Leahy won't support Attorney General nominee

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D.-Vt., the powerful chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said today he won’t support Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey, potentially derailing his confirmation for refusing to define waterboarding as torture.

“No American should need a classified briefing to determine whether waterboarding is torture,” said Leahy who planned a 3 p.m. news conference to make the announcment in Burlington.

The announcement will likely determine whether the full Senate will vote to send Mukasey to a Justice Department that has been leaderless for weeks. Four Democrats on Leahy’s panel, which will decide Tuesday whether to approve Mukasey’s confirmation, have already said they will not support him.


Read more: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071102/NEWS/71102012

[GreenTea]

1. Call Feinstein - to vote against confirmation - she will be the decider....[phone]

[MiniMe]

3. Her or Schumer, it only takes 1. So call both.

[lumpy]

6. Kick and call

v

[robinlynne]

11. go for schumer. feinstein never votes with dems.

[Virginia Dare]

2. GREAT!!! Thank you Senator Leahy!...n/t

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

4. THANK GOODNESS!!!!

:bounce:

[babylonsister]

5. Hallelujah! nt

[eleny]

7. Thanks for the good news

:thumbsup: for his :thumbsdown:

[tiptoe]

8. And I called Feinstein's office (busy signals before got through...busy still) [phone] nt

[krkaufman]

9. "a Justice Department that has been leaderless for weeks" ??

Isn't there an acting AG? Isn't "leaderless" a mischaracterization?

[Misskittycat]

10. Done re Feinstein's office. n/t

[rodeodance]

12. "No American should need a classified briefing to determine whether waterboarding is torture,"

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject "No American should need a classified briefing to determine whether waterboarding is torture,"
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2192517#2192517
2192517, "No American should need a classified briefing to determine whether waterboarding is torture,"
Posted by spanone on Fri Nov-02-07 02:40 PM

Senator Patrick Leahy

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/02/leahy.mukasey/index.html

[rodeodance]

13. Lindsay Graham Drops Opposition To Mukasey, Rewarded With ‘High-Roller Fundraiser’ With Bush

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject Lindsay Graham Drops Opposition To Mukasey, Rewarded With ‘High-Roller Fundraiser’ With Bush
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2192345#2192345
2192345, Lindsay Graham Drops Opposition To Mukasey, Rewarded With ‘High-Roller Fundraiser’ With Bush
Posted by babylonsister on Fri Nov-02-07 02:19 PM

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/11/02/bush-graham /

Graham Drops Opposition To Mukasey, Rewarded With ‘High-Roller Fundraiser’ With Bush


Last week, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that waterboarding “is clearly illegal under domestic and international law.” Yet when Michael Mukasey, President Bush’s nominee for Attorney General, refused to classify the technique as torture, Graham dropped his principles and said he was “heartened” by the non-response. “I think Judge Mukasey did himself some good with this letter,” said Graham, who plans to support Mukasey. “He helped his cause with me.”

Graham, who is launching his ‘08 re-election bid, may have capitulated for political reasons. Last week, Graham publicly said he hoped Bush would come to South Carolina and help his campaign:

If he were to come in support of my campaign, it would be very helpful and I would be honored. I look forward to hopefully having him come to South Carolina and stand by my side.

Today, just a few days after Graham dropped his opposition to Mukasey, Bush is indeed in South Carolina to appear at a “high-roller fundraiser” for Graham. When he arrived in the state today, Graham appeared by the President’s side at the airport. Bush lavished praise on Graham, specifically mentioning the senator’s support for Mukasey:

BUSH: I — I’m proud to stand with Senator Lindsey Graham. I’ve gotten to know him well. He deserves to be reelected to the United States Senate in South — from South Carolina. He’s tough, he is smart, he bases his votes on conservative principles. <…>

I’ve had no stronger supporter in the United State Senate than Lindsey Graham for putting good judges on the bench. People of this state have got to understand that when I nominated John Roberts and Sam Alito, there was no better ally than Lindsey Graham to see to it that these two good men were confirmed.

There’s going to be another fight on the Senate floor coming next week. The Senate Judiciary Committee has agreed to vote on the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the attorney general.

And, Senator Graham, I appreciate your strong support for Mike Mukasey.

Why not approve Bush’s nominee when a $250/plate minimum is at stake?

[Ian David]

17. If Larry Flynt has dirt on Lindsey Graham, he'd better use it NOW. n/t

[gratuitous]

14. Good, now use the power of the gavel

Deny any kind of committee vote, and simply tell the White House to try again on a nominee.

Our rights aren't subject to a vote.

The Constitution isn't a popularity contest.

Treaty obligations aren't elective.

A nominee who doesn't understand the law or its obligations isn't qualified to be the chief law enforcement officer for the nation. Turn this nomination back to the White House; no need to hold a vote on someone so patently incompetent for the position.

[rodeodance]

15. NPR just reported that sources say Schumer has convinced Feinstein

Forum Name General Discussion
Topic subject NPR just reported that sources say Schumer has convinced Feinstein
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2192719#2192719
2192719, NPR just reported that sources say Schumer has convinced Feinstein
Posted by Bumblebee on Fri Nov-02-07 03:04 PM

to vote with him to confirm M for attorney general

[rodeodance]

16. k

[rhett o rick]

18. Once again key democrats turn their backs on their party, their constituents and America. nm

[nealmhughes]

19. CNN just announced 1800 CST that Chuckie and Difi have dropped opposition and are going to vote for

advancement in the S.J.C.

[troubleinwinter]

20. Shumer & Feinstein have announced they'll vote to confirm. I'm sending this to DiFi:

It's her new Calif. voter registration form. I filled out her new party affiliation for her.

[deacon]

21. Great- Alberto Mukasey has no business being confirmed. WTG