No, it wasn't a surprise that Alberto Gonzales was confirmed by the Senate to be the next Attorney General, but that doesn't make it any less tragic, embarrassing, and horrific, and it doesn't make us any less pissed off. For the record, here are the Senators who voted for Gonzales (courtesy of PZ from Pharyngula):

Alexander (R-TN) Allard (R-CO) Allen (R-VA) Bennett (R-UT) Bond (R-MO) Brownback (R-KS) Bunning (R-KY) Burr (R-NC) Chafee (R-RI) Chambliss (R-GA) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Coleman (R-MN) Collins (R-ME) Cornyn (R-TX) Craig (R-ID) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) DeWine (R-OH) Dole (R-NC)

Domenici (R-NM) Ensign (R-NV) Enzi (R-WY) Frist (R-TN) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Gregg (R-NH) Hagel (R-NE) Hatch (R-UT) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Kyl (R-AZ) Landrieu (D-LA) Lieberman (D-CT) Lott (R-MS) Lugar (R-IN) Martinez (R-FL) McCain (R-AZ) McConnell (R-KY)

Murkowski (R-AK) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Pryor (D-AR) Roberts (R-KS) Salazar (D-CO) Santorum (R-PA) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Smith (R-OR) Snowe (R-ME) Specter (R-PA) Stevens (R-AK) Sununu (R-NH) Talent (R-MO) Thomas (R-WY) Thune (R-SD) Vitter (R-LA) Voinovich (R-OH) Warner (R-VA)

Do what you will with this information. For our part, none of our Senators appear on this wall of shame, but if they did, they would have forever lost our support as well as our respect. There's just no rationale that we can accept for voting in this manner.

And for all the people talking about what a wonderful victory this is for Hispanic-Americans, our advice is that you remove your heads from your asses. Ethnicity is a moot point here — any intelligent people of Hispanic background are likely as appalled as we are. The same goes for the Republicans who saw this as a political game drawn along party lines. This issue transcends race, party affiliation, religion, gender, or any other PC moniker — it's bigger than that. The man condoned torture, arrogantly sidestepped Senate inquiries during his confirmation, and was rewarded by being named Attorney General.

In an earlier Rant, we compared supporting Gonzales to hiring a pedophile to baby sit for your children because he also happens to make good pancakes. So, to the Gonzales supporters, we sure hope you enjoy your short stack while this son of a bitch watches over everyone's civil rights for the next four years.