"I could never hurt you, Berto...."

Some irony: The same day Michael Vick pleads guilty to a felony of doing to dogs what Alberto Gonzales said it was OK to do to POWs (so long as we call them something different), Berto calls it quits.

The AG's resignation comes five days after Bradley Schlozman's -- the anti-civil rights head of the Civil Rights Division & the first "permanent interim US Atty" appointed under the Patriot Act II provision allowing him to bypass Senate approval -- who has become the poster boy for political abuse of the Justice Department (everywhere but in KC.) It comes three days after Sen Leahy told Schlozman he was not off the hook to provide documentation to the Senate concerning his actions.

Berto's sudden departure does make one wonder what might be coming up in the hearings when they resume in September. The House has asked for information on some specific cases that reek of political influence to prosecute for political purposes. The real question may be whether Democrats in Congress will have the courage to follow Leahy & Conyers' lead.

Another irony: It may turn out that the Bush Justice Department , itself, will be the worst case of public corruption in the history of the Republic.