Five Reasons Not to Put Gonzales On the Court(6th Reason: He's a RINO)

National Journal ^ | 7/18/2005 | Stuart Taylor Jr.

[Preachin']

"There are plenty of conservative jurists qualified for job who have a heck of a lot more experience on the bench than Gonzo and I'm sure if we just have to have a person with a Hispanic surname they can find one...
besides, I would be verrrrrrry surprised to see Gonzales who was just appointed AG to now be nominated for the Supremes...
I mean he only spent two friggin years on the bench in TX for pete sakes before going to DC!"

It may be that he spent only two years on the TX bench, but he did follow the president to Washington and has held two high-level jobs for POTUS.

The president is looking to make inroads with Hispanics. It seems that the war on terror and allying with the Hispanic is how he wants to build his legacy. None of us knows for sure, so we'll just have to wait and see. The fears of having Gonzales on the bench are not altogether unjustified.

[kellynla]

Hispanics didn't put GWB in office!
CONSERVATIVES DID!

and if W can't find a conservative who just so happens to have a Hispanice surname(if that is soooo important to him), then he should give me a call.

Point, Game, Set, Match!

[Travis McGee]

[tellw]

It's not going to be Gonzales who replaces O'Connor. It's going to be a conservative woman. Makes total sense. However, I strongly suspect Gonzales would be Bush's choice to succeed Rehnquist.

Why has Emilio Garza fallen out of favor?

[xzins]

But his subordinates have defended as "humane" a Guantanamo interrogation in which (by the Pentagon's own account) a detainee was chained to the floor for 18 hours and forced to urinate on himself and bark like a dog.

This part of this article indicates to me that Taylor is part of the Love our Enemies First Crowd.

The man is alive, a little humilitated, and in no way physically injured.

If he's afraid of Gonzales, then maybe there's some redeeming value in Gonzales......a stealth candidate????

[kellynla]

"Why has Emilio Garza fallen out of favor?"
I don't know that he has but if that be the case; I don't know why?
Bottom line: I hope W does the RIGHT thing and nominates a true blue conservative on ALL vacancies.
We conservatives have waited long enough.

[Armedanddangerous]

I am at work right now, and I really cannot remembre the specifics. However, to the best of my recollection, it had to do with him recommending to GWB that he push for renewal of the Homeland Defense Rifle ban. Also, I understand that he recently signed off on an ATF plan to ban importation of some gun parts.

If I'm incorrect, someone here will probably correct the record, but I don't think I'm wrong.

Have a great day, that will piss off a liberal.

[k2blader]

Why would Bush appoint Gonzales if he's a RINO?

Well, he made him AG.

[deport]

The legislature came back the following session and did set a higher standard.

---

To what higher standard did they move the proof level?

[Armedanddangerous]

Here is what I found re: Gonzales and gun rights. It came from www.nealknox.com

"So, it is with some trepidation that activists anticipate the second
term of George W. Bush.

Presidents typically shuffle their cabinets at the beginning of the
second term. Some of Bush's changes have raised eyebrows among gun
owners. The most publicized of those changes is the exit of Attorney
General John Ashcroft to be replaced by Alberto Gonzales. During his
confirmation Gonzales expressed support for renewal of the Clinton
"assault weapon" ban which expired last year. He takes over a Justice
Department that had just released an extensive analysis of the Second
Amendment as an individual right. How Gonzales will treat the Second
Amendment is an open question.

Some of our concerns are tempered by the fact that this administration
has operated in "stealth" mode on the gun issue. During the campaign
Bush said he would sign a reauthorization bill, but went to great
lengths to ensure that it never crossed his desk. Gonzales may have
been echoing the president's position. While that back-handed strategy
is annoying to gun owners, it beats the approach taken by his father
which was to claim support for the Second Amendment while undermining
it at every turn. We suggest to our friends and supporters that in
this case, as always, they follow the dictum of Firearms Coalition
founder Neal Knox: "Pay no attention to what they say, watch what they
do!"

[golfboy]

Why would Bush appoint Gonzales if he's a RINO?
Well, he made him AG.

Are you saying that Bush lied when he said he would appoint someone like Scalia/Thomas, or that Bush is such a poor judge or character that he is mistaking a RINO (Gonzales), to be in the same league as Scalia/Thomas?

[WOSG]

"He also got alot of flack for saying he would support Roe v Wade as AG. Well...since Roe v Wade IS THE LAW, he is only upholding the current law, that is his job. That DOES NOT mean he is pro-abortion."

That's correct. Ashcroft had to do the same grovelling to 'support' Govt laws and positions he opposes when it comes to defend the US. It's the AG's job to represent the Federal Govt, not his personal views.

I think Gonzalez would be the wrong choice, but let's not get all hyped over a possible non-issue. Bush hasn't named his choice. Any of Garza, Luttig, Edith Jones, Clement, would work for me.

[Mad Mammoth]

The best reason *I* have heard NOT to nominate Gonzales is that Harry Reid ('Rat-Numbnutz-NV) thinks Gonzales would be a great nominee and judge.

If Reid likes him, forget it.