An interesting tidbit via Daily Kos: it appears that a group of people decided to show their lack of amusement at Chuck Schumer's vote for Michael Mukasey by staging a protest in front of his office.

Imagine, there's even a video.

What's interesting about this simply this: New York electeds are used to essentially doing whatever they want without consequence. Support a bigot for a judgeship, no biggie. Support someone who can't say that waterboarding is torture, or that the law binds even the President, equally, it appears, not a big deal.

Guess these folks didn't get the memo titled Shut Up and Clap. Good for them.

And still they wonder where their approval ratings have gone.

The New York Times reports that Judge Michael Mukasey of New York has been confirmed to the post of Attorney General, to which he was originally nominated on the advice of New York's senior Senator, Charles Schumer. Forty Democrats voted against the nomination; fifty three Senators, including Schumer, voted in favor; and all five members of the august chamber who are currently running for President absented themselves from the vote.

Mukasey is notable for being the first Attorney General of the United States to be sworn in after having refused to say whether he would prohibit torture, and after making an equally remarkable statement to the effect that the President can act outside of and contrary to the law.

Needless to say, this nomination was not subject to the ongoing republican filibuster that now requires the Senate to have sixty votes to pass much of anything.

Now, forty four Democrats did oppose this nomination, including all four Presidentials, ironically creating one of the few divergences of opinion between Senators Clinton and Schumer. Fine speeches were delivered, much high-sounding rhetoric echoed up to the high ceilings of the Senate chamber.  read more »

UPDATE: Progressive Democrats of America, Brooklyn For Peace & others plan a protest at Sen. Schumer's Park Slope home Tuesday night. They write:

Senator Schumer's support of Mukasey for U.S. Attorney General is outrageous and we must respond.

New York Progressive Democrats of America joins with Brooklyn For Peace and other Neighborhood Peace organizations to protest Senator Charles Schumer's decision to support the nomination of Michael Mukasey for U.S. Attorney General.

PROTEST VIGIL - TUESDAY, NOV 6th, 6:00 pm
at Senator Schumer's residence: 9 Prospect Park West (corner of President Street in Park Slope)Brooklyn, NY

Protest Schumer's support of Michael Mukasey - who will support Bush's continued use of torture.
Protest Schumer's increasing support of military action against Iran and Bush's attempt to launch a new war.
Protest Schumer's continuing support of funding for the war against Iraq.

As Senate Judiciary power broker, Senator Schumer green-lighted the nomination of Michael Mukasey as Mr. Bush’s replacement AG to hit for Gonzo. The bad news of course is that Judge M cannot figure out whether waterboarding is torture. This put our senior senator in a spot. He now favors the Mukaseky. He may be a key to defeating it. What a sad situation.  read more »