Ashcroft, Evans Resign Cabinet Positions
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans resigned from their respective posts with the Bush administration yesterday. MSNBC has an article on these resignations and the others that are expected to follow shortly. Cabinet changes are common in the second term of two-term presidents.
Bush has named white house legal counsel Alberto Gonzales as his choice to succeed Ashcroft. Gonzales is subject to confirmation by the Senate before assuming the post. His authorship of the controversial February 2002 memo claiming the President’s right to waive international laws banning torture and providing protections to prisoners of war will likely become an issue in that process.
MSNBC national affairs writer Tom Curry has written an article chronicling how Ashcroft became a lightning rod for criticism from the Left because of his stances on civil liberties. What I’d like to know is whether this means the statue of Justice finally gets to come out of hiding.
My mother Joyce, wants to know if all cabinet members must submit a resignation at the beginning of each new Presidential four year office? Or, do only those who want to leave office submit resignations?
Comment by Joyce Brown — November 14, 2004 @ 5:10 pm
It’s not required, but many Cabinet members who were already considering retiring or resigning will often choose the start of a second term or end of a first term as the time to do it. Seems like a good jumping-off spot, you know?
There do seem to be an awful lot of resignations with this particular President’s second term, however. I can see how your mother might get the wrong idea.
Comment by Adam M. — November 14, 2004 @ 8:32 pm