Schumer, Feinstein ‘surprise’ thwarts efforts on Mukasey

[babylonsister]

Is it too much to ask that these two watch KO?


Schumer, Feinstein ‘surprise’ thwarts efforts on Mukasey
By Manu Raju
November 06, 2007

The coordinated statements released late Friday afternoon by two Democratic senators that they would break ranks and support President Bush’s attorney general nominee largely muted opposition from a Democratic base that has become increasingly frustrated with Congress, activist leaders said Monday.

Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) effectively thwarted plans by the activist left to use the weekend to mobilize ahead of Tuesday’s Judiciary Committee vote and pressure wayward senators to reject the nominee, activists said.

“It was a surprise attack,” said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the Washington legislative office for the American Civil Liberties Union, which wants the Judiciary Committee to defeat the nomination. “There was a limited opportunity to say much about what Schumer and Feinstein had done because the timing was very cleverly calculated to avoid scrutiny.”

With the support of Schumer, Feinstein and the committee’s nine Republicans, Mukasey has garnered enough support to clear the panel and move to the Senate floor.

Before Feinstein’s announcement, sent to the media by e-mail at about 4:28 p.m., the nomination had seemed in doubt, especially after Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced his opposition to Mukasey at a 3 p.m. news conference in Burlington, Vt. Leahy became the fifth Judiciary Committee Democrat to announce his opposition over Mukasey’s refusal to state explicitly that the interrogation technique known as waterboarding constitutes torture.

Hours before Leahy’s press conference, however, Schumer in a telephone call already had laid out his thoughts to the chairman and also relayed a message that Feinstein had planned to support the nominee, according to aides.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/schumer-feinstein-surprise-thwarts-efforts-on-mukasey-2007-11-06.html

[bdamomma]

1. I hope all Californians and New Yorkers have called these

two Senators and told them about their sheer disgust into voting for this man Mukasey, again * is just saving his own a$$.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. I did.

I got a "You're too stupid to understand the issues" letter from her office. Feinstein absolutely does not give a shit. Like the Bush administration, she doesn't even try to hid it anymore.

[Postman]

2. I wonder if Feinstein has known about waterboarding and is fearful

of an investigation into waterboarding...

If Mukasey admits that waterboarding is torture, he might have to look into who was doing it and who knew about it...

[babylonsister]

3. I wonder, if she knows, why she'd be fearful. She should be angry! nt

[Postman]

11. Feinstein sits on the Intelligence Committee...

and she may have been one of the few Democrats that was briefed on the fact that this was going on. So maybe she was told that she would be one of those that will be prosecuted if there's an AG who looks into this stuff....

[Moochy]

13. BINGO

She is a war-profiteering self-serving scoundrel. Difi's tortured stance on torture is the last straw. She needs to retire.

[babylonsister]

14. Ahhh, gotcha! The plot thickens! nt

[L. Coyote]

22. Who all were in on the war crimes?

[cascadiance]

19. Her "cutting a deal" with Mukasey is exactly my concern! We need to be ready to recall Ahnuld!

As I noted in this other thread I started the other day:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3682868&mesg_id=3682868

Why would she be so adamant about going after Gonzo and the attorneygate scandal before anyone else and now be so eager to approve Mukasey. Methinks she's covering up a skeleton in her closet and wants to make sure that the wheels are greased her way.

I think the thing we need to work for to try and get rid of Feinstein is to be ready to recall Arnold at a moment's notice if he gives us ammunition to do so. Getting him out of the way would:

1) Give her a cherry to go for (run for governor in the recall election) to get her out of the Senate seat, and then pick someone that we could all get behind to replace her in exchange for NOT going after her skeleton.

2) If not item 1, then get another progressive Dem elected into the governor's office who we know would replace her with a decent progressive Democrat and not a Repuke if the Dems were to decide to go after her for this "skeleton".

[NV Whino]

20. DiFi has so many skeletons in her closet

she had to build a bigger house with more and bigger closets.

[fed-up]

16. same old b*shit used for Pearl Harbor-for interests of National Security-YOU vill do vat ve vant nt

[Me.]

4. Don't Want To Twist Arms?

Why, would that be considered torture?

[Neshanic]

5. Jesus, I actually feel sorry for the NYers and Californians, at least we know McCain is nuts.

[Le Taz Hot]

8. Feel more sorry for New Yorkers.

At least CAlifornia's junior Senator is Barbara Boxer.

[Cha]

10. The Felonious,

Phoney Phoenician? :)

And, I knew fuckchuck was a tool and di-fiend was traitor for years..nothing new here.

[notadmblnd]

6. I thought it was reported over the weekend that she would not support his nomination?

[babylonsister]

12. I haven't heard she's retracted anything. AFAIK, she's voting for confirmation. nt

[AlCzervik]

9. i called her office today, it took about 20 times to get through

"Yes the phones have been very busy today" I just bet they were. Anyhow i registered my complaint like i've done before and followed it up with a tersely written letter.

[beltanefauve]

15. Glad you got through

I didn't, and her voicemail was full, too.

[fed-up]

17. I called local and DC and got busy signals all day...nt

[AlCzervik]

18. i called the SF office, i stopped trying DC.

http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.StateOffices

[L. Coyote]

21. How will they vote in the full Senate?