Gonzales Torture Memo Controversy Builds (WH refuses to release memos)

[quaoar]

The NYT article doesn't have the angle of the White House refusing to turn over the memos.

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/10557321.htm

JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales' confirmation hearing this week may become more contentious because the White House has refused to provide copies of his memos on the questioning of terror suspects.

"We go into the hearing with some knowledge of what has occurred because of press reports or leaks but without the hard evidence that will either exonerate or implicate Judge Gonzales in this policy," complained Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat, on Monday.

< snip >

Durbin, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, says the White House has refused to give those memos to Democrats so they can determine exactly how the policies were crafted.

"We asked them to produce the memos that they have and can release that were given to Judge Gonzales or were generated by him, and so far they have not claimed executive privilege but have refused to produce this documentation," Durbin said.

[PurityOfEssence]

1. This is the opportunity: he and Rice will be UNDER OATH

Mail order a testicle somewhere and maybe even rent a spine or two; this is one of the last chances to get these assholes with their feet to the fire.

Too bad John Edwards won't be there; his grilling of Ashcroft and subsequent "nay" vote during the confirmation hearings was a great moment in our republic. How dare anyone refer to the Geneva Conventions as "quaint"!

This man is a monarchist of the worst stripe: he truly believes in the privilege and superiority of the successful. Like many who've come from modest circumstances, he needs to sustain this selfish and sick worldview in order to continue to feel better.

Those confirmation sessions are some of the most important legislative actions of the near future, and I hope they're well used.

[davidinalameda]

2. lying to Congress

its the Republican way

[merwin]

3. self-delete

Didn't notice the intro at the top :-)

[Mist]

4. Just a question

How was the material originally leaked so that the basic content of Gonzales' memos has become known? Can that material be used in questioning Gonzales?

[saltpoint]

5. I hope everyone will --

-- write to his/her senators and urge them to oppose Alberto Gonzales on the grounds that he condoned torture.

Perhaps in his memoranda Gonzales put a post-9-11 gloss on the language, but my hunch is that torture feels the same no matter what.

[SpiralHawk]

6. "All your public documents are belong to us." - BushCo

"Trust us, we are doing this for you and other patriotic Americans just like you. We know what's good for you. A whole bunch of information will only mess up your mind. The NFL playoffs start this weekend. Big BushCo loves you."

[NashVegas]

7. duplicate

locking. discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1118845