Durbin rips White House for withholding nominee's memos

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/elect/cst-nws-confirm04.html

WASHINGTON -- Attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales' confirmation hearing this week may become more contentious because the White House has refused to provide copies of his memos on the questioning of terror suspects.

''We go into the hearing with some knowledge of what has occurred because of press reports or leaks but without the hard evidence that will either exonerate or implicate Judge Gonzales in this policy,'' complained Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, on Monday.

Durbin and other Democrats plan to question Gonzales on his involvement in the crafting of policies concerning questioning -- policies that the Justice Department has backed away from.

Still, the issue probably won't be enough to stop Republicans from confirming Gonzales as the first Hispanic attorney general.

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[DemonFighterLives]

1. Glad to hear someone question him

Seems like B*sh has been steamrolling all nominees through the process.

[sniffa]

2. obviousLy

the dems have a probLem with hispanics.

[forintegrity]

3. I don't think that's the issue

The issue is about his policies! Torture, secrecy, flippant attitude toward the Geneva Convention, etc.

[sniffa]

4. yes, but that's not what wiLL be repeated ad nauseum

btw, weLcome to DU. :hi:

[ashmanonar]

14. lol

yea, its sometimes hard to tell when someone's being sarcastic around here...you get used to it tho...

[underpants]

5. They did the same thing with Estrada

They wouldn't turn anything over. They expected the Senate to just sit there and ask him about what kind of person he is-how great he is or some bullshit like that.

[DemonFighterLives]

6. Yeah we're supposed to ask big questions like W gets

Shall we pray for you?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

8. That's apparently how THEY vet people

if Kerik is any indication.

"Any problems we should know about?"

"No."

"Great! You're in!"

[UltraDem]

16. This truly is the land of opportunity...

one day you're playing officer Ponch on the hit series "CHiPs" and then, "BAM!"... you're a judicial nominee. How cool is that!!

Go, Erik Estrada!!! Hugs!!

[leesa]

7. He will claim the Kings Executive Privilege and the press

and the judiciary will let him get away with it. After all, those judges want that 30% raise they so richly deserve for destroying our legal system in favor of party politics.

[LynnTheDem]

9. "as the first LEGALIZING US TORTURE Hispanic attorney"

TORTURE R US(A)

[0007]

10. Shove it right up Gonzales' old wazoo Senator Durbin

How could any Repuke senator vote for this man of torture.

[Supersedeas]

11. more Neo-Con examples of 'open and honest' government

[struggle4progress]

12. Alliance for Justice Releases Gonzales Report and Lawyers' Letter

Both Raise Serious Concerns About His Nomination for Attorney General

Bipartisan Group of Prestigious Lawyers, Past ABA Presidents & Former Judges Demand Independent Commission in Lawyers' Letter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2005

Julie Bernstein
[phone] ext. 297
Cell: [phone]



Washington, DC-Alliance for Justice released today a detailed report and lawyers' letter critical of the nomination of White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to be attorney general of the United States. Gonzales' record as White House counsel over the past four years, especially his role in formulating the policies that led to the torture of prisoners of war, raises fundamental questions about his fitness to serve as our nation's top law enforcement officer.

"Alberto Gonzales was the chief engineer behind the Bush administration's policy justifying the abusive treatment of prisoners of war," said Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron. "Gonzales wrote memos advocating the use of torture in defiance of the Geneva Conventions, international law and standards of human decency. He paved the way for the Bush administration to sidestep the rule of law that, as attorney general, he will be mandated to enforce."

Aron praised the unprecedented, bipartisan effort of over 300 prominent members of the legal community to demand Gonzales support an independent commission to investigate the detention and interrogation policies and practices of the United States. This group has long been insisting on the full disclosure of all memos related to torture-a request that Gonzales has failed to meet.

"It is essential that an independent, bipartisan commission with full subpoena power be established to prepare a full account of detention and interrogation practices carried out by the United States," said John J. Curtin, Jr., former president of the American Bar Association. "Gonzales should be closely questioned about his record in these matters so that the Senate and the nation may determine his fitness to serve as attorney general of the United States." <snip>

http://www.civilrights.org/issues/enforcement/details.cfm?id=27127

[Just Me]

13. Why is ANYONE allowing the executive to get away with this same ole'

pattern of abuse?!?!?

Secrecy is BAD, BAD, BAD!!!

Yet, this administration has the absolute WORST PATTERN OF SECRECY!!!

Secrecy indicates that there is something terribly wrong to hide.

Insane.

[leftchick]

15. this is just a little bluster... for the Dems that still believe..

I am certain he will be confirmed and with the blessing of most of the so-called Democrats in the Senate. :(