Alberto Gonzales Death Watch.

Place your bets, kids:

The fallout from the firings continues to grow in Washington, and sources tell CBS News that it looks like Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will take the fall.

Republicans close to the White House tell CBS News chief White House correspondent Jim Axelrod that President Bush is in "his usual posture: pugnacious, that no one is going to tell him who to fire." But sources also said Gonzales' firing is just a matter of time.

For bonus points, predict the actual wording he'll use, from this list of sure-fire, popular Republican spin phrases:

• "partisan witch hunt"


• "Democratic witch hunt"


• "politics of personal destruction"


• "I take full responsibility"


• "mistakes were made" (ah, the delightful passive voice)


• "becoming a distraction to the administration"


• "spend more time ..."
  
  
  
  • "... with my family"
  
  
  • "... with my colleagues"
  
  
  • "... shredding the Constitution"
  
  
  • "... violating everyone's civil rights"
  
  
  • "... torturing foreigners"
  
  
• "I'm sorry, I don't really remember."


• "Go fuck yourselves."

Enter early, enter often. Lines are open, and operators are standing by to ignore your calls.