Before we kill each other over Gonzalez, take a look at the big picture

[John_H]

Alberto Gonzalez is going to be AG no matter what. Every Dem senator votes against him, he's in. Filibuster, he's in. Not only is going all in to stop him futile it would enable the right wing agenda for decades to come.

Since there are not enough dems to beat him on the floor we can only filibuster. If that happens Cheney WILL make a ruling from the president's dais that the filibuster violates the senate's constitutional duty to vote on matters before it. This ruling is subject to a simple majority vote, at which point it will pass easily. Once it's gone, it ain't coming back until Dem's retake the senate.

Gonzalez will be confirmed, and people will post on DU how brave our senators are, how giddy it makes them feel. Then, at some point--days, weeks, a year, who knows?--A supreme court justice will retire or die. Then what? Sew the stripes on the robe, folks,'cause he's in. Oops. There go the big smiles.

Couldn't cheney issue the same ruling during a supreme court filibuster? Only theoretically, not in the world we live in. Americans tend to think the president should pick his own cabinet, and that gives the rethugs the cover and bravado to do it. The supreme court is a different matter. I'd bet 1000 bucks the votes wouldn't be there if he tries to kill the filibuster over a supreme court pick. Many whores and more than a few GOP senators will not go there.

Aleberto may be a torturer, but he's a torturer who's going to be gone in four years tops, a torturer who's still bound by Judaical rulings and congressional oversight. A supreme court justice--maybe even Gonzalez himself--is in for life, is subject to no congressional oversight and no judicial rulings save the ones he helps make.

I know there is a great big hunk of instant ideological gratification dangling right in front of us, and I'm as tempted as you are to take a big ol' bite. If you can't resist, if you want to feel groovy 'cause your senator voted "the right way?" knock yourself out. But this anti-war, anti right wing dem is going to save his ammo for a the battle that will significantly influence the kind of country my kids will live in.

Note: this is NOT to say that any dem should vote yes.