It appears that the Blog pressure has put enough sweat on the candidate’s heads that they feel like they have to make this statement, even before Mukasey “clarifies” his statements to the Senate.

Dodd, who has the luxury as an underdog to do these things first, was first:

Mr. Mukasey’s position that the President does not have to heed the law disqualifies him from being the chief attorney for the United States. We have seen for too long, and at great expense to our national security, an Administration that has systematically attacked the rule of law and turned our Justice Department into a poltical wing of the White House. I’m afraid that Mr. Mukasey as Attorney General would be more of the same.

Obama, sensing the wave and feeling the need to beat Edwards on announcing something for once, was second:

I cannot support Judge Mukasey unless he clearly and unequivocally rejects techniques like water-boarding.

But then decided that, since the liberal blogs probably won’t be happy with anything other than bowing down and granting them absolute loyalty, decided to say he was opposing Mukasey, even if he does unequivocally reject waterboarding:

Judge Mukasey has failed to send a clear signal that he understands the legal and moral issues that are at stake for our country, and so I cannot support him.

Edwards, sweating that he might come in last place – something he can’t do if he’s in third, and for which there is no excuse for since he’s not even in the Senate, so can demand all sorts of things from it then sit back and relax, was third:

“The credibility of Justice Department has been badly tarnished, and it is now clear that Mukasey is not the man to restore it. The Senate should reject his nomination.

Then Hillary came in, first with a statement somewhat along the lines of Obama’s first:

“Senator Clinton is deeply troubled by Judge Mukasey’s unwillingness to clearly state his views on torture and unchecked executive power,” a spokesman for her Senate office, Philippe Reines, told the Sun in an e-mail yesterday.

Of course, to the left “being deeply troubled” by something, but perhaps waiting for a clarification isn’t enough, so she decides to flat out oppose him:

Judge Mukasey has been given ample opportunity – both at his confirmation hearings and in his subsequent submission to the Judiciary Committee – to clarify his answers and categorically oppose the unacceptable interrogation techniques employed by this Administration. His failure to do so leaves me no choice but to oppose his nomination.

Of course, this makes Clinton a trangulating poll reader [/saracm]

Also, despite Clinton’s quote, Mukasey hasn’t responded to the Judiciary Committee’s written questions yet, and while his 2nd day of testimony certainly concerned me personally, I’m still not willing to ditch it until he answers those questions.

I think the mad rush to throw Mukasey in the trash before his response to those questions just shows how much of a grip the liberal wing of the party has over the candidates at this point.

Correction: apparently Mukasey has responded (pdf) to a letter sent to him by Senator Leahy on October 18th, but not other letters sent to him by other senators on 22nd, 23rd, or 24th, or follow-ups written to him on the 25th.