Why the Gonzales No Confidence Vote Matters

This post, written by Steven Reynolds, originally appeared on the All Spin Zone

And Tony Snow may be right, that this vote today of no confidence in Alberto Gonzales is just a symbol. It may even be a failed vote, and thus a failed symbol. Still, that symbol will show the American people that some members of the Senate care about the rule of law. Folks like Tony Snow are undeiably tainted on that subject.

But let's get back to the title of this post. Symbols are powerful. Tony Snow dismisses this vote as a "symbol" at his peril. He should know, in his roles as cheerleader (Commentator at FauxNews) and apologist (Press Secretary), that the Bush Administration and its Republican Congressional allies have used symbols time and time and time again to try to ratchet up support for the Iraq War. What was "Mission Accomplished," after all, but a failed symbol staged by Mr. Snow's predecessors? How about the staged toppling of the statue of Saddam? I'd say that symbol worked, even though we know it was staged. Certainly the Bush Administration attempted to use Terry Schiavo as a symbol as well. She was more a symbol of their ineptness, and their cruelty in using even a braind dead woman for political reasons, but she was the failed symbol of Republicans, that's for sure.

Of course, symbols have worked quite well to damage the credibility of the Bush Administration. Tony Snow should know the power of symbols, given that hooded scarecrow that came to stand for Abu Ghraib. Cindy Sheehan herself was a symbol, an dwhile she didn't end the war in Iraq, she mobilized many people with her efforts. Hurricane Katrina is a symbol of Bush Administration ineptitude that will last a long long time. And Ted Haggard's desire for hot man sex, along with Mark Foley's lust for young teen boys will live on as Republican symbols of hypocrisy. No, not just hypocrisy, but they are symbols of the hollowness of Republican dogma, and surely the entire electorate, minus the 28% who can still be fooled any time, will understand that the Republican symbols are as hollow as their leaders.

Yeah, symbols are powerful, Tony, and you should dismiss symbols at your peril.