NYT: Senator Schumer’s Statement

[ProSense]

Senator Schumer’s Statement

Published: November 2, 2007

Following is the statement issued today by Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, announcing that he will vote in favor of President Bush’s nominee for attorney general, Michael B. Mukasey.

I will support Judge Michael Mukasey for attorney general.

I have spent the last nine months doing everything I can to get new leadership at the Department of Justice, and I believe the job will not be finished until we get a strong and independent attorney general. I believe Judge Mukasey is that type of person. Should we reject him, it is almost certain that an acting, caretaker attorney general will take office without the advice and consent of the Senate. Inevitably, that would enable those in this administration, who do not believe in the rule of law, and have done things that caused even former Attorney General Ashcroft to threaten resignation, to have the complete upper hand.

Only a strong and independent attorney general can return the Justice Department to what it once was and should always be. Under this administration, that nominee will certainly never share our views on issues like torture and wiretapping. The best we can hope for is someone who is independent, has integrity, will put rule of law first and, above all, will clean the stench of politicization out of the Justice Department. I believe Judge Mukasey will be that type of attorney general.

This is an extremely difficult decision. When an administration, so political, so out of touch with the realities of governing and so contemptuous of the rule of law is in charge, we are never left with an ideal choice. Judge Mukasey is not my ideal choice. However, Judge Mukasey, whose integrity and independence is respected even by those who oppose him, is far better than anyone could expect from this administration. He is recommended by and reminds me of Jim Comey, another Bush nominee who — while he didn’t agree with us on the issues — showed the kind of independence and integrity this department needs.

I would also like to say something about torture, particularly waterboarding. I deeply oppose it. I supported Senator Kennedy’s amendment in 2006 and am a co-sponsor of his bill in this Congress. Unfortunately, this nominee, indeed any proposed by President Bush, will not agree with this. I am, however, confident that this nominee would enforce a law that bans waterboarding as I hope it will.

This afternoon, I met with Judge Michael Mukasey one more time. I requested the meeting to address, in person, some of my concerns. The judge made clear to me that were Congress to pass a law banning certain interrogation techniques, we would clearly be acting within our constitutional authority. And he flatly told me that the president would have absolutely no legal authority to ignore such a law, not even under some theory of inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution. He also pledged to enforce such a law and repeated his willingness to leave office rather than participate in a violation of law.

WTF? Chuck, waterboarding is already illegal! Chuck you schmuck!

[graywarrior]

1. I'm getting sick of their mood swings.

[roguevalley]

20. I agree. I loathe quizling dems are much as I loathe pugs.

[mikelgb]

2. torture is not a fucking issue

it is a no-brainer

there is always another side

[williesgirl]

3. Schumer's real statement: Fuck the Consitution.

[kestrel91316]

4. I cannot for the life of me believe that Schumer is fool enough to have

believed this from Mukasey:

".....This afternoon, I met with Judge Michael Mukasey one more time. I requested the meeting to address, in person, some of my concerns. The judge made clear to me that were Congress to pass a law banning certain interrogation techniques, we would clearly be acting within our constitutional authority. And he flatly told me that the president would have absolutely no legal authority to ignore such a law, not even under some theory of inherent authority under Article II of the Constitution. He also pledged to enforce such a law and repeated his willingness to leave office rather than participate in a violation of law......"

Schumer, you are such a moron. You've been completely HAD.

[PATRICK]

5. Extraordinary logic

It comes down to this. Bush has the upper hand so we will nominate this guy and pray he is a Souter. Of course the best we can hope for is that he resigns IF forced by a nearly impossible to get NEW Congressional action to end torture that has never been legal. Then we move to the phase two of another crony by appointment that Schumer fears as the trump card.

Why bother showing up for work at all? The logic is tortured, submissive and twists and turns to stave off immediate responsibility. Under some of this logic it is clear, unless you believe this insanity, that Bush must be impeached now. The submission to kingship is inherent in this deferential surrender and pale, qualified, impossible hope, based on insubstantial and wishful consolations given to him in private.

By this logic, if Bush were to tell him to jump off the roof of the Capitol, he would throw his body down the steps instead and look up, bruised and bleeding, to humbly ask if that would do. American justice hinges on "this is the best choice we have" the lesser of two illegal evils, fingers crossed for two reasons- the lie and the luck.

[rurallib]

6. Jesus Christ - in one sentence he talks about

"independence, integrity and the rule of law" and in the preceding sentence he says that
"Under this administration, that nominee will certainly never share our views on issues like torture and wiretapping".
Shumer - wiretapping and torture are ALREADY FUCKING ILLEGAL! You twit. Why would you hire a guy who says he won't follow the law on these things? Why should Congress have to pass a law to make something illegal that is already illegal?
Am I stupid? Am I in a fantasy world? I hope Santa Claus is real here.

[Toucano]

7. It says "Advise and Consent", Chuck

It does not say, "Bend and Submit".

[BobRossi]

8. Hey Chuck, wanna buy a bridge?

A pledge from one of shrug's own is something you can trust. NOT!

[magellan]

9. Schumer is a mug

It'd get really interesting if the Dems ever caught on to the shell game the Repugs keep playing with them. Instead they show little more than incredulous naivety at every turn, as if they haven't been paying any attention for the last 7 years.

Gutting assinine-ness daily, live from DC, who the fuck needs Hollywood writers.

[debbierlus]

10. And, here it comes. The straw that broke the camels back....

Is this it?

Or, wait, wait, I know! Let's wait until they are in Iran & the dems say while this is not what they wanted,
it is imperative they finish the mission....

Or, if that isn't enough...

Maybe when they vote to allow bar coding on our wrist...no wait, better...our foreheads.....

Fuck THEM.

[JerseygirlCT]

11. HOW can you have integrity and support torture?

Honest to goodness, the disconnect here is astounding.

I'd like Sen. Schumer to explain this.

[dicknbush]

12. If I lived in New York...

I would vote for a Pro Life Republican...at least they believe what they say. Schumer is a Fraud and so is Feinstein. BOth political whores at the end of the day. When they had a chance to stand up and say enough is enough they went all namby pampy Fuck em.! Oh it isn't the best but this is what we have to work with. Guess what Chucky...Bush is not going to work with you. Muckasey was being tutored by Addington. Muckasey was speaking for Addington. Addingotn is the Attoney General you only think you are selecting an attorney general because they want you to think that. You and Feinstein are Fools and you will find out in short order that you were suckered and this guy is no different from Abu Gonzales. You schmuck!

[marmar]

13. With Dems like these.....

:grr:

[madrchsod]

14. they are both cowards

[cali]

15. Fuck you Chuckles. No, even better, waterboard you

because YOU just endorsed torture.

[bdamomma]

16. geez, another punch to the gut to all of us, how disappointing

do they always have to submit to these thugs, only if Mukasey said waterboarding was torture, we could of pinned war crimes being committed by * and Cheney, shit, what is wrong with these people. Bend over Congress and receive a kick in the asses, that is what * and Cheney are saying, Congress is becoming irrelevant just like *.

[young_at_heart]

17. I used to respect this man

I think I feel like a woman whose partner has cheated on her!

[OzarkDem]

18. Me, too. He's a huge disappointment

I no longer trust him.

[pacalo]

19. Congress should spend the remaining months IMPEACHING both Cheney & the boy king

instead of replacing one water carrier with another for this lawless administration. The lawlessness comes from the top, not from those taking the orders to carry out the dirty deeds.

[ellenfl]

21. two words . . . RECESS APPOINTMENT!

shrub has already said that if mukasey is not confirmed that he will not put anyone else up, which means that over the thanksgiving recess, he would make an interim appointment. i cannot believe that no one here knows what that means.

i'm not defending schumer, i'm just sayin' . . .

ellen fl

[FredScuttle]

23. And what....the DEMOCRATIC -controlled Congress has no option?

SHUT THE WHOLE FUCKING SYSTEM DOWN

We're capitulating to a President with 24% approval. Un-fucking-believable

[EFerrari]

22. Another example of the banality of evil. n/t

[mmonk]

24. Exactly. And any law that says waterboarding is legal is unconstitutional on its face

It violates the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment as well as binding treaties. It's a black and white issue with me. Schumer is not in our tradition. He must be neoliberal.

[hatrack]

25. But don't forget - it's not waterboarding - it's Dry-Powder-Boarding!!!!!

Who could possibly have imagined that Chuckles and Difi would do something like this? Moi? Certainly NOT!!!

Pardon me while I go and projectile-vomit now.

:puke:

[western mass]

26. These are the Dems you trust with Supreme Court

nominations? *Really?*

[WindRavenX]

27. another day, another disapointment

These Democrats are spineless.

[JMDEM]

28. I might get flamed big time for this but...

There is a huge voting block in NY that is both Democratic and PRO-IRAQ and pro- anything anti-arabic. Huge voting block. It is a political reality for any politician from NY. This may be a big part of the reason why we see NY Democrats siding with BushCo on all things pro-Iraq war and all things anti-arabic.

[speedoo]

29. Yo Chuck. I live in NY and you never get my vote again.

I am ashamed of both my senators. Gutless shitheads.