WP: Atty-Gen Gonzales Earns Praise, Despite Lack of Policy Change

[DeepModem Mom]

Gonzales Earns Praise, Despite Lack of Policy Change
Openness, Listening Win Friends as He Holds Ashcroft Line

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 16, 2005; Page A04


New Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales has urged Congress to renew the controversial USA Patriot Act, has jumped into the fierce partisan battle over judicial nominations and has rejected Democratic demands to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of torture against U.S. detainees.

These and other positions are not much different from those taken by Gonzales's sharp-tongued predecessor, John D. Ashcroft. Yet three months into the job, and despite a contentious confirmation battle in the Senate, the accolades for Gonzales are flowing in.

Lawmakers, including some Democrats who voted against his appointment, are praising his openness and mild-mannered demeanor. U.S. attorneys and career Justice Department employees say they welcome his open-door management style. And outside critics say they are merely grateful that Gonzales has agreed to hear them out.

Earlier this month, Gonzales invited leaders of the American Library Association to discuss the group's objections to a provision in the Patriot Act that allows the FBI to secretly seize library records. Ashcroft, by contrast, labeled librarians "hysterics" for raising such concerns.

"The simple difference is that he is at least willing to sit down and talk with us," said Carol Brey-Casiano, the group's president. "We did not have that opportunity with his predecessor. . . . I'm cautiously optimistic at this point."...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/15/AR2005051500873.html

[merwin]

1. So, using that logic, we should be praising Saddam, since he was more

willing to negotiate with us and sit down and talk than Hitler was. Great logic.

[burrowowl]

2. Mild-mannered demeanor ....

"The simple difference is that he is at least willing to sit down and talk with us," said Carol Brey-Casiano, the group's president. "We did not have that opportunity with his predecessor. . . . I'm cautiously optimistic at this point."...

The lady and others can talk all they want, but he isn't going to listen. Pollyanna is alive and well.