One would think nothing important has happened in the world recently as news outlets focus on things like Anna Nicole Smith, American Idol and the U.S. Attorney firings.

On the firing of United States Attorneys:
U.S. Attorneys serve at the discretion of the President. Period. For clarification of this fact, please visit the website of the U.S. Attorneys Office to see for yourself. The President may terminate these people at his whim. The advise and consent provision does not apply to the firing process, it applies to the hiring process.

When the President appoints a U.S. Attorney, there is an expectation that appointee will actively and effectively prosecute criminal cases brought by the federal government. The President as the Chief Executive determines the priorities of the U.S. Attorneys. Once given the outlined priorities, these U.S. Attorneys should focus their prosecutions based on these directives from the President and the Attorney General.

When the President decided not to fire Clinton's appointees, those U.S. Attorneys should have certainly understood that they would be expected to respect the priorities outlined by Bush and the Attorney General. Deciding to give them all a shot at staying in their positions did not revoke his authority to get rid of them at will, later as some on the left would suggest.

It is wholly appropriate and responsible for the Attorney General to review the performance of the 93 U.S. attorneys and make recommendations as to retention or firing based on their performance implementing the priorities of the President. Unlike Bill Clinton, who fired all 93 U.S. Attorneys when he took office, Bush left people in place and then monitored their performance.

Those terminated six years into his service as President were of both political parties. This was not partisan, this was philosophical. President Bush should take a bold stand on this issue. He should stand strong, offering NO criticism of Gonzalez. He should not make concessions to appease his political opponents or let political pressure influence the duration and power of the story.

While the original story should have been a non-story, it is becoming a story. The story should have nothing to do with the firings. The story should be about the seeming inability of Republicans and conservatives to stand up to the Democratic Party.

Republican Senator John Sununu also gets in the middle of the non-story to fan flames. Hillary Clinton is concerned the firings were political. Don't we assume that about political appointments? Isn't that why her husband fired all 93. You would think reasonable democrats would praise Bush for not firing all of Clinton's political appointments in the traditional manner, at the beginning of his first term. Those ousted should be thankful for the 6 extra years of service.

The Executive branch must protect its Constitutional privileges. If democrats demand people testify as to "what they knew and when they knew it" the President should tell them in no uncertain terms that his staff have better things to do then support their ridiculous antics. He should not allow then to testify. These witch hunts have got to stop.

If conservatives and Republicans begin to call for the ouster of Gonzales, it won't be because they are right. It will it will be because they are weak.

The party line should be: The Administration decided to let some people go. Oh, well.