...same as the old boss: the sequel

Ted Olson, Larry Silberman, and George Terwilliger have emerged as the leading contenters for the Attorney General job, each one worse than the one before:

President Bush is expected to choose a replacement for Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales by the middle of next week, and former solicitor general Theodore B. Olson has emerged as one of the leading contenders for the job, according to sources inside and outside the government who are familiar with White House deliberations.

Susie Madrak on each of these guys' history of insane wingnuttery:

As assistant attorney general to President Reagan from 1981 to 1983, Olson advised the president to claim executive privilege to block an investigation by congressional Democrats into the scandal-plagued Superfund program, based on assertions that later proved fatally false -- largely because Olson, apparently eager to force a political fight with Congress, failed to double-check key information.

And of course, both Olson and Silberman were closely involved in the Arkansas Project, the proverbial right-wing conspiracy to take down Bill Clinton.

Larry Silberman? Overturned Oliver North's conviction on what is seen as very shaky legal grounds, part of the illegal arms-for-hostages deal that helped Reagan win the 1980 election, and coordinated the attacks on Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. (I'd love to see Media Matter's David Brock testify against his character if nominated.)

Terwilliger isn't as famous a wingnut, which makes him the most likely nominee. They do like their unknowns, don't they? And after facing the twin specters of Olson and Silberman, the oh-so-predictable Democratic Congress will heave a sigh of relief and roll over on this nomination.

I wish I could say Susie is wrong or being overly dramatic. But given how the Democrats rolled over for John Roberts and Samuel Alito, and with Joe Biden's words to Alberto Gonzales, "I like you...you're the real deal" -- etched into my brain with battery acid for all eternity, you can bet that there will be a show hearing, a quick confirmation, and more Unitary Executive Theory, more stonewalling, more torture, and a continue of the Bush Administration's depressing and relentless march towards a complete police state -- with absolutely no opposition of any consequence.