The brethren: From the March 2006 Judicial Conference, the chief federal judges of the United States, with Chief Justice John Roberts seated front and center, and then-chief judge for the Second District of New York Michael Mukasey standing second row second from left. Photo from Office of the U.S. Courts Office of Public Affairs
by Mark Silva
President Bush has found a new nominee for attorney general: Michael B. Mukasey, a retired federal judge from New York, and plans to make the announcement on Monday, the Associated Press is reporting.
The White House tonight is neither confirming nor commenting on the report, a senior administration official says.
If confirmed by the Senate – and the selection could be tailored to ensure that – Mukasey could replace Alberto Gonzales, the friend and confidant of the president who has resigned amid controversy surrounding the Justice Department’s firings of several federal prosecutors and handling of secret terrorist surveillance.
Mukasey has handled terrorist cases in the courts and apparently has the support of some influential Democrats in the Senate, making it unlikely that Bush will face a fight.
The 66-year-old New Yorker is a judicial adviser to Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York.
Mukasey, who served as chief judge of the federal courthouse in Manhattan for six years, is regarded as a strong, law-and-order jurist, especially on national security issues.
Mukasey has received past endorsements from Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.
In 2005, the liberal Alliance for Justice put Mukasey on a list of four judges who, if chosen for the Supreme Court, would show the president's commitment to nominating people likely to win bipartisan support.
Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed to block the confirmation of Ted Olson, who had represented Bush before the Supreme Court in the contested 2000 election.
Mukasey was nominated for the federal bench in 1987 by President Reagan. He was chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York before rejoining the New York law firm of Patterson Belknap Webb and Tyler as a partner in September 2006.
He had first joined Patterson Belknap in 1976 after serving as assistant U.S. attorney in the criminal division of the Southern District, where he rose to become chief of its official corruption unit. During his 18 years as a judge, Mukasey presided over the trial of Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, who was accused of plotting to destroy New York City landmarks.
Solicitor General Paul Clement is serving as acting attorney general until the Senate confirms Gonzales' replacement. Gonzales spent his last day as the chief law enforcement officer on Friday.
Bush complained that Gonzales, a friend from Texas who also had served as White House counsel, had been the victim of politically motivated attacks in Washington and that “his good name was dragged through the mud.’’
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments
Jammin' Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCxegqMU17A
You got my country in a corner
You got us against the wall
We got nowhere to go
We got nowhere to fall
Take back your WMD's
Baby no more guarantee's
Take back your last throes
Give us something to believe
You're jammin' us, You're jammin' us
Quit jammin' me
Baby you can't keep me painted in a corner
You can walk away, but it's not over
Take back your angry slander
Take back your pathetic pension plan
Take back your Republican killing fields
In NeoCon-Land
Take back Pvt. Pyle Dyslin
Take back Bruce Whinerdice
Take back Trickle Down Terry
Give 'em all some place to go....Iraq
Take back your Gitmo torture cells
And the apple in young Alberto's eye
Yeah take back your losing streak
Check your front wheel drive
Take back 2000
Take back 2004
Take yourself back to that country club
They're tryin' to build outside my door
Posted by: John E | September 16, 2007 10:19 PM
anyone who is a friend of Guliani is a fascist and a anti muslim bigot and the Jewish Democratic Lobby and the fanatic christians will endorse him.
The normal Chirsitian Jews and Muslims wiil know that this is a bigot and stay silent
Posted by: Sam Sammurai | September 16, 2007 10:44 PM
"Swamp" newcomer Jim Oliphant, their designated legal expert, wrote two articles speculating who the new attorney general would be. He presented seven names. Judge Mukasey wasn't one of the seven.
So much for the credibility of the "Swamp" commentators.
Posted by: Bruce | September 17, 2007 12:28 AM
President Bush has found a new nominee for attorney general: Jed Clampett.
Posted by: Anna Nicole Bushisaloser | September 17, 2007 6:50 AM
Jed Clampett is one of the most endearing yet complex characters ever created by the television industry. Superficially, Jed Clamptett doesn't seem to be the type of character that warrants much serious attention. After all he's just a simple, uneducated backwoodsman from the hills who's lived in a shack all of his life, and by pure dumb luck comes into a pile of money which doesn't seem to change him one bit. Which is what makes Jed Clampett such a wonderful character. For Jed Clampett has dignity and integrity and nothing will divert Mr. Clampett from remaining true to himself or altering the way he treats everyone - with openness, honesty and a real desire to be hospitable. Further, Jed Clampett commands respect, and is respected, not only by his immediate family who are utterly devoted to him, but even by that crass and conniving banker who, despite his air of superiority, reveals, episode after episode, what a buffoon he is compared to the calm and self-assured Mr. Clampett. Also, it should be noted the Jed Clampett protects and cares for not only his daughter, but his nephew and mother-in-law, the latter two a constant challenge to Jed's patience, which he never loses. If there were more Jed Clampetts in this world, then maybe we'd all be living in shacks, but at least we'd be getting along with each other and treating each other better.
Posted by: Anna Nicole Bushisaloser | September 17, 2007 6:50 AM
2 women (white) and everyone else is an old white male. No diversity here, no sir.
Posted by: BC | September 17, 2007 10:43 AM
Jed Clampett for AG.
Another reason the Dems will lose in 08.
You might also want to look up the word 'superficial' before you use it in a sentence again. It means 'PHONY'. Phony, just like the Bush haters.
Posted by: ANB | September 17, 2007 11:02 AM
Earboy has another body to throw under the bus. Thank you sir, may I have another one please!
Posted by: snitramc | September 17, 2007 12:19 PM
BC, what's your point? The photo shows the chief judges of the federal judiciary. What does "diversity" have to do with this? Are you saying that the US should establish affirmative action for the federal judiciary? If not, what are you saying?
Posted by: JB | September 17, 2007 3:36 PM
Jed Clampett for AG.
Another reason the Dems will lose in 08.
You might also want to look up the word 'superficial' before you use it in a sentence again. It means 'PHONY'. Phony, just like the Bush haters.
Posted by: ANB | September 17, 2007 11:02 AM
ANB, I'm pretty sure Anna Nicole posted the Jed Clampett comment as a joke. You know levity. Now as far as Bush haters go they are very real! Now if you'll excuse me I have some sports memorabilia to recover!
Posted by: OJ (a.k.a) THE JUICE | September 17, 2007 4:29 PM
Bruce, Mr. Oliphant can hardly be blamed for missing the call here. I don't know much about this guy, but it looks like Dubya may gone outside his usual pool of horse show judges and other loyal screw-ups. He might not even have to sneak him in as a recess appointment! There's just no way anybody could have predicted that.
Posted by: Tom O | September 18, 2007 12:58 AM
Posted by: JB | September 17, 2007 3:36 PM
JB,
I'm just going off-topic like Bruce, john D and Paulo do literally every day. They've set the precedent; I'm just following their actions.
Posted by: BC | September 18, 2007 11:24 AM