Torture
Alberto Gonzales has done more to destroy the international standing and the moral authority of the United States than previously thought possible by a single, unelected person. In January of 2002, as White House Council, Gonzales recommended reversing a half-century of international law, abandoning the Constitution and condoning the torture of human beings. His word for the Geneva Convention: “quaint”.
His arguments provided the legal basis for the atrocities of Abu Ghraib and we will be seeing the backlash in the Middle East for generations. His only excuse is that he claims didn’t understand what he was doing at the time. His actions (or his ignorance) are about to be rewarded. In a few days the full Senate will vote on whether to confirm him as the next Attorney General of the United States.
From a staff editorial in the Bangor Daily News earlier this month:
The Senate must decide whether it agrees with President Bush that Judge Gonzales would make an able attorney general. That is, it must vote on whether a lawyer and former judge who failed to anticipate the effect of his opinion in this important instance is suitable to be the nation's top law-enforcement officer. The offices of Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins do not yet have public positions on the issue
Our Senators are poised to take a stand with torture. They are not representing the values of the people of Maine.
Office of Senator Snowe
Office of Senator Collins
Visit the new Maine Politics.
posted by @ 9:07 PM 
5 comments
5 Comments:
I have already checked into both Snowe's and Collins' offices on the Gonzales issue and expect nothing but a perfunctory response. When I objected to Ashcroft's nomination I got an extremely condescending response from O.S.'s office detailing all the reasons I was wrong, but "thank you for contacting me." I hope I am wrong, but I think I know how they will vote.
p.s. found you at daily kos. Kate Beale Holden, ME
Posted by kate
I wrote Snowe about the Federal Refusal Clause for abortions (something she agrees with me on) back in August and I finally got a response last week. I don't think she takes her constituents very seriously.
I often hear the argument that Snowe and Collins are progressive enough on a bunch of issues that we shouldn't vote for a democrat to replace them. Well here's one issue (of many) that shows that's not true.
Posted by Mike
Mike -
Why can't we get a credible candidate to run against Snowe? Tom Allen, for example?
David
Posted by David
I would welcome a Tom Allen candidacy vs. Snowe. She wields power, and you would think her staff would treat constituants with more respect. Could Tom Allen win?
Posted by kayo
Tom Allen could win.
But it's doubtful he'd give up a sure-thing reelection to challenge for a Senate seat. Snowe got 60% of the vote in 1994 and 69% in 2000.
Posted by Mike