Gonzales Debate: Say No to Dictatorial Power

While we didn't watch it all, we caught some of the Senate debate on the Gonzales nomination. It seemed that Democrats succeeded in making torture the main issue, beginning with an impassioned statement by Senator Ted Kennedy, linked here.

KENNEDY URGES SENATE TO DENY GONZALES NOMINATION OVER TORTURE POLICIES

But we heard another compelling and important argument from Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. She emphasized that Gonzales insisted in his memos and testimony that the President has the power and right to override law as passed by Congress and interpreted by courts. This is nothing less than a recipe for state fascism and dictatorship. Her statement, which at this moment is not yet available, was eloquent on the subject of the danger of making Gonzales the chief law enforcement officer of the country. She emphasized that his main qualification is as the private lawyer for George Bush, but this isn't the constitutional job description of the Attorney General.