"Democrats Ought to Fight Like Hell" Against Gonzales Nomination

[struggle4progress]

Those were the words Alan Colmes used last night as he devoted the majority of his three-hour FOX radio show to why Alberto Gonzales should not be confirmed as US Attorney General.

Among other reasons, Colmes cited Gonzales' role in the preparation of the now-famous "torture" memos which essentially endorsed torture of Taliban and Al Qaeda prisoners and which called the Geneva Convention provisions that outlawed harsh questioning of prisoners "quaint." Also discussed was Gonzales' bungled vetting of the Bernard Kerik nomination (Thank you, Alan!) and a few choice examples of his work in Texas. According to Colmes, Gonzales got Bush out of jury duty by arguing that he might have to pardon prisoners. Perhaps more important than the inconvenience of doing his civic duty, Bush may have avoided any embarrassing questions about his arrest record.

"He is a disaster waiting to happen," Colmes said, noting that besides the immorality of Gonzales' position, he endangered our troops. Our soldiers are more vulnerable to torture and mistreatment as the result of our own brutality and abrogation of our treaty commitments. "He might make John Ashcroft look like the Welcome Wagon lady," Colmes added. At that point, the audience was serenaded with Ashcroft's rendition of "Let The Eagle Soar," a perfect candidate for use as a sleep deprivation tool in Guantanamo Bay. Who wouldn't give up their mother for the sake of not having to listen to that?

"It should be war on this guy," Colmes said, in a statement I could not agree with more. So where are the Democrats? Quietly calculating what they stand to gain vs. lose by taking a strong stand? Come on, Gentle Men and Ladies, if they can say it on FOX News, surely you can say it in the Senate. <snip>

http://www.newshounds.us/2005/01/06/democrats_ought_to_fight_like_hell_against_gonzales_nomination.php

[Technocrat058]

1. Maybe a different approach!

I think the "Democratic leadership" is going to confirm Gonzales, and then use this as capital to block the confirmation of any ultra conservative judge.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Skittles]

3. BULL

Gonzales is a fascist THUG, a supporter of TORTURE for crissakes, WHO GIVES A F*** HE IS HISPANIC?????? There is no WAY he should even be considered a viable candidate for ANY POSITION, let alone ATORNEY GENERAL.

[ConservativeDemocrat]

4. What if you win? What happens next?

If Democrats filibuster Gonzales and win, what happens next?

Bush - the guy who nominated him - will nominate someone even worse. Believe it or not, there are people even worse.

Have we accomplished anything at that point? No. Actually, what we've done is weakened our position vis a vis the long-term damage Bush can do to this country - his nominations to the Federal Bench. The meme the media will immediately start with is: "those Democrats are filibustering everybody". Perfect political cover for the nuclear option.

So yes, Democrats should vote en-masse against Gonzales, and state that he is completely unacceptable for the role of AG. And let Republicans show where they stand in terms of torture.

But other than that? Sorry. The original poster is right. We need to keep our big gun polished for the Supreme Court.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[Skittles]

6. I don't care if he f***ing nominates "someone even worse"

then it's our obligation to go after that trash too. In fact, it's our duty to challenge EVERYONE this thieving, lying POS misadministration nominates.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. considering how he answered the question about Junior defying the law

it should be possible. When asked if he thought the President had the right to defy a law that he thought unconstitutional or otherwise bad, Gonzales twisted and dodged and evaded by talking about hypotheticals.

He should have been pinned to the wall like a butterfly at that point. The answer to that question is "no". If the President doesn't like a law that's passed by congress, even if over his veto, he is absolutely obligated to uphold and enforce it, as well as merely obey it. The fact that Gonzales hemmed and hawed or even posited vague possibilities shows that he is morally unfit for the job. This is not a monarchy.

It was also rather odd to see that troglodyte Sam Brownback try to secure guarantees that he'd continue god's work by clamping down on pornography. With any luck, the fundies will crawl out from under their rocks and mess with the reactionaries' hustle...

[hangloose]

7. Their going to roll over, an fight other battles

[placton]

8. Kerry shows us what the Dems will do

Nothing. He left town for a photo-op in Iraq, when the voting was due on the Ohio election "irregularities." Just watch: a majority of Dem senators will vote for confirmation. They will keep their powder dry for . . . forever. It's not our party anymore.