Yesterday( Feb. 23, 2005) I received constituent correspondence from Sen. Susan Collins regarding The Alberto Gonzales confirmation. It was dated Feb. 4, 2005, and read:
Thanks you for contacting me to express your concerns about White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales, whom President Bush has nominated to serve as Attorney General. I appreciate your taking the time to do so.
More below the fold.
The letter continued:
The Constitution affords the President substantial deference in his choices for cabinet positions. While I may not personally agree with, or support, every position taken by a particular nominee, I do believe the President's nominees must demonstrate the qualifications, professional experience, leadership capability, and integrity befitting of the high-ranking positions for which they have been nominated.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, on which I do not serve, recently held a hearing on Judge Goinzales' nomination. The hearing provided an opportunity for Judiciary Committee members to ask in depth questions regarding his record and qualifications, as well as the extent of his involvement in developing policies affecting the interrogation of enemy combatants. The Judiciary Committee has yet to schedule a vote on this nomination.
Again, thank you for contacting me.
The date on the letter(Feb. 4) seemed a bit late to me, and the arrival of the letter(Feb. 23) less than timely. The late arrival I might be able to forgive - the staff might be busy. But the letter date, and its content? So I did a little checking. From the senate website
February 03, 2005
PN12 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Alberto R. Gonzales, of Texas, to be Attorney General.
Senator Collins letter was dated AFTER the vote for Gonzales. But the letter specifically states that the JC had not scheduled a vote for his confirmation! So is this a blatant attempt to keep me, a democrat, placated with claims of her reflection on the subject? A Lie? It is shabby however I consider it. Clerical error - come on!