Gonzales Aides had Firing Authority

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales gave two top aides authority to hire and fire political appointees other than U.S. attorneys, according to a Justice Department report.

The March 2006 order gave Gonzales' Kyle Sampson and Monica Goodling authority to hire and fire about 135 politically appointed Justice Department employees who did not require Senate confirmation. The order was first reported by National Journal.

When Gonzales first issued the order, Justice Department officials were well into the process of determining which U.S. attorneys to fire. The list was narrowed to eight U.S. attorneys, and their dismissals began in December. The liberal Democrats pounced all over this like a tiger pouncing on a gazelle. They whined and cried foul, saying they were not informed.

The Justice Department pushed back saying Gonzales never relinquished authority over the hiring and firings. Let me and try to make this as clear as I can. "Political Appointees," or non-career employees serve at the pleasure of the President and can be fired at anytime for any reason. Are you ignorant liberals trying to tell me when Clinton won the White House no one was fired? I don't remember hearing any whining and crying then. Get over it, Move on. Nothing illegal was done, but I still do not have confidence in the Attorney General at this time since he suddenly developed amnesia.