New York Daily News - Politics - Ashcroft out as attorney general
WASHINGTON - John Ashcroft, one of the most powerful, controversial attorneys general in American history, abruptly and reluctantly quit yesterday. Commerce Secretary Don Evans, an old friend of President Bush, also resigned. The two were the first cabinet officers to step down since Bush won a second term on Nov. 2.

Sources said Ashcroft submitted his handwritten, five-page resignation letter before Election Day but was "energized" after Bush's victory and told the White House through his aides he was willing to stay on indefinitely as the nation's top cop.

The White House said no. Ashcroft will remain in office only until his successor is chosen.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that Democrats "hope the President will choose a less polarizing attorney general as [Ashcroft's] successor."

The deeply religious ex-Missouri senator was dubbed the "Crisco Kid" because his minister dad once anointed him with cooking oil. His farewell letter to Justice Department employees quoted Scripture: "Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain."

This perplexes me. Why would the White House care now that he was "polarizing"? Something tells me that there is more to this story than we are being told. Do they have an even bigger Nazi in the wings? Is he a lunatic drunk (my guess), and the White House is afraid of what he might do next? Again, why would they care?