Comments on: SJC Mukasey Hearing, Four

By: SunnyNobility

SunnyNobility — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:54:08 +0000

This group’s ability to convey substance and flavor _and maintain sanity and humor while doing so_ is stunningly impressive.

Thanks for the yeoman service and spot-on analysis..

By: prostratedragon

prostratedragon — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 07:32:12 +0000

Murky couldn’t say it harshly enough - Waterboarding is Repugnant, Repugnant, Repugnant

That always makes me think, So is shitting, but it’s commonly done on a daily basis. Empty word.

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:43:08 +0000

C-SPANs videotaped proceeding of the hearing.

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:28:43 +0000

Republican Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia makes it official.

“After much soul-searching and discussion with those closest to me, I have decided the time is right to take a sabbatical from public life,” the congressman said in a statement released by his office. “I will serve out the remainder of my term, and plan to remain an active contributor to Republican causes, but will not run for office in 2008.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/.....icial.html

By: readerOfTeaLeaves

readerOfTeaLeaves — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:09:14 +0000

Do these crooks think that they will be able to wipe out all traces of their law-breaking

Yes.
They do.
Which explains their frequent use of Pixie Dust.

By: masaccio

masaccio — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:00:03 +0000

Do these crooks think that they will be able to wipe out all traces of their law-breaking, so that the next administration won’t be able to punish them?

By: radiofreewill

radiofreewill — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:35:32 +0000

What did I miss??

Only the looks of deep, deep disappointment on the faces of the Dems on the SJC…like they finally realized beyond all doubt that the guy across the table from them is willing to cheat to win.

At his Confirmation Hearing, Murky couldn’t say it harshly enough - Waterboarding is Repugnant, Repugnant, Repugnant - but today, it was Repugnant doesn’t neccessarily mean ‘against the Law.’

The old bait and switch on the clever use of words - how Orwellian of him!

Mukasey is a Con Artist.

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:30:56 +0000

Pretty darn fine!

He did withhold judgment on:

but he thinks we probably shouldn’t rape them

Apparently the standard is whether or not you might get some benefit from doing that.

He would aggressively prosecute employees and agents that tortured anybody, unless they actually tortured somebody.

Or unless they had “authorizations” because you can’t have authorizations (which are not to be confused with Nuremberg’s “orders”) that expire when AGs change.

As to all the subpoenas and document requests

Not only privileged, but it’s a privilege for the DC USA to be able to tell Congress he won’t enforce their subpoenas bc it shows ~~conity~~ comity to refuse to do work for the branch of government that pays your bill and writes your rules.

The love and joy was there - except maybe when Feingold mentioned that the REST of ‘the program’ of torture might still be, you know, torture-filled, even without the waterboarding. Classified tho - so he can’t really say much - except to say that Mukasey isn’t really saying it right to say that it’s all fine now.

By: bmaz

bmaz — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:08:48 +0000

I was out much of the day and missed most of the liveblogging. I have tried to catch up; lets see if I have this right. Herr Mukasey has been at the helm of the DOJ for a while now, and now that he is fully up to speed, he is thrilled to work with such fine people and the Department is in great shape. He doesn’t know what happened before he got there and can’t talk about what has happened since he got there. He either doesn’t know or can’t tell about what our government is doing to folks it considers enemies, which could be about anybody including citizens, but he thinks we probably shouldn’t rape them (murder ok?). Can’t talk about waterboarding, don’t want to investigate whether it is legal (and, of course he just doesn’t know), but no worries, because the President decides when we are going to do it. Everything is fine on the interrogation front though, because he talks to the White House and they say so. There is no reason to assume there is torture on the, um, torture tapes; but the are gone and we think that is just fine however his OLC has ordered Congress not to investigate and his office isn’t contemplating investigating what was on the tapes. He would aggressively prosecute employees and agents that tortured anybody, unless they actually tortured somebody. He really wants, and has to have immediately, retroactive immunity for all of the perfectly legal, patriotic and necessary surveillance. Lotta dead soldiers might still be alive if they could spy on Americans more. As to all the subpoenas and document requests that have been pending since the last of never, they are all privileged; but he will get right to work on the fuck off letter confirming that. Everybody at the hearing expressed happy happy joy joy at the mutual respect and cooperation they have for and with each other! What did I miss??

By: emptywheel

emptywheel — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:06:18 +0000

He announced he didn’t think he’d be approved, but the WH is still refusing to withdraw the nomination; so we can’t have any new SEC commissioners unless we’re willing ot take him.