Washington – The Senate has Confirmed Michael Mukasey As Next Attorney General
After his views on torture and harsh interrogation issues nearly ended any hope for a nomination, the Senate moved to confirm Michael Mukasey as attorney general.
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The Senate went into overtime to finish its debate, deciding that Mukasey is the best they can do in a Bush administration not willing to nominate anyone else. [ap]
Mukasey, an Orthodox Jew and retired federal judge from New York, was confirmed 53-40. He is only the second Jewish attorney-general, and the first Orthodox Jew in the job.
U/D: 11/09/07. 15:43
Former judge Michael Mukasey has just been sworn in as the nation’s 81st attorney general.
Any set of principles that leads to the conclusion that it was wrong to waterboard Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is by definition wrong and needs to be rethought. It is obvious to every normal person that waterboarding KSM was the right thing to do, and that should be used as an acid test of any rules, laws, or moral statement about how interrogation should be conducted.
anonymous @2:17AM. Because Mukasey implicitly endorses the committing of war crimes. By torturing, we are no better than thugs ourselves. Voting against torture is not lunacy, it is the very definition of sanity. It helps preserve the rule of law, without which would be anarchy.
I find it disturbing that I have to school supposedly highly religious people in what constitutes moral behavior.
anonymous 12:22PM:
Mukasey failed to condemn the war crimes of the Bush Administration, and will likely continue the AG office’s complicity and defense of them. Failing to speak up against torture does not make him a decent man, it makes him less than a man, and a coward.
I’m sorry, I fail to see how we could get much worse than Bush if Hilary wins (not a fan of her either), other than if Rudy wins. if that happens, we are all in some serious, serious trouble. He will not only retain the incomptent nutcases in the bush regime, but will probably be even more radical, and probably be more effective in implementing his policies of destruction. voting for him invites real, worldwide peril. remember this if, god help us, he does rise to power.
Mazel Tov Reb Michoel.
I hope your shul gave you a Kiddush lekovod this great honor.
Mukasey has a track record of wisdom & ethical behavior in his personal life and his public career. Bravo to Bush for choosing wisely.
In the years ahead, slick politicians will again be in office. America will likely miss G W Bush’s personal integrity. In adulthood he became a decent man of faith, neither a racist nor an anti-semite, and he has tried to surround himself with advisors who are men and women of valor. Not so easy to find…but he has found several.
If Hillary wins, the slimiest politicians and liars will slither back into power. If Rudy wins, let’s hope that he will retain some of the Bush team.
Laws are here to protect us from being falsely acused of a crime. While I agree that there is absurdity going on I respect this Country and I still try to live in a big city because we have a fair legal system. Anybody can be suspected and acused of a crime in todays age, the system is designed to protect the rights of all unless proven guilty.
If the world could be made oxygen free for ten minutes it would destroy all the bacteria, alas, it would kill all the people too!
Actually, the statement is not true(anerobic bacteria would survive) but it is the same idea; take away democracy and there are grave risks.
The Dems concern over “torture”, welfare of imprisoned terrorists, and in eviscerating security measures to protect America from Islamic terrorists dedicated to murder and meyhem boggles the mind! Why the concern for those whose lives are dedicated to all our destruction?
Can anyone explain this insanity to me? And why those beset with this lunacy voted into positions with decision making powers over Americans?