Alberto "I don't mind torture" Gonzales

NY Times transcript of Gonzales hearing.

SEN. LEAHY: Well, let me then ask you: If you're going to be attorney general, and I'll accept what you said, then let's put on the hat, if you're going to be confirmed as attorney general. The Bybee memo concludes that a president has authority as commander in chief to override domestic and international law as prohibiting torture and can immunize from prosecution anyone -- anyone -- who commits torture under his act; whether legal or not, he can immunize them.

Now, as attorney general, would you believe the president has the authority to exercise a commander-in-chief override and immunize acts of torture?

MR. GONZALES: First of all, sir, the president has said we're not going to engage in torture under any circumstances. And so you're asking me to answer a hypothetical that is never going to occur. This president has said we're not going to engage in torture under any circumstances, and therefore, that portion of the opinion was unnecessary and was the reason that we asked that that portion be withdrawn.

He never answered the question.

I find this interesting.

The Senators asking him questions are trying to get an idea of what kind of Attorney General he'll be. They want to know what sorts of cases he'll prosecute and what his viewpoint on the limits of police powers he thinks he'll have. And he refused to give them information. Throughout the potion of testimony I heard yesterday morning, Gonzales avoided questioning by claiming that anything he says now might affect cases he prosecutes later. So he's basically saying that he refuses to express an onion now because he'll have to have an opinion later.

These hearings are a job interview. When I'm interviewed for a job, I don't refuse to demonstrate my competence for the job because I'll have to use those skills when I'm hired. Who does that?