Bob Novak: Bush is alone.

For those of you who do not want to read what Syndicated Columnist has to say, you may click another story. Robert Novak is reporting that " with nearly two years remaining in his presidency George W. Bush is alone". Novak continued: "[i]n half a century, I have not seen a president so isolated from his own party in Congress -- not Jimmy Carter, not even Richard Nixon as he faced impeachment. ... [T]he overriding feeling in the Republican cloakroom is that the Justice Department and the White House could not have been more inept in dealing with the president's unquestioned right to appoint -- and replace -- federal prosecutors."
Obviously, Alberto Gonzales' survival as AG depends on whether "prosecutorgate" is successfully resolved, and Bush's success in pushing his agenda depends on how he reverses the "isolationism" within his own party. Can they both pull it off?

Update, 3:00 P.M.: Oh, oh! Monica Goodling, a Justice Department official involved in the firings of federal prosecutors, will refuse to answer questions at upcoming Senate hearings, citing Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. "The potential for legal jeopardy for Ms. Goodling from even her most truthful and accurate testimony under these circumstances is very real," said her Lawyer John Dowd. Read the unfolding story.
This IS Not good news for President Bush as "Prosecutorgate" threatens comparison to the other "W" -gate and to keep spiraling out of control, even as Republican Senate leaders (including Republican U. S. Senator, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a man I truly admire), call for Gonzales' "head" and revelations indicate he knew more than he has admitted. Maybe, the White House has NOT learned the lesson of "Scooter" Libby: it is the lie (perjury) after afterwards that's legally DEADLY!!