Is this an example of the famous liberal compassion, or is it just you, Biotop?
CNN is reporting that Gonzalez has the inside track. That is NOT an improvement, and may even be worse.
The sad thing is that if the Dems resist Gonzalez the Bushies will play the race card. Count on it.
Right. That’s a weapon only the Democrats are allowed to play. (See Pickering, C., for my cite).
Why do any of you think it will be someone better?
We’re going to get a guy that appears nicer then Ashcroft, which will enable him to fuck us over about 100 times worse.
Gonzales will get it, you heard it here first.
Gonzales got it.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&u=/ap/20041110/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/bush_cabinet_16
Does AG go through a nominating process, or is it a direct appointment?
All right! Terror threat level is green! Party time!
I hate it when I’m right. They’ve been grooming him for awhile. I had hoped they would let him go because he’s a bit of a political hot potato, but this is insane Bush we’re talking about.
Now we’re really fucked.
/black vans pulling up in any minute now.
I never claimed to have “liberal compassion” or “conservative compassion.” I’m just glad the guy is gone and I wish the rest of the lot would catch the retirement bug as well.
Ahh… my apologies. It was unclear to me that the “bug” was the RETIREMENT bug. Your post first read as though you were wishing Ashcroft’s illness on others. I now see it was merely retirement you were wishing on others. Sorry for misinterpreting you.
As a member of the Cabinet, the Attorney General must be confirmed by the Senate.
So yes it will be direct appointment.
That will depend on whether the Democrats want to spend some political capital now, or save it for the Supreme Court appointment.
All will be direct appointment.
Next?
Bah, fuck my other reply, I’d rather learn something.
I don’t know too much about this phase of things. Can you expand on what the dems can do?
I don’t quite follow. Are you saying the GOP majority will make Senate confirmation a rubber-stamp process? Because the Senate must “advise and consent” to these spots.
A filibuster could tie up the Senate for hours, days, or weeks. It takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster, which the Republicans do not have. Basically it would put pressure on Senate Republicans to put pressure on the President to withdraw the nomination.
As a rule, I think the President should be allowed great latitude in his Cabinet appointments, even as disastrous a choice as I believe Gonzalez to be. He should not be allowed great latitude in Supreme Court appointments, and I believe the Democrats should save this tactic just in case. It’s not something you want to do every day.
Yes, that’s pretty much what I’m saying. Is there reason to believe otherwise?
Ah ok. I though they lost the filibuster option this past election. Looks like it’s back to remedial math for me.
Only time will tell, but I believe that you are wrong. That’s a personal assesment, by the way, based on my experience with and direct knowledge of Mr. Gonzalez.