function hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); bubble.style.display = "none"; } function hide_user_promo_bubble() { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 0 } }, 1, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); setTimeout("hide_user_promo_bubble_second_stage()", 1100); } function handle_promo_username(params) { var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); var img = $("user_promo_bubble_image"); var anchor = $("user_promo_bubble_link"); if (params.has_photo == "true") { img.src = "http://images.huffingtonpost.com/profiles/" + params.user_id + "-tiny.png"; } else { img.style.display = "none"; Dom.addClass(anchor, "wide"); } anchor.innerHTML = "Shared by " + params.user_name; anchor.href = "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/" + params.user_name; bubble.style.display = "block"; var myAnim = new YAHOO.util.Anim(bubble, { opacity: { to: 1 } }, 2, YAHOO.util.Easing.easeOut); myAnim.animate(); } if (HuffPoUtil.getUrlVar("user_promo")) { YAHOO.util.Event.onDOMReady(function() { var parts = document.location.hash.split(","), shared_by = "", badge = "", i; if (parts.length < 2) return; for (i = 0; i < parts.length; i++) { if (parts[i].indexOf("sb=") !== -1) { shared_by = parts[i]; } if (parts[i].indexOf("b=") !== -1) { badge = parts[i]; } } if (shared_by == "" || badge == "") return; var bubble = $("user_promo_bubble"); if (!bubble) return; var entry_id = HuffPoUtil.GetEntryID(); if (!entry_id) return; var user_id = parseInt(shared_by.substr(shared_by.indexOf("sb=") + 3)); if (!user_id) return; var badge_type = badge.substr(badge.indexOf("b=") + 2); if (!badge_type) return; script = document.createElement("script"); script.setAttribute("type", "text/javascript"); bubble.appendChild(script); script.setAttribute("src", "/include/share_track.php?a=view&eid=" + entry_id + "&uid=" + user_id + "&b=" + badge_type + "&cb=handle_promo_username"); }); } Michael Mukasey Slams Liz Cheney's 'Shoddy And Dangerous' Logic In WSJ Op-Ed

Former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal Wednesday attacking Liz Cheney's "Al-Qaida 7" logic as "shoddy and dangerous."

While the former chief of the Bush Justice Department never mentioned Cheney by name, he made it clear that anyone would be wrong to automatically identify DOJ lawyers with the defendants that they represent. Mukasey wrote:

This is all of a piece, and what it is a piece of is something both shoddy and dangerous. A lawyer who represents a party in a contested matter has an ethical obligation to make any and all tenable legal arguments that will help that party. A lawyer in public service, particularly one dealing with sensitive matters of national security, has the obligation to authorize any step or practice the law permits in order to keep the nation and its citizens safe. And a lawyer who undertakes to represent someone whom his neighbors--perhaps rightly--revile as a threat to the public welfare is obligated to bring his talents to bear just as forcefully in favor of that client as he would if he were representing Capt. Alfred Dreyfus, the French artillery officer who in 1895 was found guilty of treason and sent to Devil's Island for little more than being Jewish.

Mukasey is the latest Bush administration official to denounce Cheney's logic, though Some might be disappointed to learn that in the same op-ed, Mukasey also defended John Yoo and Jay Bybee, the authors of the Bush torture memos.

On Monday, 19 prominent Bush administration officials and other lawyers, including Ken Starr, signed a letter denouncing Cheney's ad.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), turned Cheney's logic on its head Tuesday and argued that lawyers who defend "the unpopular" make America safer. Graham told The Cable "...America requires the unpopular to have an advocate and every time a defense lawyer fights to make the government do their job, that defense lawyer has made us all safer."

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Comments

[Balzac]

Wrong again, Liz.

[AyeChart]

Mukasey is a fine lawyer, fine judge, did a great job in the Bush administration, but he's off base here.

These were not lawyers hired by the terrorists who simply took the job of representing the terrorists. These were lawyers who gleefully flocked to the terrorists either because they wanted to poke a few sticks in the eyes of the Bush administration or because they actually supported terrorists or terrorism.

Or perhaps just that they were publicity hounds?

In any case, it is fair to question WHY they were so eager, so GD eager, to fly to Guantanamo and defend terrorists.

[Flokk]

Is anything this woman says important or relevant enough to warrant this kind of reaction? Not even close. The media built her up because she's polarizing and helps draw viewers, that's all.

[Economike]

Unfortunaley she in common with someone like Joseph McCarty has to potential to damage many lives.

[deeppeace]

I'm not "disappointed to learn that in the same op-ed, Mukasey also defended John Yoo and Jay Bybee" at all--

Even though I disagree with him, at least it proves that Mukasey put thought into his observations and didn't just paint with a broad brush. And man, Liz is worse than Yoo and Bybee? Whew!

[KevinFitzz]

Quite a dangerous duo, that daddy and daughter. So dangerous in fact, they should be arrested.

[hyjanks]

Looks like Jihad Liz is going to join Jihad Jane in her infamy.

[flossophy]

Mukasey is right on this one... Liz should retract it.

I still think she should be veep.

Condi / Liz 2012

[ZiloRS]

Then the world really would end in 2012.

[Bogey907]

LOL, that's a good one.

I thought you were serious for a moment.

[Exexecution]

I think you should be commited

[reed-er]

How about Cheney-Palin 2012!

[ladbrady]

How's your SEEEESter Liz?

[KriTiKiT]

I wanna know who she has defended. Just to prove a point.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro]

Liz Liz - arrogance can get you nowhere

You can fool some of the people some of the time but not all of the time

Liz has had her say and is becoming more and more the one who will bring down the Cheney mob once and for all! what a relief!

Does anyone agree?

Ed

[Dosadi]

I hope so. It is impossible for a person to say the rediculous things she is saying without it coming back to bite her.

[Economike]

We can only hope.

[robphilnz]

The Cheney name becomes more tarnished with every passing day. It's like reverse alchemy, with time : degrading the gilding to show the base element of who and what they are.

Of course, I suppose that she could be a Democrat double agent involved in a conspiracy to make the GOP look even more stupid! If so, she's doing a great job.

[rjvg50]

It's tragic that this thread only harpoons Liz Cheney - her partner is crime BILL KRISTOL must pay the price for his treason as well.

Boycott any show that has Bill Kristol as a regular commentator.

Can someone start a "Color of Change" sponsor bail-out of Bill Kristol's numerous, regular gigs?

[Exexecution]

William Kristol---he who has yet to be right, even once.

[bbmill37]

I'd like to hear nothing more from this woman unless it's on the witness stand at the Hague, trying to defend her daddy and his boss.

[simonbollocks]

word.

[quintus]

Gosh, she seems to have evaporated into thin air recently. Why isn't she out there defending her position?

[Petey131]

She's back at the cave getting further advice from daddy.

[edtheengineer]

Lizzie Borden Chainee is awaiting delivery of a shipment of new axes. Her current ones have become chipped and dull.

[panamarine]

Because her position is indefensable! That's why. And she has been reprimanded and now is ashamed and went into hiding with a red face. That's why.

[ethearch]

Something tells me we won't be hearing from Dark Vadress any time soon.

[maumeeone]

Don't bet on it.She has no shame...Or apparently morals, for that matter.