Greetings. Even on the way out the door, Attorney General John Ashcroft apparently doesn't want anyone to imagine that he's lost his coveted position somewhere to the right of Ghengis Khan.

In his lastest public tirade, he declared that judges who question or disagree with President Bush's findings are a risk to national security. Gosh darn it, that pesky judicial branch is just always causing problems isn't it, John? What were those Founding Fathers thinking when they set that up?

Ashcroft will soon be history as far as the White House is concerned of course, and I sincerely wish him well with his ongoing health problems. Most likely oodles of moola will be in his future.

Alberto Gonzales is now in line to succeed him, a man who promoted the view that the Geneva Conventions need not apply in the "war" on terror, quite possibly helping to set the stage for the infamous abuses of Iraqi prisoners under coalition control.

However, it does currently appear that whatever else he may be, Gonzales is no John Ashcroft. For that, we can be thankful.

Say goodnight, John.

--Lauren--