The Week Ahead

If last week’s litany of Gitmo hearings on the Hill had you screaming for variety, you’re in luck. Over the next few days, there will be hearings range from shady doings at the Justice Department’s to the abuse of executive power to big business. Call this week the Puu-Puu platter of Hill happenings—it’s got a little bit of everything.

First, however, is a little bit of the old stuff, as Attorney General Michael Mukasey talked detainee policy in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute this morning, trying to make a case for the need for new legislation in the wake of the Boumediene v. Bush decision. C-SPAN caught all the , ahem, action, so if watching the attorney general spout the same old administation rhetoric is up your alley, check cspan.org for the video. We, of course, parsed the attorney general's remarks in order to examine the reality, rather than the rhetoric.

Wednesday: Speaking of responses to SCOTUS decisions, the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a hearing entitled “Courting Big Business: The Supreme Court’s Recent Decisions on Corporate Misconduct and Laws Regulating Corporations,” will examine the pro-business bias of the Exxon v. Baker decision. The lengthily-titled hearing will include testimony from a native Alaskan about the oil spill’s irreparable effects.

Later that morning, Mr. Mukasey will once again be under scrutiny during the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing on “Oversight of the Department of Justice,” which will take a closer look at the blatant politicization of the DoJ that has plagued the Bush administration.

Friday: The Hill’s major committee happenings will wrap up in the morning with another House Judiciary Committee hearing, this one entitled “Executive Power and Its Constitutional Limitations.” Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is rumored to be slated to speak, and according to blogger David Swanson, there are whispers of an appearance by Ralph Nader as well.

This may seem like a lot to have on your plate for just a few days’ time, but fear not—the dedicated men and women of Justice Watch will keep you updated throughout the week.