Could the $459B defense stopgap measure agreed upon have anything to do

with Mukasey's confirmation? :think:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senate-approves-mukasey-nomination-2007-11-09.html

snip//

“After the longest confirmation process in nearly 20 years, the Senate has finally voted to confirm Judge Mukasey as attorney general,” said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), who chairs the Senate GOP Conference. “The Department of Justice has a vital role to play in the war against Islamic terrorists, and it is critically important that it have a leader who can ensure that it fulfills its mission. Judge Mukasey is this kind of leader.”

Thursday’s vote came as bit of surprise. Earlier in the day, Reid said he was not sure whether there would be a filibuster on the nomination, which would have required 60 votes to break. The majority leader signaled that a vote could even be delayed until after the two-week Thanksgiving recess, which starts at the end of next week.

After the Mukasey vote, the Senate by a voice vote cleared a $459 billion conference report funding the Defense Department with a stopgap measure to keep the rest of the government funded through Dec. 14.