FEINGOLD's Statement On Mukasey: "The Rule Of Law Is Too Important To Compromise"

[kpete]

Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
In Opposition to Judge Mukasey as the Next Attorney General
November 4, 2007

"I will vote against the nomination of Judge Mukasey to be the next Attorney General. This was a difficult decision, as Judge Mukasey has many impressive qualities. He is intelligent and experienced and appears to understand the need to depoliticize the Department of Justice and restore its credibility and reputation.

At this point in our history, however, the country also needs an Attorney General who will tell the President that he cannot ignore the laws passed by Congress. Unfortunately, Judge Mukasey was unwilling to reject the extreme and dangerous theories of executive power that this administration has put forward.

The nation's top law enforcement officer must be able to stand up to a chief executive who thinks he is above the law. The rule of law is too important to our country's history and to its future to compromise on that bedrock principle."

http://feingold.senate.gov/~feingold/statements/07/11/20071104.htm

[bdamomma]

1. Feingold I only wish more of colleagues would come to your

realization that we are in very dangerous situation and apparently the PNAC agenda is moving forward.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Please run for president Senator Russ Feingold

I will break my own rule of not giving money to candidates for the primaries if he would.

Don

[KharmaTrain]

3. Could Mukasey Surprise?

Let me say I'm firmly against his confirmation, but there is some merit to those who say "he's the best we're gonna get".

A couple thoughts to ponder...

First is that DOJ is a total mess right now. There are vacancies all over the place and currently filled by Monica Goodling clones and political hacks. There needs to be some accountable individual in charge here rather than the byzantine set up going on now. Yep, Mukasey can't be worse than Gonzo...and it doesn't matter as the real power in that office is with Addington. No matter whose the AG, he's the one who calls the shots. If people want change, Addington has to go.

Mukasey isn't one of "them". In many ways he's an outsider from boooshie's Texas cabal and crashcart's AEI/Heritage Foundation droids. They need him more than he needs them and could end up playing hardball inside the executive if he feels his authority is being usurped. Who knows, he may surprise us with expediting some of the things Gonzo stonewalled and give more power to the career prosecutors who will then go after more of this regime's corruption.

[NNN0LHI]

4. He would NEVER have been suggested for AG if he weren't owned

Take that one to the bank.

Don

[KharmaTrain]

5. True...But Owned By Whom

Gonzo was booshie's boy who was all but steamrolled by Addington. Is Mukasey a Cheney acolyte? I tend not to think so. Also, the dynamic has shifted. When things were going "smoothly"...for 6 years, the differences were papered over and we didn't hear of any of the infighting. Since Plame and the '06 elections and ensuing investigations, we've seeing the knives come out between the executive and the OVP. Mukasey walks right into the middle of this turf war...now whose side does he take? It could matter.

Cheers...