NYT: Senate Panel Delays Vote on Gonzales (Dems say evaded questions)

[DeepModem Mom]

Senate Panel Delays Vote on Gonzales
By ERIC LICHTBLAU

Published: January 20, 2005


WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 - The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on Alberto R. Gonzales's nomination for attorney general on Wednesday after Democrats accused Mr. Gonzales of evading their questions about the Bush administration's policies on the treatment of prisoners captured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, who sought the delay, said at a committee meeting that Mr. Gonzales's written responses to questions about the administration's policies on torture had been "arrogant" and evasive. He pressed for Mr. Gonzales to produce notes and records that might shed light on the positions he had taken as White House counsel, in particular, a 2002 memo on the limits of torture.

Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, who is chairman of the committee, said that at first glance he was satisfied with Mr. Gonzales's answers, calling them "an expansive response on relatively short notice." But Mr. Specter agreed to put off the vote for a week and to review the voluminous material to determine whether fuller answers were needed. He said afterward that he did not think Mr. Gonzales's ultimate confirmation was in any jeopardy....

***

With Mr. Kennedy and several Democrats rethinking their positions on Mr. Gonzales's nomination, Mr. Specter acknowledged that the nominee could face a number of no votes on the committee before the full Senate took up his nomination. He said he wanted to see Mr. Gonzales avoid a party-line vote in order to strengthen his position as attorney general....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/20/politics/20gonzales.html

[UL_Approved]

1. This is what needs the opposition

This is the area that needs to have some opposition thrown into place from the Democrats. This is something that needs to be taken seriously as a point to rebut. If the Dems roll over on this one, we will have to start wondering when they become an opposition party.

[salin]

4. I don't think they can stop the nomination altogether... Opposition,

however, is very important.

1) It gets the objections (very serious ones) into the public record.

2) The media is, to some extent, following the story which means the points of objection are getting out to the public.

3) If, when, the reality of Gonzales and his stands pierce the public psyche (as happened with his predecessor) there will be a clear record that he is not about business as usual in DC (eg both party support) but a clear bushteam failure. Given that we can not stop the ascension of a bush2 administration - the goal now, imo, is to get the ongoing abuse of power by the administration to tar the entire GOP party. Eventually there will be a backlash. This administration is so brazen and so often abuses powers in ways that are honestly in opposition to how most americans act/believe (and believe that America should act) - that the superior spin machine that has bamboozled many has begun to loose its effectiveness... hence bush's low numbers after the election; the low numbers of support - not just for the war... but now less than 40% believe that the war was justified at the time it was initially waged. Now the job of the opposition is to draw clear distinctions on "how we do business" so that the inevitable failure of the administration becomes the inevitable failure of the GOP and a longer fall from power.

[skyounkin]

2. The idiot king hates "yes" men

So, all the Dem's should toe the line and vote "NO" to appease president stupid.:evilgrin:

[newyawker99]

5. Hi skyounkin!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[annabanana]

3. Voting "yes" in the interests of collegiality

will be lost on this administration. The history and traditions of confirmation are working against the need for Democrats to DO THERI JOB!

[LeeB]

6. AMEN!!!

[gottaB]

7. If Specter wants to avoid a partyline vote

He should vote no and convince other Republicans to do the same. Do the Republicans in the Senate represent constituencies, or is their only purpose to rubberstamp each and every thing the President asks for? Gonzales is a terrible nominee. No matter who votes for him, he will not be a strong attorney general.

If you have a Republican Senator or two, contact them and urge them to vote no on confirming Gonzales.

[V Lee]

8. Can't they just torture him to get answers?

After all, he said that was OK, right?