Democrats Develop Spine -- Fight Atty Gen Nomination

In a welcome sign, the Democrats are showing some fight and challenging the truly absurd nomination of Alberto Gonzales for Attorney General.

(We don't need to tell you how ridiculous it is to suggest a man who subverted the Constitution, signed off on torture (by redefining virtually every cruel practice as not actually BEING torture), told Bush the President is above the law in times of war (with Bush believing we are now permanently in a state of war) and then gave disingenuous, pass-the-buck answers to Congress when being grilled. THIS is the guy who is supposed to be a check on the President and protect our basic rights?)

According to the New York Times, the Dems are even contemplating a fillibuster. This is EXACTLY what a fillibuster is designed for: letting the minority put roadblocks in front of egregious nominations to the White House, Supreme Court, et al. (Rice didn't quite fit the bill; hence her (very weak) approval in the Senate.

My favorite moment: when Sen. Arlen Specter gets religion and decides that affirmative action -- instead of color blind, race neutral promotion -- is absolutely the right thing to do.

"Specter said that when he was first elected Philadelphia's district attorney four decades ago, there were no Hispanics in his office, and that he had tried to broaden the ethnic mix of his staff. The senator said it was "not irrelevant" that Mr. Gonzales would be the first Hispanic attorney general, since his background would give him a broader perspective on civil rights, immigration and other issues," according to the New York Times.

Let's not forget his comments in support of affirmative action down the road.