Michael Chertoff

Here, via the Washington Post's campaign blog, is Hillary Clinton's response to Alberto Gonzales' resignation as Attorney General and the rumors that Michael Chertoff is in line to replace him:

Without naming him, Clinton also took a swipe at Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, who is rumored as a possible choice to lead the department.

"The second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is one more reminder that the President must appoint someone to lead the Department of Justice with the leadership and competence necessary to defend the Constitution," she wrote.

Clinton's potential opposition to Chertoff is noteworthy because it could provide her a unique opportunity to tend to personal and political imperatives simultaneously.

Recall that the former First Lady has a history with Chertoff, who served as the lead G.O.P. Counsel to the Senate committee that investigated Whitewater in the mid-1990s -- and perhaps nothing makes Hillary Clinton more irate than the memory of that probe. Indeed, she (Ed. note: woops) cast the lone Senate vote against Chertoff's nomination to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in 2003, citing his Whitewater conduct as her rationale.

If President Bush does nominate Chertoff for Attorney General, Hillary will have plenty of ammunition to go after him, as her Katrina comment today demonstrated. And in going after him, she would undoubtedly score points with the Democratic base (especially if she took a leading role in any nomination fight), thereby burnishing her primary season credentials. At the same time, of course, she'd also be getting even with her old nemesis, especially her effort resulted in the death of his nomination.

It's also worth wondering what effect Clinton's opposition would have on the other Democratic Senators in the presidential race. With Clinton connecting Chertoff to Katrina, wouldn't Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd be obligated to oppose his nomination as well? Perhaps this is why the White House, which seemed initially to be telling reporters that Chertoff was the choice, is now putting out the word that no decisions have been made and other contenders -- Ted Olson, Larry Thompson -- are in the mix.

 

Word of Alberto Gonzales’ surprise resignation broke at about 8:30 this morning and within minutes there was a clear front-runner to succeed him: Michael Chertoff, who now runs the Homeland Security Department. (Chertoff’s name actually emerged before the embattled Gonzales stepped aside.)

A Justice Department press conference has been scheduled for 10:30 Monday morning, presumably to formally announce the Attorney General’s resignation. President Bush, vacationing in Texas, is slated to make a statement at 11:30. In theory, he could also use that appearance to announce his new A.G. nominee, but given Bush’s affinity for Gonzales and his reluctance – the very end it seems – to cut him loose, it’s more likely Bush will use the occasion simply to heap praise on his longtime friend.

On the surface, Chertoff could be a problematic pick, since his D.H.S. tenure has been marked by prickly relations with Congressional Democrats – particularly over his department’s response to Hurricane Katrina and his nebulous “gut feeling” comment this summer about a supposedly looming terrorist attack.

Tellingly, however, Chuck Schumer – the Democrats’ de facto attack dog on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will hold confirmation hearings for the new A.G. nominee – just appeared on CNN and pointedly drew a distinction between Chertoff’s role and D.H.S. and his previous work as a United States Attorney and federal judge. That strongly suggests that Democrats may feel that, with Gonzales’ long-sought resignation, they now have their pound of flesh and thus won’t make a successor’s confirmation unduly torturous – unless Bush pushes the envelope with his pick.

On the off chance that Chertoff is not chosen, there are a few other names in the air. One is Ted Olson, who was Bush’s first Solicitor General. But Olson, who is beloved by the right for his legal work on behalf of the G.O.P. during the 2000 Florida recount, might touch some raw nerves among Senate Democrats. John Danforth, the former Missouri Senator who lost out to Dick Cheney for the second spot on the G.O.P. ticket in 2000, would be a slam-dunk for Senate confirmation, given his moderate reputation and the high regard his former colleagues have for him. And there’s also Orrin Hatch, the 73-year-old Utah Senator who stood alone among Senate Republicans in loudly defending Gonzales these past few months. Some believed Hatch, who long dreamed of a Supreme Court appointment, was angling to curry favor with the White House so that he might be tapped for a career-capping stint as A.G. if and when Gonzales stepped aside.

But if the White House was already leaning to Chertoff, Schumer’s comments a few minutes ago only made the D.H.S. secretary’s nomination that much more likely. The biggest down-side for Chertoff may be the short tenure: By the time he’s confirmed, he’d only get about a year on the job before the next President cleans house.

**UPDATE (10:35 AM): Gonzales used his 10:30 press conference to announce his resignation, effective September 17. True to form, his brief remarks didn't shed any light on the reasons for his departure, nor did he address any of the controversies that have enveloped him this year. He ignored questions from reporters.

**UPDATE II (11:53 AM): Bush just stepped off of Marine I in Crawford, Texas and made some equally brief remarks. He announced that Solicitor General Paul Clement will serve as the interim Attorney General after Gonzales' 9/17 departure and until a nominee is confirmed. He also praised Gonzales as "a man of integrity, decency and principle" and bemoaned that Gonzales' "good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons." Shortly after Bush's remarks, CNN reported that some administration sources are now waving reporters off of Michael Chertoff as Gonzales' likely successor, given the potential for an ugly, Katrina-fueled nomination fight.

The City Council and the New York Blood Center host a blood drive at City Hall.

HUD announces grants for New York and New Jersey organizations at the HELP Genesis RJK Apartments on East 13th Street.

Michael Chertoff keynotes the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation's 16th Annual Luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council Foundation presents its Human Security Award to Mohammed Elbaradei at the Reception House in Flushing, Queens.

—Nicole Brydson

Michael Chertoff possesses the impressive résumé and aggressive bearing of a big-time official, bu  read more »

The Times reports on the Republican choice for governor: John Faso.

Robert Menendez opens his campaign for U.S. Senate in New Jersey.

The Post reports that Hillary Clinton and Peter King have sent the first of many New York postcards to Michael Chertoff.

The Daily News reports that a Quinnipiac poll rates President Bush the worst since WWII.

—Nicole Brydson

Tomorrow morning Mark Green speaks at a Fortune Society event; and the Met Council on Housing holds a forum on home rule for New York City's rent and eviction guidelines.

In the afternoon, Michael Chertoff and Peter King address lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and what local governments can do to plan for future disasters at Hofstra University's Center for Suburban Studies.

Then, Charles Schumer honors Billy Joel with a Senate proclamation noting his contributions to New York at Madison Square Garden.

In the evening, Ed Cox speaks to the Metropolitan Republican Club; and Nicholas Kristof participates in a panel discussion on "The Best Hope for Peace in Darfur."

—Nicole Brydson

Yesterday, as Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff described "isolated criminal misbehavior" while, on the split-screen, anarchy ruled, it was possible to wonder how Bush's first choice for the job would have performed.

This is local sacrilege these days, after the frenzy of damaging revelations that followed the announcement of Bernie Kerik's planned appointment.  read more »

But does anyone else think he might have grasped the urgency of the law-and-order crisis in New Orleans more quickly, and reacted more forcefully?

As political leaders from both sides of the aisle rushed to applaud the Bush administration's Jan.  read more »

As Drudge and Eve Kessler both quickly noted, Michael Chertoff, the new Homeland Security chief, was a lead investigator in the forgettable Whitewater probe. She was the only Senator to vote against his judgeship in 2001.

No comment yet from Mrs. Clinton on the 10:00 a.m. nomination.  read more »

But Chuck Schumer, showing the same caution and restraint both Senators displayed in immediately lauding Bernie Kerick, put out a statement at 10:07. He called Chertoff "a strong choice."

For those who are outraged at the thuggish behavior of Enron Corp.  read more »