Gonzales

When James Buckley ran for the U.S. Senate in New York in 1970, his campaign billboards asked a question: "Isn't it time we had a senator?" The controversy surrounding the Justice Department raises a question of its own: "Isn't it time we had an attorney general?" Alberto R. Gonzales started out in Washington as the president's man, and he did nothing to endanger his favored status. But that has left the rest of us sorely unrepresented. The uproar over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys may be a case where Mr. Gonzales had sound reasons, rather than unsavory political motives, for doing what he did. Someone who has consistently been a pliable administration functionary, though, can hardly expect the benefit of the doubt when scandal erupts.

Every time the Orioles make a trade, someone other than the principal figure seems to be involved.When Glenn Davis was obtained from Houston, the departure of Steve Finley cleared the way for recently signed free agent Dwight Evans to become more prominent in the outfield picture.Then Mickey Tettleton went to Detroit, creating an opportunity for rookie catcher Chris Hoiles. Now, it's Juan Bell moving to the forefront following the trade of utility infielder Rene Gonzales to Toronto."It's part of our development program," general manager Roland Hemond said after trading Gonzales to the Blue Jays for minor-league lefthander Rob Blumberg.

Sister Mary Sagrado Corazon Gonzales, a member of the Oblate Sisters of Providence and retired convent dietitian, died of a heart attack Sunday at her order's motherhouse in Catonsville. She was 85. She was born and raised Jesusa Gonzales in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she attended parochial schools. She entered the religious order in 1948 and professed her vows in 1951. Over the years, she worked in various capacities at St. Frances Academy and St. Pius V Roman Catholic Church in Baltimore, Jesus Bambino Convent in Philadelphia and, for 28 years until retiring in 2001, as a dietitian at Holy Name of Mary Convent in Chicago.

The resignation of Alberto R. Gonzales marks the end the most dysfunctional and lawless epoch at the Justice Department since the days of John Mitchell, who authorized the Watergate burglary and then lied about it, stepping down as President Richard M. Nixon's attorney general in 1972. Like Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Gonzales has served his president as enabler-in-chief, earning his reputation as the most loyal member of the Cabinet as he lined up the Justice Department behind the White House's extralegal and unconstitutional maneuverings.

It has been one of the busiest off-seasons in Orioles history, and the front office is showing no signs of fatigue. The club beefed up the bench and the bullpen yesterday, signing three veteran free agents.Right-hander Mark Williamson, former Orioles utility infielder Rene Gonzales and veteran outfielder Henry Cotto all agreed to minor-league contracts yesterday and have been invited to spring training.Williamson, who became a free agent after his seventh season with the Orioles, agreed to terms on a make-good contract -- much as he did before winning a place in the bullpen a year ago. Gonzales, who was traded by the Orioles in 1991, returns after three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays and California Angels to compete for a reserve role.

CHICAGO -- Some of the Bush administration's more vehement critics see its failures as the result of a twisted worldview. Others see them as the product of power lust and corruption. But watching Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales fumble his way through a Senate hearing suggested that neither ideology nor venality is to blame. The real problem lies in a phenomenon known as the Peter Principle, which says: "In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence." That iron law of human organization came to light in a 1969 book by Laurence Peter, who theorized that if you do a job well, you are not likely to be left in that job but promoted to another one. If you do well in the next assignment, you will be promoted once again.

The Orioles opted for experience in one case and youth in the other when they pared two players yesterday to reach the 25-player Opening Day roster limit.For the 10th spot on the active pitching staff, veteran Mark Williamson won out over rookie Mike Oquist, who was optioned to Triple-A Rochester despite his impressive spring performance.But the club went for 23-year-old outfielder Damon Buford as the final position player over former Oriole Rene Gonzales, a nonroster invitee who was trying to stick as a spare infielder.

Rene Gonzales' second tour of duty with the Orioles turned out to be much shorter than his first.Gonzales, one of the final two players cut from the Orioles when they trimmed their roster to 25 Sunday, decided to turn down an invitation to join Triple-A Rochester and declared himself a free agent, according to his agent, Dennis Gilbert."

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Rene Gonzales surveyed the raucous Toronto Blue Jays' clubhouse on a rainy spring training morning. "There's always got to be some jerks on a team," he said. "But I haven't found them yet."Suddenly he stopped."Maybe I'm it," he said.No chance. Gonzales, 29, was one of the Orioles' most popular players, both with teammates and fans. But such is the state of affairs with the new, improved Blue Jays, he can't even identify a player he dislikes.The infielder wouldn't have had that problem in the past.

The pundits are trying to attribute the surge to greater strength, greater size and/or greater incentive.But to Rene Gonzales, his success so far with the California Angels comes down to one thing: greater opportunity."