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Why is Bush's AG pick significant?

September 17, 2007 8:41 PM

Justice Department correspondent Pierre Thomas blogs:

President Bush's selection of a former federal district judge may be the newest signal that the White House is willing to compromise with Congressional Democrats -- who have fought the administration on so many issues. You need look at only one senator to see the difference in tone. Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat from New York, has been, perhaps, the administration's most vocal critic on Capitol Hill. Yet today, there was Senator Schumer was sounding far less combative in commenting on the selection of Michael Mukasey of New York.

"The President is a conservative, and any pick would naturally be conservative," Schumer said in a press conference today. "Most of the other names that were reportedly under consideration would have represented more of the same from this White House: more obstinacy, more opaqueness and more politicization of the uppermost echelons of our nation’s law enforcement. This selection has meaning beyond the resume of the man selected. For once, the President did not choose the path of most resistance. It gives hope that the final year and a half of this Bush administration may bring less of a go-it-alone attitude than the first six."

Here's what Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois had to say in a statement: "Judge Mukasey has a distinguished record of public service, and I hope his background as a member of the federal judiciary will give him the independence and integrity necessary for the job of Attorney General."

While the Democrats say they plan to ask Mukasey tough questions about his stance on some of the administration's most aggressive tactics in the war on terror -- they clearly are willing to give him the benefit of the doubt -- at least early on.

White House spokesman Dana Perino was sounding optimistic as well. Perino said Mukasey has been "well-received by both sides of the aisle in congress" and "initial feedback is very good." It looks like the White House did not want a fight on this one.

But wait just a second. Nothing is ever simple in Washington. Some conservatives based in Washington are said not to be thrilled with a nominee, who is not widely known in the nation's capital.

And there is a risk Mukasey's nomination might be delayed by Democrats who want MORE White House cooperation in their probe of the U.S. Attorneys controversy and a secret surveillance program. They want documents the White House has so far refused to release. Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont went to the Senate floor Monday and issued this warning: "Our focus now will be on securing the relevant information we need so we can proceed to schedule fair and thorough hearings," Leahy said. "Cooperation from the White House will be essential in determining that schedule."

I guess we all have to stay tuned. Not so fast on political detente.

September 17, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (0)

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