Gonzo Asked About Role in Torture During Discussion on Sotomayor Nomination
Wolf Blitzer apparently thinks Alberto Gonzales is qualified to weigh in on the choice of Sonia Sotomayor by the Obama administration for the Supreme Court because he's Hispanic, and he may have been on Bush's short list to have been nominated himself. Gonzales said he believes Sotomayor is well qualified to be on the court but as Think Progress noted:
Of course, Sotomayor may not want the endorsement of one of the most incompetent Attorneys General in history.
Blitzer also asked Gonzales about what might happen to the lawyers in the Bush administration that authorized torture:
Blitzer: How worried are you, switching gears for a moment that the Justice Department lawyers who wrote the those legal opinions, authorizing enhanced interrogation, how worried are you that the system now will come down on them on their disbarment or worse?
Gonzales: What I worry about Wolf is that good people, well intentioned people, serving in a historically difficult time, dangerous time in our nation's history, may be penalized for doing their best and to provide the best legal advice that they can. I'm afraid of the chilling effect that that's going to have on future lawyers at the Department of Justice.
Blitzer: Because you were the White House counsel at that time. This was before you became the Attorney General.
Gonzales: That's correct.
Blitzer: And were you involved in that, in some of those legal opinions early on?
Gonzales: Well what I can say is, is that I worked with the Department of Justice insuring that legal advice was provided but at the end of the day it's the responsibility of the Department of Justice to provide the legal guidance on behalf of the executive branch.
Blitzer: So are you in any, do you think, are you afraid that you could be in any legal jeopardy right now?
Gonzales: Wolf, I stand by my record. I did my best to defend our country during very difficult times, so I'm proud of my service.
As TPM notes in their article Gonzo: Don't Blame Me For Torture -- I Wasn't At DOJ Yet:
Pressed by Blitzer about his role in approving torture, he first clarified that he wasn't at the Justice Department at the key time, and said "It's the responsibility of the Department of Justice to provide legal guidance on behalf of the executive branch."
In other words: blame Ashcroft, Yoo, and Bybee.
Of course, it's unclear how that stance lines up with a report that Gonzo, while at the White House, personally signed off on CIA requests to conduct torture.
I think that Sotomayor was the excuse to get Gonzalez on in order to ask him about his role in torture. That's the more important question.
A lying sack of shit!
Oh, right...he is a law clerk somewhere, IIRC.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Couldn't have happened to a less than worthy boot licker.
Not proud of gonzos so called service he was well paid for being the lying sack of shit he is.
I don't see how anyone can call being a senator or congressman or a paid lawyer a service to the country.
Being a service to someone or something brings to mind helping for the sake of helping!
republicanism is a mental illness.
You see, "proud" = happy, and "service" = pay and various other benefits.
Tom Delay, Newt Gingrich, and now Gonzo are treated as credible and thoughtful experts on what exactly? These men were DISGRACED and not too long ago. What the hell is going on?
..considering his past performance, that he could remember enough to even form a response to Blister's questions. He correctly identified his position at the time as White House Counsel and everything. He didn't once say 'I don't remember being able to recall that.' Apparently his amnesia has been cured, and the House Judiciary Committee should call him to testify again about the Prosecutors' Purge affair. They got squat out of him the last time.
"In theory theory and practice are alike. In practice they are very different."
Apparently his memory isn't entirely shot.
But I wonder how much he'll still remember when they get him under oath.
I thought he automatically went to jail when Obama was elected.
Our system sucks
Look Alberto, only those people responsible for water torture will be penalised. That will have a long awaited warming effect on future lawyers at the Department of Justice, and a chilling effect on torture criminals. Good riddance to them!
thanks Wolf!
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
Does he (Alberto) have a job yet?
That was my first thought, but then I remembered some law firm or a judge hired him as a law clerk.
Now THAT is hysterical!
we are paying his retirement.
I vass paintink der klosett at ze time. Ziss vass a ferry, ferry bigg klosett zat I vass paintink, und I het ze door zhut zo I neffer hert ze skreamink if zere vass any.
It vass zuch a bigg klosett zat it vas takink me zeveral yearss finishink it vann alla zis henky-penky vass okkurrink.
It musst haff bin zat krazie Ashenkroft vellow; or may bee zat klown faced Harriet Mierss vooman; zey wer vanatiks und ennyvace I know nuzzink, nuzzink I am tellink you.
The Office of Counsel to the President of the United States—also known as the Counsel to the President, White House Office Counsel and White House Counsel—"advises the President on all legal issues concerning the President and the White House." The White House Counsel is a staff appointee of the President
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Of...
abu gonzo, if the dems had balls, you would be fucked
Dems and balls in the same sentence...only if they are sucking them. Teabag, 'em, baby!
Lame ass dems. Maybe some stem cell research can discover a way to give them a bloody backbone.
MsJoanne, you sound like you are finally getting fed up. The first step to rehabilitation is the admission ;-)
Let me be blunt here;
Bullshit you mental midget son of a bitch. The lawyers Gonzo is talking about were told to come up with some piece of shit paper that said it was OK to torture because they had already tortured and they needed to cover their asses and the dumb fuck lawyers were too chicken shit to say no. The only chilling effect that it's going to have on future lawyers in the Justice Department is that it will make them stand up to bullies like Cheney and Rove and Libby and tell them that what they want is breaking the fucking law and if they continue they will end up in jail!! That is the only chilling effect it will have on future lawyers in the Justice Department you asshole. God damn it, have I told you how much I hate these jokers like Gonzales?
& I agree w/u 100%.
can have a chilling effect on criminals.
True dat.
Wolf is such a suck-up to the Reptiles.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Wolf Blitzer never met a Republican so depraved and morally bankrupt that he did not think he had something important to add to the public discourse. I think that the more depraved they are the better Wolf thinks of them.
Any bets on when Blitzer folds? Or will he stick to the republican narrative up to the bitter end?
"Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob"
-= Franklin Delano Roosevelt =-
During WWII the Nazis and Soviets fought a war of unimaginable savagery in eastern Europe.
In time, both sides avoided any kind of surrender because of the brutalities inflicted on unarmed prisoners.
I imagine that the "insurgents" in Iraq/Afghanistan are seeing things the same way.
Heckuva job Bushie/Cheney!
because the History Channel told me that Germany and Russia were allies before they were enemies. There was some falling out between Stalin and Hitler.
I pledge allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America, and to the republic which it established, one nation from many peoples, promising liberty and justice for all
Germany and The Soviet Union signed a "non-agression pact,' the purpose of which was to give Germany a free hand in the West; the terms of the pact divided Poland between the two.
I think that it is an appropriate example; hundreds of thousands of Germans were taken prisoner by the Soviets and just less than ten percent saw home again.
Millions of Soviets were taken prisoner by the Nazis and it is estimated that fewer of them survived. Soviet soldiers who surrendered and were recovered by the USSR were deemed traitors and sent to gulags if not summarily executed.
The point is this: soldiers in that theatre of combat knew full well the treatment that prisoners received and because of this they were much more likely to fight to the death.
The Non Agression Pact has nothing to do with this fact.
Stalin was a paranoic who for reasons unknown trusted Hitler more than he did his own generals, even up to the point that the latter were telling him that troops had already invaded. That allowed the Nazis to just walk right into Soviet territory virtually unopposed.
The phrase, "with friends like those" comes to mind.
"In theory theory and practice are alike. In practice they are very different."
in calling Latinos Hispanics. Do you like being labeled?
on calling Caucasians "whites?"
I'm actually kinda pinkish-beige or something.
I prefer being called a "mick."
Or called for supper.;)
Just don't call you late for supper. ;)
dessert, if it's chocolate or whiskey!
Whites insist on calling themselves white. WTF. Hits a nerve does it?
Geez, I kinda prefer "paleskin".
And isn't "Latino" awfully broad? Seriously, there are a lot of different peoples who speak Latin-based languages, and they've been speaking them longer than most of the peoples in the Americas: Italy, France, Romania, Portugal and Spain. "Hispanic" does seem to narrow it down a bit more. And unless you're being ironic about it, your handle- chicano2nd- narrows it down a bit more. A guy that I grew up with used to cringe when someone referred to him as a chicano, because he was Puerto Rican.
Don't try to confuse the issue with half-truths and gorilla dust.
Sorry, Chicano; not really - I was making a joke! I really don't care...call me white, just don't call me late for dinner!
Because we are animals we tend to put everything into categories e.g. prey vs predator; tastes good vs inedible; black vs. white.
Whatever helps you to remember me, Chicano. You can call me "the Old White Guy Who treats me in a condescending manner.
Or you can call me "That dumb Mick Who wants to make peace."
As long as I get my dinner...
watching a man who perjured himself in front of the United States Senate talk about good and well intentioned people.
he's unemployed and has all the time in the world. He's been out of work for a long time now - I wonder when his unemployment benefits will run out.
I wonder when his statute of limitations run out.
Does accessory to murder have a statute of limitations?
Hasn't he been disbarred yet?
Of course, Gonzo doesn't think ethnicity should determine position or opportunity.
After all, his "achievements" were entirely due to his own incompetence and had nothing to do with his being Hispanic. No one should assume that all Hispanics are totally corrupt clowns just because this fool is a totally corrupt clown.
Holy Shit, I just realized. I think this may be the first time I've ever heard Gonzo answer questions and not once say "I don't recall," "I don't remember," or "I don't recall remembering."
Amazing!
"may be penalized for doing their best and to provide the best legal advice that they can. I'm afraid of the chilling effect that that's going to have on future lawyers at the Department of Justice."
From Article II of the UN Convention Against Torture:
3) An order from a superior officer or a public authority may not be invoked as a justification of torture.
And from the US Constitution, Article VI, Paragraph 2:
all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land
There you go, Gonzo.
Amazing how politicians can just talk crap. This guy fell in disgrace and he is talking crap. Amazing. No shame.
Wasn't Gonzo considered for the Supreme Court at some point? If so, thank God he didn't get it. But it proves that government is a magnet for psychopaths.
.
And yet, Alberto Gonzales "recalls" doing his best...
... Funny, NO?
.
Starve the WAR Beast...
... Save the World.
on jackal "lawyers" who go around recommending torture. gonzo should be in jail somewhere with his rectum in a stress position.
Seeing that slimy suck-up's face takes me back to the worst of the Bad Old Days with the bush crime cabal in full swing. It is difficult for me to convey the deep contempt that I feel for Gonzales.
"I stand by my record. I did my best to defend our country during
very difficult times, so I'm proud of my service."
Gee, that's a statement so broad it could have been said by any number of Nazi's.
is nothing more than a hand-job and a bad one at that, and that being said, Fredo is indeed a lying bucket of SHIT and a little weasel to boot! I hope the little fellow finds that ever elusive job that no prospective employer seems to have available for such a hot-shot go getter like himself! Hey Fredo, don't you have the intellect to understand that working in the "Chimp's" administration is the kiss of death for creeps like you who payed NO attention to any rule of law,and then the fuck wad that is Dumbya, canned yer ass?To you Mr.Gonzales, a hearty and very vigorous FUCK YOU in spades! See ya in the funny papers or else prison! PS- Don't leave the country, young fella, you might not get the chance to return to the good ol' USA! LAUGHING MY FUCKING ASS OFF, FREDO! How 'bout YOU?Not so much ,huh?
Why is our Democratic President protecting a torture advocating crook from prosecution?
Does anyone have Any Ideas as to how we can pressure Obamo to do the right thing?
SIGN THE PETITION calling on Attorney General Holder to appoint a Special Prosecutor for Torture Criminals
http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
over 250,000 have signed
Join us today and call yourself a Patriot
.
10 million befor Obama even looks at it. Good luck in a country of sheep-people.
If you look at it, this shit house we are in was created by the repugs. Back in Setpember,when the bush appointed Trea Set went to congress and said We need 700 billion or the US will crash( a number he said, sounds good!) Then Obama, just OK. What he should have done was said Not with out RULES or oversight. But he was worried about the repugs comming out saying Obama not voting for helping America. He caved. Look at the shit thas gone on now. 700 billion gone to the very people who fucked up this country. Look at the UAW, fuck them. We need to take care of the rich first. If Obama wants America to get it respect back he needs to sent these War Criminals to court. He needs to let his AG do his JOB. Or is it that Obama likes the New Power bush has givin him????
a two tier system for over 100 years. The ones who protect it all work in congress.
Who would take advice from Bush's top lawyer, who we now know is just one more Reslug criminal?? Wolfie is a Reslug cock sucker too.
Because, seriously, I think Gonzo is a twit, and I hate thinking that he passed the bar. But of course, his own words prove his complete and total lack of ability as an attorney. But I digress.
Every time any right-wing dipstick talks about the "chilling effect" of prosecuting attorneys that wrote memos, or for that matter, when any liberal dipstick talks about prosecuting attorneys that wrote memos, I want to slap someone. Folks, if all someone did was write a memo outlining legal justifications for torture, what the hell do you think is prosecutable?
When it comes right down to it, a legal memo is nothing more or less than an academic exercise. Any half-bright first year law student can write endless legal rationalizations to back any side you want to take. Can I justify torture? Sure, here's the research. Can I justify seizing someone's home because they sold drugs? Sure, here's the research. Can I justify making everyone wear Bush masks if they want to vote? Sure, here's the research.
Unless these were some damned unusual memos, they did NOT order or authorize torture. They outlined legal rationalizations for it. They gave opinions.
The people that can, and should, be prosecuted are the people that actually ordered and authorized the torture. Gonzo is such a piss-poor attorney that he can't even figure out an argument to show that his memos aren't the problem.
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