Senator Charles Grassley weighed in on the Holder nomination with an insightful comment:
"It’s going to be much more controversial than a new administration ought to try to put forth," Grassley said, according to a transcript on his Web site.
The other day I had a post wailing in dismay over the Holder nomination. Let me make myself clear; I do not dislike Eric Holder. I do not think he is the most terrible awful person that ever walked the earth, not at all. I do think that his nomination sends the wrong message for two reasons:
1) Remember all those new voters that registered and worked for and turned out for Barack Obama because they believed, with an almost religious fervor, his message of change? You know, the 18-25 year olds? Remember them?
Uh,guys, they were, like in the 5th grade when the Holder/Rich/Clinton pardon thingy happened and in 2002, when the Chiquita thing started, they were in middle school. They didn’t know about it.
Now they get to be treated to the specter of the RNC breaking the news to them, and I’m sure the RNC won’t do it gently, they will pound away the message that this guy’s got the same old, same old Washington insider baggage that Obama promised we were going to do away with.
2) As you know, I believe DOJ to be a seriously wounded and sickly organization desperately in need of an inspirational figure to restore its morale, culture of integrity and reputation with the people who work there, the people who work with it and the American people which it serves.
In other circumstances, Holder would be an "OK" nominee, and I would say "let the president have his druthers", but after what Gonzales, Goodling, Sampson, Taylor, et al have done to DOJ, somebody REALLY special is needed to get it back on solid footing.
In 1987, in the wake of the Iran Contra scandal, the reputation and morale of the CIA were in tatters. Ronald Reagan persuaded William Webster-who had been appointed as FBI Director by Jimmy Carter to move over from FBI to CIA. At the time, Webster enjoyed a reputation as a man of impeccable character and professional integrity. I am told–and maybe Valerie or Joe can weigh in here, if they see this post– that people who planned on leaving the CIA, taking with them critical institutional memory, reconsidered and stayed on because of Judge Webster.
DOJ needs its own Judge Webster moment.
And the legions of new, young, inspired voters do NOT need to be disillusioned before we even get to inauguration day.
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LHP!
did you hear Cornell West talking about “brother Eric” on Democracy Now! yesterday. A good interview…
Grassley gets it? He hardly ever gets anything.
But lhp, you don’t seem to understand postpartisanship. It means going half way between W and DLC. /s
LHP, I worked with a bunch of those young,inspired voters in NM and doubt they are too concerned about Rich and Chiquita. Those young men and women were more concerned about getting things done than talking about centuries old (to them) things that don’t matter any more.
Again, my vote is for someone that knows how things run and how they can be fixed and I think Holder will be up to that job.
Digg is open.
He’ll breeze through the hearings…
okay, but what other black person is available for the position? isn’t that what this is about?
Please tell me you are joking.
The Rs, including Grassley, will try to taint every nomination Obama makes and I say we tell them that we don’t care what they think. They will moan and wring their hands and it means nothing. A pox on them.
what things?
serious question. no snark intended – i’m asking everyone who has first hand knowledge.
any other blacks in the new admin?
when ya quote repubs like grassley about anything — and sweet jeebus, i see that name and immediately hear that annoyingly whiney voice — aren’t we approaching concern troll Area 51 status?
waaaaaaaaaa
No I didn’t. What did he say?
oh god, don’t say that, the caterwalling has only just begun
Uh, the President doesn’t count?
And given that less than a quarter of potential admin/cabinet level jobs have even had a name associated with them, it seems just a tad premature to start counting race/creed/color/gender make-up.
Grassley isn’t the worst Gooper out there. Duded loves to punish AG’s of all political stripes for malfeasance. You should have seen him go after Mukasey at the last oversight hearing. Wow!
Gooper, yep. Deficit Hawk, yep. Good government Republican, yep.
Wait’ll he nominates SecState and SecDef …
There are other people who know how DOJ runs and how to fix it, too. In other circumstances I would not be thrilled about Holder, but would not probably raise a big objection.
If you really want to know, why don’t you try Google, or the Obama website. Otherwise just keep trolling along.
oh yea, “here it comes. . .here comes the night”
There is no such thing as a ‘good’ Repuke. Looks like we step into 21st century honesty with baby steps.
counts are obvious. what i am talkin about here is bamas attempt to set right the fears of a large portion of our society. frankly, i don’t mind it but I never heard of the guy. just would prefer comey. that is my comfort zone. see, it’s not the comfort zone of many non whites. yes?
I’d like to nominate Samuel L Jackson for Secretary of Shut the Fuck up!
Would that be “a dark and stormy night?” I just dread the future announcements – do I have to call in sick to the Lake?
With 40-41 seats, no leverage, and no way to block Obama’s programme, I don’t see the Grassley’s going anywhere with this or any other appointment. It won’t be a fight. They no longer have the guns. The Dems will just ignore them and move on. Clinton’s problem was that he didn’t have the full support of the caucus, and had to temporize, which made him look weak. That’s not going to happen this time out.
not very warm and fuzzy are ya? I’ll bet you are just a terry bear.
Bwahahaha …
I dunno, maybe you have be sick to BE in the lake?
The immediate thing on their plate was getting Obama elected and they did their part amazingly well. Next, I would say that pocketbook issues were important to them. Where their careers were going, can I find the support to start the new business that my husband and I want to start, where is my post doc going and will it be approved, etc.
I heard very little hard ideological statements. They were bright, hard working young people with the world in front of them and they seemed to want only the chance to make their suenos come true. I was surprised by the lack of ideology.
yup
First of all, if you are going to make this about his race–which I am not, but let me do this for arguments sake–he would be FAR MORE SYMBOLIC at FBI Director than at a cabinet post.
Colin Powell and Condi Rice broke that particular glass ceiling.
However, Holder is respected and even liked by police departments around the country. he has ar eputation for understanding how police work and think and how crime effects regualr citizens.
Think back to when yu were in the sixth grade and see if you can name all the AGs since then.
Next try to name all the FBI directors. (no cheating by googling)
I will bet you a nickle that you can name more (if not all) FBI directors.
Even thought the AG is legally the chief law enforcement officer of the US, in the mind of the average citizen, US law enforcemnt = FBI director.
Most have no clue who the AG is.
If you want to make a symbolic appointment of a person of color in the law enforcement arena–you do it at FBI.
Further, at FBI his unwillingness to say “no” to a cozy insider deal for a rich man trying to avoid justice (or his willingness to be a facilitaor of such adeal depending on whether you believe Fran Townsends’s version or the versions in a congressional report) would be much less of an issue, so long as you had a strong AG who was willing to speak truth to power.
Techincally, the FBI director works for the AG–though no one ever convince Hoover of that
I believe it’s from a Van Morrison song, Here Comes The Night
come on man, get in the goddamn trunk
I don’t see much evidence of that so far. Other than Holder, what other names have you seen objection to?
I’m not being confrontational, I thought I was wellinformmed and your statement takes me by surpise
*raises hand*
No kidding.
First, I think saying Grassley Gets It, based on the quote in the WP is like me saying my dog gets it.
Secondly, I’m seeing more comments pissing on other commenters statements than speaking to the post.
Is that where we are these days? Is it? ‘Cause I know I’m not the only one a little disappointed.
There was a time….a person could come here for discussion.
I don’t think people are joking here and I don’t think there’s trolling either.
Let’s stick to the subject and not do the circular firing thingy. Please?
sorry, he got no legal background that i know of. pretty good actor though.
Leiberman is the one with the whiney voice
i am not making it ABOUT nothin. he IS black. face it. what is the problem on this site? any grown ups here?
And they are??? I asked bmaz to list some of his ‘hundreds’ and got no response. I don’t know of any democrat that has as current knowledge of DOJ as Holder has, please give me some names.
I was thinking of Snoopy’s book that always started with the dark and stormy night.
thanks
I’m with you, babe. Want an anti-acid?
I’m almost out, but I’ll share.
I didn’t mean it that way. The Rs always talk about how the Ds are just awful and scary. The Ds in Congress have been apparently afraid for almost eight years to do anything that might offend the Rs, so I just say we don’t pay any attention to them. Sorry, I guess I did not make myself clear.
I’m pretty sure it was Them
Someone to inspire DoJ?
No. That department has become so dysfunctional, politicized and corrupt that the real chance for change at the Department of Justice is to abolish it and start over. They don’t need “inspiration.” They need to do something else for a while.
It wasn’t just Bushevism that ruined it; things were going to hell long before Dubya was a gleam in Scalia’s eye. But the Busheviks have so completely consolidated and institutionalized Departmental corruption and politization that there’s no way to untangle it short of abolition.
Given some of the things Holder’s had to say about what’s wrong over there, he might be just the right person to preside over the dissolution of the Department, provided that’s what the White House ultimately decides to do.
I just don’t see how anyone can fix what’s been done to the Department.
Maybe the guy that “fixed” my dog?
And Van the Man was the leader of Them if my mind is functioning properly
you see no hope? come on. it will just be a very long process. got to get back to center. i don’t think it can be done in 2-3 years.
Yeah. I’ve heard guys like Howie Kurtz diss him as another Clinton holdover, but then again I was just reminded that he was one of the first people to back Obama, so that might be part of the animosity — just like how putting Bill Richardson anywhere in the Cabinet is going to set off a four-alarm blaze among Carville’s and Lanny Davis’ and Mark Penn’s set.
It’s really sad because Obama is screwed no matter what. The hardcore Hillary-haters started threatening to walk at the mere rumor that her name was coming up for SoS, and the the hardcore Hillary partisans are now swearing up and down that Obama’s somehow setting her up to fail in the vetting process. But there’s one good thing coming from all of this: While all the attention and drama is focused on her and Holder, other key appointments are sliding on through without hindrance. Tom Daschle for HHS is especially good.
Valeria Jarret
You can see her on Press the Meat
No such thing as a good republican? I personally know many good decent hardworking people, who agree with us on mnay issues–and who are republicans.
let’s not go crazy
okay, she would be a womam AND a black. don’t have a problem with her either. qualified for ag? really?
yup, Mystic Eyes and Gloria
It appears that he has significant experience at DOJ. 12 years as a trial attorney in public integrity section; 4 yrs as a USA until he was eleveted to deputy AG.
i’ve just recently been paying attention to shelia bair. she does not seem either batshit crazy or unconcerned with the well being of the non-elite.
i’m no fan of our current version of bipartisanship – but i don’t think all Rs are the enemy.
doesn’t matter, WE don’t like it!
No, I have no objection on the basis of race. I have a stated objection on the basis of his willingness to work to achieve a different standard of “justice” for rich people than for regular people as demonstrated by his ACTIONS, not his skin, in the Rich pardon and the Chiquita cover up.
should say she’s a regulator (fdic), not someone i’m suggesting for doj – just someone in gov. who seems to be both reasonable and republican.
Honey, honey, honey.
I gotcha. But, two sarcastics don’t make a right.
This whole thread is making me want to follow Twain with the calling in sick thing.
And, oh, by the way…look, a new thread?
By the way, it’s spelled California. I get that some people think calling this state Kalifornia (or however that headliner spells it) ’cause that’s how Mr. S. pronounces it, is just insulting.
Like a lotta stuff here these days.
Still, Raven, I’ve enjoyed talking to you.
i didn’t say you did object to race. what i am saying is there is a large section of the us population that DO NOT trust white guys. this may be an offering.
I see hope in abolishing the department and starting over.
That’s change. And that’s hope.
What’s happened there is the institutionalization of lawlessness, corruption and politization.
Anyone as AG is going to be faced with that institutional culture. Now, maybe Holder (or anyone else who’s named) would happy enough with most of that institutional culture — he’s familiar with a lot of it after all — and he would be happy just to change out the Party in charge of lawlessness, corruption and politization, but I don’t see how Americans as a whole can be happy with it.
The Department of Justice has taken the lead in so much of the recent unpleasantness/lawlessness under Bush, and despite various rescissions and such, that culture of lawlessness (and all the corruption that goes with it) will still be part of the Department no matter who is at the head.
Do we want fair and equitable Justice Under the Law? Well, we can’t have it with this Justice Department, even with a new head, even with some modest housecleaning, even with whatever reforms might be called forth.
She would be one of a handful of good choices for Treasury Secretary. Holder wasn’t chosen to reassure folks at the DOJ or even the public but because he has worked in a Republican Administration. This pick is for the Republicans and goes to show Obama’s sudden tin ear with regard to the public mood.
Glenn Greenwald seems to think Holder is not a bad choice. Napolitano is now nominated for another post, she would have been a good pick.
Seems we are likely to be disappointed for a while…but time will tell.
can’t go along with your suggestion bc it would mean guns in the street. not the americun way, imo. progress is slooooow.
You make a case for why the nomination is controversial to the RNC, but not why it is controversial to younger voters who want change. They don’t know who he is, and they don’t care. They want government that works. Why do you assume that a non-fresh face can’t improve morale in the justice dept?
we could always just show up and ignore the topics, I enjoy that!
Yeah. Funny, how the owner of this site Luvs Glenn, but the headliners always seem to find some tidbit like Grassley’s quote to get people here going.
Funny peculiar, not funny ha ha.
Whatever. As in. No skin off my little nose.
Still.
22 – Comey actually signed off on the invocation of State Secrets in the Arar case that might just hit the Sup Ct. You really want an AG who used the power of his office (as then acting AG) to bury the DOJ and Bush EO crimes against Maher Arar as being “a secret” ??
Whatever.
Holder is way more my comfort zone than Comey, but I think LHP is right that he’s a bad call for where we are – OTOH, there really isn’t anyone out there who is going to PROVE that “the US” does not torture by using the power of the US gov to send torturers to jail, is there?
To be honest I had to cheer Grassly on when he was going after the Mega TV ministeries
it’s the “marketplace of ideas”
did you write that long thing about a house full of hippies and Nam vets last night?
I think these are all Dems–though in all honesty I have not discussed party affiliation with most of them
David Noel Kelley
John Koeltl
Jerry Lynch
Jed Rakoff
Stephen Robinson
And that’s without going outside SDNY
If you look at non dems, there’s also
Pat Fitz (though I realize the political problem)
And
Comey
My personal choice is Comey. Which I have not made a secret of
Don’t know what you are talking about. Someone cut a phone line yesterday and my DSL went.
Well, we could. But, so much circumspection in between.
I just heard the Beatle’s We Can Work It Out.
Good one, huh?
sorry, there was an interesting post and I thought it was you
Ha. I’m not shopping much these days.
If not “done” in 2-3 years, at least good progress in the right direction.
Don’t forget there are some folks who have been there 6-7 years and have no clue about how it’s SUPPOSEd to be
I was grooving on the Daschle news
right now I’m leaning towards the Apolitical Blues
I just don’t
I say I just don’t
want to talk about it!
No, not for AG, you asked me who else was in the Admin that was a person of color. obama’s not only picking white men, he’s mixing it up.
It’s great news and so is Napolitano
The telephone is ringing.
Can you hear it ringing?
Bair has said a numner of theings the last week or two, that sound really sensible to me. I’d never heard of her before, but she seems tobe taking a very intelligent approach to the fiscal meltdown–but this is Ian’s area of expertise, not mine.
it just sounded sensibble to my non-economist ears
When I was on the rez I worked very closely with his office. He had some good people and I had a lot of respect for him. If anyone can make things happen for health care it is him.
I still think that “Offering” would be WAY MORE EFFECTIVE at FBI
It is not often I disagree with the mighty Glennzilla–but this is one of those rare times.
damn, its’ “talk to him now” gettin old
The RNC intends to make sure that the young voters find out that Holder is baggage laden.
I’m sorry if the post did not make that clear
or maybe he’s trusting that very few care or are paying attention? or that he’s counting on a honeymoon period to create the team he wants to have?
don’t know, but don’t think i’m any judge of the public mood.
I started to click your link, but for some odd reason, youtubes are messing with my computer right now.
Still, I hear ya. Loud and clear.
I used ta do late and late late night, but can’t anymore.
Options are getting limited.
Life goes on.
Getting a lot more done around the house and yard, when I’m not working.
I’m grateful that Bush is almost gone. Even more grateful that Sarah’s not in DC.
Slim pickins, but I take it where I can get it.
:)
When you take the tack that the institutions are fine, fixing things is just a matter of replacing the honchos at the top and maybe some other personnel — which is how I interpret your statement — you’re stuck. You’re stuck with the status quo indefinitely. “Progress” is so sloooooowww because you’re convinced the Institution is OK, and you don’t want to mess with it, you just want to jigger with the personnel chart.
The Busheviks did something quite different. They swept in to power and they said, “We’re gonna change this institution. Top to bottom. We’re gonna make it into our own private enforcement outfit, torturer’s lair, and political revenge agency, and we’re gonna do it fast.” And they did. It took them no time at all.
They had a lot of help from inside. And most of that help will still be there. The institution was faltering prior to their advent, and they took advantage of the disarray to institute their own program. The consequences of 9/11 attacks spurred many further changes. The institution now is very strong, but it is also infused with the lawlessness, corruption and politization that the Busheviks were only too happy to consolidate at “Justice.”
Now what do you do?
Re: glenn
Just because you agree with someone most of the time, and greatly admire their work, doesn’t mean you can never disagree with them.
don’t let it bring you down
it’s only castle’s burning
i didn’t know who she was until dean baker’s diary on her. watched a recent charlie rose she was on and a some bits of recent congressional hearings. so i don’t have much info to base my opinion on, but so far like what i see – especially compared to the people around her. ‘course that’s an awfully low bar.
Hey you.
I got the same score this morning that you did.
Imagine if people had to get at least a “C” to vote?
Yikes.
Thanks, LHP, and thanks for hanging around for the comments.
What do you think of the idea of someone like Comey as Deputy AG?
Bob in HI
(((looseheadprop)))
Holder has already been nominated but I would like to point out that there were other candidates out there.
I should also say Comey is for me problematic. If he had been chosen I don’t know who would have shown up his confirmation hearing, the Comey who believes in maintaining the professional integrity of the DOJ or zealot who backed most though not all of the Bush war on terror.
If conservatives were wanted, I would say either Patrick Fitzgerald or Bruce Fein would be possibilities.
I should point out that there are a lot of people who know the bar much better than I do. But I think we could have looked further afield. Maybe somebody can tell me different but Seth Waxman and Merrick Garland. Waxman argued Boumediene before the Supreme Court. Garland is a Clinton appointee to the DC Circuit of Appeals. He worked on the Oklahoma City and unabomber cases. His downside is he was a protege of Jamie Gorelick. Not saying that these two were THE guys but these are the kind of people we should have been talking about for AG.
And naturally Napolitano would have been a good choice too.
66/70 – I think that’s pretty unfair to lhp, who is trying to share some insight and info. Let’s look at what Glen says, since he’s the oracle.
1. His piece is about “preliminary” thoughts – not a final decision.
2. Glen is going by “The bulk of what I’ve read about and from Holder” as opposed to having any first hand dealings with him, as opposed to, oh, say someone like LHP who was working in DOJ while he was at Main.
3. Glen points out specifically that he is weighing some adverse factors on Holder, for example:
Glen points out that Holder thought that we should give such limboland “detainees” a kind of “humane” treatment, not because we had any legal obligation to do so, but bc, well, our treatment of detainees might impact how our soldiers are treated (IMO, a really weak argument – that’s like saying the Mafia will treat moles it discovers well, bc members of the Mafia have due process rights in legal proceedings).
As Glen points out, Holder has and uses both sides of his mouth:
Glen also includes another interview Holder gave, to Blitzer, where Holder was ok with forever detentions in the war that never ends:
Glen cites the involvement in the Rich pardon as being a blemish.
Glen references absurdly harsh views Holder has on marijuana use and the war on drugs
4. Glen then goes on to reaffirm what the title of his piece should have already made clear:
emph added
And in doing so, he raises a few other areas of concern that he is just now beginning to hear about.
So for everyone who invokes a blanket reference to Greenwald being in favor, at least do him the courtesy of acknowledging the long list of caveats he included.
i know you do. what part of that thinkin do you suppose is due to your race/upbringing/etc? some folks here have NEVER had a chance in their lives. what’s wrong with a little hope and change?
This I’ve learned.
There was another point I was attempting to make.
He’s already been DAG and was DAG/ Acting AG when he stood up to Gonzales and Card in the hospital room.
I cannot imagine a guy like Holder asking for Comey as his DAG. They seem to have vastly different styles. Comey’s a true believer, and Holder’s a conformist to power.
I don’t think they would enjoy each other very much.
Another one of my very favorites.
How’d you know?
Kidding. I try not to take anything personally here.
But you…I like.
[smacking self on forhead]
How could I have left Bruce fein off the list. I apologize.
Bair tried to get mortgage writers to accept voluntary standards back in 2003 after the Office of the Comptroller spiked an effort by a number of state attorney generals to force them to curb their predatory lending practices. So she has been on the right side of this for a long time.
still cannot advocate revolution. i’m too old fer that stuff. my way is workin with the system as bad as it is. i do have radical ideas but none are practical. you suggest doj to go away. okay. what then?
Yessie, m’am.
LHP doesn’t know me as well as you do.
It might be a good thing – Ha.
101 – I think a problem with Waxman is a problem with anyone who was directly involved in the high profile cases involving detainees and torture – it’s not like those cases are 30 years old and involving a resolved issue. You can’t put a partisan advocate – like Comey was when he was advocating away for Bush’s and Thompson’s roles in the Arar rendition to torture – even if they were/are an advocate on “the good side” into the top slot and have departmental credibility – at least imo.
I’m sorry, but you don’t make a very good case for any opposition to Holder. The Rich pardon will certainly be used by Republicans, but any questionable act by any experienced nominee would be trumpeted from the bowls talk radio as well. In comparison to the legal debauchery wrought be Achcroft, Gonzalase, and Mukasey, Holder seems a choir boy.
Holder has significant experience in the DoJ and oversaw the transition to Ashcroft in 2001. My understanding is that within Justice he was well respected and liked. You’re absolutely correct when you suggest that the DoJ needs a major boost in competence and morale, but you cannot achieve this by appointing an outsider with no Washington experience. Did I vote for ‘change’? You bet: a change from incompetence to competence; a change from trying to avoid the law to enforcing the law.
not in my book. *g*
my previous suggestions, were feingold or fein – depending on whether a D or an R was wanted. would love to see feingold as AG.
i didn’t know that, thanks.
(((YOU!)))
I’ve know you for a while.
Like what I see.
Keep going, sister.
Thank you Mary, but I was already gone from being a prosecutor by the time Hodler was DAG. I was new mommy then.
i would take either one. but, then anyone another gonzo would be just fine. i have so low expectations now after the thugs.
I think someone who stood up for the rule of law and habeas corpus would be an excellent choice precisely for this reason. And we need to choose someone with a record. I would rather choose someone with a record I like than not.
My #119 in response to Mary at #111.
Low information voters won’t know who the AG is. Lot’s of people know who the FBI director is. In a weird way, it’s a much more high profile gig.
Also, Eric Holder has been DAG, he is very well paid partner in a very prestigiuos frim, he has not been shut out at all.
Sounds like it
BTW the Dow closed at 7,552.29. Apparently dithering in the face of disaster isn’t the winning strategy that politicians thought it was. Maybe it would help if we gave Henry Paulson some more money.
Oh Jeez, you who else I left off the list?
Sheldon WHithouse! I must be braindead today
yes, i know you don’t like him. might be bama thinks he is what the country needs? sounding more like a coalition gov’t all the time. just like the thugs said…appeasement. he is a peace maker. damn. i wanted thug blood.
I went grocery shopping at Food For Less yesterday.
I have a nickel left. Think I should send it to him.
*g*
(I like Comey too. A good Republican? Yep. People here categorize too much, imho. But, yeah, I know, I’m judging. Again.)
don’t believe that will help. thugs will drag their feet until bama is in office so it can be his problem.
I don’t want thug blood, or any other blood.
I want governance to live up to the campaign rhetoric. I want more than a a pretty speech. And there are people out there who are not such suck ups to the rich and special interests
You’re a mother. (I’ve got 3.) Hall Pass for you.
:)
not whitehouse! mr. telco immunity is great in some ways, but equal justice for all is not one of them. :(
I agree with you there.
I think the non action on the economy is deliberate–to screw over Obama
food fer less is a great place. you need help young lady? you call me.
i said that tounge in cheek. just plain fairness thank you. that is all.
yep. dropped like a rock with the bipartisan presser on the “let’s kick the can on an auto industry bailout”
btw, ian has a post on the djia drop and tula has one on how to avoid a depression. what i need is a post on how to keep up here.
Thanks. I was just thinking about you…said you might go to that taco place Lisa Derrick’s been talking about.
Don’t think I’ll make it tonight. I’m pooped already.
Ha. But, maybe another time.
I just need a job. Had an interview last Friday. Part-time in Burbank answering phones. There were 300 applicants. Money be tight.
If the screenplay(s), there’s two out to people right now, I’ll be okay. But, in the mean time, sheee-it. I just keep singing.
119 – that would be my “druthers” too, but keep in mind that you are talking about a lawyer who presumably is one, unlike the AGs and DAGs of the past 8 years, who will actually be paying attention to the code of professional conduct. If they’ve been and currently are even, counsel for parties adverse to the US on detention and torture procedures, that same lawyer can’t jump into the seat of giving advice to the US on — detention and torture procedures and prosecutions. It’s not right. And there are plenty of good lawyers who haven’t been directly invovled in the torture and detention cases.
Revolution — that you don’t advocate — has already taken place.
That’s what the Bush Regime has been all about. Still is. They set out on a program to remake the entire government in their preferred — autocratic — image, and they didn’t let anything or anyone stand in the way. What we’ve got now — at Justice most obviously and dangerously — is their legacy. It is a lawless, corrupt and politicized institution, beholden to the Busheviks and infested with loyalists and fellow travellers from top to bottom.
Holder, being familiar with the institution on the inside, and at least saying some of the right things about what’s wrong there and what has to be done, may well be the right person to oversee the dissolution of the Bushevik “Justice” Department and remaking it from the ground up.
But I don’t know that that’s what the Obama White House has in mind.
Revolution is most certainly was what the Bush White House had in mind, and they did it. Very successfully.
can’t do el coyote tonight. next week mebe. had some work here in sd. don’t know what ya do but ya got ta eat. la is a big place. don’t think i can help there.
Mary,
Thanks for taking the time to write this detailed summary. I found it very helpful.
Bob in HI
I remain amazed at the Comey thing – his Padilla presser was easily as egregious as Nifong’s presser, but he got grins and giggles instead an ethics review and censures. His handling of the “investigation” into the Higazy interrogations (as something the dept could be proud of?????) set the tone for “never say you’re sorry even if you are poised to send some poor schuck out to be sexually abused and disappeared into depravity” stances of the administration on everything else that came up. His earlier Padilla hand off with eyes wide open that it was disappearing an American citizen into torture – and never an apology. His direct involvement in heading the lit cover ups on the Arar rendition to tortures. His backing of Haynes for the 4th Circuit, even after Haynes was fibbing to the Senate Judiciary Committee about the working group memo and the torture policies that went to Gitmo without JAG approval. His backing of the FISA sellouts. His backing of a “new improved” wiretap plan while at DOJ that is the self-same “new improved” plan that Judge Diggs-Taylor declared a clear cut Fourth Amendment violation. His failure to ever, in any public statement, advocate for punishment of Exec Branch torturers. His acceptance of the Bush position that Bush could declare the law.
How does that not give the creeps?
gee, i wish you didn’t make sense. i know many wrongs have been committed. the americun people let that happen. that is what i struggle with. public is just plain stupid. i vote for education. it will take a long time.
wow, i may rethink comey. appreciate the feedback.
Next week is Thanksgiving! Turkey tacos. I hope you have family/friends plans.
I fake it. Fortunately, I’m not a shopper or a clothes horse. I’ll be fine, but I thank ye again.
A kind heart and open mind is all I need in a friend.
Grassley does get it – and he’s saying, as plain as day, that he’s ready for a return to principled enforcement of the Rule of Law.
He’d vote with US to support a proper renewing of the Department, he’s saying, if we’ll start by placing an Iconic Leader at the Head of the Operation.
I’m with you, lhp, this was a ’miss’ by BO – he could have done better…
Nice threadcraft, btw, you remind me of Walter Payton – he didn’t like to get hit, but he scored!
I wonder if a former senator is up to running one of the largest departments. I hope he is.