Senate Moves to Confirm Mukasey As AG

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WASHINGTON — The Senate moved to confirm Michael Mukasey as the nation's newest attorney general Thursday despite differences over his position on the legality of harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects.

His supporters, which included several Democrats, said Mukasey is the best prospect lawmakers are going to get in the waning months of a Bush administration unwilling to nominate anyone else.

"This is the only chance we have," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

But members of her own party didn't agree that Mukasey is better than somebody appointed and not subject to Senate confirmation. Mukasey, his opponents argued, said he didn't know if waterboarding is illegal torture and put the onus on Congress to pass a law against the practice.

"This is like saying when somebody murders somebody with a a baseball bat and you say, 'We had a law against murder but we never mentioned baseball bats,'" said Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. "Murder is murder. Torture is torture."

Being better than former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales or an acting attorney general is not enough qualification for the job, added Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.

"The next attorney general must restore confidence in the rule of law," Kennedy said. "We cannot afford to take the judgment of an attorney general who either does not know torture when he sees it or is willing to look the other way."

The debate and impending vote capped 10 months of scandal and resignations that left the Justice Department leaderless after Gonzales resigned in September. Mukasey's chief Democratic patron, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., drove the probe into the purge of federal prosecutors that helped push Gonzales out.

The debate came after a tense day of negotiations that at one point featured Majority Leader Harry Reid threatening to postpone Mukasey's confirmation until December. His confirmation had long been virtually assured despite the debate over his refusal to call waterboarding torture.

To win confirmation, Mukasey has promised to enforce any anti-waterboarding law passed by Congress, where, his Republican supporters say, responsibility for such policies lie.

Mukasey's Democratic opponents say he is being disingenuous because any such law would likely be vetoed by President Bush.

Waterboarding, used by interrogators to make someone feel as if he is going to drown, is banned by domestic law and international treaties. But U.S. law applies to Pentagon personnel and not the CIA. The administration won't say whether it has allowed the agency's employees to use it against terror detainees.

"The United States will not be viewed kindly if we confirm as chief law enforcement officer of this country someone who is unwilling or unable to recognize torture when he sees it," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the Senate's No. 2 Democrat.

Mukasey has called waterboarding personally "repugnant," and in a letter to senators said he did not know enough about how it has been used to define it as torture. He also said he thought it would be irresponsible to discuss it since doing so could make interrogators and other government officials vulnerable to lawsuits.

"He felt that he could not make that pronouncement without placing people at risk to be sued or perhaps even criminally prosecuted," said Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Mukasey, who received a strong endorsement from Schumer, was the White House's first choice to replace Gonzales. Gonzales announced his resignation on Aug. 27, and the White House interviewed Mukasey the same day. Three weeks later, Bush introduced the 66-year-old Mukasey as "a tough but fair judge" and asked the Senate to confirm him quickly.

Mukasey, the former chief U.S. district judge in the Manhattan courthouse just blocks from ground zero, was first appointed to the bench in 1987 by President Reagan. He also worked for four years as a trial prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York's Southern District — one of the Justice Department's busiest and highest-profile offices in the country.

Mukasey oversaw some of the nation's most significant terror trials in the years before and after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

He sentenced Omar Abdel Rahman, known as the "blind sheik," to life in prison for a plot to blow up New York City landmarks, and he signed in 2002 the material witness warrant that let the FBI arrest U.S. citizen Jose Padilla. That warrant marked the start of a case that wound its way through several federal courts as the government declared Padilla an enemy combatant and held him for 3 1/2 years before he was convicted last month on terrorism-related charges.

In an opinion article in The Wall Street Journal, Mukasey criticized U.S. national security law as too weak in some areas by noting that prosecutors are sometimes forced to reveal details of cases at the risk of tipping off terrorists. He is also a supporter of the government's anti-terror USA Patriot Act, wryly writing in 2004 that the "awkward name may very well be the worst thing about the statute."

Mukasey, a partner at New York-based law firm Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, is also a close friend to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican. He stepped down as an adviser to Giuliani's presidential campaign, on which he served as part of an advisory committee on judicial nominations.

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Justice Department: http://www.usdoj.gov

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{"commentId":1170166,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}

Disgusting class whores, the liberal war hawks, and zionist appeasing thugs. Feinstein and Schumer, like Lieberman, were just appeasing the very same class nationalism, of America, as of Israeli class elites. Someone please confirm for me, whether Mukasey, holds Israeli citizenship, or is a Zionist thug, hence the class appeasing Zionist whores, and liberal class nationalist warmongers. I have seen in other articles, that Mukasey holds Israeli citizenship. We need to address this class corruption, appeasement of both American class nationalism and Israeli Zionism. This makes me ill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{"commentId":1170166,"threadId":"173479","contentId":"1083566","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
  • 1 vote
Reply#1 - Thu Nov 8, 2007 9:19 PM EST
{"commentId":1170212,"authorDomain":"Boothby"}

Since you've had a minute or two to breathe Eric, what exactly is your complaint against this guy? You are apparently mad about something but by your own admission even you don't know what it is:

Someone please confirm for me, whether Mukasey, holds Israeli citizenship, or is a Zionist thug,

If you don't know that he is either, why are you so worked up? Or is it that J word again?

{"commentId":1170212,"threadId":"173479","contentId":"1083566","authorDomain":"Boothby"}
    #1.1 - Thu Nov 8, 2007 9:36 PM EST
    {"commentId":1170278,"authorDomain":"eric-albert"}

    Tim Boothby: I noticed you did not answer the question I raised. However, you did, again conflate Jewish, with Zionist, class nationaoist, fascist values again. My complaint, was first on a general level which you did not even address, namely that Mukasey supports torture, and has many class liberals supporting him, why?????? Why wouidl class liberals support criminal Republican class thugs, especially when two of them are Zionist thugs themselves, namely liberal war hawks, because, like Libermann, support, and appease both American Empire and Zionist policies. This gets to the original question here posed, which you Tom Boothby conveniently conflated to mean that anti Zionism, class nationalism, imperialism, pro- torture policies supported by two Zionist Liberals, Schuman and Feinstein, along with Lieberman, why would liberals in America support Zionsit torture of Mukasey??? We already know that Israel routinely justifies torture against Palestinians, which would explain the pro torture policies of Mukasey, as wel ass the corrupt class lbieral whores, and zionist whores of Schumer, and Feinstein, like Dershwowitz, the rabid supporter of Zionsim.

    So when I see that others are raising the issue of Mukasey's Israeli citizenship, on Common Dreams, the obvious question should be.... Is the charge of his Zionist, class nationalist, imperialis, pro Zionist torture polcies of Israel related to his pro torture polciies of American fascist foreign polcies, also appeased by Zionsit Americans like Schumer, Feinstein and Dershowtiz. Such dupolcitous class nationalist standards need to be raised, as can you imagine, top German Nazis invovled on top political positions witinin the political structure, promoting German class nationalism, racism against the Jews???? We should and must end this corrupt alliance, whether it is Christian German Nazis, or Jewish Zionist Thugs. So now Tim Boothby, we already know that the U.S. and zionnist thugs are partner in crime, occupation, and illegal aggresion, including support for torture......the only remaining question is .....Is there any truth to the charge that Mukasey is a fascist Zionist, for torture, and that he has liberal Zionists appeasing his criminal policies, the same way Christian liberal appeasing class whores support torture and fascist foreign policies. These two groups need to be stoppped all costs,, because they will lie us into another illegal aggression against Iran, and will support torture thugs like Mukasy!!!!! In your face ......Tim Boothby.....stop the duplicity, stop the criiminality, stop the hypocrisy, and stop the feigned ignorance.

    {"commentId":1170278,"threadId":"173479","contentId":"1083566","authorDomain":"eric-albert"}
    • 1 vote
    #1.2 - Thu Nov 8, 2007 9:56 PM EST
    {"commentId":1170564,"authorDomain":"Boothby"}
    Tim Boothby: I noticed you did not answer the question I raised.

    Eric, that's because you didn't ask a single question in #1, hence the complete lack of a fundamental part of the written English language called the question mark (?). I understand that you have trouble expressing yourself, and that difficulty shines through on pretty much everything that you write.

    You'll also notice that I didn't say the word Jewish Eric, though for some reason that's right where you went. Lots of words start with J, like juvenile, which certainly fits your little snits. Rorschach and Freud would both probably want to explore that slip with you.

    Now, lets go on to your latest puzzlewitted tirade:

    However, you did, again conflate Jewish, with Zionist, class nationaoist, fascist values again.

    We've already established that you made the J-jump, and that you don't use a spell-checker.

    My complaint, was first on a general level which you did not even address, namely that Mukasey supports torture,

    Finally, a simple declarative sentence, and one that may even be accurate, Mukasey certainly uses all the weasel words.

    and has many class liberals supporting him, why??????

    Because they've been in Congress for too long and embody the need for term limits.

    Why wouidl class liberals support criminal Republican class thugs,

    Already covered, but you're slipping off into specious jargon again, which makes it really easy to ignore anything you have to say, due in no large part that when one of your sentences is actually broken down to English fundamentals you actually aren't saying anything. By the way, the phrasing of the sentence also implies ALL Republicans are criminals, which is as prejudicial as tossing out a racial stereotype.

    especially when two of them are Zionist thugs themselves, namely liberal war hawks, because, like Libermann, support, and appease both American Empire and Zionist policies.

    First read that and tell me it makes sense. The general direction would be that you're accusing Lieberman of supporting Zionist aims and of being a pro-war liberal. American Empire might be what you consider American imperialistic policies, and if it is you should just say so because American Empire sounds like it would be marked down on a 6th grade civics paper.

    This gets to the original question here posed, which you Tom Boothby

    That would be Tim actually, continue drinking your dinner before you get back to your point, and once again, you didn't originally ask a question.

    conveniently conflated to mean that anti Zionism, class nationalism, imperialism, pro- torture policies supported by two Zionist Liberals, Schuman and Feinstein, along with Lieberman, why would liberals in America support Zionsit torture of Mukasey?

    That question should be taken out and shot, but lets wade through yet another of your convoluted sentences and see if we can chop out enough useless jargon to find a point.

    Oh, you're wondering why Schuman, Feinstein and Lieberman would support the torture of Mukasey. At least that's what you actually wrote.

    I'll go ahead and figure that you mean that they support Mukasey who presumably supports torture. In answer to that I have no idea why they would support him, I've been asking for months why this congress is rubber-stamping administration policy.

    So when I see that others are raising the issue of Mukasey's Israeli citizenship, on Common Dreams, the obvious question should be....

    Famous last words in your case.

    Is the charge of his Zionist, class nationalist, imperialis, pro Zionist torture polcies of Israel related to his pro torture polciies of American fascist foreign polcies, also appeased by Zionsit Americans like Schumer, Feinstein and Dershowtiz.

    Damn you mangled that one too, ok, time to once again break out the cocktail party socialist decoder ring again. In part it seems you wonder if it is true that he carries dual nationality, and then you go on to make an assumption that this could influence his position on torture, which is then aided and abetted by Schumer, Feinstein and Dershowtiz. To which I would say you're now desperately searching for a point. Or something like that, what you didn't misspell you misused.

    Such dupolcitous class nationalist standards need to be raised, as can you imagine, top German Nazis invovled on top political positions witinin the political structure, promoting German class nationalism, racism against the Jews?

    Wasn't duplocitous a sneaky dinosaur? I hope you appreciate the fact I'm actually reading all of this drivel. As to a question that you apparently can't ask all by yourself, and I completely agree that if our government is undertaking policies that you disagree with your should inform your government of your disapproval, or in your case find somebody that can communicate in English to do it for you.

    So now Tim Boothby, we already know that the U.S. and zionnist thugs are partner in crime, occupation, and illegal aggresion, including support for torture......the only remaining question is .....

    If you actually knew and could prove all of that in a court of law you'd be one of the most popular people in the country right now.

    Is there any truth to the charge that Mukasey is a fascist Zionist, for torture, and that he has liberal Zionists appeasing his criminal policies

    Finally, a queastion is semi-literate English! Fascist, probably not, it is the most overused charge made against anyone these days because its real meaning has been cheapened. Zionist, perhaps, if you can find something to support that it might somehow be relevant. So cutting those two emotional buzzwords and delving toward meaning:

    Does Mukasey approve of torture and are others helping him into a position where he can protect policies that will allow people to be tortured? How hard was that? Two paragraphs of woefully banal pseudo-intellectual tripe to say what could have been simply asked with 25 words and no commas.

    In your face ......

    Keep it clean Eric, and I'm married and monogamous.

    Tim Boothby.....stop the duplicity, stop the criiminality, stop the hypocrisy, and stop the feigned ignorance.

    Eric, stop the real ignorance, a mind is a terrible thing to waste, go back to school. Its not too late. And if you're going to try and slander me then for God's sake don't misspell it.

    {"commentId":1170564,"threadId":"173479","contentId":"1083566","authorDomain":"Boothby"}
      #1.3 - Thu Nov 8, 2007 11:47 PM EST
      Reply
      {"commentId":1170607,"authorDomain":"schnoo"}

      Tim Boothby

      Stop duplicating. Or multiplying. Or whatever it is you're doing.

      {"commentId":1170607,"threadId":"173479","contentId":"1083566","authorDomain":"schnoo"}
        Reply#2 - Fri Nov 9, 2007 12:10 AM EST
        {"commentId":1170612,"authorDomain":"Boothby"}

        Hahahahahahahaha! If its mathematical I promise to stop at once!

        {"commentId":1170612,"threadId":"173479","contentId":"1083566","authorDomain":"Boothby"}
          #2.1 - Fri Nov 9, 2007 12:14 AM EST
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