By Kevin Friedl, NationalJournal.com
© National Journal Group Inc.
Monday, Aug. 27, 2007

Reaction to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' resignation today fell largely, but not entirely, along party lines. Republican congressional leaders thanked Gonzales for his efforts and decried what Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the "poisonous partisanship" Gonzales faced. Democrats, meanwhile, took some final swipes at the departing attorney general, accusing him of politicizing the office at the expense of transparency and the rule of law. Many were already looking ahead to the battle over Gonzales' replacement, emphasizing that President Bush's next appointee must put the office above partisan politics.

"Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to Karl Rove. This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House." –– Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
"I thank Alberto Gonzales for his public service and wish him well in his future endeavors. It is my hope that whomever President Bush selects as the next attorney general, he or she is not subjected to the same poisonous partisanship that we've sadly grown accustomed to over the past eight months." –– Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
"Long overdue. The rampant politicization of federal law enforcement that occurred under his tenure seriously eroded public confidence in our justice system. The president must now restore credibility to the office of the Attorney General." –– House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
"He has dedicated years of his life to public service, both in Texas and at the federal level, and I wish him and his family all the best as they enter the next stage of their lives. The work of the Justice Department is indispensable to our global war on terrorism, and as we move forward, I trust that the next attorney general will continue an aggressive approach against those who aim to harm our nation." –– House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio
"The life of Alberto Gonzales has been defined by his devotion to family and deep commitment to public service.... I appreciate his hard work in defense of our country and look forward to his future contributions." –– House Republican Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo.
The Justice Department under Gonzales "suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political influence." –– Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
"It is a sad day when the attorney general of the United States resigns amid a cloud of suspicion that the system of justice has been manipulated for political purposes. More than accountability, we need answers.... If the power of the prosecutor has been misused in the name of partisanship, we deserve a full airing of the facts." –– House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich.
"He demonstrated that his loyalties lie with the president and his political agenda, not the American people or the evenhanded and impartial enforcement of our laws.... My hope is that the president will select a new attorney general who will respect the rule of law and abandon partisanship, who will serve the American people and not the president's political ideology, and who will answer to the Constitution and not political operatives." –– Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y.
"He has exhibited a lack of candor with Congress and the American people and a disdain for the rule of law and our constitutional system. I strongly urge President Bush to nominate a new attorney general who will respect our laws and restore the integrity of the office." –– Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
"I will only vote to confirm a nominee for attorney general who is truly independent and who will guarantee reforms that restore and uphold the Constitution." –– Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.
"While some may applaud the resignation as some sort of victory, the underlying abuses of Americans' Constitutional rights and civil liberties authorized by the Congress through the so-called Patriot Act and the recently approved amendments to FISA will continue unabated. Until we address those abuses and challenge those laws, it doesn't really matter who the Attorney General is." –– Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio
"Long overdue. The president must nominate an attorney general who is a lawyer for the American people, not a political arm of the White House." –– New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson
"The attorney general's decision to step down is a positive step forward for the Department of Justice. Attorney General Gonzales' ability to lead the Department of Justice had been undermined by his serious errors in judgment and conflicting statements." –– Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine
"Better late than never." –– Former Sen. John Edwards

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.