Gonzales Is Likely to Face Criticism in Hearings

[Rose Siding]

snip>
Although few believe Mr. Gonzales is in danger of being denied confirmation, he may nonetheless face the most vigorous interrogation because of his role in overseeing internal legal memorandums that appeared to condone mistreatment, perhaps even torture, of detainees.

The timing of the hearings has proven especially awkward for the administration. They are coming just after a new round of disclosures about the treatment of detainees held by the United States military in Iraq and at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and reports that the administration may hold detainees in Cuba indefinitely.

Underlying the debate about Mr. Gonzales's role in the treatment of detainees is a widely held belief that he might be nominated by Mr. Bush to the Supreme Court, depending on the number of vacancies that occur in his second term.

Even some of Mr. Gonzales's detractors say they do not expect to prevent him from becoming the nation's 80th attorney general, as well as the first Hispanic holder of the office.

Instead, they say, they hope to lay down a record that will make it difficult for him to be confirmed to the Supreme Court.

Rear Adm. John D. Hutson, who served as the Navy's judge advocate general from 1997 to 2000 before he retired, has said that while Mr. Gonzales may have an inspiring personal story he was at the forefront of an effort to subject detainees to coercive practices that was on the wrong side of history and betrayed longstanding American principles.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/03/politics/03gonzales.html?oref=login

[livinginphotographs]

1. Well gee I would certainly hope so.

n/t

[Jacobin]

3. I'm sure it will be withering:

"Mr. Gonzales, now I know that some democrats have suggested that you wrote so called 'torture memos' to justify what some unpatriotic americans have complained about in relation to our treatment of godless terrorists. Now, I have no doubt that you are a patriotic american and only wrote good memos and never suggested anything illegal. Isn't that so?"

:eyes:

I can just imagine how pusillanimous this will all be.

[livinginphotographs]

5. Careful, the senators might be taking notes on here.

You might give them some ideas.

That's exactly how those hearings will be most likely.

[Malva Zebrina]

2. all display, signifying nothing

that is my feeling. Laying down a record? That is what we are reduced to. They know it and it will all be impotent rhetoric.

This guy will be passed. There is no one who can be effective in stopping this nomination

Isn't that a grand thing to contemplate?

[bpilgrim]

4. but never the less have NO problem being confirmed

what kinda MSG does america want to send to the world?

we EMBRACE and ENDORSE torture :shrug:

peace

[Jacobin]

6. That message has been sent loud and clear to the rest of the world

Unfortunately, about half of americans feel the same way.

(but don't we whine like stuck pigs when they do things "so much more dreadful" like beheadings.?)

[Judi Lynn]

7. Former Military Leaders Oppose Gonzales Nomination

Former Military Leaders Oppose Gonzales Nomination (Update2)

Jan. 3 (Bloomberg) -- A dozen former military officers, including retired Army General John Shalikashvili, are opposing the nomination of White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to be U.S. attorney general because he endorsed detaining suspected terrorists without protections accorded prisoners of war.

The officers want lawmakers to question Gonzales about his 2002 legal opinion that the Geneva Conventions for war prisoners don't cover combatants captured in Afghanistan or al-Qaeda operatives seized around the world since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Besides Shalikashvili, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the group includes retired Brigadier General James P. Cullen, who was chief judge of the U.S. Army's Court of Criminal Appeals.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing Jan. 6 on Gonzales's nomination by President George W. Bush to succeed Attorney General John D. Ashcroft. Democrats led by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy say they will ask Gonzales to explain his role in drafting policies that they say spawned the prisoner abuse scandal at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

``The kinds of things that Mr. Gonzales espouses are the very sort of things that are the first step on a slippery slope that compromises the rule of law in this country,'' retired Marine General Joseph P. Hoar, former commander of the U.S. Central Command, said in an interview.
(snip/...)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aOrdZLguwGWg&refer=top_world_news

[MisterP]

8. is the DLC gonna tell us not to be wicket "obstruptionists" and let him

slide through, like Porter Goss?
Or will they have a "secret plan" like they did with the Invasion of Iraq?

[UpInArms]

9. how "quaint"

they're gonna question him.

:puke:

[Judi Lynn]

11. Absolutely "quaint!" Maybe "droll," as well.

I hope Alberto will elaborate for the nation's benefit how his unique perspective allows him to see something as uncomfortable as being beaten to death can also be described as "quaint!"

Hell, I'm all ears!





Mustache? Maybe not
a good idea, after all.
Alberto's such a scamp.

[AZCat]

14. Ahhh, there's Bush* giving his "underling look" again...

The pic on the right has Bush* with that same smug self-satisfied look plastered on his face he has with all his appointees - there was a raging thread here (somewhere) about it.

[0007]

17. To me junior is trying hard to give the look of a man

having unlimited and universal power, a look of authority, and force of all-powerful, LOL!!

[AZCat]

18. It is "hard work" after all (especially for him).

I think he knows the power doesn't reside with him, that he is being used by others (Rove, Cheney, etc). I just think he doesn't care.

[leesa]

10. "Likely"?? He damn well better! And then, let's try him for war crimes.

[Supersedeas]

29. Likely...as if that is the last thing the MSM and 'Merican public should

expect...

[Solly Mack]

12. Criticism? Criticism? The fucker should be facing charges

Criticism? I bet that'll hurt. :eyes:

[Lefty48197]

13. Gonzalez helped cover-up Bush's drunk driving arrest, so Bush appoints

him to big important jobs. What a dick.

[Disturbed]

16. Any Dem that votes for this...

War Criminal is a traitor to America.

[saltpoint]

15. Alberto Gonzales is --

-- the Anti-Zorro.

[librechik]

19. Come on, Al, pull a Kerik!

PLEEEAAAASE Get real and figure out that you are BAD for America and BUSH both!!!! Think of how your appointment makes your dear master look in the history books!! PLEEEEAAASSSSee! Remember an America where there was no excuse for torture, legal or moral!!! PLEASE!

[Starlight]

20. Send a letter to your congressmen.

There is a good letter on the Center for Constitutional Rights website.

link on the left side of the page:

http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/home.asp

[Judi Lynn]

24. Thanks for the link, Starlight. It was helpful.

May I give you, in return, a lovely photo of Alberto Gonzalez and his friends who also work for the pResident.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. Thanks! I sent it, too, and passed it on to five like-minded friends

My Freeper Congressman probably won't be thrilled to hear from me on this one, but it is sheer lunacy to confirm the "torture guy" as AG! Then we have the National Security Adviser, who ignored the memos about bin Laden, probably promoted to Secretary of State! Who's going to be Bush*'s next pick, Charlie Manson?!:crazy:

[peacebird]

34. thanks for the link - sent it - not that John Warner will care

I also sent scathing letters to ACT, MoveOn and Common Dreams for their wimpy emails re:"Asking" Gonzales to renounce torture....

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

21. Gonzales wants to uphold tradition

The tradition of such sleazebags as Ed Meese, John Mitchell and of course John Ashcroft. All Republican Attorney Generals

[lovuian]

22. His written interpretation that Torture is Ok is his undoing

if congress confirms him its like they are confirming Torture is OK!!!

[WatchWhatISay]

23. Forget the criticism

Lets see a ROADBLOCK!

[ThoughtCriminal]

25. Question #1

What part of the 8th Amendment are you having trouble reading?

[Brundle_Fly]

26. Seriously....

Who wants this Bozo?

[Rhiannon12866]

27. Apparently, the military brass aren't too thrilled with him, either

Aa AG who doesn't think it's necessary to observe the Geneva Conventions certainly wouldn't be terribly popular with anybody in the military who has to face an enemy who knows that their side has been tortured. The hypocritical thing is that I remember Bush* ranting on about observing the Geneva Conventions when that unit in Iraq was captured and shown on Al Jazerra.

Former Military Leaders Challenge Gonzales Nomination

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a7nN9G6jWI0M&refer=top_world_news

[Just Me]

30. It blows my mind that a conspirator to violate international law,...

,...is actually going to serve as the U.S. Attorney General.

Unbelievable.

I hate to see how far he'll go in ripping up constitutional rights and liberties.

We may end up with a fully-developed dictatorial tyranny in this country.

Unbelievable.

[truthisfreedom]

31. may face the most vigorous interrogation...

shackled to the floor, unable to stand, sh*tting himself?

[Maat]

37. This law student agrees with every one of you here.

What am I suppose to say on my bar test? The Chief Executive has to execute the law - and see that the law is executed - unless he is George W Bush. Is that what I'm supposed to write down?

[indepat]

32. His ass will likely be roasted well, then confirmed

[peacebird]

33. but will they shove a flourescent light stick up it?

[indepat]

38. They should as circumstances warrant

[Rhiannon12866]

35. Here's another "action" that you can take part in, condemning torture,

like reply #20. It's a petition, condemning the use of torture, to be sent to Gonzales and to the Senate, calling on them to endorse this. They're looking for 100,000 signatures. I got it today in e-mail from actforchange.


Declaration Against Torture
http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/petition.cfm?itemid=18313

[priller]

36. It's not just the torture memos, it's the reasoning behind them

IIRC, the thinking in the memos was that the President could overturn the Geneva convention on torture because, in time of war, he could basically do anything he thought necessary to "protect the country". He was essentially saying that the President is above the law during wartime.

Is this the kind of Attorney General you want, someone who has such a breathtakingly wrong view of the president's constitutional powers?

[peacebird]

39. EXACTLY.