Speedkill

Matt Y provides one:

On the “values issues” Ashcroft has substantive views that I find repugnant. And yet, near as I can tell Ashcroft has conducted himself in office with regard to these issues in a perfectly appropriate way — attempting to enforce the existing laws. There was, during his confirmation hearings, this subtext that Ashcroft would somehow undermine Civil Rights law or turn a blind eye to anti-abortion terrorism or some such thing. It hasn’t happened. Civil Rights enforcement hasn’t been quite as vigorous as I would like, but this is what happens when the Republicans get into office. Again, Ashcroft is not the issue.

There’s more, and it’s pretty interesting. I’m not sure I quite agree, but it’s a good read nonetheless. It looks like his successor will be Alberto Gonzales. I know nothing about the guy. The ACLU doesn’t seem to like him (stunning, no?):

Mr. Gonzales should be queried, moreover, on his January 25, 2002 memo, authored in his capacity as White House counsel, which described certain legal protections guaranteed in the Geneva Conventions to persons captured during military hostilities as “obsolete” and “quaint.” His confirmation hearings should also examine in detail Mr. Gonzales’ approval of the now-disavowed Justice Department memoranda that condoned the torture and incommunicado and indefinite detention of detainees captured during the Afghanistan conflict.

Probably par for the course with this administration anyway. It’s not like they’re going to nominate someone who disagrees with the positions they’ve laid out.