It makes sense for him to leave now before Rehnquist dies. He's a former member of the Senate and they are regularly good to their own. From AP:
Attorney General John Ashcroft is likely to leave his post before the start of President Bush's second term, senior aides said Thursday.You usually don't telegraph to the public when you're about to launch a coup. The Right is planning their little coup as we speak, let's get ahead of them on this one.
Ashcroft, 62, is described as exhausted from leading the Justice Department in fighting the domestic war on terrorism since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Stress was a factor in Ashcroft's health problems earlier this year that resulted in removal of his gall bladder.
Ashcroft is expected to resign before Bush's Jan. 20 inauguration, said aides who spoke only on condition of anonymity. They said there is a small chance he would stay on, at least for a short time, if Bush asked him.
The attorney general has not officially informed his staff of his future plans, spokesman Mark Corallo said.
