#1. Firings Fallout

It's true that federal appointees serve at the pleasure of the President. But the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys, seven in December 2006, prompted a Congressional investigation and helped lead to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Critics contend some of the attorneys — six of whom had recently received outstanding job-performance ratings — were fired as retribution for prosecuting Republicans or for failing to prosecute Democrats. In July, President Bush invoked executive privilege and declared that Karl Rove and other aides would not testify on the matter if subpoenaed by Congress. It remains unclear who ordered the firings or why.