Times
From Roland Watson in Washington
PRESIDENT BUSH’S second term mandate faces its first important test this week when Democrats open a new session of Congress by challenging his most controversial Cabinet appointment.
Alberto Gonzales, the White House chief counsel nominated by Mr Bush as Attorney-General, will face questions from Democrats on the Senate judiciary committee in Thursday’s confirmation hearings.
Mr Gonzales will be challenged on the series of post 9/11 legal opinions in which he gave Mr Bush a free hand to disregard the Geneva Conventions and hold detainees indefinitely and incommunicado, the basis for the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay.
The expected fireworks will set the tone for what has been described as the most polarised Congress for a century.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1425186,00.html