Bush Names Mukasey for AG

Choice of retired federal judge seen as effort to avoid confirmation fight

By Caroline Miller, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 17, 2007 10:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Bush nominated retired federal judge Michael B. Mukasey today as attorney general. Seen as a compromise that would avoid abrasive confirmation struggles but still maintain DoJ’s law-and-order mindset, the choice comes after Democrats vowed to block the more controversial Ted Olson, reports the New York Times.

Bushies hope Mukasey, neither a White House confidant nor a Washington insider, will be confirmed before the Senate’s October 8 recess. And indeed there are already signs of consensus, as Sen. Chuck Schumer called the candidate someone “who would put rule of law first” and the Weekly Standard editor approved Mukasey despite hard-right deficiencies. But as much as Bush may want a quick turn of the page, he couldn’t help looking back today—calling departed Alberto Gonzales “a dear friend and trusted advisor.”

President Bush, right, and retired federal judge Michael Mukasey, left, his nominee for attorney general, replacing Alberto Gonzales, walk to the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday,... (Associated Press)

President Bush, left, announces his choice for attorney general, retired federal judge Michael Mukasey, right, 66, from New York, right, Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, in the Rose Garden of the White House in... (Associated Press)

Retired federal judge Michael Mukasey listens as President Bush, not pictured, announces him as his choice for attorney general, replacing Alberto Gonzales, Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, in the Rose Garden... (Associated Press)

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Choice of retired federal judge seen as effort to avoid confirmation fight

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Michael Hayden says it would have backfired then, and would now, too

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By every metric, the cuts delivered less than promised

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It's Bush's policies that led us to bin Laden, says radio host

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W. says he won't campaign, fundraise, or criticize Obama

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And they oppose any path to legal status for illegals

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Bush Names Mukasey for AG

Choice of retired federal judge seen as effort to avoid confirmation fight

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Bush administration • Alberto Gonzales • Charles Schumer • Senate • Michael Mukasey • George W. Bush

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Bush's CIA Chief: We Ruled Out Iran Strike

Michael Hayden says it would have backfired then, and would now, too

Happy Birthday, Bush Tax Cuts: You're a Total Failure

By every metric, the cuts delivered less than promised

Rush Limbaugh: Obama Owes Us an Osama Apology

It's Bush's policies that led us to bin Laden, says radio host

Bush: I'm Done With Politics

W. says he won't campaign, fundraise, or criticize Obama

GOP to Obama: Step Up Immigration Raids

And they oppose any path to legal status for illegals

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