Names were floated and they were shut down by Democrats, and when Judge Michael Mukasey's name came up, it was from Democratic Senator Charles Schumer.
Meanwhile, in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg warned that the mass-transit system would likely be shut down for most of the weekend if Hurricane Irene continues along its projected course.
During an analyst conference this week Johnson reminded the audience that in 2000 Michael Dell suggested that Apple should give the cash back to shareholders and shut down the business.
Michael Leahy, general secretary of the steelworkers' union Community, said the shut down "underlines how the economic crisis is hurting manufacturing in Britain".