SOMEWHAT MAINSTREAMISH EX-JUDGE BEING FORCED DOWN BUSH'S THROAT AS GONZALES REPLACEMENT

When Bush was finally forced to fire his dimwit Attorney General, there was a whole lot of bravado floating around about how he would replace him with another political tool and extremist. There was talk about Chertoff and when they was laughed off the front pages, Ted Olson, perhaps the worst and most divisive possible nomination Bush could make. Harry Reid sent Bush a public message that even he could understand: "no."

Bush decided, despite the desires for GOP extremists for a bloody, knock down battle, that he doesn't want to fight over this one-- especially since he can't win. So instead, he's taking the advice of Chuck Schumer and appointing a consensus candidate, a retired judge named Michael Mukasey, a mainstream conservative rather than a radical rightist or a crony, the two pools Bush draws his appointments from. Neocon asshat William Kristol is signaling his ilk to feign joy over an appointment the extreme right is choking on. Jeralyn has done some research on him and worries that he's too close with the odious Giuliani. Looseheadprop did a stort about her experiences with Mukasey over at FDL. It's going to take one more election before we get appointments that, at best, won't be "Cs" and "Ds" instead of "Fs."


UPDATE: SO MUKASEY IT IS

Bush knew he would never get away with another hapless crony like Gonzales so he went for a mainstream conservative type. No one should expect that Mukasey will be any good but there is some possibility he won't be a future defendent in a treason trial the way Olson would have been. Harry Reid made a balanced statement after Bush announced the nomination

I'm glad President Bush listened to Congress and put aside his plan to replace Alberto Gonzales with another partisan Administration insider.  Judge Mukasey has strong professional credentials and a reputation for independence.  A man who spent 18 years on the federal bench surely understands the importance of checks and balances and knows how to say no to the President when he oversteps the Constitution.

But there should be no rush to judgment.  The Senate Judiciary Committee must carefully examine Judge Mukasey's views on the complex legal challenges facing the nation.  I look forward to meeting Judge Mukasey, and I will work with Chairman Leahy to ensure a full airing of the issues presented by his nomination.

Russ Feingold was a little sterner-- but appropriately so:

The next Attorney General will take over a Justice Department plagued by scandal and low morale. As Attorney General and White House Counsel, Alberto Gonzales disregarded statutes, treaties and the Constitution to help this administration consolidate more and more power in the executive branch, and he misled Congress and the American people repeatedly. As a result, Congress and the public now lack confidence in the administration’s commitment to impartial justice. The new Attorney General must make it a top priority to repair the damage done by Alberto Gonzales.

To that end, Judge Mukasey must demonstrate that his first loyalty will be to the rule of law, not to the President. In particular I will be interested in his views on executive power and the need to protect the rights of law-abiding Americans while fighting al Qaeda and its affiliates aggressively. I will also expect Judge Mukasey to commit to reversing the course set by Alberto Gonzales by fully cooperating with ongoing congressional oversight of this administration’s misconduct, and by always telling Congress and the public the truth, starting with his confirmation hearings. Congress, the Department’s many committed employees, and the American people deserve nothing less from their Attorney General.