Attorney General Nominee Faces New Resistance: Some Democratic Senators might oppose Mukasey

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: New York Times

By PHILIP SHENON
Published: October 26, 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 — The nomination of Michael B. Mukasey as attorney general encountered resistance today, with some Democratic senators suggesting for the first time that they might oppose Mr. Mukasey if he does not make clear that he opposes waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques that have been used against terror suspects.

The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, joined in the expressions of concern about Mr. Mukasey. The senator said in an interview today the nomination could hinge on Mr. Mukasey’s written response to a series of questions posed to him this week about the Bush administration’s anti-terrorism policies, including its use of interrogation techniques like waterboarding, which simulates drowning.

At his Senate confirmation hearings last week, Mr. Mukasey, a retired federal judge from New York, declined to say if he agreed with many lawmakers and human rights groups that waterboarding is a form of torture. He said he did not know the details of how waterboarding, an interrogation technique that has been used by the C.I.A. against senior Al Qaeda leaders, was conducted.

Until this week, Mr. Mukasey’s nomination to replace Albert R. Gonzales as attorney general appeared to be a sure thing, and many Democratic lawmakers say privately that he is still likely to be confirmed, given the need for leadership in the Justice Department after months of turmoil. Apart from Mr. Specter, no Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have raised doubts about the nomination.

But Mr. Mukasey’s sometimes awkward responses at his confirmation hearings last week to a series of questions about his views on the Bush administration’s anti-terrorism policies and its expansive views of its wartime powers under the Constitution prompted the first significant expressions of concern about the nomination from some lawmakers....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/washington/26cnd-muka...

[Xipe Totec]

1. Some? Some?!! WTF do you mean SOME?!

Why isn't EVERY Democratic Senator opposing this nomination?

[deacon]

8. I'm with you - what kind of utter bullshit is this? He couldn't answer

the question right the first time so they are giving him a chance to lie? Totally messed up.

[aquart]

10. I know. I know.

But they never have more than one protest in them...and they're scared of what they'll get instead, I assume. I mean, look what we got in place of Harriet Miers.

[IndianaGreen]

18. Obviously some Democrats support torture, rendition, and the Guantanamo concentration camp

The dagger that was plunged into the Republic's heart had bipartisan fingerprints all over it.

[spotbird]

29. Some=

Just enough so that he'll be confirmed anyway.

They need to make it look like there was opposition while at the same time capitulate. It's an art form they've perfected.

[Xipe Totec]

33. Strangely enough

I'm reading a scientific article titled:

Why Animals Lie: How Dishonesty and Belief Can Coexist in a Signaling System.

It's all about partial lies.

Maybe we can use Congress critters as subjects for a field experiment...

[smiley_glad_hands]

2. At this point in time--Do we really need an Attorney General?

If all we are going to get is the status quo, then just let W keep reappointing an acting AG.

[deacon]

9. We need an opposite of gonzo - not a clone! n/t

[aquart]

12. Interesting point.

Do we?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. soon to be followed by their apology.

sigh.

[sam sarrha]

4. water board the sob... then ask him if it is torture

[FREEWILL56]

6. Good idea.

If cheney, bush, and the rest of them say waterboarding isn't torchure then there isn't any reason why one couldn't waterboard cheney, bush, or whoever as they make it legal to use even upon them.

[sam sarrha]

19. Chaney and Bu$h would volunteer if you used a bucket of Jack Daniels

[FREEWILL56]

22. I've got a better idea and is made with an ingredient found in

yellow snow.

[0007]

26. Most judges allow courtroom test, so why would Judge Mukasey object to this test

[VP505]

5. Another dog and pony show,

"new resistance" for the benefit of anyone who still think that the opposition party will oppose the nomination.

[spotbird]

30. It is nauseating

They would be less insulting if they didn't pretend. This is just pathetic pandering, as if we're stupid.

[humbled_opinion]

7. Right nominate him so that he can fire some more Attys that don't tow the line.. GMAB n/t

[liberalmuse]

11. In other words, he'll be appointed by a landslide.

Call me a cynical, jaded biotch, but I've heard this shit before.

[Lugnut]

14. Right down to the Arlen Spector comments too

It's like Groundhog Day.

[Hand]

13. BREAKING: Reid and Pelosi apologize in advance.

WASHINGTON, DC--Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi issued a pre-emptive apology to Judge Michael B. Mukasey in advance of any potential Democratic resistance to his confirmation. Additionally, they promised to introduce immediate motions of censure against several senators who were suspected of harboring the intention to vote against Mukasey's confirmation.

Pelosi added, "Although confirmation votes occur only in the Senate, I am joining Senator Reid in this important gesture of reconciliation. I would also like to add a special apology on behalf of the entire Democratic caucus in the House of Reporesentatives, even though we don't have anything to do with this confirmation."

[Vinca]

17. LOL - you nailed it. nt

[april]

25. F Reid & Pelosi ...I called both of them ! this makes me mad as hell

[0007]

27. Especially when the world has knowledge of how our system works

case in point;

Whether or not waterboarding is a current U.S. interrogation technique is unknown. In September 2006, the Bush administration faced widespread criticism regarding its refusal to sign a Congressional bill outlawing the use of torture techniques against all U.S. prisoners. That same month, the U.S. Department of Defense made it illegal for any member of the U.S. military to use the water-boarding technique. The CIA and its interrogators are unaffected by that new policy, as the CIA is not a branch of the U.S. military.

Donate to DU and give valentine hearts to your friends! Click here.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. What some people found a spine?

I want a spine from every one of these useless wimps!

And this guy should not, I repeat, should not be aproved

Mark my words though, he will

[sam sarrha]

20. mail all the democrats a soda straw ..to symbolize..get a spine

[rodeodance]

16. On Tuesday, all 10 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Mr. Mukasey asking him to m

On Tuesday, all 10 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Mr. Mukasey asking him to make a clear-cut statement of opposition to waterboarding and to describe it as illegal.

On Thursday, the Senator Majority Leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, was asked by a reporter if Mr. Mukasey should be confirmed in light of his failure to make a statement of opposition to waterboarding.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Senator Reid said, adding that he had been “troubled” by Mr. Mukasey’s testimony last week. “I think if he doesn’t change his direction in that regard, he could have at least one concern. And that’s me.”

The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick J. Leahy, said that his vote on the nomination might depend on Mr. Mukasey’s written response to questions about waterboarding. “It’s fair to say that my vote would depend on him answering the question,” he told reporters.

[wordpix]

21. don't confirm the creep---he's already confirmed he's a bushie with his answers about torture

[Psephos]

23. Who, realistically, could we expect in his place in the nomination is deep-sixed?

That question needs to be answered by those calling for him to be jettisoned. I would expect worse next time.

My two cents is that we should keep our finite supply of ammo ready for issues/nominations more critical than Mukasey.

[seafan]

24. Meanwhile, Peter Keisler, key attorney for AT&T, is ACTING AG. And he's pushing for AT&T's immunity

While the dustup over Mukasey swirls....


Is anyone paying attention to what this guy is doing?? A former lead attorney for AT&T is the perfect guy to lay all groundwork in his *new acting AG position* to shield his former client from any and all liability in disclosing Americans' private communications to the Bush gang.

Nice how that works, isn't it?


While the Senate dickers on Mukasey, a dangerous Acting AG assumes the helm at DOJ., September 19, 2007


But is Schumer watching what Keisler is doing at DOJ??, September 19, 2007



Yep. Keisler had planned to step down Sept 21 to spend more time with his family., September 17, 2007




And because I like to keep up with history:

On Alberto R. Gonzales to be Attorney General, February 3, 2005:

[cali]

31. Yes, and there are rumors that Keisler, a key BFEE

member has the shredders going 24/7.

Good post.

[Honeycombe8]

28. Really? Some Dem. Senators have developed some balls? Let me guess...

they're either new to Congress, or female....or running for President. Otherwise, it's business as usual. Right?

But I'm glad for small favors. This idiot SHOULD be rejected.

[0007]

32. Mukasey's ossification is the will of junior and his tiny dick.

We will leave this mystery to the historians and to the lawyers in the Hague. Since it appears Michael B. Mukasey's time is short, lets not belabor his dedicated assault on our constitution and on our intelligences, his legal justifications institutionalizing torture.

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