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September 17, 2007
Mukasey Gets The Nod
Few may have noticed (probably by design) that last Friday was U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' last day at the office in the Department of Justice. Controversial would be a charitable way to describe Al's term as the federal government's top lawyer. Condoning torture, denying American citizens their legal rights, and a politicization of the Justice Department which resulted in the purging of U.S. Attorneys and the exodus of many of the department's career professionals are just a few hallmarks of Gonzales' time at the helm.
Gonzales, who stayed too long at the job despite the political damage his continuing presence did to his boss (who loyally stood by him), leaves a department in tatters. President Bush, a prematurely lame duck, simply doesn't have enough political stroke anymore to get into a bruising nomination fight for Gonzo's replacement. Bush needed a qualified, relatively uncontroversial nominee for AG, and looks like he chose one.
Michael Mukasey, 66, is a retired federal judge with solidly conservative credentials, and a reputation for expertise on national security issues and judicial independence. Reception from key Senate Democrats has been cautious but positive so far, as opposed to the hackles and threats the floating of former Solicitor General Ted Olson's name provoked.
Glenn Greenwald, at Salon, a staunch critic of the Bush Administration's behavior on legal and judicial matters, gives Mukasey a thumbs-up, citing his handling of the Jose Padilla case as evidence of his independence. It would be hard to do worse than Gonzales, but the country desperately needs someone who will begin restoring credibility and professionalism at DOJ.
At first glance, Mukasey looks solid, but we will wait to see what, if anything, the vetting of his nomination yields. We are struck that Bush's selection of Mukasey signals just how politically weak he has become and that he knows it. Guess Cheney got vetoed on this one.
Posted by houtopia at September 17, 2007 06:12 PM