Tony Blair is Gonzo but Gonzo is No Tony Blair

Two prominent men garnered attention on the world stage yesterday. One of them is a big man rendered small, and one is a small man rendered liliputian.Tony Blair gave an impassioned farewell speech yesterday after recently announcing his resignation as Britain's Prime Minister, a post he has held for nearly ten years, effective next month. Blair's speech was eloquent and heartfelt. Blair recognized that, after a stunning run at home featuring economic prosperity and improvements in education and health care, his decision to back George W. Bush's Iraq War caused bitter criticism by his countrymen and sank his popularity, probably forever. Blair had the good sense to recognize the divisions that his actions have caused, and to bow out gracefully in order to help heal his country.

In sharp contrast to Tony Blair, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appeared again before Congress yesterday. The best that can be said of Gonzales as a result of his testimony is that he is the Sergeant Schultz of the U.S. Government -- "I know nothing, I see nothing." However, many people believe that Gonzales knows and sees much more than he has let on, and that he has fallen on his sword and allowed himself to be portrayed as a pinhead in order to hide the role of Karl Rove and other Bush White House officials in the U.S. Attorney purge scandal. Unlike Tony Blair, Gonzales apparently does not have the good sense to recognize that his actions have resulted in massive criticism and a great divide among his countrymen, and to resign in order to help heal the country. Or perhaps Gonzales would like to resign, but Bush and Rove want to keep Gonzales in office as a firewall to stop Congress from pursuing the attorney firing scandal right into the heart of the White House.

The one thing that Tony Blair and Alberto Gonzales have in common is that their downfalls occurred after they both lashed their chariots to George W. Bush. It is amazing to think of all the people who have lost their lives, their limbs, their jobs and their reputatations after following to Bush.

Tony, we will miss you.