That Dog Won't Hunt

In their present evils, most Romans were ready
to find some comfort in the mere exchange
of one tyrant for another, for the city was brought
to such a pass by oppression and calamities that,
being utterly in despair of liberty, men were
only anxious for the mildest and most tolerable bondage
--Life of Pompey, Plutarch

Same as it ever was...same as it ever was
...same as it ever was...
--Once in a Lifetime, The Talking Heads
___________

Well, the newest underwhelming member of the current underwhelming administration is now on board -- Attorney General Michael Mukasey, a candidate who is a few vertebrae short of a backbone, but a qualifier which is necessary for the job.

The press which presaged the confirmation confused this simple Ranger. The WaPo suggested more capable conservative attorneys exist, men such as Daniel Levin, former head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel who volunteered to be waterboarded in 2004 in order to make his own decision about the illegality of the practice. A man later forced out by former AG Gonzales in 2005. Added to the list is James B. Comey and former Office of Legal Counsel chief Jack L. Goldsmith ("The View from the Waterboard").

In a confusing coda, the Post says these men "found themselves fighting to sustain the rule of law in an administration too often eager to suspend it. If Mr. Mukasey is confirmed, as we believe he should be, the eradication of this kind of disregard for principle and law should be his first priority."

But wait, why should he be expected to do any differently than his performance suggested in the confirmation hearings? He is a yes-man, plain and simple. Wishin' and hopin' doesn't make it otherwise.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said before the vote: "Vote for the nominee or vote against the nominee, but don't hide behind some cloak and say maybe we should have a law [against waterboarding] in the future. We have that law." In other words, you are voting on another villain.

"Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsay Graham (R-SC), wrote to Mr. Mukasey on Friday. 'We urge you to acquaint yourself immediately with these matters and take the opportunity to make clear that waterboarding is illegal and can never be employed ("Mukasey Takes Over, but Debate Continues," Wall Street Journal, 11.10-11.07)." The position of Attorney General should not be one of on-the-job legal training.

". . .who found themselves fighting to sustain the rule of law in an administration too often eager to suspend it. " In Mukasey, they have hired a sheep, not a sheepdog. But if it had not been him, then another bobble head, in an infinite regression. Amenable villain or aggressive villain -- we have that choice.

That dog won't hunt.

--Jim and Lisa