No to Gonzales: Murray and now Cantwell (D-WA)

[The Blue Flower]

Dear :
Thank you for contacting me regarding the nomination of Justice
Alberto Gonzales to the position of Attorney General of the United
States. After carefully listening to Judge Gonzales during his
Senate confirmation hearings and reading his responses to
questions, I have decided to oppose his confirmation.

The Attorney General, as the chief law enforcement officer in the
country, holds a special independent place in the government.
While the President selects the nominee, the Constitution requires
the Senate to provide "advice and consent," a responsibility I take
very seriously.

I am unconvinced that Judge Gonzales has the independence to be
the nation's leading law enforcement officer. As White House
Counsel, his office generated a legal opinion on whether the
President is bound by domestic and international law on torture,
which the government recently repudiated as legally faulty. Such
repudiation calls Judge Gonzales' judgment into question,
judgment that is important for our country's top attorney.

Further, Judge Gonzales's changed position on the torture memos
in the weeks before his confirmation hearings appears to
demonstrate political convenience, not a truly self-reflective
change in his thinking on these matters. Had Judge Gonzales
recognized the serious problems with the judgments he made on
these issues and given convincing assurances that he understands
that his new role will require a different approach and a new
allegiance to the law, I might have been convinced to defer to the
President on this nomination.

Additionally, Judge Gonzales had substantial ties to Enron while
he was an attorney in private practice and then a candidate for the
Texas Supreme Court, including receiving many thousands of
dollars from Enron and its PAC both in campaign contributions
and legal fees. These ties could effect the ongoing criminal
investigations of Enron officials. Given the significance of this
case former Attorney General John Ashcroft recused himself
because of similar political ties. Judge Gonzales should also have
made clear his intention to recuse himself.

Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this
matter. Finally, you may be interested in signing up for my weekly
update for Washington State residents. Every Monday, I provide a
brief outline about my work in the Senate and issues of importance
to Washington State. If you are interested in subscribing to this
update, please visit my website at http://cantwell.senate.gov.
Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of
further assistance.

Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell
United States Senator

[PEmboli]

1. the vote is this

afternoon, right?

[glitch]

2. Yay!! No one in good conscience could vote for this guy. It's good to see

both our Senators stand against torture.

[DELUSIONAL]

3. Good for her -- she found her spine!