Gonzales Pledges to Preserve Civil Liberties (WP, Thurs. Jan. 6)

[diamond14]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52815-2005Jan6.html

Gonzales Pledges to Preserve Civil Liberties

By William Branigin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 6, 2005; 3:11 PM

-snips-

In a statement calling for rejection of his nomination, a liberal group, People for the American Way, called Gonzales "a lawyer who too often allows his legal judgment to be driven by his close relationship with the president rather than adherence to the law or the Constitution."

As White House counsel, the group said, "Gonzales has been a central architect of some of the most controversial elements of the administration's war on terror." It charged that he "participated in a dramatic weakening of U.S. commitments to the Geneva Conventions and against torture" and has led Bush's effort "to pack the federal appellate courts with right-wing judges and to crusade for unprecedented Executive Branch secrecy."

The nomination also came under attack today from the human rights group, Amnesty International, which said Gonzales had refused in the hearing to disavow administration efforts to redefine torture in ways that allowed certain mistreatment, including mock drowning.

"In 2002, Alberto Gonzales participated in attempts to provide legal cover for the infliction of torture by agents of the United States, and there was nothing in his responses so far today to suggest a change of heart," said a statement issued by Alexandra Arriaga, director of government relations for Amnesty's U.S. branch.

"Judge Gonzales also failed to reverse his position that the president has the authority to lift the ban on torture," the statement added. "As a leading player who has sought to exempt U.S. interrogators from the prohibition on all ill-treatment contained in the Convention against Torture, his glib statements today offer no reassurance whatsoever."

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Right! Anyone interested in buying this Bridge I have to sell???

[Deja Q]

2. Bush made a lot of promises during the debates too. And

I think he's already broken one of those, so far...

Either way, there's proof * should not be given blind trust.

So why should we for Speedy there?

[Solon]

3. BREAKING:

"Fox vows to leave the chickens in the coop alone."

[Q]

4. So did Ashcroft...

...will the Democrats ever learn not to trust these guys?

[saltpoint]

5. Hey. This may inspire Bill Frist to stop --

-- butchering cats.

[Goldeneye]

6. You know the pugs have hit rock bottom

when their nominees have to promise to uphold the law, and civil liberties, and when they specifically have to condemn torture. Yes, my oh my, the republicans have arived.

[calimary]

24. What an observation. And how sadly true it is. When they have to

be compelled to promise to do the correct and ethical thing. You'd think that would be second nature to someone considered worthy of being elevated to such a high office. They haven't sunk to rock bottom, really. With them, there seems to be no bottom at all.

...and, voters, you're OKAY WITH THIS?

[chomskysright]

7. Gonzales hemmed and hawed when asked...

the hard questions.

When the KS Repug Senator plumped up his nice-boy questions about 'I am very concerned about prisoner recidivism' oh my, he shone like the turd-in-rough that he is.

[skysurfer]

14. No kidding

The man was bobbing and weaving like he was M. Ali. All the while wearing a smirk on his face that plainly said "I don't care what you ask me because I know you're going to confirm me anyway." I tell myself that the criminal cabal in the White House can't possibly sink any lower but they always manage to prove me wrong. How can so many corrupt people exist together in the same place?

[NYC Liberal]

8. IN OTHER NEWS

Hitler promises not to discriminate against Jews. More at 11. :boring:

[struggle4progress]

9. Perhaps the Bush administration would like to modify ...

... the law governing battery: it's really okay to beat up public officials provided no organ failure results.

[xxqqqzme]

10. were his lips moving

when he said that?????? If so, then the rat bastard was lying!!!! But then yellow rogue only gives the nod 2 liars, crooks 'n criminals.

[Just Me]

11. "Conspirators" who BREAK laws,...always promise to BE law-abiding.

I am wondering: exactly HOW MUCH PROOF is necessary to charge and convict any member/constituent/associate of the executive branch,...in these neoCONimperialist-controlled times in which we live?

I mean, DAMN,...Scott Peterson was convicted on a scintilla of evidence compared to these treasonous traitors!!!

I mean, DAMN!!!

:mad:

On edit: I am serious. Whether intentional or "manufactured", there is a an insidious deception happening,...and it is dragging the life and spirit of humanity ever downward.

[KingChicken]

12. Lets get a shot with Gonzales in a classic naked pyramid...

Or we could just beat him to death, the same way all those detainees who diden't surivive interrogation. Mabey someone should drag him through his own ficies by his neck, or gag and bind him and roll him up in a sleeping bag filled with ice.

Gonzales, what a useless motherfucker, and a horrible human being.

[bpilgrim]

13. and he promised not torture anyone, anymore

welcome to BIZARRO WORLD

peace

[Just Me]

15. Abusers, like alcoholics,...come in many different shapes, colors,...

,...classes and influence.

Why is America tolerating so much abuse?

Why?

[bpilgrim]

16. they don't know a fraction of whats REALLY going on

imho

peace

[bpilgrim]

21. actually, he promised to get back to us on that ---------------> mp3

http://news.globalfreepress.com/mp3/aar/mm/ill-get-back-to-you-on-that.mp3

peace

[The Judged]

17. Says president can ignore the laws of Congress if he deems them ...

unconstitutional. Yes, he did so say this! I saw with my own two eyes and heard with my own two ears.

When pressed to repeat it, he answered a question that wasn't asked, in order to avoid the obvious blunder: that he would be unqualified to be AG if he were to advise the president that the president can disregard or ignore the laws of Congress, simply because he believes them to be unconstitutional!

This line of questioning was in regard to his being asked about advising the president that the US did not need to obey the Geneva conventions.

[Just Me]

26. Yup. Blew me away that he revealed a propensity for totalitarianism!!!

Red flags all over the damn place when he stated that the president could unilaterally declare a law unconstitutional and unilaterally breach that law (until a challenge goes all the way to SCOTUS - which allows approx. 18 months of illegal conduct)!!!

YIKES! :scared:

Of course, that is PRECISELY what this cabal did,...declaring that our US law against torture and the Geneva Convention were basically "quaint" and could be violated. Then, they violated them!!! Two years later, the SCOTUS slapped them on the hands,...and they are STILL violating both US and international law.

Freakin' frightening! :scared:

[Swamp Rat]

18. No he doesn't. He's just fucking with us, as did Asscrack.

[tom_paine]

19. They lie so casually and with such confidence

I'm not sure America has ever sen the likes of this before, perhaps in the 1796-99 period.

Not even the lying itself, lies and liars have always been with us.

It is the frighteningly organized and structure use of the lies, more so that he lie themselves.

The Program, as it were.

[Just Me]

20. Pretty damned sick, huh.

"The Program" people,...never cease to appall me. It takes a seriously empty conscience and perpetually self-serving mind to engage in such behavior.

[NYC]

22. In formaldehyde?

Is Gonzales going to preserve civil liberties in formaldehyde? A "quaint" relic of the past?

... "participated in a dramatic weakening of U.S. commitments to the Geneva Conventions and against torture" and has led Bush's effort "to pack the federal appellate courts with right-wing judges and to crusade for unprecedented Executive Branch secrecy."...

Almost any excerpt will do.

[calimary]

25. Good one. It'd be funny if it weren't true.

Wonder what other preservatives he has in his bag of tricks?

[umtalal]

23. Gonzales can kiss my a**. May he burn in hell.

the man condoned torture.