Alberto Gonzales

The Senate voted to confirm him today, but the Democrats showed strong opposition. Although there was never any doubt that the Republicans would confirm him since they control the Senate, the 36 Senators voting "no" sent a strong message to the Bush White House and the world that we are serious in our opposition to the use of torture.

I think the Senate Democrats have laid the ground work for mounting a strong opposition to future right wing nominees.

Send a note of thanks to our Senators, Murray and Cantwell for voting "no". Here is the message I sent to both of them through their web sites:

Senators:

Thank you very much for having the courage to vote "no" on the vote to ratify Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General. You took a principled stand for some of the most cherished principles in our constitutional system.

Although he was confirmed, I believe that the large number of "no" votes sent an important message to the Bush Administration: The American people will not tolerate any use of torture or violations of basic human rights by our government. Your vote helps to encourage me that the United States of America is still a place where the rule of law matters and that we can reclaim our reputation around the world. The United States can still exercise strong moral leadership in this world if we display the kind of commitment to protecting human rights that you demonstrated today.

Let us hope that Mr. Bush is more careful in future
appointments because of the vote you and 35 others cast today.

By the way, I don't get how John McCain, a former POW and victim of torture by the North Vietnamese, was able to bring himself to vote for Gonzales. I guess a man who wants the White House bad enough is willing to compromise on just about anything to stay in the good graces of the Party.