Dems take a pass on real civil liberties action

Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, Attorney General Mike Mukasey challenged Congressional Democrats to pass comprehensive legislation on Iraq/Afghanistan detainees rights, claiming the courts had made a hash of it.

Now, I think Mukasey is too harsh on that, as well as too clever by half; the courts have made a hash of Bush’s plans, more than anything.

But, he’s not all wrong, either. And yes, having Congress address some of the convoluted issues could be good.

Here’s why I claim Congressional Democrats are taking a pass.

Mukasey and the rest of BushCo want to coopt Congress into nailing some jello to the wall.

Congress doesn't want to go along.

The Democratic-controlled Congress is still afraid of the GWOT/Soft on Terror GOP talking points.

So, rather than going past calling Mukasey to seriously raising the bet, Congressional Dems go chicken-shit.

As for specific Democrats, yes, Sen. Pat Leahy is right that Mukasey has had plenty of chances, in front of Leahy’s Judiciary Committee, to propose general outlines of such legislation.

But, that’s not stopping you from taking the bit in your own teeth, Pat.

Instead, I suspect Dems view this idea with about as much relish as they do actually invoking the War Powers Act.

And, given the FISA cave, maybe it’s better that Dems decline Mukasey’s invite anyway. They’d be sure to cave in the end.

And, as for Leahy’s ride on the wahhmbulance that Mukasey didn’t “check in with him” before speaking at AEI, what the hell is up with that? Last I checked, Mike Mukasey wasn’t top counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, he was Attorney General and employed by the executive branch.

Political silly season from both sides will continue to gear up.