Durbin Is Not Convinced Gonzales Is Suitable For AG

[Rose Siding]

Durbin, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee that grilled Gonzales for more than seven hours during the hearing, which is part of the process presidential cabinet nominees must endure to receive Senate confirmation.

"I like him personally very much," Durbin said Friday afternoon. "His life story is very inspiring. He has worked hard and reached an extraordinarily high level of achievement."

That said, Durbin then expressed concerns he has about Gonzales and whether or not the 49-year-old Texan is the right person to become the nation's top law enforcement officer.
...
"This chapter of the American war on terrorism could turn out to be as historic an embarrassment to the U.S. as the Japanese interment was during World War II," Durbin said. "The images of Abu Ghraib will serve as recruitment posters for terrorists for years to come."

Durbin said Gonzales' role in the policy-making "raises questions about his judgment. You can't really predict how someone is going to be (in the attorney general's position). All you can do is look at a person's record. That's why this is so troubling. He was involved in a decision that turned out to be a monumental blunder."
...
"I asked him, point blank, if any American person, either government or military, could legally use torture. He said he'd have to get back to me," Durbin said. "I was stunned by his lack of an immediate answer."

http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2005/01/08/t...

[barb162]

1. there's no reason for Durbin to vote for the guy

[Prodemsouth]

2. Or anyone else.

n/t

[renaissanceguy]

23. He didn't vote for Ashcroft, and he gave this guy a good

grilling. There's no way in hell Democrats will vote for this guy, a war criminal. Think of the implications of what four years of this guy can be.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/465770

[Amigust]

33. Democrats not vote for Gonzales? don't count on it.

They'll jawbone and get some camera time, then I'll bet the majority will vote for him. That's our Democratic Party. They're probably saving their energy for Social Security and making deals with some Repubs that they won't vote against Gonzales if the Repubs will support them against Middle-Finger's attack on Social Security.

IMO

[barb162]

42. yeah I don't understand and never did, the Dem strategy of going

along with the pugs. At least if they don't vote for the jerk, they can keep clean mentally. I can't think of one reason to vote for him. The Dems should be obstructionist. The pugs don't play along with the Dems in any case. There's no compromise with the pugs so why the hell do the dmes keep playing the game.

[sally343434]

3. Durbin is a neutered ass

> "I like him personally very much," Durbin said Friday afternoon.

That just about says it all, doesn't it?

[Rose Siding]

4. No, that doesn't say it all

What it does say is that Durbin looked at the whole picture and tried to be as objective as possible, giving his opinion the greater weight of credibility.

[Prodemsouth]

5. "I like him personally, very much"- Translation:

I am not going to vote for him.

[WhiteTara]

41. What did Biden's "real deal" comment mean?

I wanted to puke when he said that.

[UpInArms]

6. last night - on Jimmy Kimmel (gawd he's an ass)

but I don't have a viewing selection (every form of refuge has its price) -

he showed a clip of Biden not questioning Gonzales at all - merely stating over and over how much he "liked" Gonzales.

I almost blew chunks

[ElectroPrincess]

9. Welcome to the NEW and even more *cowardly* Democratic

party. Rove has played them on Cabinet nominees like a Stradivaris Violin. The present bunch of gutless wonder Democratic Leadership is so damn PARANOID that they'll be *seen as racist* instead of intellectually and morally honest that they fall all over themselves to complement people of color (and sometimes women).

Rove, in certain circles calls the cabinet members who were astutely picked as RIGHT WING and people of color (or women) Bush's "Untouchables" because the Democratic Leadership does not have the moral courage to stand up to the WRONG person.

They (most Democratic Leaders in our Congress) are such ... such POLITICIANS not OUR REPRESENTATIVES for their constituents' first.

But not without reason: The right wing noise machine owns the media and has more than enough to blackmail many Democrats in congress to fold like cheap suits. I'd bet money that every Democrat who's strayed ethically is known by the Right Wing Republican Leadership (with pictures and/or video in hand). Even if Democratic Leaders have NOT strayed, all Rove has to do is start a whisper campaign and feed it to "The Drudge Report" and if it's reported long enough, it becomes FACT.

My Point: We have very few morally courageous leaders in the Senate, but Bless Her! = Barbara Boxer isn't one of these cowards.

[AlCzervik]

19. Oh god, Jon Stewart did a segement on that

and had the clip of Biden, he is useless.

[DS1]

31. No kidding, I wanted to get nominated so I could have MY ass kissed

for four hours

Why do we even bother anymore?

We might as well just FIRE all the Dems until 2008 since they clearly aren't interested in doing anything to stop that idiot chimp.

At least we'd save a couple bucks.

[AlCzervik]

32. what i really don't understand and i mean this the democrats have

nothing left to lose. they are a minority with no power, they should be balls out. Most of these senators have shitloads of money and probably never need to work again, not that they really work now but they should just go for it.

[Amigust]

34. Till 2008? It looks like 2008 has been rendered moot by two

glossed over presidential election thefts.

It took the Mexicans only 72 years to break the grip of the one-party dominance.

[RetroLounge]

7. Big Deal, they'll vote for him anyhow

because they are all spineless.

RL

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. I wonder if we can find some illegal nannies

that worked for Martinez. That would kill his nomination in 2 seconds?

[dkofos]

10. He will say they were relatives just visiting

[RetroLounge]

26. They could find Kiddie Porn on his PC

and Republicans would say he was just researching for his new job as AG and the Dems would pat him on the back and say what a nice guy he is, then confirm him.

RL

[msmcghee]

11. He said he liked Gonzales very much because . .

. . the repugs are going to cry "Hispanic discrimination" from the rooftops as soon as Rove thinks the timing is right.

The parts that he claims to like are the parts that Hispanics identify with - especially who may be more open to voting repuke - i.e making good from humble origins, etc.

Rest assured they have totally chess boarded everything the Dems might possibly do during this AG process - and every one of them ends up with us getting screwed. And I'm sure Durban knows that and has chosen the path of least damage to us - most effective outcome under the circumstances.

Now, they just play out the rest of the dance - and we go on to the next mugging.

[UTUSN]

15. It Ain't About the Ethnicity, It's about 1)Wingnutism and/or 2)Puppetry

Orin HATCH tried this "discrimination" fallacy with ESTRADA, and the Repukes have been trying it since Clarence THOMAS. THEY are using the racist argument, not us. They, who have supposedly been against race-based quotas and Affirmative Action are now asking that these wingnut tools be approved BECAUSE of their ethnicity/race while Dems are opposing them based on merit, qualifications, and ideology. Amazing turn of events, ain't it.

[davsand]

12. Durbin didn't vote for AshKKKroft.

I doubt he'll support Gonzales either. The big difference for Durbin NOW is he's the party whip, and as a result he has to be very careful WHAT he says publicly and how he votes. He is now one of the leading voices of the Democratic party, and he can't go out and openly state something as inflammatory as "Gonzales is a puss sack that supports torture. Hell NO I won't vote for him."

Additionally, something a lot of folks have forgotten about Durbin is he's a class act. Even when he's disagreed in the past it has been with civility and on point rather than personal attack.

What a lot of folks seem to be forgetting is the Durbin has been quite progressive in his votes in the past--and HE is the new Whip. The Dem party pretty much sent a loud signal with his selection, IMO, that they are not planning to move TOO far right.

At the risk of being cliche, "All we are saying is give Dick a chance."


Laura

[saltpoint]

13. I think Durbin is handling this exactly right.

He credits Gonzales' personal intelligence and accomplishment so as not to leave himself vulnerable to charges of racism, but then shoots him down on the torture question, which is the whole story in my view.

Agile politickin' if you ask me.

[KittyWampus]

20. Heck, Even I Can Credit G.'s Accomplishment. It's Just A Damn Shame

what he ended up doing with all his talent and effort.

[saltpoint]

25. Agreed. I notice the same thing in someone like --

-- Rumsfeld. He's obviously a bright mind, but it's in the service of such blatantly nefarious purposes.

Why do such intelligent people want to work for someone like Dubya in the first place? I mean, way deep down.

[Amigust]

35. It takes more than intellect.

Where is the sense of moral decency and social responsibility?

[saltpoint]

36. Yes.

Here, here!

And 'yes' again.

[renaissanceguy]

24. Damn good point.

I've heard the MSM saying that "nobody would want to turn down the first Hispanic attorney general."

This is PERFECT thinking on his part.



http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues/465770

[saltpoint]

28. Hi, renaissanceguy.

Yes -- I've heard that MSM thing, too.

It might be good at this point to hear from Congressman Robert Menendez of New Jersey -- a respected voice who could carry the ball against Gonzales -- to say the objections we have are not anti-Hispanic; they're anti-torture.

In a flash-ahead, I could see a John Edwards-Robert Menendez ticket for the Democrats next time.

[Solly Mack]

14. Is he convinced torture is a bad thing?

How the fuck can you "like" someone who advocates torture?

[Eloriel]

16. Gee, what gave him his first freakin' CLUE?

I like Durbin, but jeeeeezus, these people sure have a tough time being the least little bit TOUGH about things that really freakin' MATTER.

Does it MATTER that we're about to have an attorney general who sanctioned TORTURE and the complete disdain of the Geneva Conventions? I'd say so, why don't these people realize that, collectively speaking, as a nation, OUR HAIR IS ON FIRE.

[jaime_176]

17. Are there any more actions involving this issue?

I've written the president, my senators and representatives, but wish I could find that list of e-mail addresses for other members of Congress. Does anyone have it? I'm just so angry at this nomination, and I will be furious if he is confirmed. This must not happen. It will blow my mind!! I'll explode!!

[joanski01]

18. We really should get on the

Republicans' asses for nominating a guy like this. It ain't Durbin's fault.

[truthisfreedom]

21. "he'd have to get back to me..." describes the infinite detention methods

perfectly. bush's administration is one of stonewalling and stalling everything. if they can't make up their minds about something in a legal way, they refuse to do anything... and innocent men, women, and children rot in prison.

[Jose Diablo]

22. Anybody notice how the Repubs

when in the minority killed the Dem presidents appointments in committee. They did this because they could.

Now the Dems when in the minority think somehow its the 'right thing' to allow the full floor to approve or disapprove the appointment.

Maybe I am overreacting, but shouldn't both parties play by the same rules. Isn't this how the repubs got to be the majority party, by no holds barred fighting.

If the repubs are be pure partisan, then the Dems should use every trick in the book when in the minority to dump those not acceptable.

[bpilgrim]

27. I'l Get Back To Ya... ---------------------------------> mp3

http://news.globalfreepress.com/mp3/aar/mm/ill-get-back...

from the mike malloy show...
http://MikeMalloy.com

peace

[goforit]

29. Hat's off to Durbin!!!....He makes Schumer look like a schmuck!!!

[hollowdweller]

30. I would like to see a straight party line vote on Gonzalez . The Dems

should at least all vote against him on principle. This guy is way worse than Bork and I bet we see Dems voting for him.

[AlbizuX]

37. you need a confirmation hearing

to know Alberto Gonzalez is not the right man for the top law spot in the country?

Are you telling me that, like Clarence Thomas, there is no one else more qualified for this position?

With thousands of legal experts, we need to get the guy who authored pro-torture, anti-Geneva conventions.

Bushit! Vote NO on this torture-loving hack...and find a better candidate.

[Sandpiper]

38. Any nominee who doesn't immediately repudiate the use of torture

Is completely unqualified to ever hold the post of Attorney General.

And any Dem Senator who can still rationalize voting for such a person is a craven coward, utterly unworthy of respect or votes.

[leesa]

39. Perhaps because he is completely UNSUITABLE? Or is it because

he should be in the Hague on trial for war crimes?

[matt819]

40. Why is it that dems feel the need to kiss up to republicans?

You know full well that in similar circumstances, the republicans would f**k a dem seven ways from Sunday if it met their political objectives. Hell, they'd hang their grandmothers if it meant more money or more votes.

And yet dems can't seem to say enough good about republicans. I'm sick to death of all this making nice.