Alberto Gonzales has resigned

It is about time.

CRAWFORD, Texas - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has resigned, ending a months-long standoff with Republican and Democratic critics who called for his ouster over the Justice Department's botched handling of FBI terror investigations and the firing of U.S. attorneys, officials said Monday.

The likely temporary replacement for Gonzales is Solicitor General Paul Clement, who would take over until a permanent replacement is found, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Justice Department planned a news conference for 10:30 a.m. in Washington. President Bush was expected to discuss Gonzales' departure at his Crawford, Texas, ranch., before leaving on a trip to western states.

Two administration officials speaking on grounds of anonymity said that Gonzales had submitted a resignation letter last Friday. These officials declined to be identified because the formal announcement about Gonzales was still pending.

A longtime friend of Bush, who once considered him for appointment to the Supreme Court, Gonzales is the fourth high-ranking administration official to leave since November 2006. Donald H. Rumsfeld, an architect of the Iraq war, resigned as defense secretary one day after the November elections. Paul Wolfowitz agreed in May to step down as president of the World Bank after an ethics inquiry. And top Bush adviser Karl Rove earlier this month announced he was stepping down.

A frequent Democratic target, Gonzales could not satisfy critics who said he had lost credibility over the Justice Department's botched handling of warrantless wiretaps related to the threat of terrorism and the firings of several U.S. attorneys.

I thought the US Attorney firings if not done for political reasons, was badly bungled at the very least. Gonzales should have resigned months ago, but even if he had it wouldn't and still won't quiet down Democrats.

Who will replace Gonzales? All I say to President Bush is this- Don't appoint this man.

Others blogging on the Gonzales resignation- James Joyner at OTB, Webloggin, Don Surber, Dr. Taylor at Poliblog, Sister Toldjah, Liberty Pundit, Michelle Malkin, Blogs of War, Hot Air, Kim at Wizbang, Gay Patriot, Below the Beltway, A Blog for All,
Linked to- High Desert Wanderer, Right Wing Nation,