10 Questions for Alberto Gonzales

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WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR JOB? In the first Cabinet meeting of the second term, the President challenged us, and--you know he uses baseball metaphors--he challenged us not to play little ball but to play big ball. What I want to do is use the majestic power of the Department of Justice to do some good. On the minus side, I'm not big on budget issues or having to deal with the administrative issues that come with managing 112,000 employees. And, quite frankly, I do miss working in the White House. I miss seeing the President.

NOW THAT YOU'RE RUNNING YOUR OWN SHOW, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND WITH THE PRESIDENT? I don't feel like I'm running my own show sometimes. I get to talk to the President when I need to, which reminds me of Andy Card's old advice to all of us in the White House--that if you need to see the President, you get to see the President. If you want to see the President, you don't get to see the President.

WHEN YOUR NAME HAS BEEN FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE SUPREME COURT NOMINEE, WERE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW VEHEMENTLY SOME OF YOUR FELLOW CONSERVATIVES ATTACKED YOU? It's a free country. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, as ill informed as it may be.

OF ALL THE JUSTICES WHO HAVE SERVED ON THE COURT, EXCLUDING THE CURRENT ONES, DO YOU HAVE ONE YOU ADMIRE MOST? I'm not going to answer that question.