Michael Mukasey's first day of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week was mellow as a Buddhist peace rally, as Dana Milbank hilariously observed. But Mukasey's less-publicised second day of remarks is giving many Democrats second thoughts, particularly his inexplicable dodge when asked whether waterboarding amounted to torture.
Now those skeptical Democrats have submitted follow-up questions to the attorney general nominee, and the love-in looks to be over. Each senator's best query is shared below....
Dianne Feinstein of California: "Did the government tell you, before you signed the order vacating the arrest warrant [of terrorist suspect Jose Padilla], that the government would continue to detain Mr. Padilla but move him out of New York and deny him access to the lawyer you appointed for him?"
Russ Feingold of Wisconsin: "In your view, does the legal definition of "torture" or "inhumane treatment" depend on the identity of the person administering the technique and/or the identity and/or the identity of the person who is its subject?"
Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island: "Do you believe that the government may act contrary to a valid executive order?"
Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts (part of 50 pages of questions): "Do you believe that the administration deserves the trust of the American people after taking us to war in Iraq under false pretenses, denying that it engaged in torture when we know that it did, and listening to the conversations of Americans without warrants?"
Dick Durbin of Illinois: "In addition to 'leading figures in the conservative world,' have you met [before your hearings] with any leaders of civil rights or human rights organisations?"
