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That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez

By TChris, Section Judiciary
Posted on Sat Jul 02, 2005 at 01:05:29 PM EST
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by TChris

Just as the moderately conservative Justice O'Connor is viewed as a lefty by some extremists, the more conservative Alberto Gonzales is viewed by many in the right wing as too liberal to sit on the Supreme Court.

Within hours after Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's announced retirement from the Supreme Court, members of conservative groups around the country convened in five national conference calls in which, participants said, they shared one big concern: heading off any effort by President Bush to nominate his attorney general, Alberto R. Gonzales to replace her.

The right wing base that kept Bush in office intends to call in its chips.

Paul M. Weyrich, a veteran conservative organizer and chairman of the Free Congress Foundation, said he had told administration officials that nominating Mr. Gonzales, whose views on abortion are considered suspect by religious conservatives, would fracture the president's conservative backers.

Mr. Weyrich, while declining to disclose the specifics of a recent conversation with Ken Mehlman, the Republican Party chairman, said: "We have let the administration know through whatever channels we have that Gonzales would be an unwise appointment because of the opposition of some of the groups," some of which he said would actively oppose Mr. Gonzales, while "others like the Southern Baptists and myself would simply not help."

Sen. Schumer: "The hard, hard right wants a true believer." Gonzalez believes that international agreements against torture are "quaint," which should solidy his conservative credentials, but that isn't enough for the extremists who believe they control the president's decision.

Bush is in a bind. The nomination of a vocal opponent of abortion would trigger a serious confirmation battle accompanied by renewed threats to invoke the nuclear option. Bush may be tempted to sell out his religious base rather than provoke a war that will cripple the Senate's ability to legislate the rest of his agenda.

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    • That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez | 6 comments (6 topical)
    Re: That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez (none / 0) (#1)
    by ras on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    This looks like a simple trial ballon: float Gonzales's name and gauge the reaction. I'd expect a number of names to be floated. Bush is consulting with his own base, first. Later, he'll talk to the Senate Majority leader to consult with that body, too.

    Re: That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez (none / 0) (#2)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Wow, the guy who literally wrote the book on how to beat an a-rab is too liberal?

    Re: That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Gonzales' big contribution to betraying his country came from his realization that if the Geneva Conventions were tossed out the window ("quaint"), the War Crimes Act would lose much of its basis. Which is a handy bit of legal reasoning; and treason to American values. So he should be rewarded in the Demockery. Why don't they make him an honorable white man?

    Re: That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Honorary. No honor among thieves, Dick's narcissism notwithstanding.

    Re: That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez (none / 0) (#5)
    by jackl2400 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:49 PM EST
    Gonzales too "liberal". Heh. "Bush may be tempted to sell out his religious base rather than provoke a war that will cripple the Senate's ability to legislate the rest of his agenda." Yeah, he may be "tempted" to wish there was some way out of the corner he's painted himself into, but there's not. And does anyone doubt (except the parent comment?) that what Bush will need to do for his base is dutifully nominate TWO "right of Attila the Hun" neandrethals acceptable to folks like Weyrich and Dobson in the hopes they can get a 7-2 permanent majority court for overturning Roe, banning flag burning and other symbolic social issues so beloved by the conservatives. And does anyone doubt that Bush *will* sacrifice any hope of salvaging the rest of his already damaged agenda (think Clinton administration 1994-2000 after health care, gays in the military battles) to please his base on the issue of his greatest, longest lasting legacy, the attempted court packing plan? I'm going to just sit back and watch the fun as the Bush admin, and perhaps the whole right-wing corporate-evangelical coalition, starts to finally unravel.

    Re: That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:50 PM EST
    Jeezuz, Gonzales is TOO liberal?? This just goes to show how much of facists these guys really are. They won't be satisfied until we go so far over to the right, we all end up on the Soviet left.

    That Lefty, Alberto Gonzalez | 6 comments (6 topical)