Going, Going... Gone!

With the talk of the Democrats being in trouble politically (more on that in a later entry), one thing must be mentioned in their favor... they're not running for the hills either.

Attorney General Gonzales' plot to (apparently) destroy the Justice Department continues apace. Wan J. Kim, the assistant A.G. in charge of the Department's civil rights division, is resigning. Nearly a dozen top Justice officials have also suddenly resigned in the last six months, including the Deputy Attorney General, Gonzales' chief of staff and White House liaison, and the voting rights section chief. It's this type of solid leadership that has met with the President's strong approval... heckuva job, everyone!

Over in Congress, Republican representatives (maybe even some Senators soon?) are announcing retirements left and right. Reps. LaHood, Pryce, and Pickering won't be seeking election. Former Speaker Dennis Hastert apparently will step down even before 2008. And now the latest, Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ), has declared his intention to leave after this term (leaving him, no doubt, more time to cooperate with the FBI in their investigation against him). Democrats gained an early advantage in 2006 due to all the Republicans-- Tom Delay, Bob Ney, Mark Foley-- resigning in disgrace. Looks like 2008 holds similar promise as well.

It would appear that the GOP is embracing a last-man-standing approach to 2008 victory.

[UPDATE (8/25): Rumor mill buzzes Gonzales may finally go... and replaced with Chertoff?!]