Posted on 11/06/2004 9:52:32 AM PST by Max Combined
Bush counsel is listing potential justice nominees, but he won't say if he's one of them
White House counsel Alberto Gonzales is developing a list of possible Supreme Court nominees in case vacancies occur during President Bush's second term, but Gonzales wouldn't say Friday whether he's on the list.
"I've got a great job and I'm focusing on it," he told the Houston Chronicle after a luncheon appearance in the city.
Gonzales, who was on the Texas Supreme Court before Bush tapped him for the administration job, often is mentioned as a high-court prospect.
He also is considered a possible successor to Attorney General John Ashcroft if Ashcroft doesn't stay for Bush's second term.
Gonzales would be the first Hispanic in either job.
He and his colleagues in his office have spent a lot of time on potential Supreme Court nominees, Gonzales said. He says he feels good about the recommendations, but the decision ultimately belongs to the president.
"George W. Bush has given me several once-in-a-lifetime opportunities," he said at the luncheon Friday for the American Leadership Forum, Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter. The organization presented him its Exemplary Leader award.
Gonzales was born in San Antonio and raised in Houston.
In his speech, Gonzales gave an insider's account of Election Night at the highest levels of the administration.
"We knew it was going to be very close, quite frankly," he said.
He attended a meeting with the president and other key staff members at 2 p.m. Tuesday, when Bush returned to the White House from Texas. They looked over exit polls that caused them a little concern, Gonzales said.
Gonzales went back to the White House around 4 a.m. and ran into White House Chief of Staff Andy Card, who was preparing to announce on national television that the president would make a statement later in the day. Speculation at the time was that it would be a declaration of victory.
Gonzales' wife called him later that morning with the news that the Democratic nominee, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, had conceded, which was confirmed moments later by Karl Rove, Bush's political strategist.
"I can't tell you about the pride of winning in a hard-fought contest," Gonzales said. Not winning would have been a sign from the voters that "what you did was not good enough or successful."
Right now, Gonzales said, he feels vindicated.
Yes, put Gonzalez up for the Court! Let the Rats oppose him!
We got 45% of the Hispaniac vote! With a little more work we can take a majority. Let the Dems take the Blacks, the Hispanics already outnumber them and are pulling away.
2004: Gonzales prepared list of potential Supreme Court justices
Unfortunately, I am uncertain of Mr. Gonzales' conservative credentials.
2004: Gonzales prepared list of potential Supreme Court justices
Good catch.
The President seems to have a lot of faith and trust in this man. That's a good enough endorsement for me.
Further, it was Gonzales who was the pro-affirmative action advocate in the White House that succeeded in watering down the Administration's position in the University of Michigan cases last term. That to me disqualifies him for the appointment. If Bush wants to choose a hispanic, he is far better off with U.S. Appeals Court Judge Emilio Garza...
"If Bush wants to choose a hispanic, he is far better off with U.S. Appeals Court Judge Emilio Garza..."
Agreed....Miguel Estrada would be a great choice, both substantively and symbolically.
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