Senate Confirms Attorney General Holder
ABC News’ Theresa Cook and Jason Ryan report: The Senate has voted to confirm Eric Holder as the first African-American attorney general, by a vote of 75 to 21. Holder, whose confirmation came as no surprise because of the broad support he gained from members of both parties, has vowed to take the Justice Department in a vastly different direction than his Bush administration predecessors. At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Holder made his agenda clear: He affirmed his belief that waterboarding, an interrogation tactic that simulates drowning, is torture. Holder drew applause for his support of the shuttering of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and declared that the department needs to be independent of politics. Bush administration officials, including former Attorneys General Alberto Gonzales and Michael Mukasey, declined to take a hard-line stance on waterboarding, and a series of reports has criticized the Gonzales-era department for its partisan wrangling, most notably the allegedly politically motivated firings of at least nine U.S. attorneys in 2006. Battling a touch of laryngitis, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., had glowing praise for Holder before the vote, touting his support from numerous law enforcement, legal and victim advocacy groups, as well as his stated commitment to changing the course of the Justice Department. “I am more convinced than ever that Eric Holder is a person who will reinvigorate the Department of Justice and serve ably as a key member of the president’s national security team,” Leahy said. “He will pursue the Justice Department’s vital missions with skill, integrity, independence and a commitment to the rule of law.” Leahy also highlighted Holder’s experience; he served as Attorney General Janet Reno’s deputy, as a federal judge and as the U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., during his 25-year tenure at the Justice Department. But key Republicans had initially balked at Holder’s nomination, questioning his judgment on several controversial commutations and pardons during the Clinton administration, most notably that of fugitive financier Marc Rich. But Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, publicly endorsed Holder last week after giving the matter “considerable thought.” The next day, the panel voted to send his nomination to the full Senate, by a vote of 17 to 2. Despite the committee’s support for Holder, though, some Republicans would not waiver in their opposition to him. Earlier Monday, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., took the floor of the Senate, contending that Holder left too many questions unanswered during his confirmation process. Calling his role in the Clinton pardons “very troubling” and saying that, in Holder’s case, “Independence is lacking. Candor is lacking. And judgment is lacking,” Coburn said he would not vote to confirm him as attorney general. The other committee member who voted against sending Holder’s nomination to the full Senate, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also said he could not vote for Holder because of his record on pardons and commutations, as well as his “lack of seriousness” on fighting Islamic extremism and his “apparent hostility” toward the Second Amendment, which concerns the right to bear arms. Vice President Joe Biden is slated to swear Holder in at the Justice Department Tuesday morning.
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God Keeps Blessing Us – Change Is Here!
Posted by: Dr. Terri L. Jenkins | February 2, 2009, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm
Now here’s a surprise! Not a tax cheat, but a tax cheat enabler!
Posted by: LongT | February 2, 2009, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
The fix is in on Obama’s presidential pardons in 2012!
Posted by: LongT | February 2, 2009, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
Cool, now we have an Attorney General who previously pardoned 16 FALN terrorists when he was Deputy Attorney General under Clinton! Every day of CHANGE is better than the last.
Posted by: Stacy | February 2, 2009, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
LOOK AT ALL the Democratic tax cheats!!!
Rangel, Geitner, and now Daschle who cheated the IRS out of 128,000 and once said people should be prosecuted who cheat on taxes. WAIT A DARN minute!!!Average Americans are threatened everyday by the IRS and all the democrats just say they made a mistake years after they have cheated. Who is running this country? Cheating democrats or the people. Answer–Cheating Democrats!!!
Posted by: rockychance | February 2, 2009, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
What can we expect? Both Coburn and Corynin are pals of Rush Lumbagh. He is their leader.
Posted by: beto | February 2, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
Yet another Obama mistake. This guy took care of getting pardons for Marc Rich, a criminal on the 10 most wanted list, and other terrorists. Obama is now making more mistakes than any other newly elected president in history.
Posted by: Brian | February 2, 2009, 7:21 pm 7:21 pm
It seems U.S. enemies donated billions to Obama’s campaign and now Obama is paying them back. Former Clinton Deputy Attorney General Holder was involved in the tragic Elian Gonzalez case – forcing a young boy to return to Castro’s dictatorship in Cuba to be raised as a Communist. Can a friend of Fidel Castro want the best for Americans?
Posted by: AntonioSosa | February 2, 2009, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm
Stacy and Long T: Sarcasm will never compensate for Ashcroft and Gonzalez (especially Gonzalez). Bush is now back in Texas – deal with it.
Posted by: bill wilson | February 2, 2009, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm
Perhaps he wont use illegal tactics to select politically charged attorneys and judges like Gonzalas did. The federal judiciary is loaded with radicals at this time.
Posted by: Girl Power | February 2, 2009, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
To each of the folks who seem to be thinking Eric Holder won’t measure up to the folks in the Bush Administration who did such a bang-up job:
Did you miss the last eight years of newspapers? Or is your TV permanently tuned to Fox Noise?
Posted by: bill wilson | February 2, 2009, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
Thank you my Dear Media for pointing that out……So does this mean now you will tell us on each new President from now on and each new post that is filled and senate seat that is filled how many whites, blacks and hispanics this makes for that position? Since the media has now made it a huge issue of race they should now say ” This is the 345 White President of the United States” etc etc etc…..
Posted by: Karl | February 2, 2009, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
Brian,
The operative phrase being “newly elected”.
Posted by: David Barry | February 2, 2009, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
It seems like the President could have found better people to nominate for these key jobs. If this kind of change continues, I might have to bail.
Posted by: DB Cooper | February 2, 2009, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
We just need to wait a bit, Bill
How will Eric deal with
- Rezko and Blago etc and Fitzgeralds continued investigations into Chicago politics.
- ACORN (huh actually the issue that tripped up Gonzalez, Holder will get it on the other side)
- Maybe they’ll find its better to keep the GITMO trials in military tribunals -how would Eric’s Justice Dept take responsibility for terror given track record
Posted by: robert b | February 2, 2009, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
Great now the guy who covered up Oklahoma City is going to go after private gun ownership. Hope you trust the guys with face masks and black uniforms. “Don’t move, we are the Government and we are here to “help” now sit down, put your hands up, and tell us where your “illegal firearms” are… RIGHT NOW!!!” When guns are banned only criminals will have guns. And government is SO helpful when they confiscate your firearms BEFORE the hurricane hits, and THEN let looters STEAL whatever you have left, like in New Orleans in Katrina. Just like the shop owners in LA defending their stores with firearms and getting PROSECUTED after the fact when the riots ended, when the cops “decided” to restore order along with the National Guard. Get ready America, “it’s” about to hit the fan!!!
Posted by: hmn... | February 2, 2009, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
When will idiots like Coburn and Cornyn stop embarrasing America with their “lack of independence and seriousness”?
Posted by: GMAB | February 2, 2009, 7:46 pm 7:46 pm
Lets just hold up and see what happens
Posted by: Roy Barnett | February 2, 2009, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
Bill; Yeah I know, but it’s sure fun!
Posted by: LongT | February 2, 2009, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm
Holder can’t be worse than Reno!
Posted by: LongT | February 2, 2009, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm
Race and gender are decided at conception. Please stop judging people based on something they could not control. I want to be judged on my merits, not by a DNA coincidence.
Posted by: Sheila | February 2, 2009, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
Bill Wilson: I’d love to read your definition of “radical”. While you’re at it, define “liberal” and “conservative”. At this point, you’re giving me the impression that labels, void of any intelligent basis other than to repeat a radio
personality,is the depth of your input on issus that confront America. People with solid views of their own can define the behaviors about which they refer and thus don’t need to rely on labeling people they oppose. if you can’t define the terms you lie to use, don’t feel alone. Neither do the talk show hosts who make their fortunes casting inuendos based mostly on feeding the negative feelings of opponents to most democrats.
Posted by: Mike in Carolina | February 2, 2009, 8:42 pm 8:42 pm
two tax-cheats. you need a bong hitter, bongo Phelps is available…
Posted by: henry | February 2, 2009, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
Oh Hech with it all,..why don’t we save the islamic terrorists the trouble and just hand over our country to them to kill and maim our children. No american seems to care anyway.They voted Obama.A deciever..schemer..crook.And a lover of islam.Start learning the quran ppl.
Posted by: anna | February 2, 2009, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
“LOOK AT ALL the Democratic tax cheats!!!” There sure are a bunch of mentally pr at least memory challenged people making these comments. There are as many crooks and cheats in the Repuke party as any other. Also, for the ninnies who will now drum up the rumors about ‘gun control’, just remember that a good number of Republicans voted to confirm. The retards from the right sure enjoyed poking their fingers in everyones’ eyes for 8 years, now they get a dose of it themselves.
Posted by: Marshall | February 2, 2009, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
While being praised by Leahy and others for defending civil rights, the article fails to divulge the fact that all of the no-votes came as a result of concerns that he would not completely defend civil rights. Most notably the civil right to keep and bear arms.
Granted, the supreme court affirmed the right is an individual, not collective right, Judge Scalia still wrongly interpreted the right as being dependent on state regulation. Now, his example of state regulation specified mentally incapable or convicted felons or druggies, he still failed to draw the line that this right (liberty) should not be infringed by state’s goofy interpretations.
States are not allowed to decide which part of the first amendment to infringe. Why should the state be allowed to infringe the second amendment. DC v. Heller was a victory to the peoples’ liberties, however, it should have been a better victory.
The right to keep bear arms means unrestricted open or concealled carry for law abiding citizens. Notice I said LAW ABIDING citizens. Convicted felons, need not apply.
We have some ground to recover with regards to our civil rights. Nevertheless, we (law abiding citizens) seem to be winning the fight.
Every law abiding citizen has a responsibility to their community to defend themselves, their family and home. They also have the right to defend themselves whereever they go.
This will be the greatest deterent to crime. Citizens who carry firearms.
Thankfully, trends of gun rights are swinging back to center.
Posted by: Gene | February 2, 2009, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
Cornyn is a complete disgrace and hypocrite. i am disgusted the he ever sat as justice of the supreme court of my state. big business funded his campaigns for his court seat and it showed. he is an intellectual lightweight, (fantomweight , actually).
he ran he re-election campaign as a new kind of independent-thinking republican. he is as partisan as they come.
Posted by: Paul Wall | February 2, 2009, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm
DIG UP LYNDON JOHNSON and give him his just reward. Within five years, the US will wish we were as good a country as Zimbawe or Honduras. We have people now breeding 10 to 20 kids, not married and collectin welfare, all to the credit of that no good Johnson. So, go ahead and breed yourself a dozen or so and let the good working folks pay or wait a minute, there are no working folks left in the US, only welfare cheats!!!! Yeah haw, we have arrived as a result of the great minds of Harvard and Hollywood!!!!!
Posted by: rockychance | February 2, 2009, 10:41 pm 10:41 pm
Gene—this may sound ironic coming from a liberal democrat like me, but i seriously respect your post and agree whole-heartedly with you.
the second amendment should be sacrosanct (as should the entire Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments). self-defense is something the founding father saw as foundational and fundamental.
thieves and other criminals (with much worse intentions) are getting greeted with gunfire by many citizens when these folks enter someone’s home.
although i have never owned a gun i am going to buy one to protect my home. our society has, sadly, become much more violent and that is not because of gun owners it is because of criminals.
i believe Holder and Obama won’t take any actions against the second amendment (i believe that to many democrats it isn’t a big issue). if i am naiive then i will call my senators (Cornyn is one of them, but i will still call) and my congressman and urge blocking any second amendment restrictions. although with Cornyn, Kay Bailey Hutchison and Pete Sessions i would be preaching to the choir, lol.
Posted by: Paul Wall | February 2, 2009, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
Man!
Some of you “right wing” ideologue followers are so happy and excited over the tax problem issues…….
Be careful. What you condemn in others will often come back and bite you (or your beloved ideologue voices) right square on the buttocks.
Wait and see.
Posted by: Green Fairy | February 2, 2009, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
rockychance—it is sad to me that we never saw the great society Johnson envisioned and probably never will. i think he was, by far, the best president our nations has ever had.
but agree with what you said about people abusing welfare.
Posted by: Paul Wall | February 2, 2009, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
FALN terrorists instead of the anti-Castro bombers who Senator Lieberman was going to talk to Sen. McCain about pardoning. The FALN terrorists didn’t injure anybody (at least in what they were in jail for) and had served longer sentences than most other people convicted of similar offenses. And the current Secretary of State opposed those pardons, too.
Posted by: Edwin Herdman | February 2, 2009, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
Edwin Herdman—it’s too bad President Bush disn’t make the pardons. i hope the Obama administration will. it is a shame that pardons come at the end of presidencies. hopefully the secretary of state will manage state and let Holder handle the justice department.
Posted by: Paul Wall | February 2, 2009, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm
Where was all the outrage when the Republicans were driving this economy into the bus and creating this horrible end result? So I see a lot of you want the same people who brought us this hazard as your leaders of the future. We are blessed that we actually have an opportunity to dig ourselves out of this mess.
Millions of Americans are loosing their jobs, homes, on unemployment, etc yet many only think about themselves. Forget that many of these people did not cause this debacle.
TV News Anchors/reports and pundits those none experts sit around every day racing each other to make ratings forget that Americans are suffering. As we did in November, most have given up and began using all available technology including family, friends, neighbors, after researching the facts, which some are not capable of doing.
Many of us have read the Stimulus even the new on the Senate revised. How many TV anchors, pundits and their guest have actually read the Bill?
This is the age of transparency and we thank President Obama for putting all bills on line. By doing so we can no longer be lied to and we can read it for ourselves.
Try reading it here’s the link and then make an informed opinion
Senate Version Of Stimulus (American Recovery & Investment Act)
This is not the House version it has been revised. Good reading and congratulations on agreeing to get informed!
Posted by: cynthia19 | February 3, 2009, 12:11 am 12:11 am
From Bllomberg:
Prime Minister François Fillon on Monday rejected demands that the French government seek to stimulate consumer spending, rather than follow his plan to stimulate corporate and infrastructure investment, to lift France out of its economic slump.
“It would be irresponsible to chose another policy, which would increase our country’s indebtedness without having more infrastructure and increased competitiveness in the end,” Fillon said in a speech in Lyon.
Mon Dieu! Now we have to rely on the French to remind us about fiscal responsibility??
Posted by: Even the French reject Obama-style Pork-out Stimulus | February 3, 2009, 8:27 am 8:27 am
NY Times sez throw Tom Daschal under the bus. I guess he’s finally one tax cheat too many!
“Unfortunately, new facts have come to light — involving his failure to pay substantial taxes that were owed and his sizable income from health-related companies while he worked in the private sector — that call into question his suitability for the job. We believe that Mr. Daschle ought to step aside and let the president choose a less-blemished successor.
Mr. Daschle’s tax shortfall is particularly troubling because it comes on the heels of another nominee’s failure to pay taxes due. We were not pleased when the president’s Treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, admitted that he had failed to pay tens of thousands of dollars in federal self-employment taxes while working for the International Monetary Fund despite having signed paperwork acknowledging the obligation.
Now we are confronted with an even larger lapse by Mr. Daschle, who failed to pay $128,000 in taxes, primarily for personal use of a car and driver provided to him by a private equity firm for which he consulted. Although the firm — headed by a major Democratic donor — had not issued a form 1099 for the value of the car service, Mr. Daschle said he became concerned last June that he might owe taxes on it and instructed his accountant to investigate. Neither was concerned enough to actually pay the taxes.”
Posted by: Wow! Even NY Times is getting disgusted with Obama Nominees! | February 3, 2009, 9:13 am 9:13 am
Behold more Hope and Change!
“WASHINGTON (AP) – Nancy Killefer, who failed for a year and a half to pay employment taxes on household help, has withdrawn her candidacy to be the first chief performance officer for the federal government, the White House said Tuesday.
Killefer was the second major Obama administration nominee to withdraw and the third to have tax problems complicate their nomination after President Barack Obama announced their selection.
The White House said Obama had accepted Killefer’s decision and that the 55-year-old executive with consulting giant McKinsey & Co., would explain her reasons for pulling out later Tuesday.”
But of course, tax cheat Tim Geithner ts the ONLY man qualified to fix the economy!
Posted by: More tax cheats from Crook County, Illinois! | February 3, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Outsourcing American media oversight to India?
“It is easy to project yourself as a clean politician after making your debut in South Side Chicago with buddies like Rahm Emanuel. US president Obama has appointed more than 17 lobbyists after talking big on anti-lobbyist Governance and rooting corruption out of the American Government.
Dreams are dreams. Facts are facts. President Obama is surrounded by corrupt lobbyists ready to sell America cheap.
Take the example of the newest exposure of doubletalk from Obama! After calling for clean Governance, he appoints a Treasury Secretary who “forgot” to pay for his ‘business tax’ for years! Tom Daschle, a top lobbyist in Washington, who has amended his U.S. tax forms to pay back taxes with interest, is now Obama’s best choice for America’s chief health official.
Would you believe, Obama had to issue 17 waivers on his own rule in less than two weeks for allowing lobbyist enter his Administration and control Governance of America!”
Posted by: The Times of India calls out what American media won't notice | February 3, 2009, 11:11 am 11:11 am
One Dem Crook down, so many more to go.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Tom Daschle has withdrawn his nomination to be Health and Human Services secretary.
That’s according to a joint White House statement from President Barack Obama and his former nominee.
Obama said Tuesday he accepted the withdrawal “with sadness and regret.”
Daschle has been battling for his nomination since it was disclosed he failed to pay more than $120,000 in taxes.
Posted by: SCORE! | February 3, 2009, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm
President Obama repeated his support on Monday for Thomas A. Daschle, whose failure to pay more than $146,000 in back taxes until last month has raised concerns about his nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services.
During a White House photo op, Obama was asked whether he still stands by Daschle. “ABSOLUTELY,” Obama said.
Posted by: Less Absolutely Than Yesterday | February 3, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
A handy reference with which we can start building our lists of “exceptions” to the Obama Administration Ethics Policy. Here are former lobbyists Obama has tapped for top jobs:
–Eric Holder, attorney general nominee, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm [now confirmed].
–Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.
–William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.
–William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.
–David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.
–Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.
–Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.
–Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including Angliss International in 2003.
–Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
–Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
–Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.
–Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005.
This doesn’t count Tom Daschle, who never registered as a lobbyist but got paid millions for his political connections in pursuit of preferential treatment for his clients in the health-care industry.
Posted by: A lobbyist a day keeps accountability away. | February 3, 2009, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
I guess Holder’s been paying his taxes. How on earth did HE get selected????
Posted by: Grand Old Party | February 3, 2009, 7:51 pm 7:51 pm
The scariest part of the “new” justice department under Eric Holder will be the treatment of the war on terror by the Obama administration as a “criminal investigation” much like Clinton did.
Posted by: socialism101 | February 3, 2009, 8:53 pm 8:53 pm
Why doesn’t the Media do its job?
Candidate Obama chose to be friends with William Ayers, the unrepentant terrorist. Yet, the leftist media thought it was more important to “vet” Bristol Palin’s boyfriend’s family.
Candidate Obama chose to allow Tony Rezko, now an indicted felon, to loan Obama $300,000 to help him buy his big home. The press and Democrat voters thought John McCain’s seven homes – bought without the hint of a graft – was a more important story.
Citizen and candidate Obama chose to remain in the church of Reverend Wright’s, whose diatribes against America are now famous. But, the media and Democrats thought it was more important to demonize President Bush who kept America safe from terror attacks for 7 ½ years.
Senator Obama voted against the Surge. In light of the Surge’s obvious success, did the media call candidate Obama’s judgment into question? NO!
So, why is anyone surprised that a number of Obama’s choices for high level governmental posts are ethically-challenged, like Tom Daschle, Tim Geithner, Nancy Killefer, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Richardson?
Caught up in their bloodlust for President Bush, Democrats chose to deny the reality of who Mr. Obama truly was: A stunningly inexperienced Chicago-bred politician who had made poor choices, in his associations and judgments.
In politics as in life, you get what you pay for.
Posted by: Gosh, Maybe Experience Does Matter | February 4, 2009, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
After Holder comes for your guns, the illegals, criminals, police, and the military, who are looking for that bullet they missed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the rest of the 130 countries and 700 bases we have overseas, will be coming back for YOU!!!
But hey, you wanted “Change!” You got it!
Posted by: hmn... | February 4, 2009, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
Hail rule of law and habeas corpus! Goodbye torture and extraordinary rendtions.
Posted by: Paul Wall | February 6, 2009, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm
hmn…quit trying to scare everyone. we aren’t children. you managed to whip up a frenzy of monsters and bogie-men.
Posted by: Paul Wall | February 6, 2009, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
beto—” Both Coburn and Cornyn are pals of Rush Lumbagh.” true! that’s the new political insult: Cornyn pals around with Limbaugh, lol. Cornyn is the most hippocritical, spineless member of the senate. can you believe Cornyn was on the supreme court of my state (an elected position!). Cornyn is just Limbaugh with lipstick on.
Posted by: Paul Wall | February 6, 2009, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
rockychance—i think LBJ was this nation’s greatest president. if it weren’t for him we would still be living with Jim Crow laws and have no civil rights act. The Great Society and the war on poverty are dreams lost. he was the singular person who could put it all together. he is the type of leader that comes along once in a nation.
Posted by: Paul Wall | February 6, 2009, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
Free Don Siegleman.
Posted by: 33Greeper | February 9, 2009, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm