Pomona professor protests Gonzales speech.
Pomona professor protests Gonzales speech.
The Pomona College student government is considering bringing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to speak on campus. Pomona Associate Professor of Politics Heather Williams today writes an op-ed in the school’s paper, The Student Life, wondering why student funds will be used to bring this “disgraced former member of the Bush Administration” to campus:
My question to Pomona College students is this: With a host of people out there with conservative viewpoints who are articulate, smart, and willing to speak in a detailed way about their ideas or their records as public officials, why invite a man who repeatedly broke the law, shredded the ethical codes of the institutions he served, and then lied about it? Is this really going to balance your political horizons?
Gonzales will reportedly receive $40,000 to speak at the University of Florida later this month.
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Pomona College: We can’t recall why we invited him…
November 16th, 2007 at 10:02 amGainsville’s pretty liberal in a relatively conservative N.Fla area. This could get interesting.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:12 amGood for her.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:15 amDoes she have tenure? I hope so.
She may have ruffled a few feathers with her forthright and justified comments.
Bendict Arnold wasn’t available.
-GSD
November 16th, 2007 at 10:15 amI suspect it might be for the same reason that Watergate figures were so popular on the lecture circuit after Nixon resigned. I think the biggest reason is that people want to know how a person’s moral compass can get so far out of calibration. Everybody would like a chance to ask “Whatever possessed you to do this?”
Of course, this is usually a lost cause, unless the disgraced party is making an apology tour. Gonzo will have a rather tepid speech planned, and if he does take any questions afterwards, he will only give answers to the softballs — all others will be “I’m not at liberty to say” or something to that effect.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:17 amMissmolly says: “I think the biggest reason is that people want to know how a person’s moral compass can get so far out of calibration. Everybody would like a chance to ask “Whatever possessed you to do this?â€
What makes you think that this question will not receive the same stonewalling that Gonzales gave Congress? I think that it is more important to have principles and not spend student/taxpayer money to pay this guy.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:24 am#4 – “Bendict Arnold wasn’t available” Comment by GSD — November 16, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Actually, Gonzales IS available! He just changed his name. ;-)
November 16th, 2007 at 10:28 amusing students’ money to overpay speakers who have a legal defense fund is the coolest.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:28 ammissmolly, I have to agree with gus. I understand what you’re saying, but there’s no reason to think that Abu G will be any more self-relective, self-aware or forthcoming than he was when he was Attorney General.
I think the appeal of criminals for conservative audiences is their hero-worship and their own brand of a rebellious sense. They figure these guys did battle with the Great Liberal Beast (whether it takes the form of the media, Democrats or the government in general) and they carry with them a perverted mantle of an O’Reilly-esque “culture warrior”. And right-wingers can’t get enough of that kind of crotch-sniffing.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:31 amBeen-a-dick Gonzales. By jove you are right.
-GSD
November 16th, 2007 at 10:37 amThe UF people should rethink the invitation to abu g. The University is getting ridiculous in that the wingnuts seem to be taking over. Tasering the student by the security guards fits well with an invitation to gonzo. If he wants to exercise his 1st amendment rights, that is up to him and the University community, but there is no reason that he should be given any money. I know that I don’t plan to give any.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:40 amI’m not sure what good it would be to have Gonzo lecture on any subject. Last I heard he couldn’t recall a damn thing. Pretty sad for someone that went to lawyering school.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:50 amWhy would Republicans pay $40,000 to hear a speech from someone who defends torture when they could get a rapist or child molestor to speak for less than $500?
November 16th, 2007 at 11:04 amThe conservatives invited him because he is the perfect example of what conservatives are all about, crime, corruption, lieing, graft, anti freedom, anti rule of law, pro torture. The Ideal Fascist Repukian Scum Lord.
Buck Fush
November 16th, 2007 at 11:05 amBrava, Heather!!
By the way, don’t you think you should spend more time with your family…?
/sarc off
November 16th, 2007 at 11:05 amWhy would Republicans pay $40,000 to hear a speech from someone who defends torture when they could get a rapist or child molestor to speak for less than $500?
Comment by delafield — November 16, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Oh, I think Foley and Hastert will want more than $500.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:15 amWhat makes you think that this question will not receive the same stonewalling that Gonzales gave Congress? I think that it is more important to have principles and not spend student/taxpayer money to pay this guy.
Comment by gus smith — November 16, 2007 @ 10:24 am
Apparently you didn’t read the second paragraph of my post.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:15 ammissmolly, I have to agree with gus. I understand what you’re saying, but there’s no reason to think that Abu G will be any more self-relective, self-aware or forthcoming than he was when he was Attorney General.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — November 16, 2007 @ 10:31 am
Apparently, you didn’t read the second paragraph of my post, either.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:16 amOh, I think Foley and Hastert will want more than $500.
Comment by Lefty Patriot
A kindergarten.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:19 amI would not waste my time listening to this mofo if they paid ME.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:23 amGonzo’s Gravy Train is pulling in to the Pomona College station.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:25 amWhat exactly would Gonzo be able to talk about? Virtually all of his actions would receive the “unable to talk about because of ongoing investigation” treatment. How much money is the old “pulled myself up by my bootstraps” worth?
November 16th, 2007 at 11:30 amI sure hope there’s chance for some Q&A at the end.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:40 amI have a list of questions worth about $5,000 apiece.
Gonzo’s speech merely reflects a safety net erected to protect Republican criminals. Only one person showed true contrition for his Watergate crimes, John Dean. Think of the others who were involved. None of them really went on the lecture circuit to repent for their actions or to ask for legislative reform to prevent future abuses of executive power. I remember watching JAG (having been an Air Force Jag) and seeing G. Gordon Liddy on as an occasional guest star, always projecting the mysterious patriot. He, as many of the others, ended up as conservative talk show hosts. Remember Ollie North, Karl Rove (News Week contrib) and the others involved in past and present scandals. All are guaranteed a good paying job in media, lobbying or right wing think tank. Their crimes are down played, seen as trivial, technical violations of law that liberals use to attack the one true political faith and their chosen agents.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:08 pmI was born in Pomona, California, and raised in Claremont where Pomona College is located. Claremont used to be a very liberal town, hence the colleges too, but somehow has become a conservative enclave now. I am glad I moved away to another state.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:12 pmI’m a Pomona College student, and as far as I know they are still ‘considering’ inviting him. But this wouldn’t be the first time that our political club and/or student government has invited controversial speakers. John Yoo was here last year, I think. And of course Jim Gilchrist of the Minuteman Project was invited but declined at the last minute, complaining to O’Reilly that we were ‘dangerous anarchists’ or some such and he was too scared to speak here. As a matter of fact some other guy from the Minuteman Project actually was here for an immigration debate a few weeks ago (I don’t remember his name, though).
Anyways, if he comes I’ll go for the sole purpose of trying to get the chance to ask a few questions. :)
November 16th, 2007 at 12:23 pmmissmolly, I did read the second paragraph of your post. I was commenting on your questioning the reason for the invitation, which you didn’t mention in your second paragraph.
Don’t be so defensive. I’m on your side.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:58 pmUnreal that anyone would pay that much money to hear the addled Gonzales blather about anything, but perhaps there’s still a way to make Abu Ghraib Gonzales slink away with his tail between his legs, whimpering all the while
Condition any payment on making Gonzo answer questions from the audience, and it has to be more than a “yes” or “no” or “I can’t comment”
If that condition was put in place, I doubt Gonzales would bother showing up at all
November 16th, 2007 at 12:58 pmmissmolly, I did read the second paragraph of your post. I was commenting on your questioning the reason for the invitation, which you didn’t mention in your second paragraph.
Don’t be so defensive. I’m on your side.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — November 16, 2007 @ 12:58 pm
My bad — I apologize for being snarky; it’s just been a tough week and I didn’t sleep well last night.
I think my general point was that the reason why people would want to invite a disgraced person to speak is the fascination with the “why would somebody do the things this guy did?” — thus, the comparison with the Watergate figures.
And then I said that this doesn’t always get the results one wishes for, unless the disgraced person is on a personal mea culpa tour (think George Wallace in his waning years). All too often, the invitee won’t answer the questions everybody really wants to ask.
And yes — it’s also possible that the students who invited Gonzo might be real fans of the man. But that seems a bit far-fetched for the student government. Young Republicans, maybe.
November 16th, 2007 at 1:30 pm“Gonzales is a criminal not a speaker.” A simple amen to Ms. Williams. The title speaks for itself.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:01 pmGonzo should be behind barrs, not givin speaches. But hey, you are in the FSA, the FACIST STATES OF AMERICA, former known as the USA. You have WAR CRIMINALS running the country and destroying you economy… so it is not so out there to have another WAR CRIMINAL givin speaches in your Universities.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:14 pmWhy The Pomona College does not invite Scooter Libby? He is a crook too!
November 16th, 2007 at 2:17 pmwhy not invite clinton.
he’s been impeached, barred from practicing law – among other things.
basically, he broke more laws than the AG did. and gets paid more for his history re-write speaches.
November 16th, 2007 at 2:38 pm“basically, he (Clinton) broke more laws than the AG did.”
Comment by ct — November 16, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
That remains to be seen. Clinton’s misdeeds have all been run through several wringers, and while he was impeached, he was acquitted. He has never been convicted of anything.
Nobody’s even started tallying up Gonzo’s transgressions yet.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:05 pmNot only the arguments above, but does anyone possibly believe that Gonzo the Great is going to say anything illuminating ?
November 16th, 2007 at 3:15 pmGreat news. Someone at this college has a brain. Why pay a loser that kind of money to lie about his record and continue to cover up what really happened under his reign. This college administration sucks.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:17 pmHorowitz the Ho’ will be SO pleased!
Still another Campus is trying to capitulate to his extortion to provide “conservatives” to “balance” the “liberal” campuses (affirmative action for “conservative victims”)!
In Horowitz’s view, GONZO is a genuine “conservative,” just like the old Ho’ Himself: a lying, whiny, warmongering, torture-enabling, racist, sexist, criminal, immoral, global-conglomerate whore!
Sad, thing is, I called as many members of the Senate to tell them about Fredo BEFORE his nomination to At-turncoat Genital as I could, and too few listen to my pleas to vote “NAY!”
November 16th, 2007 at 6:18 pm