A few more things...

John Ashcroft resigned. I was strongly against him in 2000 and this is almost a win. Four years too late. What's Ashcroft's legacy? Is it the Patriot Act? The new airline restrictions? No. It's that he was the guy who wanted a piece of cloth to be placed over the nude justice statue. That's what I will always remember from the neoconservative who was beat by a dead guy for Senator in 2000.

The person who might replace him...Alberto Gonzales, who would become the first Hispanic to be Attorney General. Do I like him? Well....

On one hand, I doubt Bush will make him Attorney General if he has plans on making him a Supreme Court candidate, which has been discussed.

Gonzales, who currently serves as First Counsel, is a Bush favorite. He was the guy who wrote a memo to Bush and after Karl Rove read it to Bush, the basic understanding was clear. The Geniva Convention rules on prisoners should not apply to all Taliban and al-queda members. Do I find a lot of fault with this? Not really. But just the same, while it does not apply to all of them, it's not like we should have free reign to do whatever we want, including disrobing them and taking pictures. For fun!

What I really don't like from this memo is that he admits to problems like "widespread condemnation among our allies." Yeah, that's bad. And going against the U.S. military culture that demands the highest standards of conduct. At the same time, he likes the option of "flexibility." Hmmm...

For the record, Gonzales's former law firm had a big client that could have used him during Bush's administration. Enron.

When you actually think about it, Gonzales's actions are partly responsible for the worldwide resentment we felt despite a supported invasion of Afghanistan. When we started sending all of our P.O.W.'s to Guantanamo Bay, we looked like asses, not caring about the rules we call others to support. Granted, technically, and legally, there is some grounds. At the same time, this is an administration that ripped Kerry for his complex views on Iraq and the economy. For the record, Kerry wasn't a flip flopper. He was just really complex. Gonzales would understand.

This is rather upsetting. But if Ashcroft gained 58 votes in 2000 (which is a narrow win for White House cabinet positions), Gonzales will surely gain the votes needed and the Dems are unlikely to fillibuster. Sad. Just sad.

Don't Blame Us

Young adults voted 54% for John Kerry compared to 44% for George W. Bush. Yet, it's us who have to deal with his legacy the longest.

A few political notes

Howard Dean, Mr. Yell, is considering running for DNC Chairman, a move that would eliminate him for the 2008 race. I mention the last part because obviously, there is consideration for him running for the Presidential ticket under the Democratic Party in 2008. One, tis a bad idea. We've tried liberals from the Northeast. Two, if there is some actual consideration, is Dean's new show on CNBC (?) really that much of noticable effect on helping his perception after the primaries?

Second, in Washington, Senator Lincoln Chafee has decided to stay with the Republicans. This was a secret weapon the Dems might have gained in the wake of a Kerry defeat. Chafee said, and get this, Bush is taking the party too far to the right. The compassionate conservative? No...

John McCain is talking about reforming the Federal Election Commission in the wake of independant organizations like Swift Boat Vets for Truth and Moveon.org and how they tried to impact the 2004 election. I love McCain. The Repubs would never let him run, but he'd win in a landslide. Who's going to be that Dem that criticizes McCain? I doubt it will be a winner for the Dems.

Finally, the notion is that the Dems are not in touch with traditonal family values. It really isn't that. The truth is...a lot of Dems just don't share them as traditional family values. A lot of Dems have different ideas of what is a traditional family value. Like open-mindness, for one. I would hope my kids, if I have ever them, would be open-minded. I don't think they should fear or hate gay people or people who don't look just like them. But ya know...I'm just a liberal. With my own morals.

First time...

Um, yeah, this is my new blog. It'll be pretty much strictly political. Yeah. So...when that need to make a political post comes, be ready. And stuff.