So far I’m inclined to take Andy McCarthy and Ed Whelan at their words, though I’d like to know more about Mukasey as well. But I thought this email was interesting, from a longtime reader at DOJ:

Jonah,
I’d just like to clear something up. Notwithstanding the coverage you’ve been hearing and reading, morale here at DOJ isn’t low because of the departing AG. In fact, in talking with co-workers, morale isn’t even low (maybe that’s because I work in a non-political component, but it still doesn’t change the facts). If anything, morale is low because now it’s official, Ted Olson won’t be our new boss. My personal morale is low because Bush missed a prime opportunity to not only pick, but win, and win big, a fight with Senate Democrats. Depressing.