94 -- 2

The Vote today in the Senate to “end the Bush administration’s ability to unilaterally fill U.S. attorney vacancies as a backlash to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ firing of eight federal prosecutors.”

Buffoonery is the only way to describe this debacle. What should have been a non-issue will end with bringing down the Attorney General.

And again, it all comes back to hubris. All the DoJ had to do was make a statement that the USAs are presidential appointments who serve at the pleasure of the president, and at the expiration of their terms, the president has chosen to replace 8 USA. The President greatly appreciates the service of these dedicated men and women, and will make no further comment as these are personnel matters. The President will fill these vacancies on an interim basis and nominate successors for Senate confirmation as quickly as possible. Who cares if the Senate ever acts on the nominations because the president has the power to appoint indefinite "interim" replacements with only two years left in his admin.

Perfectly lawful. And what would have been the option of the Senate? Get mad, make bold statements about the political nature of the firings and then what? The WH would have been in a much better political position to resist subpoenas because they had done nothing unlawful and in the process make the senate Dems look whiny and impotent.

But what do they do instead? They overplay their hand by appearing to snub the senate with their new Patriot Act power and lie to Congress about things of little consequence. Of course the WH would be involved in the firings. The USAs work for the President.

And I couldn't be happier.