We're talking about the lawyers for the United States of America. And I think it's very, very important that the lawyers be comfortable being very candid and open about their views on very sensitive issues affecting the United States. Alberto Gonzales More Quotes by Alberto Gonzales More Quotes From Alberto Gonzales I will be the first to admit I am not perfect and I make mistakes. Alberto Gonzales perfect mistake firsts I have lived the American dream. Even my worst days as attorney general have been better than my father's best days. Alberto Gonzales worst dream father At the end of the day, you realize that this is important stuff, but it isn't as important as how my kids feel about me. That's how I'm going to measure my success - not how I did as counsel to the president or as attorney general. How did I do as a dad? Alberto Gonzales the-end-of-the-day dad kids Meth is a national problem to the extent that it's not limited to one state; it's not limited to one region of the country. As to whether or not it requires a national solution, I'm not sure we're there yet, but that's something that's certainly being debated on the Hill; it's certainly something that we're discussing within the administration and that will continue. Alberto Gonzales hills problem country America is my home - I believe in her promise and I will do what I can to secure that promise for future generations of our children. America is great - not because of our military might or our economic strength - but because of the greatness of Americans, and I welcome the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder, side by side with all of you to preserve our heritage rich in "liberty and justice for all." Alberto Gonzales military believe children Access to information and freedom of access to it may seem like a fundamental right but there are many people who think, rightly or wrongly, it is for your own good that it is hidden. Alberto Gonzales fundamentals people thinking I consider myself a casualty, one of the many casualties of the war on terror. Alberto Gonzales casualties terror war I respect very much the role of the media in our society; I think they can be very, very helpful. They serve as a very useful check, sort of a watchdog over the actions of the government, and I respect that. But there is a competing interest, and that is the ability of prosecutors to get information that may be absolutely essential to assist them in the investigation of illegal wrongdoing. And so you've got these two competing interests. I believe that the current policy at the Department of Justice reflects a careful balancing of those interests. Alberto Gonzales justice believe thinking I respect very much the role of the media in our society; I think they can be very, very helpful. They serve as a very useful check, sort of a watchdog over the actions of the government, and I respect that. Alberto Gonzales media government thinking In this job, you're going to make decisions. You'll say things that some people are going to love them, some people are going to hate them. It's just part of the job. Alberto Gonzales hate jobs people Sometimes you may make an announcement about an investigation and then you turn out not to do anything about it, but nonetheless it adversely affects someone's life. Alberto Gonzales investigation may sometimes There is no express grant of habeas in the Constitution. There's a prohibition against taking it away. Alberto Gonzales prohibition constitution grants We want to determine whether he understands the inherent limits that make an unelected Judiciary inferior to Congress or the President in making policy judgments. That, for example, a judge will never be in the best position to know what is in the national security interests of our country. Alberto Gonzales president judging country The nature of the new war places a high premium on other factors, such as the ability to quickly obtain information from captured terrorists and their sponsors in order to avoid further atrocities against American civilians. Alberto Gonzales atrocities war order We really haven't seen much of the attorney general or people from the Department of Justice. So it's very consistent with the way this investigation has been handled, and that is that the decisions have been made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Alberto Gonzales decision justice people But the Congress has made the determination that certain kinds of information can be protected even though the American people may want to have access to information. Alberto Gonzales determination may people Well, there is an attorney-client privilege here that needs to be respected, and it's a privilege that has been found to be worthy of protection by our courts. Alberto Gonzales privilege clients needs I want to be clear. No company is too big to be prosecuted. We have zero tolerance for corporate fraud, but we also recognize the importance of avoiding collateral consequences whenever possible. Alberto Gonzales hype tolerance zero We do have certain protocols in place with respect to doing the investigation by the FBI. And then prosecutors at the Department of Justice are the ones who ultimately make the decision as to whether or not to move forward with prosecution of a crime. Alberto Gonzales decision justice moving There are, for example, exemptions in FOIA in which the government can withhold certain kinds of information, and the courts have recognized that there is certain documentation that do deserve protection, that certain privileges do apply and do deserve protection. Alberto Gonzales documentation government example
