names that have been floated in recent weeks as a possible replacement include Ashcroft's former deputy, Larry Thompson, who would become the first black attorney general. Others include Marc Racicot, who was Bush's campaign manager, and White House general counsel Alberto Gonzalez, who would give Bush a notable Hispanic appointment.
http://www.freep.com/news/latestnews/pm1176_20041104.htm

posted November 04, 2004 03:20 PM            

You did want to see W clean up Wall Street, and corporate America now didn't you LS?

Do you know how many corporate executives the Bush Justice Department has prosecuted or indicted LS? How many pled guilty and are now in jail?

And now, you seem happy at the prospect of Ashcroft departing?

posted November 04, 2004 03:56 PM            

Yeah, you can say that it kinda drove us up the wall!

That's what he gets for messing with our freedom to read, watch, listen to, say what ever we want(in the right content with certain times), interlope in our affairs that is not hurting anybody else, etc.