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Dianne Feinstein Should Avoid Playing Politics With The Attorney General Nomination

"Despite praise from both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has remained conspicuously silent on President Bush's nomination of Michael Muskasey as Attorney General.  

"As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Feinstein knows the importance and necessity of having an Attorney General in place that can enforce the laws of the United States and protect America's national security. 

"Californians want to know - will Dianne Feinstein join the Democrat Senate leadership in playing politics with this critically important position, or will she step up and call for fair hearings and swift confirmation of Judge Mukasey?"

Hector M. Barajas, Communications Director, California Republican Party

Judge Mukasey Has "An Excellent Reputation" And A "Mastery Of National Security Issues"

The Washington Times: "He satisfies the needs of this administration and promises to be what the American public needs."  "The Senate should schedule the hearings at once and confirm him quickly."  (Editorial, "Mukasey For Attorney General," The Washington Times, 9/18/07) 

The Wall Street Journal:  "[P]resident Bush has found the right man to be Attorney General in Michael Mukasey."  "That is to say, Judge Mukasey as well as any lawyer in the U.S., understands what is normal and what is not normal about the war on terror. As such he has more than adequate standing to discuss these matters with Congress, in good faith, and then preside over the Justice Department's administration of them."  (Editorial, "The Mukasey Nomination," The Wall Street Journal, 9/18/07)

The New York Post: "Michael Mukasey is an inspired choice, and he'll make a terrific attorney general."  "Mukasey has demonstrated what Bush rightly called a 'clear-eyed' appreciation 'about the threat our nation faces' that goes far beyond that of most other federal judges. ... In his 18 years on the bench, six of them as chief judge of the Southern District, Mukasey was widely hailed as one of the nation's best jurists. Before that, he was a highly regarded federal prosecutor." (Editorial, "Don't Stall Mukasey," The New York Post, 9/18/07)

The Weekly Standard's William Kristol: "[W]e can be confident he'll be effective at making the case ... for tough legislation and sound policies on national security issues."  "And he'll be hard to challenge when he does so. Mukasey testifying on behalf of Bush's FISA legislation will be like Petraeus testifying on the surge. He'll be an able public spokesman because he can't be caricatured as a partisan apologist, and the Democrats won't be able to lay a glove on him."  (William Kristol, Op-Ed, "Michael Mukasey To Be Attorney General...," The Weekly Standard, 9/15/07)

National Review Online: "His record indicates sound views on national-security issues such as FISA reform."  "Mukasey has spoken forcefully on the need to reauthorize critical Patriot Act security provisions. And since leaving the bench last year to return to private practice, he has warned of the severe challenges militant Islam presents to our justice system, which promotes generous discovery of government intelligence and frowns on lengthy pretrial detention." (Editorial, "Judging Mukasey," National Review Online, 9/17/07)   

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew McCarthy: "The fact that there was a War [on Terror] was really played out in his own courtroom."  "I think it's crucially important to have somebody who's so steeped and has such unquestioned expertise in these particular national security issues, which really he was dealing with back in 1993, 94, 95, before a lot of the people who are currently decision makers in this arena even knew that we had a War on Terror."  (Fox News' "Special Report," 9/17/07)

• McCarthy: Judge Mukasey's "mastery of national security issues [reflects] a unique fitness to lead the Justice Department in this critical moment of our history." "As a judge, [Mukasey] tolerated nothing but the best effort from prosecutors because he had, himself, been a top prosecutor. He well understood the enormous power in the hands of young assistant U.S. attorneys, the need to temper it with reason and sound judgment." (Andrew C. McCarthy, Op-Ed, "Judge Mukasey Would Make A Stellar Attorney General," National Review, 9/11/07)

Fox News' Eric Shawn: "There may be no other judge in the United States who has weighed the fate of as many suspected terrorists as Michael Mukasey."  "As the former chief New York Federal judge in Manhattan, Mukasey is considered by supporters as highly adept in handling one of the thorniest legal issues of our time - terrorist cases in the age of the War on Terror."  (Fox News' "Special Report," 9/17/07)

U.S. News And World Report's Michael Barone: "[Mukasey] has an excellent reputation as a judge."  "One name I would advance [for Attorney General] is Michael Mukasey, who retired recently as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Mukasey was a year ahead of me in law school, and I knew him fairly well: very smart, very serious." (Michael Barone, "Our First Revolution," U.S. News And World Report's "Michael Barone Blog," www.usnews.com, 8/27/07)

The American Spectator's Philip Klein: "I found Mukasey to be a really smart, tough, no-nonsense judge."  "I had the oppourtunity to watch Mukasey in action when I was a financial reporter... I found Mukasey to be a really smart, tough, no-nonsense judge, who made it clear who was in charge, kept the parties in line, moved the case along, and often displayed a quick wit. I came away quite impressed with him."  (Philip Klein, "Judging Mukasey," AmSpec Blog, 9/17/07)

The New York Sun: "[Mukasey] has shown a great fidelity to the abiding principles that Madison and the other authors of the Constitution laid down for our Republic." "Michael Mukasey, the former chief judge of the federal courthouse in Manhattan, would make a fine attorney general. ... From a long career on the bench, Mr. Mukasey is as trial-tested as any judge in this country. He is a tested federal prosecutor " (Editorial, "Mukasey's Moment," The New York Sun, 9/7/07)  

The Washington Post: "To be sure, there is much to be admired in Mr. Mukasey." "He won plaudits for his deft handling of the difficult case of Omar Abdel Rahman, the 'blind sheik,' who was convicted for his role in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. He garnered applause from conservatives for upholding the executive's right to designate alleged dirty bomber Jose Padilla an enemy combatant, even while winning the respect of liberals for insisting that Mr. Padilla be allowed to consult with a lawyer. And in a time when bipartisan consensus on almost any subject seems but a quaint ideal, Mr. Mukasey has won fans across the political spectrum..."  (Editorial, "Nomination Preemption," The Washington Post, 9/17/07)

USA Today:  "[M]ukasey knows his way around national security issues." "The department, and the nation don't need a long, bitter confirmation fight.  They need someone who can help build a national consensus on the divisive security vs. privacy issues prompted by the terrorist threat." (Editorial, "Our View On The Attorney General: Bush's Choice Must Show Where His Loyalties Lie," USA Today, 9/18/07)

Balkinization's Scott Horton: "Mukasey is driven by a concern for national security..."  "Mukasey is not just a prominent judge, he is a judicious personality.  That is to say, he has one much underrated quality in abundance: the ability to listen carefully, weigh facts and arguments and then form decisions.  He does not rush to judgment.  Having an attorney general who can listen carefully and deliberate will be a refreshing change." (Scott Horton, Balkinization, www.balkin.blogspot.com, 9/17/07)

Red State's Pejman Yousefzadeh:  "Quite frankly, there is little else to be desired from the standpoint of center-right law aficionados." "His record is admirable as a judge and a prosecutor, he has played a significant role on the legal front in the battle against terrorism and he supports the Patriot Act."  (Pejman Yousefzadeh, The Red State Blog, www.theredstate.com, 9/17/07)

The Captain's Quarters' Ed Morrissey:  "If the White House thinks Mukasey will represent its policies and goals at Justice as well or better than anyone else, we should be supportive of the nomination and hold Democrats to their word on his confirmation."  (Ed Morrissey, The Captain's Quarters Blog, www.thecaptainsquartersblog.com, 9/17/07)

"His Extensive Experience In National Security And Terrorism Cases Make[s] Him An Ideal Candidate"

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY):  "Judge Mukasey possesses the qualities required to lead the Department of Justice."  "His many years on the bench and as a prosecutor, particularly his experience handling complicated terrorism cases, is certainly welcome at an organization that plays such a key role in our nation's anti-terror efforts." (Sen. Mitch McConnell, "U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Statement Regarding The Nomination Of Judge Michael Mukasey To Serve As Attorney General of the United States," Press Release, 9/17/07)

Senate Republican Conference Chairman Jon Kyl (R-AZ):  "I applaud the president's choice for attorney general."  "His knowledge of the legal system, his commitment to justice, and his consummate fairness and integrity won him the respect of his colleagues and observers of the courts.  These qualities, combined with his extensive experience in national security and terrorism cases, make him an ideal candidate for attorney general.'"  (Sen. Jon Kyl, "Kyl Applauds President's Choice For Attorney General," Press Release, 9/17/07)

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-PA): "He comes to the nomination with excellent academic and professional qualifications."  "I met with the judge the morning, talked to him about the process and about his own background. He comes to the nomination with excellent academic and professional qualifications: a Columbia grad, Yale Law School; been a practicing lawyer for many years, an assistant United States attorney, a judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York - chief judge there. [He] handled many complex trials." (Sen. Arlen Specter, Press Conference, 9/17/07)

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX):  "He deserves a fair and prompt hearing by the Senate." "I am examining Judge Mukasey's record and will continue to do so in the days ahead. But early indications are that he is a respected, experienced jurist who has a strong reputation for honesty and integrity."  (Sen. John Cornyn, "Cornyn Urges Fair and Prompt Hearing for Judge Mukasey," Press Release, 9/17/07)

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN):  "Judge Mukasey has extensive experience and a reputation for fairness."  (Sen. Lamar Alexander, "Alexander Statement: Nomination Of Judge Michael Mukasey To Serve As U.S. Attorney General," Press Release, 9/17/07)

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH): "The Judge's rulings and his previous record as a prosecutor underscore his competence on national security issues and his fitness to serve as our nation's chief law enforcement officer." "Judge Mukasey has gained a considerable amount of direct experience on the bench in dealing with the threats posed by radical terrorists.  This experience is crucial as Congress faces the challenge of making critical tools to combat terrorism, such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a permanent part of our arsenal.  Judge Mukasey is an accomplished public servant with impeccable credentials and will be an outstanding addition to the President's Cabinet."  (Rep. John Boehner, Statement On The President's Nomination Of Michael Mukasey To Be Attorney General, Press Release, 9/17/07)

House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO): "When it comes to issues of national security and homeland defense, Judge Mukasey will need no primer on the mechanics of current policy." "The nomination of Mike Mukasey to serve as our next attorney general comes at an important time for this nation, as Congress prepares to debate whether our intelligence services be given the tools needed to track the movements and communications of terrorists abroad."  (Rep. Roy Blunt, "Statement On Michael Mukasey's Nomination To Be Next Attorney General," Press Release, 9/17/07)

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-TX): "His experience in national security law is especially important as law enforcement and intelligence officials continue the fight to protect our Nation from future attacks."  "Despite the lack of any evidence of wrongdoing, Democrats have held the Justice Department hostage, inflicting irreparable damage on the federal criminal justice system. It is time for Democrats to stop hindering the Justice Department and start working for the American people. ... They must act now and confirm Michael Mukasey as Attorney General of the United States."  (Rep. Lamar Smith, "Smith Says Confirm Mukasey Now," Press Release, 9/17/07)   

"He Has Very Strong Law-And-Order Values"

Ethics and Public Policy Center President Edward Whelan: "He has all the objective qualifications to be an excellent attorney general."  "He's not well known, so there would be some question marks in the minds of a lot of folks if he's nominated. But my strong sense is that the more people learn about him, the more impressed they will be."  (Michael Abramowitz and Dan Eggen, "Ex-Judge Is Said To Be Pick At Justice," The Washington Post, 9/17/07)

Former White House Domestic Policy Advisor Jay P. Lefkowitz: "I think Mike Mukasey would be a first-rate pick." "He's really a tough-as-nails judge. He has very strong law-and-order values." (Michael Abramowitz and Dan Eggen, "Mukasey Cited As Leading Candidate For Attorney General," The Washington Post, 9/16/07)

Ethics and Public Policy Center Senior Fellow Peter Wehner: "He embodies the excellence we hope to find in public officials."  "By seemingly every account, Judge Mukasey is respected for his professionalism, sober judgment, integrity, and intellect. ... Second, it is in the national interest to have an Attorney General who is (among other things) principled and tough on terrorism, confirmed by a wide margin. He will have greater credibility when it comes to advocating for the tools that we need to keep the United States safe from attack." (Peter Wehner, "The Corner," National Review Online, Accessed 9/17/07)

American Center for Law and Justice Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow: "[H]is handling of some of the most important cases involving terrorism underscores his respect for the Constitution and the rule of law."  "The President's nomination of Judge Mukasey is good for the Department of Justice and good for America. ... As the nation's chief law enforcement officer, Judge Mukasey will serve the Department of Justice and the nation well." (American Center For Law And Justice, "ACLJ Pleased With Nomination Of Former Federal Judge Michael Mukasey As U.S. Attorney General," Press Release, 9/17/07)

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