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Thread ID: 15623 | Posts: 8 | Started: 2004-11-12
2004-11-12 04:52 | User Profile
Gonzales To Succeed Ashcroft
I say this bad news, Gonzales is part of Bushie's Texas gang. He has been leading Bushie's attack on civil liberties. Ashcroft was pro-Gun and anti-immigration. He was done some good in slowing down Bushie's bad ideas.
Gonzales is a Liberal and has shown he has not respect for the civil liberties of the American people. I do not think Gonzales will be ant-"wetback." **I know Ashcroft has his problem but Gonzales is going to be worse. **
Bush names White House counsel Alberto Gonzales to succeed Ashcroft: source Updated at 16:39 on November 10, 2004, EST.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President George W. Bush named White House counsel Alberto Gonzales as U.S. attorney general on Wednesday, picking the administration's most prominent Hispanic for a highly visible post in the war on terror.
"His sharp intellect and sound judgment have helped shape our policies in the war on terror," Bush said of the man who has served as the White House's top lawyer over the past four years.
In an announcement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Bush outlined Gonazles' personal story: a boy who grew up in a family of eight children in a two-bedroom house in Texas and worked his way up to a federal cabinet post.
If confirmed by the Senate, the 49-year-old Texan would become the first Hispanic to hold the job as the country's top law enforcement officer.
Even before the formal announcement, one Senate Democratic liberal welcomed the appointment of "someone less polarizing" to the position. "We will have to review his record very carefully, but I can tell you already he's a better candidate than John Ashcroft," said Senator Charles Schumer (D - N.Y.)
Ashcroft announced plans on Tuesday to step down.
The Canadian Press, 2004
[url]http://www3.cjad.com/content/cp_article.asp?id=/global_feeds/canadianpress/worldnews/w1110107A.htm[/url]
2004-11-12 04:56 | User Profile
Gonzales To Succeed Ashcroft
Scott Lindlaw, AP, Nov. 10
President Bush has chosen White House counsel Alberto Gonzales, a Texas confidant and the most prominent Hispanic in the administration, to succeed Attorney General John Ashcroft, sources close to the White House said Wednesday.
The White House hinted that formal word from the president could come later Wednesday. ââ¬ÅI would not rule out an announcement today,ââ¬Â White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
Ashcroft announced his resignation on Tuesday, along with Commerce Secretary Don Evans, a Texas friend of the presidentââ¬â¢s.
Gonzales, 49, has long been rumored as a leading candidate for a Supreme Court vacancy if one develops. Speculation increased after Chief Justice William Rehnquist announced he has thyroid cancer.
Gonzalesââ¬â¢ career has been linked with Bush for at least a decade, serving as general counsel when Bush was governor of Texas, and then as secretary of state and as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court.
Gonzales has been at the center of developing Bushââ¬â¢s positions on balancing civil liberties with waging the war on terrorismââ¬âopening the White House counsel to the same line of criticism that has dogged Ashcroft.
For instance, Gonzales publicly defended the administrationââ¬â¢s policyââ¬âessentially repudiated by the Supreme Court and now being fought out in the lower courtsââ¬âof detaining certain terrorism suspects for extended periods without access to lawyers or courts.
He also wrote a controversial February 2002 memo in which Bush claimed the right to waive anti-torture law and international treaties providing protections to prisoners of war. That position drew fire from human rights groups, which said it helped led to the type of abuses uncovered in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
Some conservatives also have quietly questioned Gonzalesââ¬â¢ credentials on core social issues. And he once was a partner in a Houston law firm which represented the scandal-ridden energy giant Enron.
Gonzales would be the first Hispanic attorney general.
But shifting him to Justice would create a vacancy in the White House counselââ¬â¢s office. Bush advisers said two people would be naturals for the job. One is White House staff secretary Brett Kavanaugh, a lawyer who has been waiting nearly 16 months for confirmation on the influential U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. He was also a top lawyer in two cases that dogged the Clinton White House. As associate independent counsel under Kenneth Starr, he worked on both the long-running Whitewater case and the 1998 Clinton impeachment case.
Harriet Miers, a deputy chief of staff who was once Bushââ¬â¢s personal lawyer, would be another candidate, one Bush adviser said.
Ashcroft announced his resignation on Tuesday, along with Commerce Secretary Don Evans, a Texas friend of the presidentââ¬â¢s.
After a National Security Council meeting, Bush was sat down Wednesday with Secretary of State Colin Powell, another figure being closely watched. Powell has been largely noncommital when asked about his plans.
The gospel-singing son of a minister, Ashcroft is a fierce conservative who doesnââ¬â¢t drink, smoke or dance. His detractors said he gave religion too prominent a role at the Justice Departmentââ¬âincluding optional prayer meetings with staff before each work day. He has also been a willing lightning rod for critics who said his policies for thwarting terrorists infringed on the rights of innocent people.
Ashcroft championed many of the most controversial government actions following the Sept. 11 attacks, most notably the USA Patriot Act. It bolstered FBI surveillance powers, increased use of material witness warrants to hold suspects incommunicado for months. When there was a break in a terror case, he was the man at the lectern soberly informing the American people.
ââ¬ÅThe objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved,ââ¬Â he said in resignation letter to Bush, dated Nov. 2ââ¬âElection Day.
McClellan said Bush got the letter that same day, before the results of the election were known.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., voiced pleasure Wednesday with Ashcroftââ¬â¢s departure and exhorting Bush ââ¬Åto make good on his promise of renewed bipartisan cooperationââ¬Â with Democrats.
Evans, Bushââ¬â¢s 2000 campaign chairman and close friend of more than three decades, said he longed to return to Texas.
Bush was considering this yearââ¬â¢s campaign money man, Mercer Reynolds, for Evansââ¬â¢ job. As national finance chairman for the Bush campaign, Reynolds raised more than $260 million to get him re-elected.
Bush Considers Clarence Thomas For Chief Justice
Matt Drudge, Drudge Report, Nov. 7
President Bush has launched an internal review of the pros and cons of nominating Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as the chief justice if ailing William Rehnquist retires, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
A top White House source familiar with Bushââ¬â¢s thinking explains the review of Thomas as chief justice is one of several options currently under serious consideration. But Thomas is Bushââ¬â¢s personal favorite to take the position, the source claims.
ââ¬ÅIt would not only be historic, to nominate a minority as chief justice, symbolizing the presidentââ¬â¢s strong belief in hope and optimism, but it would be a sound judicial move . . . . Justice Thomas simply has an extraordinary record.ââ¬Â
One concern is the amount of political capital Bush would have to spend in congress to make the move.
A chief justice must be separately nominated by Bush and confirmed by the Senate, even if the person is already sitting on the court.
The need to replace Rehnquist could arise by yearââ¬â¢s end, Bush aides now believe.
Officially, Bush advisers call any Supreme Court vacancy talk premature.
Developing . . .
(Posted on November 10, 2004)
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With a name like Gonzales he is all but assured of getting the assignment. His positions on anything won't matter.
Posted by Dennis at 4:36 PM on November 10
Ashcroft has been really good on immigration. He vigorously deported those with immigration violations for those suspected of terrorism. The problem was that that's as far as it went. He only used those powers in cases related to terrorism or suspected terrorism.
It should be interesting to see how this guy uses those powers. But I got a bad feeling about it.
Posted by Roger at 7:20 PM on November 10
Clearly, both Gonzales and Thomas are being nominated for their legal acumen and unassisted-by-minority-status professional accomplishment. Instead of, you know, as a craven payoff, self-congratulatory gesture by a boy-idiot president or ridiculous attempt to curry favor with groups Republicans can't curry favor with anyway. Ah, diversity. It really does enrich our... cynisism.
Posted by Hugh Lincoln at 7:21 PM on November 10
It looks like Bush and the rest of the Republicans will never learn their lesson. I'm sure the lesson they'll draw from the election is that they just need to "reach out more" to hispanics.
Posted by Tim in Indiana at 7:36 PM on November 10
President George W. Bush appointed the first Black (mulatto) Secretary of State. Powell, of course, favors affirmative action. Now Bush nominates the first Hispanic US Attorney General.
Quoting from [url]www.parapundit.com[/url], "Ashcroft thinks he was used by Bush to placate religious conservatives...Bush wanted Ashcroft out...The White House turned down Ashcroft's offer to stay longer...Conservatives can expect bad decisions from the Bush Administration when issues involve immigration or racial preferences."
[url]http://www.parapundit.com/archives/002450.html#002450[/url]
It does seem that Bush wants an immigration amnesty plan for illegal aliens in the US.
Posted by at 9:00 PM on November 10
Clarence Thomas would make a great Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He is a principled constitutionalist and leans toward libertarian positions. In many ways, his views are akin to those of other black mavericks like Elizabeth Wright and Walter Williams...by the way, I just noticed that, on the links page, AR links to "Issues and Views."
Posted by DSG at 10:02 PM on November 10
I just sent a hard-hitting e-mail to the Chairman of the Republican Party in which I promised never to vote for another one of their candidates until they enforce immigration law and stop pandering to Hispanics. I told him that Bush's new Attorney General nominee is a slap in the face to everyone in the country who is fed up with illegal immigration. I even said that I almost voted for Peroutka, which is true, and wish that he had won.
I recommend that everyone who comes to this site do the same. The majority of Americans wants immigration reform, but our "representative" government is ignoring us.
Posted by John at 10:43 PM on November 10
Gonzales is said to be partially responsible for the scandal at Abu Ghraib, and he is certainly one of the top dogs of the fiasco that is Guantanamo Bay. He cares not one whit for our constitutional rights, and is all in favor of illegal search and seizure, suspension of habeus corpus, and military tribunals for opponents of the Bush regime.
This nomination must be resisted by all means. I urge everyone reading this to immediately contact your Senators and urge them to strike down the nomination.
Posted by MSL at 9:54 AM on November 11
John, I am about to go do the same thing you just did. I've always liked everything about Bush with the exception of his pandering to hispanics. I figured that after the election was over, he would start listening to the white people who voted for him, and start improving his immigration policies more. After reading this article, among others posted above and below it, I have decided that Bush has gone way too far in the wrong direction. The Republican Party is going to hear about it from me today.
Posted by Courtney at 10:50 AM on November 11
the first two actions of the newly reelected "conservative" president are: (1) reintroduce his amnesty for illegal aliens proposal via Colin Powell in Mexico, and (2) nominate for Attorney General an advocate of racial/ethnic quotas. Is the message clear enough?
Posted by seelow heights at 11:36 AM on November 11
Why I'm just shocked! Shocked & horrified. Who would of thunk this??
Excuse my sarcasm. I hope that every Racially aware White (& Black American for that matter) has their eyes jerked open to the perfidy that is booosh. Maybe just maybe, if we get a large contingent of racially aware & angered citizens, we can go to Washington & do our version of "I have a dream", or something akin to that.
We can confront the problem now or confront it SA style, namely we get hunted down & butchered for being white. I'm trying not to get censured here. This is important.
I know 1 thing. I feel safest & happiest in a community of white Europeans.If this country won't stand up for itself, should we just lay down & let them kill us? I won't. I owe it to all of my ancestors & my children to do everything in my power to help our DNA survive. I prefer America, but if no large numbers stand up to this horrible treachery, what would a sane person do?
This is like a manaical elevator ride down, down, down.
Posted by BillG at 12:28 PM on November 11
We have known for years that Bush (and his entire family) have a fetish for all things Hispanic. Can anyone explain how this man was able to convince voters that he is a conservative? Other than his phony, sanctimonious "religion," is there any issue on which he is not alligned with the Left?
Posted by Legal Eagle at 12:49 PM on November 11
Gonzales will be easily approved, there is no stopping that. He is a longtime crony of El Presidente, so this looks like a political appointment, probably to help head off the many investigations of criminal wrongdoing of Bush/Cheney (such as the Plame affair, neocon treasoning such as the Lawrence Franklin investigation, Halliburton profiteering, etc.).
As for Clarence Thomas, that appointment would not necessary be easy, but it is more probable that he would be approved than would be Scalia, who would ordinarily be Bush's first choice for chief justice. Thomas just doesn't have the intellectual equipment to function as chief justice. Indeed, the general consensus among the legally trained is that he is already in over his head on the Supreme Court. A weak chief justice does not help the cause of conservatism. I predict Sandra Day O'Connor will become chief justice. This would buy political capital to allow for the appointment of a hardliner as the 9th justice.
Posted by John Ruskin at 1:04 PM on November 11
The son of an illegal immigrant is now going to be Attorney General- does anyone honestly believe this man will enforce the civil liberties of "white" America? I'm sure he has an zxe to grind, just like Norman Minetta has. We will suffer for this- I hope everyone who voted for the shrub is happy, they are about to be fed to the lions.
Posted by RobertB at 11:26 PM on November 11
[url]http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2004/11/gonzales_to_suc.php[/url]
2004-11-12 15:39 | User Profile
Like a good liberal/neocon, he's not going to let his conservative beliefs interfere with his liberal conduct.
Gonzales nomination angers abortion foes
(CNN) -- An anti-abortion group Thursday accused President Bush of ignoring his anti-abortion principles in nominating White House counsel Alberto Gonzales for the post of attorney general.
"As a Texas Supreme Court justice, Gonzales' rulings implied he does not view abortion as a heinous crime," said Judie Brown, president of the American Life League, in a written statement.
Bush announced Wednesday that he had chosen his long-time friend to replace Attorney General John Ashcroft, who is stepping down. (Bush picks Gonzales to head Justice Department)
Gonzales has worked with Bush since he was the governor of Texas -- serving as Bush's general counsel, then as Texas Secretary of State before Bush appointed him to the state's highest court. (Gonzales political fortunes tied to Bush's)
As a member of the court, Gonzales ruled with the majority that some teenage girls should not be required to get parental permission for an abortion.
In his opinion on the ruling, Gonzales wrote, "While the ramifications of such a law may be personally troubling to me as a parent, it is my obligation as a judge to impartially apply the laws of this state without imposing my moral view on the decisions of the legislature."
Brown said that "choosing not to rule against abortion, in any situation, is the epitome of denying justice for an entire segment of the American population -- pre-born babies in the womb."
She also cited a 2001 interview with the Los Angeles Times in which Gonzales was asked whether his personal view of abortion would play a role in his vetting of judges.
He responded, "There are no litmus tests for judicial candidates. ... My own personal feelings about (abortion) don't matter. ... The question is, what is the law, what is the precedent, what is binding in rendering your decision. Sometimes, interpreting a statute, you may have to uphold a statute that you may find personally offensive. But as a judge, that's your job."
Said Brown, "Gonzales' position is clear: The personhood of the pre-born human being is secondary to technical points of law, and that is a deadly perspective for anyone to take. ...
"Why is President Bush betraying the babies? Justice begins with protecting the most vulnerable in our midst. Please, Mr. President -- just say no to the unjust views of Alberto Gonzales."
But the stance of anti-abortion groups was not uniform. The president of Operation Rescue, based in Sacramento, California, said he had not yet formed an opinion on the nomination.
"I'm still studying it," said Troy Newman. "I know he's not the strongest advocate for life."
"I'm glad he's not up for Supreme Court justice," said the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, who runs the Christian Defense Coalition in Washington. "His feelings on abortion we're a little concerned about."
Gonzales has also been criticized by civil liberties groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union.
ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero issued a statement calling for a confirmation process "that scrutinizes Mr. Gonzales' positions on key civil liberties and human rights issues.
"Particular attention should be devoted to exploring Mr.Gonzales' proposed policies on the constitutionality of the Patriot Act, the Guantanamo Bay detentions, the designation of United States citizens as enemy combatants and reproductive rights."
He also called for Gonzales to be asked about a May 16, 2004, memo, written as counsel to the White House, "which described certain legal protections guaranteed in the Geneva Conventions to persons captured during military hostilities as 'obsolete' and 'quaint.' "
2004-11-12 15:43 | User Profile
Washington, DC ââ¬â The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., today welcomed President Bushââ¬â¢s nomination of White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to succeed John Ashcroft as Attorney General. If confirmed, Gonzales would be the first Hispanic ever to serve as Attorney General.
ââ¬ÅWe are very encouraged by the Gonzales nomination. We previously criticized the Bush Administration for not having an Hispanic in the cabinet since the departure of former HUD Secretary, now Senator-elect, Mel Martinez. We are pleased that one of the first acts since the Presidentââ¬â¢s reelection both rectifies that situation and marks an historic milestone for the Latino community. Never before has an Hispanic served as head of one of the four major cabinet posts ââ¬â Secretary of State, Treasury, Defense, and Attorney General,ââ¬Â stated Janet Murguia, NCLR Executive Director and COO.
Murguia also noted Gonzalesââ¬â¢ ties to the Hispanic community throughout his career. ââ¬ÅAlberto Gonzales served with distinction on the board of directors of one of NCLRââ¬â¢s oldest and most respected affiliates, the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) in Houston, Texas. Moreover, during his tenure as White House Counsel, he has been one of the most accessible members of the White House staff to NCLR and other Hispanic organizations,ââ¬Â added Murguia.
Murguia concluded, ââ¬ÅWe acknowledge that this is the first step of a long confirmation process that requires that his record be fully examined. That being said, Gonzales is a thoughtful, reasonable public servant, a man of his word, and we have every expectation that his nomination will be very well received in the Latino community.ââ¬Â
Contact: Lisa Navarrete Alexandra Jost (202) 785-1670
2004-11-12 15:57 | User Profile
LA Refugee,
He is worse than I thought at first. Bush has put a radical Aztlaner as attorney general. Sickening. Bush is just evil.
2004-11-13 19:19 | User Profile
Meet Your New Attorney General... Alberto Torquemada
By MIKE WHITNEY
The Gonzales memos claimed that Bush had "the right to wave anti-torture law and international treaties providing protections to prisoners of war."
Associated Press
Bush intends to put an advocate of torture at the head the Justice Dept. Is this how he rewards the "moral values" crowd who shoehorned him into the Oval Office?
Alberto Gonzales, name never should have been submitted as a candidate for Attorney General. His involvement in the Abu Ghraib scandal is widely known and should have immediately disqualified him from consideration. The memos he produced that dismissed the Geneva Conventions as "obsolete" were critical in developing the rationale for using abusive techniques to extract information from prisoners. Once his role in facilitating the torture was exposed, he should have been swiftly disbarred and unceremoniously deposited in the White House dumpster.
That,s not how it works in the Bush Administration though, where the incidents of crime serve as Brownie-points for promotion. Instead, Gonzales will be trotted up to Capital Hill and get the requisite "nod" from the rubber stamp Congress so he can move into his new digs at the DOJ. Only the signage on the door of the Attorney General will change to accommodate the transition: "Alberto Torquemada; America,s Grand Inquisitor".
There,s no doubt about Gonzales complicity in the torture at Abu Ghraib. His controversial memos show that he was establishing the pretext for discarding Geneva as a "quaint" institution that obstructed the supreme powers of the presidency. His efforts were designed to deny prisoners of even the "minimal standards" of humane treatment and to legitimize the (well documented) brutality that followed. He is every bit as guilty of the unlawful abuse as if he had affixed the wires to the genitalia of detainees himself.
Historically the US has always paid lip-service to the cause of human rights. As signatories to the Geneva Conventions and the 1996 Anti-Torture Convention the Bush Administration is required to comply with rules that forbid the mistreatment of captives. Beyond that, the principle of human dignity is enshrined in the 8th Amendment,s ban against "cruel and inhuman punishment"; a crucial stopgap to excessive government power. These institutions reflect the national commitment to values that are consistent with democratic principles. The Gonzales nomination signals a turnaround in this trend. Bush wants to appoint a known human rights abuser as the top law enforcement officer in the country. It,s just another darkly ironic gesture from an imperious administration.
Gonzales personal biography is filled with tidbits that challenge his worthiness as future Attorney General. In Texas he was appointed the Governors general counsel, which means that he provided advice to Governor Bush on nearly 160 death penalty cases.
Now, there,s a cushy job; "green lighting" a bloodthirsty sociopath to dispatch as many people as possible to their eternal reward (via the electric chair). Is this what qualifies Gonzales as A.G?
The AP reports that Gonzales has "also built a reputation of loyalty to the president, fighting sometimes difficult legal battles. He blocked attempts by Congress to make public details of Vice President Dick Cheney's energy commission meetings". Gonzales legal expertise has been primarily devoted to obfuscating the corporate collusion and venal machinations of Bush Inc.
He has also defended the President,s right to incarcerate prisoners indefinitely without charges; investing the President with the implicit authority to rescind constitutional protections and overturn international law. Furthermore, he supports the horrible travesty of justice taking place at Guantanamo Bay. Gonzales defends the "so called" military tribunals even though they have been resoundingly condemned by Army attorneys, civil liberties advocates and the world press. Just last week US District Judge James Robertson put a stop to the Guantanamo proceedings, ruling that detainees are "entitled to protections afforded prisoners of war under Article 4 of the Geneva Convention" ... and that they "may not be tried by a military commission."
Judge Robertson,s appreciation of the law towers over that of Gonzales. But let,s not kid ourselves, Gonzales function is to dismantle the law not defend it. Even this brief summary proves that. As Attorney General his course is already charted; target political enemies, conceal the activities of the administration and immolate the law. These are the core principles that drive the engine of state where Gonzales is now being ushered to a front row seat.
Alberto Gonzales is the worst possible choice for the office of Attorney General. His contempt for the law is painfully conspicuous in every major action he has taken on the behalf of the administration. Several groups have already announced opposition to his nomination including the Center for Constitutional Rights, People for the American Way and Human Rights First. The paper trail that connects him to Abu Ghraib should precipitate a criminal investigation, not plaudits and rewards. His maneuverings have put him front-and-center with the pin-striped sadists who have engineered the new regime of torture camps, suspended liberties and corporate fascism.
We expect that his keen legal mind and his penchant for criminal activity will transport him quickly through the congressional hearings and plop him securely in the swivel seat at the Dept. of Justice.
Mike Whitney lives in Washington state. He can be reached at: [email]fergiewhitney@msn.com[/email]
url: [url]http://www.counterpunch.com/whitney11112004.html[/url]
2004-11-14 16:17 | User Profile
The New Attorney General; out of the fat and into the fire!
2004-11-28 03:16 | User Profile
A.G. Nominee Belongs to Militant Hispanic Group
The first Latino nominee for U.S. Attorney General is a proud member of a militant Hispanic organization.
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), whose motto is "For those within 'the race,' everything; for those outside 'the race,' nothing" welcomed the news that President Bush nominated Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General.
La Raza announced Gonzales' membership on its website and stated:
"Alberto Gonzales served with distinction on the board of directors of one of NCLR's oldest and most respected affiliates, the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA) in Houston, Texasââ¬Â¦"
La Raza, which has been mainstreamed by the liberal media, was not long ago regarded as an extremist fringe group with bitter racial antagonism towards "Anglos" and other white "gringoes."
If his nomination is confirmed, Gonzales would become the most powerful law enforcement official in the nation. There are serious doubts that Gonzales would enforce laws to prevent the flood of illegal immigrants crossing the border from Mexico.
[url]http://www.cofcc.org/news.htm[/url]