The Senate last night confirmed former judge Michael Mukasey to replace Alberto Gonzales as attorney general.

A divided Senate narrowly confirmed former federal judge Michael B. Mukasey last night as the 81st attorney general, giving the nominee the lowest level of congressional support of any Justice Department leader in the past half-century.

The 53 to 40 vote came after more than four hours of impassioned floor debate, and it reflected an effort by Democrats to register their displeasure with Bush administration policies on torture and the boundaries of presidential power.

If the next president is a Democrat, the Democrats in the Senate had better hope and pray that the partisan political tests they've been applying to Bush nominees aren't used by Republicans if/when there's a President Hillary. A long time ago (read: Clinton administration), it was assumed that the president had a right to appoint people of his choosing as long as they were qualified and didn't have ethical or criminal issues in their background. Nowadays, apparently, they also have to agree with the opposing political party.

I don't think Democrats are going to like it when they start reaping what they've sown.