The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Mukasey

Text Size

Bob Novak delves into the decision to nominate Judge Mukasey while declaring him "unqualified and ill-equipped" to deal the Justice Department. He continues that Mukasey is not "well qualified to be attorney general by any rational standard." Well, yes, "unqualified" except for 18 years as a Judge, 6 as Chief Judge, his writings and expertise on the balance between terrorism and civil liberties, his remarkable stature and instant credibility with professional lawyers and his personal bravery and work ethic. I understand a certain disappointment in being deprived of a fight with Senate Democrats. I also understand (but do not agree) that he might be considered insufficiently conservative in ideological terms or that he will not have a close enough personal relationship with the President to get things done but "unqualified"? Only in a world view where competence, integrity and professional experience don't matter. (An apt description of the place from which Bush is trying to escape.) Daniel Henninger in today's Wall Street Journal(subscription required) actually looks at Mukasy's record and writings, offering this: " My point is not that Judge Mukasy's view on these matters should prevail, though that's fine by me. It is that his knowledge and stature offer an opportunity to raise national security from the muck and trash talk of 'experienced' Washington. Most of the time, who cares? But right now isn't most of the time." We hope.

topics:
Law