From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Is Michael Mukasey the right man for the job?

Hello again, I'm Arminolny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Yesterday, former Judge Michael Mukasey appeared to be convincing a Senate committee that he should replace Alberto Gonzalez as Attorney General.

But today, some Democrats said they were very disappointed by his failure to clearly answer the question is waterboarding torture.

Approval of harsh means of interrogation got Gonzalez in trouble

with civil libertarians of both political parties. On to the point, we'll hear different

opinions about Mukasey's record, the legal challenges he faces, and morale at the Justice

Department. Should he be required to appoint a special prosecutor to clean up the political

taint left by Gonzalez.

First up, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John

D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation.

Hello again, Mormon. I'm only back with To the Point. After a smooth day yesterday at the Senate

Judiciary Committee, former Judge Michael Mukasey got into trouble today on the issue of waterboarding.

On To the Point, is it torture? Is it constitutional? Will it get in the way of Mukasey's confirmation as Attorney General?

First, this news update.

As expected, the House today fell 13 votes short of overriding the president's veto of a $35 billion expansion of S-CHIP, the state children's health insurance program.

Alex Wayne reports for Congressional Quarterly magazine.

Alex, good to have you.

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