Andrew Zajac
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is fond of saying that he has lived the American Dream.
Now more than ever, perhaps.
Forced to quit his office by the uproar over the dismissal of nine federal prosecutors plus other alleged missteps relating to surveillance and the treatment of detainees, Gonzales now commands a cool $40,000 on the speakers circuit, according to recent news accounts.
Gonzales appeared Monday night at a speakers series event at the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Predictably, protestors greeted him. Two students hooded and cuffed like Abu Ghraib prisoners, and a third bearing a sign reading "Habeas Corpus" took the stage and were quickly marched off by police, according to a story in the St. Petersburg Times, which also reported his fee, paid for by student activity funds.
Gonzales may be pinched for cash. The Washington Post reported a few days ago that David Leitch, a former White House counsel's office colleague of Gonzales, was passing the hat for a legal defense fund to cover expenses Gonzales may incur as ongoing Justice Department inquiries connected to the controversies that led to his ouster threaten to expose him to perjury or witness tampering charges.
The former AG was making a good buck as a real estate deal maker and partner at Houston's Vinson & Elkins. But that was a dozen years ago, before he became a George W. Bush retainer.
While in office, protestors routinely dogged Gonzales, and since they're following him into the private sector, he may be too hot for making rain or playing Wise Man, two lucrative roles ex-AGs might normally be expected to play.
Gonzales is repped by New York's Greater Talent Agency, which looks to have a wide-ranging roster legal/government types including former CPA spokesman Dan Senor, author and CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin, and former CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson whose blown cover helped send Scooter Libby to jail.
Suggested topics if you decide to book Gonzales:
-Pursuing your American Dream
-Hispanics in America
-Living legal history: Working with the White House, the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court
(Not sure why that the last topic doesn't include Congress, but then the Hill wasn't Gonzales' favorite place even before the Democratic takeover.)
• 
• 
• 
• 
Comments
When does his book come out?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | November 23, 2007 6:43 AM
Who says crime doesn't pay!
Posted by: bill r. | November 23, 2007 8:49 AM
Following these jerks into private practice is one of our only defenses. Boycott any business or organization that supports them. Maybe they'll get the message that crime doesn't pay.
Posted by: Giraffe | November 23, 2007 10:14 AM
Egads, Loons, Gonzalez committed no crimes. Really, you folks need to hire some life coaches and counselors to get your live redirected away from maniacal utterings and beliefs and into some realm of common sense and thought.
Posted by: John D | November 23, 2007 12:16 PM
Amazing. Who is bumb enough to pay $40k to have Gonzales "speak"? What is he going to say? "I don't recall", "I don't remember", yadayadayada...
Only in America.
Posted by: RomanB | November 23, 2007 12:50 PM
"Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is fond of saying that he has lived the American Dream.
Now more than ever, perhaps.
Forced to quit his office by the uproar over the dismissal of nine federal prosecutors plus other alleged missteps relating to surveillance and the treatment of detainees, Gonzales now commands a cool $40,000 on the speakers circuit, according to recent news accounts."
Living the dream. Bought and paid for by his friends the Bush crime family. God bless America.
Land of the free and home of the corrupt Bush Whitehouse. Trickledown economics at their republican best!!!
Posted by: Jello Biafra | November 23, 2007 1:46 PM
[quote]
Really, you folks need to hire some life coaches and counselors to get your live redirected away from maniacal utterings and beliefs and into some realm of common sense and thought.
Posted by: John D | November 23, 2007 12:16 PM
[/quote]
You first!
Posted by: BC | November 23, 2007 3:04 PM
$40K for a speech consisting entirely of "I don't recall" and "That wasn't my responsibility" seems a bit pricy. The evidence is that Gonzales has very little else to say about anything.
Posted by: desert jim | November 23, 2007 4:02 PM
I was there and the speech was actually really good until those stupid protestors came in and "demonstrated." democrats in a little university town like gainesville will find any reason to rabble rouse. you know what I don't understand? those people were there advocating peace and tolerance but how were they exhibiting it? they wouldn't even let him talk. they kept booing and shouting and running up and down the aisles. seriously if you don't want to see the movie don't go to the movies. if you don't want to listen to the speaker then don't go to the event. If those people wanted to protest they could have designated their own event rather than crashing someone elses.
Posted by: tori | November 24, 2007 10:27 AM
Outrage over 9 fired attorneys?
Oh yeah, I think I remember that one.
Funny how it all went away when AG quit. Turns out it was a manufactured outrage after all.
You know, like most liberal outrage.
Tell me...lefties on this board.....are you still "outraged" over the firings and if so, why?
Also, what is the status on the investigation into it?
Anyone?
Posted by: JD | November 25, 2007 1:46 PM
You Bushies slay me with laughter... Really you do.
Come on Joe Middleclass, Your Uncle Sam taking most of your Freedoms away is good for you.. Just ask the UNBIASED Justice Dept.. OH Wait we don't have one of those anymore its Politicized!
Posted by: Anonymous | February 14, 2008 5:55 AM