No surprise here, but the Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to send Michael Mukasey on to a full Senate vote for confirmation as Attorney General.

The vote was 11 to 8, with two Democrats, Senators Charles E. Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California, joining all nine Republicans on the panel in backing the nominee. Eight Democrats voted against Mr. Mukasey.

Feinstein's vote is predictable. She hasn't been a Democrat or a progressive for years, in my opinion, with her constant joining with Senators like Orrin Hatch to promote more tough on crime bills.

Schumer is more of a disappointment. Not because he is a progressive on criminal justice issues and this is a change of hat for him -- he isn't -- but because it seems like he voted for Mukasey just to avoid looking like a jerk for suggesting his name in the first place. In other words, he cares more about his reputation than what's good for the Justice Department.

Of course, Schumer says otherwise.

Update: Here are Sen. Patrick Leahy and Dick Durbin's statements.