No!

Yesterday I wrote to both my Senators (Pat Leahy and Jim Jeffords) and all the Dems on the Judiciary expressing my concerns about the Gonzales nomination. My message simply said:

A vote for Gonzales is a vote for torture.

Senator Leahy's mailbot replied today:

Dear Mr. Pritsky:

Thank you for contacting me about the nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales to be United States Attorney General.  I appreciate hearing from you on this important matter. 

I am very concerned about President Bush's choice of Judge Gonzales, especially because of Judge Gonzales' role in developing the Administration's policies with regard to the treatment and interrogation of detainees.  I invite you to read the statement I made at Judge Gonzales' hearing on my website at http://leahy.senate.gov.  [Direct link. ed.]

Please know that I will keep your thoughts in mind as the process continues.   Thank you again for contacting me.  Please keep in touch.

Patrick Leahy
United States Senator

Pat's a good egg as far as politicians go, Democrat or otherwise.  I've chatted with him a few times in the terminal at BTV and on the people movers at IAD.  I sometimes disagree with his positions, but on the whole I respect his decision making process and principles.  I'm hopeful that he and Jim (and the others) will vote no on the confirmation.

[Update: Leahy called Gonzales to tell him he would vote against his confirmation, but of course the GOP has enough votes to get his nomination to the full Senate.  Unclear when the vote will be--this AM's meeting was postponed by the chairman...]

ntodd

[Update: Armando has posted a an open letter at dKos that lays out the case against Gonzales. I heartily agree with the sentiments.]

['nother update: go check out Athenae's action alert over at First Draft.  She's got all the names, numbers and e-mails of Judiciary members.  Calling is probably the best bet at this point, with the vote scheduled for tomorrow.]