Word: ashcroft
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...Chao, who is not shy about her conservative ideology, may be helped through the confirmation three-ring circus by the fact that the labor and civil rights groups so vehemently opposed to Chavez's nomination have now focused their attention on Bush's attorney general-designate, John Ashcroft...
Nearly three years ago, as Sen. John Ashcroft was considering a run for the presidency, he composed a hand-written thank-you note to a man many politicians would run from. Neatly inscribed on Ashcroft's Senate stationery, the letter went to Larry Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America, a firearms lobbying group considered extremist even by many conservatives...
...Waller: The Republicans certainly hope this was the sacrificial lamb, but Democrats are saying behind the scenes that Chavez's departure just widens the target on [Attorney General-designate] John Ashcroft. If Chavez's nomination had come down to votes, she would have taken away votes against Ashcroft - some Democrats have been advised they can really only vote against one nominee, not two. The same logic goes for political organizations battling Ashcroft: Originally, liberal groups were going to have to dilute resources on Chavez, but now they can devote all their energies to defeating Ashcroft's nomination...
...Bush just stands by Ashcroft during what promises to be a rough hearing, couldn't that satisfy any debt he feels to conservatives...
...Waller: The conservatives may very well be satisfied with Ashcroft, but I think a lot of them are worried about how quickly and cleanly Bush cut his losses with Chavez, and they may want another nominee as insurance. What, they may be thinking, will happen when the Ashcroft nomination hits its first bump in the road and the confirmation runs into trouble? Will Bush just abandon ship...