A Window on a Man's Morality (LAT opposes Gonzales for AG)

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-gonzales6jan06.story
EDITORIAL
A Window on a Man's Morality
Alberto R. Gonzales' record raises questions about his fitness to serve as attorney general.

January 6, 2005

The Republicans' comfortable majority in the Senate means that Alberto R. Gonzales will almost certainly be confirmed as the next attorney general. With hearings on his nomination set to start today, many Democrats think the best they can do is wound Gonzales enough with questions about his notorious torture memos to disqualify him for any future Supreme Court seat. In the end, however, they will feel pressure to support him or face retaliation from Republicans.

They should resist.

The eight Democrats and a smattering of moderate Republicans who voted for John Ashcroft four years ago probably felt the same pressure.

No one now can doubt the enormous power the attorney general wields or the lasting harm the person who holds that office can do. Gonzales may not share his predecessor's zeal in hounding X-rated moviemakers or cancer patients who smoke marijuana, but as the president's chief lawyer, he has been every bit as reckless.

As a leading architect of Bush's ends-justifies-means war on terror, Gonzales pushed to justify torturing terror suspects in violation of international law, promoted military tribunals that echo Stalin's show trials, helped write the Patriot Act (which, among other powers, gives government agents vast new snooping authority) and excused the limitless imprisonment of American citizens whom the president merely suspects of terror activity. <snip>

[Catfight]

1. not to mention, he was a lawyer for Enron before the fall. The man

is surrounded with corruption, just what we need, more corruption in the WH. Might as well hire a drug lord, it's the same thing.

[struggle4progress]

2. kick