An interesting story
in the San Francisco Chonicle about Tony West, an advisor to Obama's campain. A look at the next generation of black political strategists. Clearly a guy who could play an interesting role helping to rebuild the Justice Department. West is a San Francisco Native and one of the four lawyers to represent Marin County native John Walker Lindh, the "American Taliban in 2002. Why would he take a case that he knew was going to hurt him politically if he ever ran for office." West says he was concerned about the human rights and due process that might have been denied to Lindh.

"When you think about the worst thing that terrorists can do to this country, it is that they can make you rethink your fundamental commitments to those principles that make our nation unique and make us great. I really believe that in working on that case, I was recommitting myself to those principles of due process, fairness - things that separate us from most nations in this world and which make us unique."