Prosecuting Criminals

By criminals:

Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Tuesday said former Justice Department officials will not face prosecution for letting improper political considerations drive hirings of prosecutors, immigration judges and other career government lawyers.

Mukasey used his sharpest words yet to criticize the senior leaders who took part in or failed to stop illegal hiring practices during the tenure of his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales.

But, he told delegates to the American Bar Association annual meeting, "not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime. In this instance, the two joint reports found only violations of the civil service laws."

Nothing like a good old-fashioned independent AG.

Bush's AG

Is Bush's AG, no matter how not-Abu Gonzales he may be.

Finding Mukasey

Yglesias draws a good bead.

Real, Clear Leadership

Dodd:

"Mr. Mukasey's position that the President does not have to heed the law disqualifies him from being the chief attorney for the United States. We have seen for too long, and at great expense to our national security, an Administration that has systematically attacked the rule of law and turned our Justice Department into a political wing of the White House. I'm afraid that Mr. Mukasey as Attorney General would be more of the same."

Before I become a complete hack, let me point out I think that any of the top-tier Democrats would make fine presidents and I will vote for whoever wins the nomination. However, Dodd would be better. His statements demonstrate that he understands how to communicate crisply and effectively - one of the most important things a person can do.

Bush Nominates Mukasey for AG

WSJ article.

Glenn Greenwald has some background.

I don't know enough yet to have an opinion. Even if Mukasey is on the conservative end of things, if he conducts the DoJ in an orderly fashion and upholds the Constitution, then I can't say the nomination poses huge problems for me - unlike Olson - but we'll see what gets dug up on him in the coming weeks.

On a totally anecdotal note, his wife was my principal when I was in 6th grade. She seemed nice. Can't talk to her politics tho :P