If the rumors are true, Alberto Gonzalez is going to be named Attorney General. Hey, why not just dig up John Mitchell and A. Mitchell Palmer? The Justice Department is unique. It is the center of federal law enforcement, and it does, on occasion, need to be a check on the executive branch. We need to know that the leader there has a certain level of character, and an independent mind. I've long thought that anybody who can't get 60 votes in the Senate shouldn't be Attorney General. That's why I thought it was perfectly appropriate to block Zoe Baird, even if it was over a rather insignificant issue. The Attorney General needs to be someone who'll be trusted to uphold the law - even the laws the White House doesn't like. The idea that a torture-memo writing, Bush toadie may soon take up office there ... is exactly what we should expect from someone who'd name John Ashcroft to the office.
Still, this office has enormous power, and from his behavior so far we have no reason to think that Gonzalez has much respect (if any at all) for civil liberties or checks on government power, and every reason to suspect he'll serve partisan ends once intstalled in office. It'll likely be costly politically (it could very well hurt the Democrats with Hispanics), but politicians who purport to have principles and backbone should oppose Gonzalez - and strongly. You can make a reasonable argument that at least for the next 4 years this nomination matters more than who becomes Chief Justice. The Democrats (and hopefully some Republicans) should keep that in mind.
Posted by armand at November 10, 2004 01:08 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Politics