Mukasey Can't Reach Dems Across Gulf on Terror Law

The refusal by Democrats to give Michael Mukasey a hearing during a Hill appearance yesterday is evidence of a “huge and poisonous gulf” between the legislative and executive branches that threatens to delay action on judicial process until 2009, Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball write in Newsweek. The attorney general wants new laws on review for Gitmo prisoners, but Dems were too suspicious to hear the good parts.

“Zero,” one Congressman said of the chances of a quick response to Mukasey’s testimony. Dems may balk at unqualified protection for classified information and reassurances on deportation of exonerated inmates—and indeed there’s plenty of reason to mistrust President Bush on the issue—but the US needs unified policy on habeas corpus now, and stonewalling is not good enough. (More Michael Mukasey stories.)