Leahy "Very Concerned" With Mukasey's New Response On Waterboarding

The Hill:

Michael Mukasey attempted to advance his stalled nomination for attorney general Tuesday by giving Congress a written statement discussing the legality of waterboarding, an interrogation technique that simulates drowning.

Mukasey submitted a four-page legalistic discussion that did not give Democrats what they were demanding: a succinct statement on whether waterboarding is akin to torture.

As a result, growing Democratic opposition to Mukasey's nomination is not likely to die down.

Read the whole story: The Hill

Comments

[Galvestonians for Dr. Ron Paul]

01:56 PM on 10/31/2007

Everyone seems to hide the fact that this Federal judge already had someone come before him in recent years and was told by this persons defense lawyer that the defendant was and is being tortured while in custody....This person, dressed in an orange jumper with long sleves, was standing right in front of judge Mukasey. Mukasey responded to the defense lawyer that he "did not see any evidence of torture."
This person was Jose Padilla.

This monster should NEVER be recognized and the vote should be a definite "NO."
Also no one mentions his OPED in the NYT in02 all about his views and the remarkable statements he made...
Why doesnt Huffpo report this?

[LittleBrother]

11:10 AM on 10/31/2007

Leahy "Very Concerned" With Mukasey's New Response On Waterboarding
___________________________________________________

I can't adequately express what a relief it is to read that Leahy is "very concerned". It's a sign that the show is going on, as it must.

I'm a little disappointed that so far, Arlen Specter hasn't expressed "grave reservations".

Even so, Leahy's "concern" is sufficient reassurance that Mukasey's as good as nominated. Senators always perform the "concerned" tapdance before they fold like an origami swan.

Try listening to Leahy's comment with "Tea for Two" playing in the background. If Savion Glover ever runs for office, his tapdancing skills will be crucial to his success.

[dantanna]

11:03 AM on 10/31/2007

and yet... he will be confirmed - i'll be shocked if reid does anything to stop his nomination

[serialcoma]

09:22 AM on 10/31/2007

Anyone bush nominates for anything should be immediately dismissed - bush only nominates people who enable him.

fuck george bush and fuck his nominees.

[mamacat]

05:47 AM on 10/31/2007

If Mr. Mukasey doesn't fully understand whether or not waterboarding is torture, perhaps he would volunteer to be waterboarded for a few days, and then come back with his answer?

[SamEllison]

02:31 AM on 10/31/2007

I read where they are waterboarding people in Burma. Judge Mukasey, Judge Mukasey wake-up, it's not a dream......

[Manx]

02:03 AM on 10/31/2007

Mukasey is trying to obfuscate the meaning of waterboarding by playing semantical games. His explanation is a case of moral relativism, which I though was anathema to conservatives.

But his opinon on torture is the least of it. He has made the claim that the president can defy laws if he or she is acting within the authority "to defend the country." In other words, the president is above the law.

Also, Mukasey said that if Congress holds Karl Rove and Harriet Miers in contempt, he would not refer the matter to a grand jury for criminal prosecution, as federal law requires.

Mukasey believes in fealty to the "unitarian" presidency and should not be confirmed.

Democrats, do your duty!

[KnoxBlues1]

08:59 AM on 10/31/2007

Perhaps determining whether or not waterboarding is torture depends upon what your definition of "is" is.

[dora rice]

12:48 AM on 10/31/2007

what do people like this moron holding office

[nomobull]

10:34 PM on 10/30/2007

I THINK ANYONE WHO DOESN'T THINK THIS IS TORTURE TO TRY IT.IT HURTS ACCIDENTLY GETTING WATER IN YOUR EYES AND NOSE. IMAGINE A CONTINOUS FLOW WHERE YOU CAN'T STOP TO RUB OR BLOW IT OUT.

[DieboldHacker]

10:08 PM on 10/30/2007

"succinct statement on whether waterboarding is akin to torture."

On 'whether'..?!

Give it a try, then tell me your opinion. Better yet, let me do that for ya.

What good little germans our Dems turned out to be.

[gcallaghan]

09:16 PM on 10/30/2007

Mukasey is as crooked, ruthless and vile as Gonzales but just a tad bit smarter which makes him one of the three most dangerous men on the planet. Given the chance, he'll stand by while Bush and his remaining toadies erase all evidence of their crimes.

[Plowboy]

09:09 PM on 10/30/2007

Leahy, you're a bit late. Everyone else is already informed. He's bad news. Why do you even bother coming in this late?

[Dap]

02:53 AM on 10/31/2007

Because Senator Chuck Schumer said Mukasey should be approved even before he came before the committee to answer any questions.

Senator Schumer vouched for Mukasey, what more do you need?

[AlphaDoc]

07:17 AM on 10/31/2007

>Senator Schumer vouched for Mukasey, what more do you need?<

As a New Yorker, I'd say we need a new Senator . . . or two.

[thromulese]

09:03 PM on 10/30/2007

“I will review any coercive interrogation techniques currently used by the United States Government and the legal analysis authorizing their use to assess whether such techniques comply with the law,” he (Mukasey) wrote, adding that, if he finds a practice to violate the law, he would immediately advise President Bush of his finding.

What he is NOT saying is that king george jr has defined torture as something we do NOT do. Therefore if we ARE doing it, it must NOT be torture. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

[AlphaDoc]

07:27 AM on 10/31/2007

Truly priceless, isn't it? Mukasey will advise Bush on where the law is being broken and Bush will issue an executive order changing that law to suit his administration's purposes.
Anyone taking bets on which of the Democrats will hold out the longest before caving in?

[ghostsofamerica]

08:31 PM on 10/30/2007

http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/torture/face-the-truth.html?gclid=CM2g1bbwt48CFQ0_agod1Bu8dA




Physicians for Human Rights, short video about waterboarding, send to your congressperson

[win2kpro]

08:27 PM on 10/30/2007

We don't need a replay of "Gonzogate". Refuse to confirm Mukasey!