Brodner’s Person of the Day: Michael B. Mukasey

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Michael B. Mukasey, attorney general nominee, who testified before the Senate yesterday. He made a few statements that gave the mainstream press cause for a sigh of relief. The fine print is bad, however. He essentially supported warrantless wiretapping, indefinite detention, torture, and the continued use of Gitmo. He condemned the Bybee memo advocating torture but would not discuss the recent memos advocating waterboarding, chaining to floors, freezing, etc. This morning Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, appeared on Democracy Now! He quoted Mukasey, “‘What you characterize as torture I do not know of such a policy.” The question is, where is this guy living? Is he an ostrich?”

PS: From Ratner again: When Mukasey was a NY judge, a Palestinian dressed in an orange jumpsuit was brought before him claiming to be tortured in U.S. custody. Mukasey said, “He looks fine to me.”

Democrats need to wake up and smell the torture.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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