The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote this morning on the nomination of Michael Mukasey to become the next attorney general of the United States. With two Democrats vowing to support him, Mukasey should have his confirmation wrapped up.
The retired judge deserves their support. Unlike the man he would replace, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, he is no intimate of President Bush. He has said he won't brook interference from the White House in the conduct of the Justice Department.
Mukasey is known for his integrity and wisdom. He is conservative, but not highly partisan. Even under great pressure, he showed his mettle in refusing to say whether waterboarding, an interrogation method that simulates drowning, is torture. He says it's repugnant, but in a discreet and thoughtful letter to the committee, he proved he won't be backed into a corner about a complex method that on two occasions Congress has refused to specifically outlaw.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement
Advertisement