Bush nominates Michael Mukasey as Atty General

[graywarrior]

Source: AP

Just heard on CNN

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/16/AR2007091600924.html?hpid=topnews

[JackBeck]

1. I just heard yesterday

that Mukasey was a possible nominee.

Did Bush just officially nominate him?

[graywarrior]

2. Supposedly he will make the announcement tomorrow

AP is saying it's a done deal.

[peacetalksforall]

3. appoint or nominate?

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

4. nominate

he needs to be approved by the Senate.

[graywarrior]

6. Oops

[OnyxCollie]

5. Should I be worried?

Let me rephrase that. Should I be more worried or less worried than I already am?

[annabanana]

14. He was on Chuck Schumer's "possibility" list... so not

a pure lawless ideologue, presumably.

[still_one]

24. Really? He is on Guilliani campaign. He ruled that padilla could be held without being charged

I question schumer's judgement on this

[aquart]

19. Well, tough law and order would be a relief.

And this gives me a vague hope: "On August 22, 2007, the Wall Street Journal published Mukasey's op-ed, prompted by the resolution of the Padilla prosecution, in which he argued that "current institutions and statutes are not well suited to even the limited task of supplementing . . . a military effort to combat Islamic terrorism." Mukasey instead advocated for Congress, which "has the constitutional authority to establish additional inferior courts," to "turn considerable talents to deliberating how to fix a strained and mismatched legal system."<5>"

Bush has attempted to nullify Congress. Mukasey didn't. He wanted them to act.

I'm sorry he said "Islamic terrorism" because I don't think McVeigh was chopped liver.

If any of his decisions have been raging insane (ala Scalia, Rehnquist, or Roberts), I expect we'll hear about it soon.

[jobycom]

7. "He has very strong law-and-order values"

I doubt that's true. He couldn't be a Republican if he did.

[aquart]

17. Comey. Fitzgerald. Carol Lam. All the leaking lawyers at DOJ.

You're wrong.

[jobycom]

21. I guess I am

But only by a few.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

8. Isn't he a legal advisor to Giuliani's campaign?

Or was it that he was when Giuliani was mayor?

I could be wrong about that, but it rings a bell with me for some reason.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. Correction: he's a member of Giuliani's Justice Advisory Committee

It's right here on Giuliani's site: http://www.joinrudy2008.com/article/pr/447

[mvd]

15. Hmmm..

I wonder if the Repukes are already thinking about screwing us after Bush leaves? I'm sure Bush has seen the polls that have Giuliani leading the Repuke nomination race.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

18. Well, I'm sure Giuliani will be thrilled

He'll get plenty of free press off of this one.

However, I think this choice is more in picking someone who is willing to tow the line. He's been a loyal republican servant in the past and in the present. The future would seem to be safer with someone with his experience in the position of AG.

[mvd]

20. Always be aware of the Roberts factor

We didn't think he'd be as bad as Alito, and he's at least as bad. We still should ask a lot of questions.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

27. Honestly, at this point

ANYONE this administration would suggest, is automatically suspect.

The burden of proof that this choice isn't as bad as the rest, lies on their shoulders. And even then, I'll expect them to be committing an underhanded deal.

[still_one]

25. Of course they are. This is part of their strategy so the republicans retain the presidency

The Democrats will cut their own throats as usually

[aquart]

26. And this helps them, how?

If he's honest, and orders investigations that are honest, and turns over documents and enforces subpoenas, how, precisely do the Republicans look good enough to win anything?

If he doesn't...and he's associated with Giuliani...how does this help dear Rudy who already has Kerik around his neck?

[mvd]

28. By working behind the scenes

It's possible, as we've seen the position corrupted by these people.

[aquart]

29. Working behind the scenes doing what?

It won't be "behind the scenes." Either he complies with subpoenas or he doesn't. The man survived in NEW YORK CITY for decades. We ain't a Republican town.

[mvd]

30. We will see

The AG has acted as an arm of the executive branch. He could be told to help rig the election or anything.

[PSPS]

9. He's the goon who gave Bush the OK to hold people indefinitely without trial.

They should just sit on any nomination until bush complies with all subpoenas.

But hell, what am I saying? These are democrats, after all. So I expect a quick confirmation after a perfunctory "get acquainted session," formerly known as a confirmation hearing. And I'm sure there will be no oath or submission of any documents, as they will all use their microphone time to read a prepared hagiography.

[annabanana]

13. He also insisted that they have access to counsel..n/t

[Roland99]

10. Here's his wikipedia entry >>>>>>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_B._Mukasey

Nominated by Ronnie to a federal judgeship. Worked Giuliani in a federal prosecutor's office.

[pinto]

11. (fwiw) Here's Wikipedia entry for the nominee:

Michael B. Mukasey (born 1941) is an American lawyer who was for 18 years a judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, six of them serving as Chief Judge. On September 16, 2007, sources suggest that President George W. Bush will nominate Mukasey to serve as the 81st Attorney General of the United States, succeeding Alberto Gonzales.

Education

Mukasey attended Columbia (B.A. 1963) and Yale Law School (LL.B. 1967). He practiced law for twenty years in New York City, serving for four years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the federal prosecutor's office in which he worked with Rudolph Giuliani. Later, he was as a member of the New York law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler.

Judicial Career

In 1987, Mukasey was nominated as a federal judge in Manhattan by President Ronald Reagan. He served in that position for 18 years and was Chief Judge of the Southern District of New York from 2000 to July 2006. During his tenure on the bench, Mukasey presided over the criminal prosecution of Omar Abdel Rahman and El Sayyid Nosair, whom he sentenced to life in prison for a plot to blow up the United Nations and other Manhattan landmarks uncovered during an investigation into the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. During that case, Mukasey spoke out against leaks by law-enforcement officials regarding the facts of the case allegedly aimed at prejudicing potential jurors against the defendants.<1> Chief Judge Mukasey also heard the trial of Jose Padilla, ruling that the U.S. citizen and alleged terrorist could be held as an enemy combatant but was entitled to see his lawyers. Mukasey also was the judge in the litigation between developer Larry Silverstein and several insurance companies arising from the destruction of the World Trade Center. In a 2003 suit, the judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Motion Picture Association of America from enforcing its ban against the distribution of screener copies of films during awards season, ruling that the ban was likely an unlawful restraint of trade unfair to independent filmmakers.

In June 2003, Democratic New York Senator Charles Schumer submitted Mukasey's name, along with four other Republicans or Republican appointees, as a suggestion for President George W. Bush to consider for nomination to the Supreme Court.<2> On the March 18, 2007, episode of Meet the Press, Schumer again suggested Mukasey as a potential Attorney General nominee who, "by reputation and character, shows that put rule of law first."<3>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_B._Mukasey

There's been some other background threads on the presumed nominee here on DU of late, as well.

[orleans]

16. "computer says no" n/t

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

22. Glenn Greenwald says

He is about as good a pick as we can expect:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/

[mvd]

23. Yes, perhaps the Guiliani connection is nothing

But I've learned to be wary. He does seem better than Olson, but we should ask tough questions - including one about restoring integrity to the justice department.

[Ian David]

31. We should maybe be pushing to give Bush a list of who WE would like, at this point. n/t

[The Stranger]

32. Excellent point, did the Democratic leaders ever submit names, or are they keeping their powder dry?

[Enrique]

48. they always make recommendations

in this case, Mukasey was one of them. Bush caved.

[The Stranger]

33. Oppose this nomination.

Exhibit 1, Bill Kristol:

The most contentious fights over the next year are likely to be on war-on-terror issues. And as Andrew McCarthy (no liberal softy on such matters!) explained on National Review Online, Mukasey is first-rate on these: "He deftly handled the enemy-combatant detention of Jose Padilla (recently convicted of terrorism crimes), forcefully endorsing the executive branch's wartime power to protect the United States from an al Qaeda operative dispatched to our homeland to conduct mass-murder attacks, but vindicating the American citizen's constitutional rights to counsel and to challenge his detention without trial through habeas corpus." Judging also by what Mukasey has written and said outside the courtroom about the Patriot Act and related matters, we can be confident he'll be effective at making the case before Congress and the public for tough legislation and sound policies on national security issues.

. . . .

So my advice is this: conservatives should hold their fire, support the president, enjoy watching Chuck Schumer hoist on his own petard, and get ready for a strong attorney general for the rest of the Bush administration.

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/121rpxqa.asp

OPPOSE THIS NOMINATION.

[mvd]

34. OK, more thoughts

It certainly seemed like Bush wasn't happy about the nomination when he was announcing it. I liked that. Apparently, he also has many fewer ties to Bush than the average Bush nominee. Hopefully, he won't be so political. He would not have been my choice, but he might be the best Bush offers. Still be watchful, though. The Guiliani thing raises a flag. You have to keep up with the Bush regime's every move.

[n2doc]

35. Bush nominates ex-judge for attorney general

Source: MSNBC

ASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday nominated a former federal judge as his choice to replace Alberto Gonzales as attorney general.

Michael Mukasey appears unlikely to face a bruising confirmation battle in the Democratic-controlled Senate, but the White House denied that Bush chose Mukasey because Democrats last week threatened to block a more partisan nominee.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said such bluster from Capitol Hill does not weigh in on the president’s deliberations.“It’s not the president who is looking for a fight. The Senate Democrats have made the Department of Justice their cause celebre for the past several months and they have decided that that’s where they wanted to fight,” Perino said. “If they decide to make an issue about this nomination, that will be at their feet and they’re going to have to explain that to the American people. ... We’re not looking for a fight.”

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20809762/

[soothsayer]

36. is this the same guy bill kristol wants? shocker

[Kagemusha]

39. It's the guy Kristol is settling for.

He's by no means the conservatives' first choice. And I'm not kidding, he literally is not.

[cali]

44. He's also someone Chuck Schumer suggested to the WH

He bitch slapped bush over Padilla. More importantly, he's not a bush crony, and he's far better, from what i've read, than the current Acting AG, Paul Clement.

He's the best you're gonna get from bushco.

[spotbird]

37. Dust off the Roberts confirmation

talking points, they'll be using them a lot.

"The best we can do."

"It could be worse, It could have been (insert marginally worse selection here)"

The thing about the "worse" candidates is they get attention while in office. This guy is stealth, and that's the point.

Does anyone honestly think the investigation will seriously progress after the confirmation?

[partylessinOhio]

38. That man looks awfully old and withered. Can't we do better?

[thereismore]

43. what does that have to do with anything? nt

[partylessinOhio]

40. Add photo:

[Ian David]

41. We should be pushing Bush to nominate Fitzgerald. n/t

[cali]

42. That's ridiculous.

why not RFK Jr. while you're asking for the moon.

[Ian David]

46. If I was asking for the moon, I'd ask him to nominate Alan Shore

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/01/11/spad_wideweb__470x309,0.jpg

But, since I haven't (yet) lost complete touch with reality, I don't expect him to nominate fictional lawyers.

But it would be funny if you could trick him into doing so.

"There is no Alan Shore? Who is next on the list? Okay, I nominate Bigus Dickus!"


But seriously, "reaching for the moon" would be to ask him to nominate Massachustts Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall.



http://www.mass.gov/courts/courtsandjudges/courts/supremejudicialcourt/cjmarshall.html

Don't forget-- Patrick Fitzgerald is a Republican.

[formercia]

45. Susan Lindauer, Andrew Card's second cousin

committed by a panel of psychiatrists appointed by Judge Mukasey to a Texas mental facility. She supposedly delivered a letter to Card on behalf if the Iraqis imploring not to invade.
The Wiki entry presents Mukasey as a good guy, but he was responsible for taking her out of circulation in the run up to War. Public revelations of her letter were not what the Administration needed.

This may be his reward for helping keep the upcoming War on track.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Lindauer

Arrest

Lindauer was arrested on Thursday, 11 March 2004 in Takoma Park, Maryland and charged with "acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government". The indictment alleged that she accepted US$ 10,000 from Iraqi intelligence services in 2002. Lindauer denies receiving the $10,000, but admits to taking a trip to Baghdad.

She allegedly delivered a letter to Andrew Card, who is her second cousin and former Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush. The letter urged the White House not to invade Iraq, and outlined several likely consequences of a War in Iraq, including the resurgence of Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda forces inside Iraq, and the emergence of Iran as a major regional power broker.<1>

Lindauer contends that her U.S. file was turned over to a Grand Jury just days after she approached Senator Trent Lott's office about how to contact the Presidential Commission on Iraqi Pre-War Intelligence regarding the work that she had done for the previous 7 years for the United States.

In late 2005, Lindauer was found incompetent to stand trial, a political solution to the indictment, and was sent to Carswell Federal Prison on a Texas military base for a psychiatric evaluation. The prosecution asked to forcibly drug Lindauer with needle injections of Haldol. She was released from prison in September 2006 after a federal judge, Michael B. Mukasey of U.S. District Court in Manhattan, ruled that she could not be forced to take anti-psychotic medication in an effort to make her competent to stand trial.

Judge Mukasey stated that Prosecution testimony supporting forcible drugging had been vicious and excessive. He also criticized the strength of the government's case against Lindauer in total, saying that the legal standard for forcibly administering medication requires a strong government interest in prosecution, and that the government has not established that standard in this case.

According to Judge Mukasey, "there is no indication that Lindauer ever came close to influencing anyone or could have." The indictment, he said, describes an attempt to influence an unnamed government official as unsuccessful. He stated that at least a half-dozen mental health professionals, including a psychiatrist retained by the government, have found Lindauer incompetent to stand trial-- though the Court denied Lindauer's repeated requests for a Competency Hearing, and failed to issue subpoenas for witnesses who nonetheless contacted the Court to validate her story. He also expressed humanitarian concerns about forcing Lindauer to take medication, which, he said, "necessarily involves physically restraining defendant so that she can be injected with mind-altering drugs."

Lindauer is currently free on bail. She is still officially considered incompetent to stand trial, and her case is still pending.

[Ian David]

47. He abused his bench to have a war critic institutionalized to quiet them? Holy crap!

They really don't have ANY limits, do they?