Sen. Hillary Clinton will oppose the Mukasey appointment to be attorney general. “I am deeply troubled by Judge Mukasey’s continued unwillingness to clearly state his views on torture and unchecked Executive power.”
Arkansas’s senators have not committed. Mark Pryor said earlier that he was leaning toward support, but would await completion of the vetting. Blanche Lincoln issued this statement:
“The credibility of the Justice Department suffered under the command of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The Justice Department must be led by a person who will act independently and not simply follow the President’s directives blindly. I hope that in Mr. Mukasey, the President has nominated a person that will be dedicated to the rule of law and the rights and constitutional freedoms of every American. Concerns have been raised about Mr. Mukasey’s responses to some questions late in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. I will examine Mr. Mukasey’s record carefully before deciding how to vote on his confirmation.”
Seems simple to me. Waterboarding is torture. Torture has been considered un-American, since George Washington’s famous declaration, until George Bush came along. I don’t want a torture advocate as attorney general.