Alberto Gonzales--a kinder gentler AG??

The CSMonitor writes that the selection of Alberto Gonzales as the replacement for outgoing Attorney General John Ashcroft represents a moderate approach to the position by the President. Following on the heels of Ashcroft, the outspoken voice of the religious right and former Congressman, Gonzales has some significant fences to mend. The Justice Department currently faces any number of legal battles that are a direct result of the actions taken by Ashcroft during the last two years of his tenure. The Monitor asserts that Gonzales is a moderate Republican with a mild demeanor who will not be a "polarizing figure" like Ashcroft.

Let me get this straight, the White House counsel who signed off on allowing TORTURE of prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq will not be a polarizing figure as Attorney General? According to a Gonzales draft memo, he referred to some of the Geneva Conventions on prisoner treatment as "quaint" with regards to our war on Iraq, and he played a direct role in a Justice Department memo from 2002 that argued torture of terrorists might be allowable under certain circumstances. He has played down both of these memos because he says neither guided the eventual policy established by the DoD. Thank God!!

Most commentators see the appointment of Gonzales to AG as helpful to Bush in two ways. First, by appointing an Hispanic to the position, Bush will continue to push the diversity of his cabinet. Second, Gonzales is a close personal friend of Bush who will provide some level of cooperation between the Executive office and law enforcement, much like Bobby Kennedy provided for JFK, or Ed Meese provided for Reagan. Ashcroft may have been too much of a loose canon, not necessarily on the same page at all times as the administration. Further, Ashcroft was well established with the religious right, whose appointment helped Bush keep those leaders happy. This appointment may also help to keep the religious right happy. Having Gonzales appointed AG may keep him from being appointed to the Supreme Court. If he truly is a moderate Republican, the religious right would surely prefer he be Attorney General than be a Supreme Court Justice.

The real question remains, will Democrats be able to focus enough attention on the prisoner and torture issues to call his confirmation into question?