Mukasey was about 20 minutes into a speech to the Federalist Society when he began to slur his words and shake slightly before collapsing slowly, into the arms of several nearby men (probably from his security detail) who had rushed to assist him. He lost consciousness briefly, but regained it before leaving for treatment George Washington University, and never transferred power to his deputy. He is reportedly “alert and conversant,” which is good news considering the stroke-like look of the incident. His spokespeople asked if it was a stroke, but offered no comment. Mukasey was appointed by President Bush in 2007 to replace the beleaguered Alberto Gonzales, and was confirmed 53-40, after some controversy about his answer on waterboarding, an aggressive interrogation technique he refused to designate as “torture” and declare illegal. Presidential candidates Clinton, McCain, Dodd, Biden and Obama were not around to vote. As is its wont, the Left blogosphere went to work wishing ill upon the imperiled official, although their behavior has improved somewhat since conservative blogs and O’Reilly started pointing out every death wish thread they concoct. At Daily Kos, the diary writer and one commenter were mocked for offering prayers for Mukasey, “The equivalent of urinating on a cold sparkplug…How have your prayers been working out for you over the past eight years? Got a constitution? A rule of law? Got a decent job?” This guy “questions the timing.” Democratic Underground offers more mockery for prayer and calls him a “3rd reich henchman.” Feel the hope. Keep Mukasey in your prayers. It’s good news that paramedics were quick, and he sounds like he’s doing fairly well.
