ATTORNEY GENERAL

Robert Novak's insight on the replacement for departing Attorney General Albert Gonzales:

In the face of widespread advice to put up a “non-controversial” attorney general nominee, the White House is fixing for a fight -- but they might not be able to tap an A-list nominee for this spot. White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten has a short list of ideal nominees, and they are not the “consensus nominees” requested by Judiciary Committee power-broker Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). The list includes former Solicitor General Ted Olson and former deputy Attorney Generals George Terwilliger and Laurence Silberman.

The problem would be convincing these men to accept the nomination, which requires a public grilling by Schumer and his colleagues such as Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) for the reward of serving out the final months of an unpopular administration.

A powerful, effective and like-minded attorney general is critical to any administration's success, and the weaknesses of Gonzales were certainly a major contributor to the Bush Administration's second-term woes.

Within the Department of Justice, there is speculation that acting Atty. Gen. Paul Clement might just ride out the term in an acting role or as a recess appointment.