Why is this important? The attorney general is the highest law-enforcement officer in the land. He (or she) is often referred to as "the people's lawyer." This person must be trusted with making fair and just decisions. But Gonzales' slipshod record on the death penalty as former Texas Gov. George W. Bush's chief legal counsel raises serious questions about his commitment to impartiality.

Some liberal groups are opposing Gonzales' confirmation. Others are requesting Senators to conduct a thorough questioning of him and reserving judgment. TalkLeft falls in the latter group.

If you'd like to add your voice to those calling on strong questioning on torture issues, go here.

Here's why we think people should keep tabs on Alberto Gonzales--before and after his confirmation as Attorney General:

Bush is saving his political capital for his first Supreme Court nomination. The Democrats in the Senate are going to save their capital, in the form of filibuster options, for that fight.

Keep in mind that Bush wants Gonzales on the Supreme Court. This is a stepping-stone job for Gonzales. And a distraction from two more important questions: Who will Bush name as Chief Justice and who will he appoint to the Supreme Court? Both positions require Senate confirmation.

The Democrats in the Senate cannot oppose every nomination Bush akes. Not if they want to have a chance of passing any of their own bills in this Republican-dominated Congress. And when it comes time for re-election, voters at home look at things like their Senator's record on bills introduced and passed.

The battle over Supreme Court Justices is more important than the battle over an Attorney General. If Bush nominates a 50 year-old for the Court, that Justice will serve and shape American jurisprudence for the next 30 years. An attorney general under a second term President serves for four years, at most. One is a lifetime appointment. One is a political perk.

President Bush is not a uniter. He is a divider. He will push his hardcore conservative values through at every opportunity. We can win a few battles, but we are not going to win the war during the next two years. To change things, we need to take back Congress in 2006, and if that's not possible, in 2008. Until then, we need to figure out which battles are the most important and let some of the others go.

If John Ashcroft made it through the Senate, so will Alberto Gonzales. But we can serve as watchdog. We can record any abuses during his tenure, as we did with Ashcroft. And if he's really bad, we can see that Gonzales leaves office with no credibility and no Supreme Court judgeship in his future. That would be a victory.

If you are the constituent of one of these Senators, make sure your write them. They are the eight Democrats who voted to confirm John Ashcroft.

John Breaux of Louisiana, Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, Zell Miller of Georgia and Ben Nelson of Nebraska.