Bush: No attorney general if not Mukasey

[kurth]

Bush: No attorney general if not Mukasey
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - President Bush sought to save Michael Mukasey's troubled nomination for attorney general Thursday, defending the retired judge's refusal to say whether he considers waterboarding torture and warning of a leaderless Justice Department if Democrats don't confirm him.

"If the Senate Judiciary Committee were to block Judge Mukasey on these grounds, they would set a new standard for confirmation that could not be met by any responsible nominee for attorney general," Bush said in a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

"That would guarantee that America would have no attorney general during this time of war," the president said.

Nonetheless, opposition continued to grow. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., became the fourth of 10 Democrats on the 19-member Judiciary Committee to declare he will vote against Mukasey when the panel decides Tuesday whether to endorse or reject his nomination...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071102/ap_on_go_pr_wh/senate_mukasey;_ylt=ArFZ3ueCAfrmkFtX4MtOhaKs0NUE

[billyoc]

1. Good. nt

[aquart]

2. Spoiled little petulant brat.

And the "Heritage" Foundation should be ashamed.

[tanyev]

3. Bring it on.

[tularetom]

4. And then I'll take my ball and go home

and if that doesn't work I'll hold my breath until I turn blue.

If there is no attorney general is it not the fault of the individual who is supposed to nominate one? If he can't do the job how is that the Senate's fault.

[Lint Head]

5. No Attorney General under Bush! No Attorney General under Bush!

No Attorney General under Bush! No Attorney General under Bush! No Attorney General under Bush!
This nominee is under a bush when it comes to torture. :dem:

[ProSense]

6. Another message by the Commander in Cheese at the Whine House n/t

[Cha]

40. The head RatCheese

has whined.

[ulysses]

7. fine.

Let the simian fucker allow the DOJ to languish further. Great legacy, asswipe.

[Lasher]

8. We are being led by the equivalent of a 10 year old.

This immature narcissist is used to getting his way.

[ClassWarrior]

14. Actually, we're being led by criminals who figured out they could get away...

...with plenty by acting like 10-year-olds. Why so-called Progressives continue to prop up this dangerous RW meme (Bush** is stupid... Bush** is childish... Bush** is insane... etc...), I'll NEVER understand.

NGU.

[Amonester]

42. Should be more like: Bush** is mentally ill...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0060736704/ref=dp_proddesc_0/103-7800537-9037401?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

Unfit: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,,1296765,00.html

[ClassWarrior]

49. You have a point... We need to start labeling authoritarianism...

...the mental illness it is. My point of reference is "Conservatives Without Conscience" by John Dean.

That notwithstanding, giving Bush** credit for any sort of handicap plays right into the trap his misAdministration** has set - it lowers the public's expectations, which means they can get away with more crime.

We should be calling him one thing. A criminal.

NGU.

[tuckessee]

45. Maybe's he's only behaving at a level the public can understand.

Could be the American public responds well to being jerked around by a 10 year old pampered child.

After all, he seems to have gotten what he's wanted since 9/11.

[ClassWarrior]

50. Speak for yourself.

NGU.

[tuckessee]

52. ??????

A little touchy, asshole?

[theoldman]

9. How much would you want to bet that the country will just keep

on trucking without an attorney general. I would even bet that we would do just fine without a president.

[Solly Mack]

10. Translation

"If the Senate Judiciary Committee were to block Judge Mukasey on these grounds, they would set a new standard for confirmation that could not be met by any responsible nominee for attorney general," Bush said in a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank."

Those grounds being - Refusal to answer a yes or no question with a yes or no
The question being - Is water-boarding torture? (It is)
The (so-called) "new standard for confirmation" - Answering a yes or no question with a yes or no.

"That would guarantee that America would have no attorney general during this time of war," the president said"

Because the question would be asked of ANY nominee Bush picked and no nominee that Bush picked would answer the question - because Bush IS using torture.

[Lasher]

17. Those who condone torture need not apply

And that's a new standard that can not be met by any responsible nominee? Just look how far we have fallen since January 20, 2001.

[Solly Mack]

19. Yep... fallen so low that we are dirt

[spanone]

11. would someone just slap the living shit out of him, please?

[madrchsod]

16. as we type condi is lubing up the cat o` nine tails

she`ll be meting out his punishment soon....

[Lasher]

21. He's been bad

[madrchsod]

38. most excellent!

[napi21]

12. OK. I can deal with that. Now go to bed without dinner NOW! n/t

[lonestarnot]

13. SUITS ME JUST THE FUCK FINE ASSHOLE!

[madrchsod]

15. so?

we have`t had an attorney general since asscrap...god that`s bad when i have say that about asscrap

[cali]

53. Of course we have an AG. His name is Peter Keisler. He's even

worse than Mukasey. I want Mukasey rejected, and then I want to see them do something about Keisler.

[Richard Steele]

18. So, he's officially declared that respect for the LAW is an "impossible new standard".

And yet impeachment is off the table.

This Nation is so fucking OVER. :banghead:

[Solly Mack]

22. Yep...that's what he is saying

[rodeodance]

20. we have only had loyal ag for last few years. and a dysfunctional DOJ!

[grasswire]

23. that's why he appointed a hatchet man as acting AG

It was clear from the get-go. A strategic appointment of the AG.

[Danger Mouse]

24. new standard? new standard??

so, uhm, let me get this straight. this impossible new standard is having any standard whatsoever?
fantastic.

[acmavm]

25. I think you've got it guv'nor.

[Danger Mouse]

29. imagine the nerve! having EXPECTATIONS and CONCERNS??

how DARE they not immediately confirm this wonderful man and then fall prostate at the mighty feet of George W. Bush and loudly praise him for delivering such a worthy man to us??

[Lasher]

26. Said Mukasey couldn't answer because he hadn't been briefed on classified program

I wonder if Mukasey knows about The Google.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding

[orleans]

27. don't worry georgie. diane will vote for your little friend. she'll vote it

out of committee, after all you really swept her off her feet last week with that two hour chat you did on air force one, when you were giving her a little ride home. besides, someone has to oversee the notion that her war contracting husband doesn't lose a penny so thank god for oversight, huh?

yes indeed, dianne feinstein really knows how to oversee her pocketbook at the expense of the taxpayers

[mahatmakanejeeves]

28. There will be a recess appointment of Michael Mukasey.

Count on it.

[Lasher]

41. Good call

I'm sure you're right.

[opihimoimoi]

30. Bwahahaha....good move Georgie,,,Ya just killing your PUB Pals running for office

But then,, as a person void of empathy,,ya could give a shit...

[burrowowl]

31. Good, no AG!

IMPEASCH BU$HCO!

[robinlynne]

32. to hellw ith Bush; let the ACLU pick an attorney general!

[cascadiance]

33. If the chief doesn't replace the AG, perhaps we NEED TO REPLACE THE CHIEF!!!

Nancy?!!!!

Impeachment time! Get a new president and THEN we can have an attorney general!

[johnfunk]

34. No AG? Not doing Constitutional duty? That's IMPEACHABLE, you little Tex-ass twerp

It's time for at least one hill Democrat to make the point.

[ClassWarrior]

35. Amen. (See below...)

NGU.

[jwirr]

36. So exactly how is this worse than having one he appointed?

Seriously what would happen if congress just refused to appoint anyone to the jobs that are open until the end of his term? Would the government just shut down?

[babylonsister]

37. Pretty lame, dim one. I hope no one cares what you want or think. nt

[MiniMe]

39. Did he stamp his little feet and threaten to hold his breath until he turns blue?

*'s reasoning during that speech was disingenuous. Something like he can't answer the question because we don't want the terrorists to know if we are going to torture them or not. Wrong again asshat. You said it yourself. The United States doesn't torture, and doesn't condone torture. That is not an acceptable argument.

[Kitsune]

47. I fully expect thim to actually try that any day now. *nt*

[Joe Fields]

43. My question to Kennedy: What took you so long?

[tyedyeto]

44. As someone famous once said.....

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom... let it be.

[Blackhatjack]

46. If we have no AG It Will Be Because Bush Will Not Nominate Someone Committed To Rule of Law...

People are beginning to awaken from their slumber... will the MSM?

[Aristus]

48. "No King of England if not King of France!".

It worked for Henry V, you lame-brained blowhole. It doesn't work for you. You've destroyed everything good and wonderful about this country of ours with your incompetance and mean-spiritedness. See you in Hell.

[defendandprotect]

51. "Taking my marbles and going home..." It would be insane to approve Mukasey --!!!

[freestyle]

54. So * is looking for a wartime consigliori. 1/20/09 seems so far.

I never really thought of the AG as an essential part of the war apparatus. I guess it is in this admin because they need someone to justiy the immoral acts.