Op-Ed by Senator Charles Schumer - Nov. 6 - "A Vote for Justice "

I am quite unimpressed by the ability of many on the left of the political spectrum to behave in a precise mirror fashion of those the criticize on the right. Why is it that a voice of reason has to be bashed for disagreeing on one issue? What is with those who would have the left behave like a bunch of royalists requiring conformity to the sole imperial mantra? Worse still, what is with being such childish a**holes towards anyone, including the most senior and respected members of the Dem majority, if they hold an opinion contrary to one's own. What we really need around here is:

A Voice for Reason. And, the ability to listen to what other voices are dsaying and assessing the complexities of their views. Let's se if there is even a chance that DUers can show such traits. Or, is this just a place for trolls, ratf**kers, and a**moles to bash Dems for any slight that can serve as a wedgie? Congratulations to Sen. Chuck Schumer for stating his case and following his conscience (irrespective of what I personally think I would do in his shoes).

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A Vote for Justice
by CHARLES SCHUMER - Nov 6, 2007 - Op-Ed Contributor
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/opinion/06schumer.html


I AM voting today to support Michael B. Mukasey for attorney general for one critical reason: the Department of Justice — once the crown jewel among our government institutions — is a shambles and is in desperate need of a strong leader, committed to depoliticizing the agency’s operations.

The department has been devastated under the Bush administration. Outstanding United States attorneys have been dismissed without cause; career civil-rights lawyers have been driven out in droves; people appear to have been prosecuted for political reasons; young lawyers have been rejected because they were not conservative ideologues; and politics has been allowed to infect decision-making.

We are now on the brink of a reversal. There is virtually universal agreement, even from those who oppose Judge Mukasey, that he would do a good job in turning the department around. My colleagues who oppose his confirmation have gone out of their way to praise his character and qualifications. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, for one, commended Judge Mukasey as “a brilliant lawyer, a distinguished jurist and by all accounts a good man.”

Most important, Judge Mukasey has demonstrated his fidelity to the rule of law, saying that if he believed the president were violating the law he would resign.

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Mukasey believes in hauling lawyers into court to testify about their clients. Has George considered this? I mean, has George REALLY considered this? Because, in the midst of the darkness, this is causing me to laugh.

Hardly one issue.

First, he is for the unitary executive.
Second, he will not rule that torture of detainees, perhaps even US citizens is unconstitutional.
Third, he is ultra-conservative, and is likely to take his orders from the White House just as Ashcroft and gonzo did before him.

to obey the constitution. He believes that the "war on terror" creates an entirely new category of law, and that one cannot question the power of the commander in chief. my words are incorrect, but the meaning came right out of Mukasey's mouth.

he would worsen his Iraq and Patriot Act record. I thought he was a leader for Democratic principles.

I can't bring myself to join you in admiration.

If he believes this: "Most important, Judge Mukasey has demonstrated his fidelity to the rule of law, saying that if he believed the president were violating the law he would resign."

If those were Mukasey's true feelings, he wouldn't accept the nomination in the first place. Because any Constitutional lawyer knows Bush** has violated the law any number of times...and they don't have to distort logic to prove it the way Bush**'s supporters do to deny it.

not a popular opinion to hold around here, I guess.

Shumer's comments concerning the state of the Justice Department are spot on - I have reason to know he's not overstaing his case here...


I thought his judgement in the Silverstein/Port Authority (WTC) case was very well done.

How about getting someone who will prosecute those who violate the law instead of running away? Is this what we've come to? We are going to confirm someone because they are so principled that they will resign if they catch their boss breaking the law? Pathetic.

Which "one issue" are you referring to? Agreeing Bush* can break American Law at will, not identifying certain torture techniques as torture, or ????

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2195506

""So I called up Governor...our number one target is Rick Santorum...let him go back to wherever he lives, Maryland, you know you heard about it, he is Pennsylvania but he tried to get exempt from the school tax there cause he lives in Maryland even though he is a registered citizen of Pennsylvania. In any case I called up the Governor of Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell, I said who is the best candidate to beat Santorum. He there is only one person who could beat him but he won't run and B you wouldn't want him to. I said why wouldn't we want him to run, he said he's pro-life. He's a deeply religious Catholic man. Bob Casey."

"I said, those days are over Ed. Yes I'm pro-choice, but we need the best candidate. We can't insist that every democrat check off 18 different issues before they get (unintelligible) we could do that, we can't anymore. And so, we persuaded, Harry using his very...Harry has amazing insights into people...and we together persuaded Bob Casey to run. A poll yesterday...national...all the polls they did...Casey 51 Santorum 40. You should see Santorum nervous and walkin on the floor."

Let's see here, Patriot Act, check. IWR, check. Supplemental War Funding, check, check, check, etc. TIA, check. Homeland Security, check.
This could go on for awhile, the point is, it isn't a single issue that we're pissed at Schumer and the Dems about. This is but the latest in a long line of transgressions and cave ins that our so called leaders have done.

he doesn't believe the president is breaking the law? What planet is he from? This demonstrates his "fidelity" to the rule of law??? Give me a fuckin break Shumer.