Analysis: Limits on Bush's Loyalty?

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the U.S. Capitol in Washington Thursday, April 19, 2007 about the controversial dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys. Campaigning in 2000, Texas Gov. George W. Bush would repeatedly raise his right hand as if taking an oath and vow to "restore honor and dignity" to the White House and pledged to usher in a new era of bipartisanship. The dual themes of honesty and integrity struck a chord with many voters and helped propel Bush to the White House in one of the nation's closest-ever elections. Americans re-elected him in 2004 after he characterized himself as best suited to protect a nation at war. Now, with fewer than two years left of his second term, the Bush administration is embroiled in multiple scandals and ethics investigations. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Susan Walsh - AP)

At the contentious Judiciary Committee hearing, Gonzales claimed dozens of times that he couldn't recall key details about the firings or about a meeting that records show he attended.

But while Gonzales' performance drew poor reviews, even from Republicans, Bush gave him a rave notice. telling reporters on Monday that the former Texas Supreme Court jurist's testimony only increased his confidence in his longtime friend. "This is an honest, honorable man," Bush said.

It turned out later that Bush hadn't watched any of Gonzales' more than seven hours of testimony. "He got regular updates from us, and I think he saw some news coverage of it later that day," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

But clearly, there are limits to Bush's loyalty. After all, Miers and Rumsfeld eventually were cut loose when they became too-big liabilities. Two of the most loyal Bush appointees _ former Chief of Staff Andy Card and former press secretary Scott McClellan, a Texan who had been on Bush's gubernatorial staff _ were jettisoned.

"I think Gonzales will go, and that Bush figures he will go when Republican senators travel to see him and tell him he's hurting the president," said Thomas Mann, a political analyst at the Brookings Institution. "By not calling for Gonzales' resignation, Bush doesn't have to acknowledge having made an error in judgment in nominating him."

Republican angst grows. Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., a stalwart Bush supporter, on Tuesday called Gonzales' congressional testimony weak and wondered "how long Alberto Gonzales can survive as attorney general. ... I am watching with care to see."

Earlier, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee, cited a "very substantial decrease in morale" at Justice under Gonzales.

To Bush's vote of confidence for Gonzales' testimony, Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., said, "If that increased his confidence, then he has a very low bar indeed for what he needs for confidence."

Robert Raben, an assistant attorney general in the Clinton administration, said that Gonzales was staying on the job "because there's no Plan B."

"Gonzales testified just as you imagine Bush would have: `I made the decisions but I can't tell you any of the facts; I didn't spend a lot of time on the details; I'm sorry people feel bad,'" said Raben.

Gonzales acknowledges morale problems at his agency but says he is trying to overcome that in private talks with the 93 U.S. attorneys now on the job. "We're going to correct the mistakes that have been made. I have accepted responsibility," he told reporters.

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EDITOR'S NOTE _ Tom Raum has covered national and international affairs for The Associated Press since 1973.