Bush Announces New ACTING AG Pick

[babylonsister]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004201.php

Bush Announces New Acting AG Pick
By Paul Kiel - September 17, 2007, 12:31PM

Bush threw an unexpected change-up in his announcement this morning. Towards the end of his remarks about his nomination of Michael Mukasey as attorney general, he also said that outgoing Justice Department official Peter Keisler would serve as the acting attorney general until Mukasey is confirmed.

The administration had said that Solicitor General Paul Clement would serve as the acting attorney general. But Keisler, who announced his retirement from the Department two weeks ago, will apparently stick around in his stead.

That's a move likely to provoke Democrats, who had been signaling that they'd block Keisler's pending nomination to the D.C. Court of Appeals. Keisler was first nominated in last year and was renominated this year. Only this May, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) warned that Keisler's nomination was "controversial." As a result, Keisler will now be in the odd position as acting attorney general of having to deal with the Democrats who are holding up his still-pending nomination.

Among the strikes against Keisler for Democrats was the fact that he's a co-founder of the conservative Federalist Society. He also "oversaw the Bush administration's lengthy legal fight over the rights of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay."

In March, Keisler, who has been serving as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division and previously served as Associate Counsel to President Reagan, made an appearance on The Washington Post's front page. Keisler was one of the three political appointees fingered by a career prosecutor who claimed they repeatedly ordered her to take steps that weakened the government's racketeering case against tobacco companies.

So it would seem that Democrats would be less willing to bide their time with Mukasey's nomination with Keisler there instead of Clement. We shall see.

Here's Bush's announcement from the press conference this morning:

Peter Keisler will serve as acting attorney general. Accepting this assignment requires Peter to delay the departure date he announced this month, and I appreciate his willingness to do so. While Peter's the acting Attorney General, Paul Clement, who agreed to take on this role, will be focused on duties as solicitor general so he can prepare for the Supreme Court term that begins just two weeks from today.

[TomInTib]

1. Right in your face.

Pretty bold move.

This would be a good time to float some impeachment trial balloons.

Shake the joint a bit.

The spineless Dems have to hit back at this.

[babylonsister]

2. I still don't quite understand the reasoning; to push the Dems to confirm

faster? Why would a new acting inspire that?

[TomInTib]

3. Because Keisler is a prick, that's why.

"Among the strikes against Keisler for Democrats was the fact that he's a co-founder of the conservative Federalist Society. He also "oversaw the Bush administration's lengthy legal fight over the rights of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay."

In March, Keisler, who has been serving as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division and previously served as Associate Counsel to President Reagan, made an appearance on The Washington Post's front page. Keisler was one of the three political appointees fingered by a career prosecutor who claimed they repeatedly ordered her to take steps that weakened the government's racketeering case against tobacco companies."


He is a world-class jerk.

Kinda like appointing Bolton to the UN.

[babylonsister]

4. Whoa! Thanks, Tom! nt

[uppityperson]

7. k&r with thanks Tom. I recognized the name but didn't know who he was. nt

[Canuckistanian]

9. Co-founder of the Federalist Society? 'Nuff said

This is another dare.

Among insiders, it's outrageous. Among the general public and the subsequent media whitewashing, it's innocuous.

This guy should be sold as the judicial version of Bolton.

[AndyTiedye]

8. They Can't. There is Nothing They Can Do About This

[TomInTib]

12. I was talking about fighting back in general.

I am tired of all this limp-dick posturing.

[Ninja Jordan]

17. Impeached for what?

Appointing a DOJ lawyer to the acting AG spot? Of all the things about which you could impeach Bush, you chose the temporary appointment of Keisler as the reason? Weird.

[annabanana]

5. I heard that when he announced... and I wondered

Keisler? Who's that?

Now it's clear.

[BrklynLiberal]

6. food for thought. Off to the greatest page with ye.

[gateley]

10. Thank you for this - I had no idea who he was. Recommend. nt

[Cirque du So-What]

11. My eyes sometimes play tricks on me

so I coulda sworn the title of this thread read, '* Announces New Acting AG Prick'

Turns out my eyes are smarter than I thought!

[pnwmom]

13. My eyes played the same trick.

[pnwmom]

14. Maybe Bush doesn't care if Mukasey is ever confirmed.

Maybe Mukasey is just a decoy. The longer we take confirming him, the better -- because, until then, Keisler will be the new Gonzales.

[pansypoo53219]

15. typical

they gotta give the democrats the finger somehow.

[babylonsister]

16. Appears that way, doesn't it, while Schumer and Reid praise them.

:banghead: