Will they or won’t they…confirm Judge Mukasey that is
If it wasn’t so predictable…well you know.
Opposition among Democrats to Michael B. Mukasey’s nomination as attorney general grew Wednesday, heightening the intrigue surrounding a confirmation that once seemed assured.
In sometimes passionate debate on the Senate floor, two more Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin of Illinois and Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, said they would vote against Mukasey when the committee takes up his nomination Tuesday.
While praising Mukasey as a desirable alternative to predecessor Alberto R. Gonzales, both men said they could not support his nomination to head the Justice Department because of his continuing refusal to pass what has become a litmus test for Democrats in the nomination debate: declaring that an interrogation method known as water-boarding is not only repugnant but illegal.
What will the senior Senator from New York do?
A crucial, but officially undecided, vote is that of Democratic Sen. Charles E. Schumer, an ardent Mukasey supporter who early in the process praised his fellow New Yorker’s integrity and independence, saying he had credentials that the morale-sapped Justice Department needed.
Some observers said they believed it would be difficult for Schumer to oppose the nomination given his previous enthusiastic support. Ironically, one of the most relentless critics of the Bush administration might end up casting the vote that assures the White House-backed nominee is cleared.
Schumer refused to say Wednesday how he would vote. “I’m not going to comment on Judge Mukasey here. I’m reading the letter, I’m going over it,” Schumer told reporters hours after the nominee submitted a package of written answers to questions posed by lawmakers since Mukasey’s confirmation hearing two weeks ago.
The Democrats got the man they said they wanted and still it is not good enough. If they feel this strongly about waterboarding, then write legislation making it illegal and stop playing politics with both the Department of Justice and the nominee.
Is it any wonder people have such low expectations when it comes to Congress?
Here is a copy of the statement Mitch McConnell made on the floor of the Senate regarding the AG nomination and confirmation process. He sure calls it like it is.
Written by Sue
Guss Says:
November 1st, 2007 at 4:28 amVisit Guss
Do you really want someone this dishonest running the justice department? I don’t. If this was a Democratic administration you would think different, at least I hope that you would.
Guss Says:
November 1st, 2007 at 4:32 amVisit Guss
J, The editing function is perfect. Congratulations.
Guss Says:
November 1st, 2007 at 4:35 amVisit Guss
Honesty is everything.
~J~ Says:
November 1st, 2007 at 8:13 amVisit ~J~
Just what has he said or done that you consider to be dishonest? He said waterboarding was repulsive but would have to be more fully informed before he could make an outright statement it is illegal. Sounds pretty upfront and honest to me but maybe you read something in the referenced article I didn’t see.
Sue Says:
November 1st, 2007 at 8:56 amVisit Sue
No, I don’t think I would think differently unless the nominee gave me reason to do so.