Attempt to mend the divisions magnified by the election?
I think the dems should (they won't) try to heal divisions because if they continue tacking left, they will have another 2002 in 2006 and another 2004 in 2008. Even James Carville and Clinton said that. Of course, they both want Hillary in 2008, so she will be moving right for the next four.
I think Bush is rewarding a friend. He has always been known to be loyal to a fault and he probably thinks this is a temporary position (4 years) not lifetime, to use to pay Gonazalez back for his loyalty to Bush. After all, Gonazalez could have gone into private practice and made a whole lot more $$$$$$$$$$.
"Attempt to mend the divisions magnified by the election?"
Mending does not include placing in leadership persons disposed to take the Party more to the left.
We'll have to wait and see, but if Bush keeps this up, he will substantially lose the support of conservatives (who gave him the victory).
He's going to need that support a lot throughout the next four years, so he better tread carefully with these appointments.
People are just out and out tired of these political games.
They're not going to support it anymore.