Why is Gonzales still there?

Attorney General Albert Gonzales, criticized for bad management, politicizing the Justice Department and misrepresenting the facts about the firing of eight United States attorneys, must also be hard of hearing.

How could he listen to the comments by Senate Republicans during and after his Thursday testimony before the Judiciary Committee and not realize it is time to resign? Remember, these are Republicans talking.

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., senior Republican on the committee: “Your characterization of your participation is significantly, if not totally, at variance with the facts,” he said at the hearing. After Gonzales called him Friday for a post mortem on the hearing, Specter told reporters: “I told him, ‘Everything I had to say about the hearing I’ve already said.’ ” (translation: I said he lied, didn't you hear me?)

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, another Republican on the committee, issued an unenthusiastic statement Friday that handed the hot potato right back to Gonzales: “As for whether the attorney general should resign, that is a question I leave to him and to the president.” (translation: What the heck is he waiting for?)

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., at Thursday’s hearing: “Most of this is a stretch,” referring to Gonzales’ explanations. (translation: You expect us to believe this stuff?)

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., astounded at Gonzales’ 50 claims of not being able to remember things during the hearing, said later: “I think it’s going to be difficult for him to be an effective leader... At this point, I think (Gonzales) should be given a chance to think it through and talk to the president about what his future should be.” (translation: Go! Go now!)

Whatever Gonzales’ future should be, not even his friends think it should be at the Justice Department.