Alberto “Buttercheeks” Gonzales, in a startling departure from Bushworld orthodoxy, conceded today that climate change is real. Here he is, speaking to David Weigel of The Washington Independent:

I asked him whether he would participate in a “truth commission,” as proposed by Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), to look into alleged law-breaking by the Bush administration.

“My view has always been to be as cooperative as possible,” said Gonzales, “and that’s what I’ve been with respect to everything. As far as I’m concerned I’ve got nothing to hide and I’ll cooperate. Every time I’ve been asked to cooperate, I’ve cooperated. In terms of what happens in the future, I’m not going to comment on that, but that is what I’ve done in the past.”

We all have vivid memories of Gonzales repeatedly cooperating with House and Senate committees. By earnestly repeating, as patiently and cooperatively as anyone could wish for, the equivalent of “Senator, I do not recall!” as many times as he was asked to do so. With unflagging grace and faultless cooperation, ad infinitum.

Gonzales went further: “I think only a fool would be unconcerned about any kind of commission or investigation in this political town and in this political climate.”

That last statement is a little confusing, no doubt, since most objective observers would consider Gonzales to be a prize fool. However, Gonzales clearly considers the political climate in Washington to have changed. The good old days when you could be cheerfully unconcerned about any kind of commission or investigation are gone, alas.