Undecided Schumer May Be Key to Mukasey's Chances

[cal04]

Judiciary Chairman Endorsed Justice Nominee but Says He, Like Other Democrats, Is Concerned About Torture Question

By Dan Eggen and Paul Kane

As Democratic opposition builds over attorney general nominee Michael B. Mukasey, no Democratic lawmaker has found himself in a tighter spot than Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), who had eagerly recommended the former federal judge as a consensus candidate.

After Mukasey refused to say whether an interrogation technique called waterboarding amounts to illegal torture, Schumer has watched a growing number of his colleagues announce their opposition to the judge.

Schumer, who has remained uncharacteristically quiet throughout the furor, said in an interview yesterday that he is now "wrestling" with whether to vote against a nomination that he was instrumental in bringing about. He compared the controversy to the 2005 nomination battle over Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

"From this administration, we will never get somebody who agrees with us on issues like torture and wiretapping," Schumer said at one point, suggesting an argument in favor of Mukasey, who faces a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on Tuesday. "The best thing we can hope for is someone who will depoliticize the Justice Department and put rule of law first."

But Schumer said minutes later that his mind is not made up: "He's the best we can get, but that doesn't necessarily ensure a yes vote. I thought John Roberts was the best we could get, but I voted no."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/01/AR2007110102499.html?hpid=topnews

[Solly Mack]

1. " *illegal* torture" snort...there's that bullshit phrase again

illegal torture? as opposed to legal torture?

[rodeodance]

2. my gawd-----this so called leader is still thinking about it??!!

[opihimoimoi]

3. The answer is quite simple...either he answers the question as to whether w/b-ing is torture or not

If Mukasey sez it is not torture...then dump the dude....cause we all know it is torture

[Cha]

I'll make it simple for him..

if schumer votes for mukasey then he's for torture and a disgrace for New York..but, hey, senator..do what your conscience tells you not what your politically expedienence tells you.

[rusty quoin]

4. In a normal America the answer would be rejected.

[LakeSamish706]

5. So one continues to wonder who is the party that is supposed to hold ...

the majority anyway? We might just as well be back under a Republican rule cause at least we knew what was coming down... Admittedly we pretty much know that now, just didn't think that it would happen under our own party logo...

[tularetom]

6. The question is will Schumer's ginormous ego get in the way

of his duty to his constituents and to the country as a whole?

I'd like to think no, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for him to do the right thing.

[Lasher]

7. Some say waterboarding is not torture

I wonder if those people would be willing to be waterboarded just for a couple of hours.

[aquart]

9. Millions would be willing to pay to watch.

HBO perhaps? ABC? Right after Dancing with the Stars? Betting on who would last longest? Perhaps a few prizes? (Usually with celebs, the prizes are donated to charity. But these are Republicans.)

We have a big national debt. I'm looking for revenue streams.

[Lasher]

11. I think it was Rush who said it is like a college prank

Maybe he'll go first.

[riverdeep]

8. This is the kind of strategy the dems have used for a while.

Give in now, because Dear Leader will just do something worse. No one respects that. Not us. Not them. No one.

[kurth]

10. Time to grow balls and vote NO

How hard is that????

[EFerrari]

12. OH THANK GOD IT'S UP TO SCHUMER!

:sarcasm: