Gonzo back to capitol hill....

Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez is going to testify on Capitol Hill ... AGAIN!!!

He is scheduled to appear in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman on July 26, but the date has yet to be officially confirmed.

According to the Politico's The Crypt, Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) states that this time around he will provide the Attorney General with some questions in advance , "so that he won’t dodge 60 or 70 times by saying, ‘I don’t remember,'" .... clearly a reference to what happened during the last Senate hearing.

Pressure To Fire Gonzales Fizzles Out

Calls to fire Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have all but disappeared. The pressure by democrats to force his resignation or removal by Bush have fizzled out. Republican Congressman have come out in support and it looks like the " The Judge" (Gonzales) is now safe.

According to Financial Times:

“The list of accusations has mushroomed, but the evidence has not,” said
Lamar Smith, the senior Republican committee member. “If there are no fish in
this lake, we should reel in our lines of questions, dock our empty boat and
turn to more pressing issues.”

Monday Morning Wrap Up

Here are Monday morning top news:

- GOP looking for the next "Regan Republic" seem to have found him in actor and former Senator Fred Thompson.

- Tomorrow thousands are expected at the May 1st immigration rallies. Los Angeles is getting ready for the worst.

- Harvard students protest Gonzales. Small but vocal group heckles the AG.

- A local Utah GOP Chair has a resolution for the party - blame Satan for immigration.

McCain calls for Gonzales Resignation

Presidential hopeful Senator John McCain (R-AZ), today was the latest and most prominent Republican to call for the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

McCain deserted the White House and said “Out of loyalty to the president, he should obviously step down,” McCain said. “He’s not serving the president well. I reached that conclusion a long time ago. I just haven’t been asked.”

Huckabee calls Gonzales a distraction

According to a report by ABC news, former Arkansas Governor and GOP Presidential hopeful, Mike Huckabee said on Monday the U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was a "major distraction" for President Bush and the GOP.

Huckabee continued to suggest that the Attorney General voluntarily step down.

Gonzales: "I'm Not Going Anywhere!"

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales vowed to remain at his post as the head of the Justice Department. Armed with additional support from President Bush, Gonzales admitted "I've made mistakes, but I'm not stepping down."

Gonzales said at a press conference he would continue in his position "as long as I can continue to serve effectively," reported an AP article.

Standing By Your Man

President George W. Bush gave U.S. Attorney General Al Gonzales a vote of confidence today and said he knows that Gonzales did no wrong doing. "This is an honest, honorable man, in whom I have confidence," Bush said.

AP reported: "The president said that Gonzales' testimony before skeptical Judiciary Committee senators last week "increased my confidence" in his ability to lead the Justice Department. Separately, a White House spokeswoman said, "He's staying.""

Richardson on Gonzales

Democrat and Presidential hopeful, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is the latest candidate calling for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, the first Hispanic to hold the position.

According the the Washington Times, Inside the Beltway article, the Gov. said: You know, he's a fellow Hispanic. He came up from very humble means. He's an able guy. But it's obvious that he wasn't engaged in his department and couldn't answer [last week's] testimony in the Senate."

More Groups Support Gonzales

More groups have come out supporting U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Including the Latino Coalition, the National Latino Peace Officers, the law officers and RNC Chairman/Sen. Mel Martinez. Over 13 groups have come out supporting Gonzales.

U.S. Attorney General Gonzales made a last minute appearance at the National Hispanic Leadership Summit in Washington D.C., hosted by Sen. Hutchinson and Sen. Martinez. Gonzales received a rock star welcome by the over 350 Hispanic leaders from all over the country. Welcomed with roaring applause, everyone was on their feet, clapping and supporting the Attorney General.

Also this is a great read if you want to know more about Attorney General Gonzales.

From US News : 10 Things You Didn't Know About Alberto Gonzales (By Jennifer O'Shea)

1. Alberto Gonzales was born in San Antonio on Aug. 4, 1955. He was the second of eight children born to Pablo and Maria Gonzales, who had met as migrant farm workers. The family settled in Humble, Texas (just north of Houston), in a two-bedroom home, which his father and uncles built. The house lacked hot water and the family did not have a telephone until Gonzales was in high school. Gonzales has said that his father's self-reliance and hard work strongly influenced his own political views. Pablo Gonzales died in a work-related fall in 1982.

2. As a child, Gonzales sold soft drinks to fans attending Rice University football games. The school made a big impression on the 12-year-old, and he dreamed of attending college there one day.

3. At MacArthur High School, Gonzales was an honor student and an athlete. He played varsity baseball and was a defensive back and linebacker on the football team.

4. Following his 1973 high school graduation, Gonzales had no money to continue his education, so he joined the Air Force. After two years stationed in Fort Yukon, Alaska, he entered the Air Force Academy, hoping to become a pilot. He was the first in his family to attend college.

read the rest of the list at US News and World Report

President Reinforces Support for Gonzlaes

Today President Bush expressed his strong support for U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The White House also stated that rumors about replacing Gonzales were false. "Those rumors are untrue," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.

This morning the President called Gonzales at 7:15 am EDT to show his support and talk about the scandal surrounding the dismissal of eight US Attorneys. The White House disclosed the call between the President and his long time friend, whom they still call "The Judge" from his Texas days.

"The president reaffirmed his strong backing of the attorney general and his support for him," Perino said. "The president called him to reaffirm his support."

Tom Delay stated on the Today Show "... this is a made up scandal. There is no evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever... They out be fighting back."

You can show your support for Alberto Gonzales through the RNHA action center.

White House Seeking Gonzales Replacements

Rumors are flying around Washington D.C. that the White House is looking for a replacement for embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The fate of Gonzales will probably be decided this week with likely Congressional Hearings. Democrats want to subpoena Karl Rove and Harriet Miers over the dismissal of eight U.S. Attorneys. The Democrats say the dismissals were politically motivated but supporters of Gonzales and the Administration point out that the U.S. Attorneys are politically appointed, and serve at the leisure of the President. By law, they can be let go at any time.

The White House is under increased pressure to make the controversy around Gonzales "go away." Among the front runners to replace Gonzales is Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Currently Alberto Gonzales is the highest serving Hispanic in the administration and is the nation's first Hispanic attorney general.

The RNHA is one of the few organizations that has come out publicly to support Gonzales. Some conservative groups are nervous about endorsing him and some Senators don't want to "waste" political capitol on Gonzales, who they feel is under too much scrutiny. Democrats smell blood in the water. Sources state other people in the Department might be let go.