[glatt]

Originally Posted by tw

I did not mean to imply that Gonzales is (yet) isolated from the Administration. He is not getting stunning support. But we have no reason to believe he is being cut off (coyote style?)

...

When the real president decides Gonzales is a liability, then Gonzales will get cut off immediately like breast cancer - as quickly as Paul O'Neill was removed from Sec of Treasury.

Cheney is supporting him, for now anyway.

Cheney also defended embattled Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, saying that Gonzales "has testified truthfully" before Congress and has performed well as head of the Justice Department.

"I'm a big fan of Al's," Cheney said in the radio interview. ". . . I think Al has done a good job under difficult circumstances. The debate between he and the Senate is something they're going to have to resolve. But I think he has testified truthfully."

Cheney said he does not agree with lawmakers, including Sens. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who say that Gonzales's credibility has been gravely damaged. "I think the key is whether or not he has the confidence of the president, and he clearly does," Cheney said.