Of course Mukasey will be weak, Bruce. Why else do you think Bush picked him?

If there's one thing the Right doesn't want in America, it's the rule of law. If you're rich it could cut into profits. If you're fundamentalist you prefer the Christian version of Sharia: a return to Biblical principles, complete with witchhunts and book-burnings.

Leading any serious effort to implement Sharia is a strong father figure, one with no patience for criticism or dissent over doctrine. That's what the Right thought they were getting in Bush, though the truth has been slow to dawn. It takes intelligence, not just ruthlessness, to really get the job done.

Rumsfeld. Wolfowitz. Gonzales. Rove. Most officials of real consequence have resigned from this Administration in some degree of disgrace. And let's not forget all of the generals and admirals who've fallen, beginning with Colin Powell. Almost to a man, they went on to bitterly denounce the Administration from the safety of retirement. Funny how few of our heroes have the courage of their convictions while they're still receiving a paycheck.

No, the current era belongs not to movers-and-shakers but to go-along guys like Mukasey. Mukasey will carp a bit and thus satisfy moderates. But by the act of accepting a nomination from this president, he has already agreed not to force change. We're looking at 15 more months of caretaker government and God knows what after that.

But you shouldn't really be surprised, Bruce. As if Big Money would have allowed anything else.