Mukasey Confirmed by an Apparently-Now-Unitary Form of Government

The confirmation of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General perpetuates the pervasive, nation-destroying lack of leadership we find ourselves in thrall to. That 40 senators voted against the confirmation, resulting in the lowest level of support among senators since 1952, is not the story. The story is that 53 voted to confirm him. Among these was Sen. Feinstein (D-CA) who said Mukasey was the "best nominee we are going to get from this administration," as if Congress must, like a beggar before a rich man, basely accept with thanks the scraps thrown at him.
Even worse, if that's possible, were the comments of Sen. Schumer who, citing his support for Mukasey (the man Schumer suggested to the Administration to begin with), referred to the Bush Administration as "so contemptuous of the rule of law." Is that right? Well, how about doing the obvious? How about beginning impeachment proceedings? What will it take, for God's sake, for this disintegrating nation's "leadership" to--here's a thought--LEAD?
Let us remember that, less than two years ago, we had yet more evidence of this administration's respect for the law. Then, it was a widely reported, ballyhooed, photo-op-for-everybody moment, when President Bush signed a bill outlawing the torture of detainees. And what followed? The signing statement. Yes, the legal "tool" designed to render meaningless congressional legislation since, let us remind ourselves, George Bush's understanding of executive power is that it is without limits. As this administration sees it, our form of government is actually a unitary form--the legislative and judicial branches, to the degree they matter at all, are intended to serve only as collective yes-men for this absolutist president.
And so here we are. We have a senate where 53 members who, to the degree they care about the novel idea that the United States is "a nation of laws," hope for the best from the man they confirm. Our fingers are crossed, they seem to say, that Mukasey will do the right thing, uphold the law, reign in the one who reigns.
A wing and a prayer, indeed.