Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Mukasey, 11-8
Judge Michael Mukasey has been approved by the Judiciary Committee, paving the way for his confirmation by the full Senate.
The 11-8 vote came only after two key Democrats accepted his assurance to enforce any law Congress might enact against waterboarding.
The White House and Senate Republicans called for a swift confirmation vote, which is expected by the end of next week.
"We appreciate the vote of senators on the Judiciary Committee to forward the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey to the full Senate," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. "Judge Mukasey has clearly demonstrated that he will be an exceptional attorney general at this critical time."
Though Mukasey is expected to easily win confirmation by the full Senate, Democrats and some Republicans were far from satisfied with his answers on torture, presidential signing statements and executive power.
The antics of getting political appointments through the Senate is becoming ridiculous. It was not like this until about the time Reagan was in office. Up until then, few appointments became battles. Now it seems they all do.
By crosspatch, Tuesday, 6 November , 2007 @ 11:36 am
We need to return to the original method of having the Senate appointed by the state legislatures. This turn of the century (ratified 1913) “Progressive Era” experiment of having the Senate directly elected has failed and turned the Senate into a three ring circus. Repeal the 17th ammendment and return the Senate to the way it was designed to be by the founders.
That would end this mess in the Senate and return it to being The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body.
By Anthony (Los Angeles), Tuesday, 6 November , 2007 @ 12:58 pm
It was not like this until about the time Reagan was in office. Up until then, few appointments became battles. Now it seems they all do.
That’s because the Democrats have never been able to accept that they are not the natural governing party anymore, that the days of their New Deal dominance are over.