Bushists want public to view objections to Gonzales as PURELY political

[BurtWorm]

And of course the media obliges. But remember: This is NOT a political issue strictly. It's a MORAL issue. The outcome of these hearings will make clear whether the US political classes (Democrats as well as Repubs) are willing to sanction an apologist for torture as head of the legal system.


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/06/politics/06gonzales.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5094&en=0777f49ca5e14323&hp&ex=1105074000&partner=homepage


In the sessions, officials have spent the bulk of their time questioning Mr. Gonzales about his positions on the treatment of prisoners in the global campaign against terrorism. The sessions have focused on two documents that have opened Mr. Gonzales to criticism: the 2002 memorandum he wrote on the Geneva Conventions, and a Justice Department opinion that he solicited that year that gave a narrow definition of torture, saying it "must inflict pain that is difficult to endure." The administration has since repudiated that much-criticized definition.

"We know that those two documents are where the Democrats are going to try to beat him up the most," the administration official said.

...

White House officials said they were unconcerned by the surge of attacks this week against Mr. Gonzales.

"Keep in mind that a number of the groups and individuals raising these issues were supporters of the president's opponent in the last election," said Erin Healy, a White House spokeswoman. "Obviously, Judge Gonzales looks forward to going before the Senate Judiciary Committee to address these issues," she added. "Judge Gonzales has done an outstanding job in his current position as White House counsel, and we have every faith and confidence that he will make a great attorney general."

[Spinzonner]

1. But then they have such abysmally low standards

for greatness

[roenyc]

2. He is spinning so much - FOX news is calling

if he doesnt get the job they are going to hire him. wow. he hasnt answered a yes or no question with a yes or no yet!

[housewolf]

3. More than just the torture memos

As if they're not enough!

But he also was the guy responsible for vetting Kirkik. He couldn't have asked him one single question or done any sort of background check on Rudy's best friend and business partner... he should have been fired for gross incompetence in embarassing the administration with that debacle.

And... in his previous life in Texas as Gov. GWB's legal council, for something like 57 death penalty cases he was responsible for compiling the info for GWB to review prior to issuing the final execution order. He did a half-assed job, left out information, distorted information, and basically gave GWB just enough so that he wouldn't question any case or have any second thoughts.

And.... they haven't gotten to how he's assisted the administration in becoming the most secretive administration in our entire history...

We'll see if the good senators can get beyond the torture memos and into some of these other issues.

[BurtWorm]

4. Plus he's an Enron sleazebag.

But they won't go anywhere near that one.

[BurtWorm]

6. And by the way, his death penalty record screams about his incompetence.

And that is not a political issue, either. It's common sense not to hire someone for a job when he has condoned or overlooked shoddy work in the past. That is what Gonzales's record on the death penalty is ALL about.

[Jose Diablo]

5. If Bu*h wants it public then

show the parts of the torture where young girls were being raped in front of their mothers to extract information from the mother about her husbands whereabouts.

That should 'do' Gonzales.