Boxer is likely to oppose confirmation of Gonzalez

[question everything]

SignOnSanDiego.com

Boxer is likely to oppose confirmation of Gonzalez

By John Marelius
STAFF WRITER

January 29, 2005

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, who led the charge against the confirmation of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said yesterday she will probably oppose President Bush's choice for attorney general as well.

(snip)

Boxer has emerged as one of Congress' most outspoken critics of the war in Iraq after her contentious questioning of Rice during the confirmation hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Boxer said that although her private meeting at Camp Pendleton was primarily devoted to military housing and medical benefits, she got a mixed reaction when she broached her 2002 vote against authorizing military action in Iraq.

(snip)

Although Rice's confirmation sailed through the Senate this week with only 13 negative votes, Boxer called the roll call "historic," noting it was the greatest number of votes cast against a secretary of state since 1825.

More..

Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20050129/news_1n29boxer.html

[saltpoint]

1. Hot Dog!

A strong senator casting a 'nay' vote to an established torturer.

[Clarkie1]

2. I expect all democratic senators to do likewise n/t

[Jim Sagle]

13. I expect you'll be disappointed.

:-(

[fshrink]

15. I expect you'll be right. nt

[CHIMO]

18. All Senators

The "The wheels of justice grind..."

I don't think that they can claim they were just following orders!

[Elidor]

3. I'm going to give all my turkee to Senator Boxer.

She has icojones!

[American liberal]

4. WE THE PEOPLE should all be contacting our Senators

regardless of party and insist that the Gonzales nomination does not go through. He's a lap dog and helped draft the plan that allowed Gitmo prisoners to be tortured. I listened to the hearings and he was as evasive as the Dems have made him out to be. When counsel for Bush while TX gov., he was successful in getting Bush out of jury duty so he wouldn't have to disclose his DUI conviction of 1976. It's too bad because he sounds like a man of conviction and principle--just on the wrong side of the fence.

I believe an Attorney General Gonzales would be more disastrous for U.S. civil liberties than Asscroft was. PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS FIRST THING MONDAY!!! It's not too late to make your voices heard!!!

Peace,
AL

[question everything]

9. My concern is that with the Republican majority they can pass any

nomination that they damn please.

Some years ago Gonzales was mentioned as a possible Supreme Court nominee. I think that I'd rather have him sitting four years as a DA than on the Supreme Court for life.

(Though I suppose that even as a DA, he can always be nominated for the Supreme Court and a defense can be that "he was already nominated by the Senate once...")

[peterrush]

26. Next 48 hours could stop Gonzalez confirmation, but we must ACT

There is an historic window of opportunity that will be open for no more than the next 48-72 hours. It will close when the Senate votes on the nomination of Alberto Gonzalez for Attorney General. At that time, if no Democrats cross the line and vote for him, if it is a straight party line vote, even if he is confirmed, a tremendous victory will have been won. Failure to achieve 100% Democratic opposition would be a devastating waste of a never-to-return opportunity.

I would like to urge everyone reading this to, this weekend, immediately send it to everyone they know or can email to, and then to do what the email calls for, namely, to email and call as many Democratic (and moderate Republican) Senators as possible to vote no on Gonzalez. This must be done now, today, so this can snowball before the vote on Monday or Tuesday. If everyone does this, several million emails and calls could flood the Capitol, and ensure the outcome.

This is why it is so important:

After a 55-45 vote, every Republican in the country at any level of government, will have to defend Gonzalez. And he is indefensible. Our rallying cries will include: “Democrats Oppose Torture, Why Don’t Republicans?” and “Republicans Support Monarchy, See Bush As Above the Law,” (and no doubt others just as powerful). Every Republican in the nation, and every Republican lawmaker in Congress, in every State House, on every County or City Council, can be accused of favoring torture, and supporting the view that the President is above the law, like a medieval monarch. Just by virtue of being a Republican. Any Republican who would say they personally disagree can be asked whom he thinks he’s fooling, unless he is willing to publicly denounce Gonzalez, and the views he stands for, even if Gonzalez has already been confirmed. Think about the power of this tactic!

But this requires Democratic unity and unanimity in the Senate vote, not the ultra-stupid support so many Dems gave Fashcroft in 2001. Here’s what everyone receiving this needs to do:

A. Commit to sending emails to as many Democratic Senators as possible, preferably all of them. This is really easy. Go to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm. This lists on a single page, every Senator, with phone number and link to a website, in alphabetical order. The website then opens to an email. If you create a message to cut and paste into every email, one could send all 45 a message in an hour or so. Keep it short and sweet. IT’S DO-ABLE!! Then hit the moderate Republicans (Chafee, Snow, Collins, Specter, Hagel, McCain, and possibly a few others), maybe with a specially crafted message. Then, start calling the same offices, starting with the Democrats most at risk to buckle.

B. Then, send this exact same message out to everybody you know, everyone you have an email for who might respond, and urge them to do the same. If you have a local, statewide, or national email list from one of the primary campaigns, send it to all. If you have the ability to have it sent to the email list of an organization you belong to, go for it. And don’t forget friends and relatives. Let’s get a snowball going here, a flash mass cyber- and tele-mobilization like nothing that’s ever been done before in such record time. IT’S NOT THAT HARD!!

C. Next, send this message to every Democratic official—both elected, and party, officials—from the DNC down to your local councilperson and precinct chairman.

D. Finally, post this message on every blog, or other on-line forum you know of, to reach even more people.

There is no reason that several million emails and phone calls can’t be generated by Monday morning. If the Senate email system crashes from overload, that would be great, it would be a news story in itself that no one could ignore. If the Dems hold together, it could even inspire enough moderate Republicans to actually kill the nomination.

If we are successful, we reap two additional benefits: we progressives will feel our own power, and we will have successfully tested a tool to be wielded on many other issues; and the Democratic Senators will also experience a sensation of power they seem not to have felt much recently, making them more likely to repeat the experiment of total opposition on other issues down the road.

Summary of what needs to be said: Why Gonzalez must be defeated:

· He authored and supported a policy that authorized torture, and publicly called the Geneva Convention “quaint.

· His confirmation is a signal to the world that we do not repudiate the torture we have already committed, but rather intend to continue and expand it.

· He believes the President is above the law, and will therefore vigorously defend and extend extra-legal preventive detention of “terror suspects” in “Patriot Act 2”-type legislation, effectively repealing the Constitution, the right of habeas corpus, and the Magna Carta of 1215, the bedrock of our system that limits the power of tyrants to arbitrarily lock up whomever they please.

· He has no regard for the rule of law or due process, nor human life, as demonstrated by the criminally slipshod and willfully incompetent manner in which he passed on execution cases to Texas Gov. George Bush so Bush could execute all of them from 1994-2000.

LET’S JUST DO IT!! WE CAN, AND WE MUST. PASS IT ON.

[kuozzman]

5. I don't know how anyone couldn't oppose it.

Facts about Gonzo(and a funny pic of his son)
http://ignorantusa.tripod.com/index.html



Here are some facts we know about Mr. Gonzales. These are all quotes taken from Senators during his confirmation hearings.



-He declined to answer or evaded many of the questions we asked him at the hearing.
-He has failed to provide full and forthright answers to our follow-up written questions.
-He says he can't remember what specific interrogation methods were discussed.
-He can't remember who asked for the Justice Department's legal advice in the first place.
-He can't remember whether he made any suggestions to the Department on the drafting of the Bybee Memorandum, although he admits that "it would not be unusual" for his office to have done so.
-He doesn't know how the memo was forwarded to the Defense Department and became part of its "Working Group Report" in April 2003, which was used to justify the new interrogation practices at Guantanamo. Those practices, in turn, "migrated" to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
-He refuses to provide or even conduct a search for documents relating to his request for the Goldsmith Memorandum.
-He refuses to say anything about his discussions with the author of the memo.
-He says he doesn't know whether the C.I.A. acted on the memo, as the Washington Post reported.
-He even says that he has never had the "occasion to come to definitive views" about the analysis in the memo.
-(The committee) has repeatedly asked Mr. Gonzales to provide documents on his meetings, evaluations, and decisions on the Bybee Memorandum. These documents would speak volumes about all the issues Mr. Gonzales says he has trouble remembering. Yet he refuses to provide the documents. He won't even search for them. In his responses to my written questions, Mr. Gonzales stated eight times that he has not "conducted a search" for the requested documents. In other words, the documents we want may exist, but he's not going to look for them. It's hard to imagine a more arrogant insult to this Committee's oversight role.
-Mr. Gonzales refused to answer other questions and requests on the grounds that they would involve "classified information," "predecisional" or "internal deliberations," or "deliberative material." None of these grounds is sufficient. There is no legal bar to providing classified materials to Congress; they're routinely provided to Congress and discussed in closed meetings. There is no recognized privilege for "predecisional" or "deliberative" materials. The only exception is in the rare case where the President himself determines that his interest in secrecy outweighs the public interest in disclosure, and he himself invokes executive privilege. That hasn't happened here.
-In his response to our questions, Mr. Gonzales said that he has "no specific recollection of reaction to the conclusions, reasoning, or appropriateness as a matter of policy of any of the particular sections of the memorandum at the time received it two-and-a-half years ago."

[super simian]

22. Thanks for this list!

Here is my letter to Diane Feinstein:

Dear Senator Feinstein:

I have been a loyal Democrat all of my life, but I have to say that in recent weeks you have disappointed me greatly and I don't plan to vote for you ever again. It embarrassed me to see you cozying up to someone who has done this country as much harm as Condoleezza Rice. On the other hand, I am eternally grateful to our other senator from California, Barbara Boxer, who has shown incredible courage and integrity by standing up for our democracy, even when she stands up alone.

Senator Feinstein, when I see you vote against the confirmation of Albert Gonzales as Attorney General, I will take that as a private message from you that says you still want my vote.

Mr. Gonzales has condoned and helped to authorize the torture of war prisoners, and he is a war criminal under international laws and under the laws of the United States. Anyone who aids and abets this man is, in the eyes of the law, a war criminal, too. Please show me that you honor my support of you over the years, that you honor the laws of this country, that you honor human decency, and vote against the confirmation of Mr. Gonzales. Not only is it wrong for us to torture prisoners of war, it opens the door for our soldiers to be tortured when they are captured by the enemy. I'm against the war in Iraq, but I care about our soldiers, I care what happens to them, and I hope you care, too.

Here are some facts we know about Mr. Gonzales. These are all quotes taken from Senators during his confirmation hearings (courtesy of Democratic Underground).

-He declined to answer or evaded many of the questions we asked him at the hearing.
-He has failed to provide full and forthright answers to our follow-up written questions.
-He says he can't remember what specific interrogation methods were discussed.
-He can't remember who asked for the Justice Department's legal advice in the first place.
-He can't remember whether he made any suggestions to the Department on the drafting of the Bybee Memorandum, although he admits that "it would not be unusual" for his office to have done so.
-He doesn't know how the memo was forwarded to the Defense Department and became part of its "Working Group Report" in April 2003, which was used to justify the new interrogation practices at Guantanamo. Those practices, in turn, "migrated" to military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
-He refuses to provide or even conduct a search for documents relating to his request for the Goldsmith Memorandum.
-He refuses to say anything about his discussions with the author of the memo.
-He says he doesn't know whether the C.I.A. acted on the memo, as the Washington Post reported.
-He even says that he has never had the "occasion to come to definitive views" about the analysis in the memo.
-(The committee) has repeatedly asked Mr. Gonzales to provide documents on his meetings, evaluations, and decisions on the Bybee Memorandum. These documents would speak volumes about all the issues Mr. Gonzales says he has trouble remembering. Yet he refuses to provide the documents. He won't even search for them. In his responses to my written questions, Mr. Gonzales stated eight times that he has not "conducted a search" for the requested documents. In other words, the documents we want may exist, but he's not going to look for them. It's hard to imagine a more arrogant insult to this Committee's oversight role.
-Mr. Gonzales refused to answer other questions and requests on the grounds that they would involve "classified information," "predecisional" or "internal deliberations," or "deliberative material." None of these grounds is sufficient. There is no legal bar to providing classified materials to Congress; they're routinely provided to Congress and discussed in closed meetings. There is no recognized privilege for "predecisional" or "deliberative" materials. The only exception is in the rare case where the President himself determines that his interest in secrecy outweighs the public interest in disclosure, and he himself invokes executive privilege. That hasn't happened here.
-In his response to our questions, Mr. Gonzales said that he has "no specific recollection of reaction to the conclusions, reasoning, or appropriateness as a matter of policy of any of the particular sections of the memorandum at the time received it two-and-a-half years ago."

Again, I appeal to you to stand up for the honor of America and vote against Albert Gonzales. It tragic to think how degraded the political discourse of this country has become, thanks to people like him.

Very respectfully yours,

[Helga Scow Stern]

25. That is a great letter. She was one of the 8 dems who opposed

the nomination in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Does that mean she will vote against again? I hope so!

His confirmation is scarier than Rice, especially when you know the Dominionist agenda. Everyone should see this, in light of the Gonzales nomination.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1544256#1545667

[super simian]

27. Thanks!

I bookmarked that link!

[Acryliccalico]

6. YES!

:kick: That would be great.

[Not_Giving_Up]

7. Once again, I live in Texas and Boxer is my Senator!!!!

I hope someone is watching her back.

[oasis]

8. Gonzales is a flatout liar which is a character trait required of all on

the Bush team.

[Pam-Moby]

10. They better start standing up!!

Our senators and congresspeople better start listening to the people and not protecting themselves to be voted back in!! I do not see how the think that by laying down and letting this administration roll over them that the are strengthening their chances of being reelected. They should be worried that by not standing up that we see them as weak and will want to replace them when the time comes for reelection!!!

[lebkuchen]

11. Feinstein is going to oppose

so Boxer surely will

[Straight Shooter]

12. Opposing Gonzales, "Mr. Torture," should be the norm, not the exception

WTF is wrong with our Congress? Have they not seen the photos from Abu Ghraib? Don't they listen to the reports from Gitmo? Can they not understand, can they not get it into their teeny minds that someday our soldiers will receive the same treatment because confirming Gonzales is like telling the whole world to f*ck off, we make the rules and don't answer to anyone.

Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.

[chookie]

14. Whatta gal!

I am deeply indebted to Senator Boxer -- one of the few voices in the Senate the speaks for I the People, as well as many of We the People.

When I monitored the hearings -- most notably on CNN -- her objections were ridiculed as blatant partisan politics (I don't know the name of the lame chick who is "reporting" for them).

What I heard was what Boxer actually said. She laid out very clearly and firmly that Condi had made some very serious misjudgements, which had detrimental consequences for many, many Americans, and even more innocent Iraqis. It was "fact-based", rather than "politics."

So let's get this straight -- people who can make specific points about Condi's blatant incompetence are "politicizing" her appointment -- but people who completely disregard the content of her character and give her a green light because she is so close to their President are *not* polticizing her appointment. Sorry, but they'll get no "Ja vohl!"s from me.

Condi may be bright, Condi may be able to cite all kinds of facts, but the reality-based conclusion is that, when push came to shove, and when she had major decisions to make, she messed up, big time. She can't see the forest for the trees. Is it self-advancement? Is it incompetence?

Condi's greatest talent, sadly, is being able to lie and dissemble for fascists, with a smile on her face and a well-groomed persona. This does not make her legitimate or meaningful. Condi is running on fumes....

An *interested* government would have ousted her long ago. Alas, we are living through times where incompetence gets kicked to the top, because loyalty to failure matters most to these folks.

Condi is an empty shell, a very clever and keen tool that the biggest bastards among us use for their personal purposes.

What we shall see unfold in the next year or so are the desperate attempts by these bastards to not only escape the consequences of their plans and actions, but to conceal them. Condi is the best thing in the toolbox to do so. As usual, it might "play in Peoria" -- but it doesn't play anywhere else, in the real world. It's a Mafia kinda thing -- they have to present a unified front, and back each others lies, because once the shit hits the fan, they will all fall. This is more than Condi's adoration of George W -- this is self-preservation of a primal nature.

As for Gonzalez? Isn't it OBVIOUS? Another brown tool for the rich old white men with Big Plans. Anyone with a brain is thinking "DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!" He has been chosen on the basis of his loyalty to His Chimperial Highness -- and despite his pious mewings before the committee, intends to ONLY be the sword of George W within the Justice Department. Confirm him and just watch -- "George W IS the Constitution!"

All that they have had to do, all along, is just get their foot in the door -- and go on to grab all, to seize our nation's destiny -- by stealth and deceit, and oh yes, with a nice smile.

They really don't give a shit about the consequences, because, whether things go ill or not -- the military industrial complex will flourish. If Iraq and their future planned invasions go awry --well, their flying monkey supporters will say, oh well, after all, these are the End Times and we can expect death and mayhem.

So -- maybe Boxer will go down in history as the Brave America who called them on their bullshit, because it is her job, or they will bury her (although she will eventually emerge in history as the Decent Person who Spoke Out.)

I am most grateful to Senator Boxer.

[bvar22]

16. a vote FOR Alberto the Torturer...

Is a vote FOR torture!!!

A voter FOR Gonzales is a VOTE
AGAINST OUR TROOPS!!!

[Tinoire]

17. Proud Member of the Boxer Rebellion here!

[latteromden]

19. How could ANYONE vote OTHERWISE? Gonzales is a threat, not only

to this country, but the rest of them. Frightening stuff.

[aikido15]

20. He'll be confirmed because...

not enough spineless Dems will oppose. Good for Boxer, but they would all have to join her, and they won't.

Biden is my latest dissapointment. His excuse for voting for Rice was comparing with a second marriage as working better than the first or some dumb ass remark like that. In other words she deserves a second chance...HUH? A second chance at what, lying some more? He also recently threatened Iran at the WTO meeting.

What an ass. I hate them all, repukes and dems. :grr:

[mikelewis]

21. Man, I love Boxer, she's is a fiesty little thing, isn't she?

[Lorien]

24. Yeah, so was Wellstone

it looks like she's picking up where he left off! Boxer 2008!

[w4rma]

23. It'll be major news if they find a single Democrat to support this freak.

It's also be major news if they can find a single Republican to oppose this freak.

[American liberal]

29. please, please, PLEASE read #26 from peterrush on why

moderate Repukes may actually be convinced to vote nay on the Gonzales nomination! We have a HUGE opportunity to effect change through grassroots campaigning.

THROUGH HIS ACTIONS, GONZALES HAS SHOWN THAT HE SUPPORTS TORTURE!!! What congressman, Dem or Repuke, would like to be aligned with such a headline? Please please please do your part and contact your Senators and Reps before this nomination goes before the full Senate Monday or Tuesday. Call and e-mail first thing Monday! We can make a difference!

Peace,
AL

[Just Me]

28. The other great news: Hispanic Caucus withdraws their support!

Yeah!!!!!

:bounce:

[American liberal]

30. Kick for Hispanic Caucus!

great news!!!

[American liberal]

31. Kick again!

[njdemocrat106]

32. I wouldn't expect anything less from Senator Boxer

A great American and Senator who really does care about her constituents and all Americans.