THERE was little in last week's appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee to ease the pressure on U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Democrats, in scandal-mongering mode following the firing of eight federal prosecutors, turned up the heat for Gonzales to quit or be fired after a hearing filled with contradiction, confrontation and memory lapses.

Criticism from Democrats is one thing. More concerning to Gonzales — and President Bush — has to be very negative reviews from Republicans including Sen. Tom Coburn of Muskogee, whose call for Gonzales' resignation during last week's session was especially stunning.

For Coburn and others, Gonzales' failure to erase doubts about his managerial competency leads them to conclude he's too damaged to continue as head of the sprawling Justice Department. Instead of easing concerns, Gonzales made them worse by claiming, multiple times, he couldn't remember details from meetings he attended.

It was a disappointing display. Coburn said the firings — which if handled correctly would have been routine, because U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president — exposed bad management. "You ought to suffer the consequences that these others have suffered, and I believe that the best way to put this behind us is your resignation,” he said.

Again, the challenge Gonzales faces is slippage with administration loyalists like Coburn, John Cornyn of Texas, Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Chuck Grassley of Iowa. All are committee members, and they probably know more about the matter than has been made public. Even so, Bush said Monday that Gonzales has his confidence.

The president's loyalty is admirable. But Washington is cruel to high-ranking officials who've been bloodied. If the bleeding isn't stopped, it becomes almost impossible for the person to do his or her job, even absent clear evidence of wrongdoing.

That's the rut Gonzales might be in, prompting Coburn's resignation call and warranting Bush's consideration in the days ahead.