If you have a Democratic Senator, ask to filibuster re Alberto Gonzales

[Eric J in MN]

One reason to oppose Alberto Gonzales becoming the next US Attorney General:

Alberto Gonzales sought to get around a 1996 law against war crimes, U.S. Code Section 2441.

Alberto Gonzales wrote a memo to George W. Bush dated January 25, 2002, which essentially said that Bush can declare the Taliban as outside the Geneva Conventions (make a "determination"), and then when war crimes are committed against suspected Taliban, it's not really a war crime after all.

It is difficult to predict the motives of prosecutors and independent counsels who may in the future decide to pursue unwarranted charges based on Section 2441 . Your determination would create a solid basis in law that Section 2441 does not apply, which would create a solid defense to any future prosecutions.

The 1996 War Crime Law would be inapplicable based on a declaration by Bush, according to Alberto Gonzales' memo.

During questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee this Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005, Gonzales refused to give a straight answer on whether he thinks a president can override laws against torture passed by Congress:

http://www.slate.com/id/2111962/
Undiplomatic Immunity
Did Al Gonzales say the president can authorize torture?" by Chris Suellentrop, Slate, Jan. 6, 2005):

"Now, as attorney general, would you believe the president has the authority to exercise a commander-in-chief override and immunize acts of torture?" (Senator Patrick) Leahy asks.

That's "a hypothetical that's never going to occur," Gonzales says, because we don't torture people.

The Slate article describes how Gonzales dodged that question about a president's authority on torture for hours. If Gonzales doesn't hold that extreme view of executive power, he would have given a straight answer to the Senate.

Regarding the we-don't-torture-people claim in Alberto Gonzales' remarks, please see my article http://www.moveleft.com/moveleft_essay_2004_05_30_real_torture_real_sex_real_electrodes.asp
"Real Torture, Real Sex, Real Electrodes at US Prisons in Iraq" to help judge its honesty.

Senators should not confirm Alberto Gonzales.

Senators should not confirm a man who views the laws they pass as something the president can void.

If you have a Democratic Senator, please ask him or her to filibuster against the appointment of Alberto Gonzales.

On a weekday...

dial 1-800-839-5276 (Capitol Hill Switchboard), ask to be transferred to the office
of your Democratic Senator, and leave a message requesting that the Senator filibuster against Alberto Gonzales.

[genius]

1. kick

[Merlot]

2. If you have a repub Senator you should request a filibuster

They need your vote too, and need to hear your opinion. If you don't let them know you disagree with their actions, they will assume that whole mandate thing was true.

Don't stop talking just because you think you won't be heard. Make yourself even more of a nusiance.

[tyedyeto]

3. alas, my 2 Sens are both Repugs and....

I doubt if anything we in AZ can do to change their minds.

[wildflower]

17. Agree...and a suggestion for talking to Republicans about this:

Mention two things.

a) Torture doesn't work (does anyone have a link to an article on this? I know it's been shown but don't remember the studies).

b) Torture endangers our own soldiers. When our soldiers are captured by people from a group or country the U.S. has tortured, our soldiers are more likely to receive the same treatment.

Even if someone doesn't think torture is immoral, that person may listen to the above arguments.

-wildflower

[bliss_eternal]

4. Let's try to keep this kicked through the weekend--

I plan to call first thing on Monday. I've not been at all happy with the decision to put this guy in. I will definitely be voicing my opinion.

And thank you for posting this for us!

:kick:

[Eric J in MN]

5. Ok, kick

kick

[wildflower]

7. kicking n/t

[Eric J in MN]

19. kick

kick

[wildflower]

6. Thanks, Eric! I just posted a contact list...

I'll paste it in again here:

These are phone and fax (and some e-mail) contacts for members of the Senate Judiciary, the ones who will or will not be confirming Gonzales' nomination, so you can contact them.

For those who want to contact just Democrats or just those in your state, I ordered the list first by party and then alphabetically by state abbreviation.

United States Senate
Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee:

Democrats, listed by state:

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
202-224-3841
FAX: [phone]
http://www.feinstein.senate.gov/email.html

Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE)
202-224-5042
FAX: [phone]
mailto:[e-mail]

Richard J. Durbin (D-IL)
202-224-2152
FAX: [phone]
http://www.durbin.senate.gov/sitepages/contact.htm

Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
202-224-4543
FAX: [phone]
http://www.kennedy.senate.gov/contact.html

Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
202-224-6542
FAX: [phone]
http://www.schumer.senate.gov/webform.html

Patrick J. Leahy (D-VA)
202-234-4242
FAX: [phone]
mailto:[e-mail]

Russell D. Feingold (D-WI)
202-224-5323
FAX: [phone]
mailto:[e-mail]

Herbert Kohl (D-WI)
202-224-5653
FAX: [phone]
http://www.kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html

Republicans, listed by state:

Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
202-224-4124
FAX: [phone]
http://www.sessions.senate.gov/contact.htm#form

Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
202-224-4521
FAX: [phone]
http://www.kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
202-224-3521
FAX: [phone]
http://www.chambliss.senate.gov/Contact/default.cfm?pag ...

Charles E. Grassley (R-IA)
202.224.3744
FAX: [phone]
http://www.grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm

Larry Craig (R-ID)
202-224-2752
FAX: [phone]
http://www.craig.senate.gov/webform.html

Mike DeWine (R-OH)
202-224-2315
FAX: [phone]
http://www.dewine.senate.gov

Arlen Specter - chair (R-PA)
202-224-4254
FAX: [phone]
mailto:[e-mail]

Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
202-224-5972
FAX: [phone]
http://www.lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contact

John Cornyn (R-TX)
202-224-2934
FAX: [phone]
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact/index.html

[Eric J in MN]

8. Yes, people should check the list above.

If one of your Senators is in the post above, definitely contact him or her to vote agaisnt Alberto Gonzales.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Please call Mon-Friday (nt)

nt

[bliss_eternal]

10. Sunday kick

:kick:

[Eric J in MN]

16. Thanks (nt)

nt

[Eric J in MN]

11. kick

kick

[Eric J in MN]

18. kick

kick

[DavidDvorkin]

12. My Democratic senator is Ken Salazar

Sigh. I don't think I'll bother.

[Eric J in MN]

15. Let him know you disagree with him. Obviously, Ken

Salazar isn't going to filibuster, but at least he should know that the Democrats in his state take torture seriously.

[DavidDvorkin]

23. Good point

I'll hunt up his e-mail address and urge him to vote against.

[RebelOne]

13. Yeah, right. My Democratic senator is Zell Miller.

Not a chance.

[Eric J in MN]

14. OK, maybe you can just try to spread info on this issue? (nt

nt

[Eric J in MN]

20. Please call even if the Senator probably won't filibuster.

Let them know how you feel about Alberto Gonzales.

[Ranec]

21. kick

:kick:

[Eric J in MN]

22. Thanks (nt)

nt

[w4rma]

24. They should abstain from voting on this freak.

To vote yes is to tie yourself to this freak's actions in history. Of course, A vote of no is better than an abstain.

[Eric J in MN]

25. The only way to stop him is to filibuster (nt)

nt