contrapositive

ISN'T IT PART OF YOUR JOB? Hate to beat a dead horse here, but I still can't get over the Attorney General's approach to yesterday's hearings.

The core mission of the Department of Justice is to enforce the law and to "ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans."

And yet Gonzales--who runs DOJ--refuses to characterize the legal landscape in the area of domestic surveillance.

How can you enforce the law fairly if you're unwilling to tell the country what you think the law means?

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) hits the nail on the head:

SCHUMER: So you won't answer whether it is allowed and you won't answer whether it's been done.

I mean, isn't part of your -- in all due respect, as somebody who genuinely likes you, but isn't this part of your job, to answer a question like this?

GONZALES: Of course it is, Senator.

SCHUMER: But you're not answering it.

GONZALES: Well, I'm not saying that I will not answer the question.

SCHUMER: Oh.

GONZALES: I'm just not prepared to give you an answer at this time.

These people want to reserve the right to make up the rules as they go along. There's a name for that approach to government.