John Turley’s assessment of Atty. Gen. Michael B. Mukasey:
Many view the decisions as raw examples of political manipulation of the legal process and overt cronyism. I must confess that I was one of those crying foul until I suddenly realized that there was something profound, even beautiful, in Mukasey’s action.
In his twisting of legal principles, the attorney general has succeeded in creating a perfect paradox. Under Mukasey’s Paradox, lawyers cannot commit crimes when they act under the orders of a president — and a president cannot commit a crime when he acts under advice of lawyers.
This is magnificent! It is worthy of that greatest of all commentaries on politico-legal principals, The Mikado! W. S. Gilbert would have been proud.