WaPo on Mukasey's confirmation hearing: a "ceremonial waltz" that has senators "swooning"

oh, lovely... a "ceremonial waltz"...

Mr. Mukasey's Answers
The attorney general nominee speaks clearly -- and senators swoon.

THE CONFIRMATION hearings for attorney general nominee Michael B. Mukasey began yesterday with the sober pronouncement by Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) that, if confirmed, Mr. Mukasey would inherit a Justice Department facing its gravest challenge since the "Saturday Night Massacre" of Watergate infamy. Then it quickly turned into a ceremonial waltz, with members of both parties swooning as Mr. Mukasey delivered informed, concise and responsive answers. The senators' reaction was understandable, given the conspicuous difference between Mr. Mukasey's testimony and the chronic evasions of Alberto R. Gonzales. But senators shouldn't be surprised if, as attorney general, Mr. Mukasey adopts many of the same positions as his predecessor -- albeit with more reasoned and legally sound justifications.

[...]

The Senate should confirm him promptly -- and with eyes wide open.

so, mukasey will adopt "more reasoned and legally sound justifications," eh...?

(from glenn greenwald who was live-blogging the mukasey hearing...)

To Mukaskey ... it is an open question whether the President can imprison U.S. citizens, arrested on U.S. soil, with no charges of any kind. Shouldn't that be a rather significant hurdle to his becoming Attorney General, to put it mildly?

[...]

Mukasey will clearly support the Ashcroft/Comey/Goldsmith view that the President possesses Article II power to eavesdrop for foreign intelligence purposes, even on U.S. soil, and that FISA cannot restrict that power.

mukasey comforts me not in the least, particularly in light of the senate throwing its support behind telecom immunity...

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