Mukasey is an old friend of Schumer’s ... Schumer is on record himself as acknowledging sometimes torture is appropriate ... Schumer HAD to vote for Muskasey, despite the split from the party orthodoxy .. Schumer needed a beard ... Feinstein fit the bill.
After the White House nominated Mukasey, one of the Jewish pubs I get put out an article about their great pride in Mukasey who, I think, might be the first Jewish AG when confirmed. So both Schumer and Feinstein had a secondary interest in his confirmation.
Not to mention, Mukasey appears to have been one helluva good judge. That alone would not have swayed their votes and seems to have had no impact with Leahy, Biden, Durbin, Fat Teddy. Speaking of whom, let us have one last good laugh at Fat Teddy claiming he won’t vote for Mukasey becaue he didn’t answer properly about water torture! No irony there!
He'll be the second. We also had one during the Ford administration.